Now THIS is a BRAWL!!!!
(the full versions deserves a topic)
Yea it can't replace Dragon Ball Online, but online it is the closest thing to a MMO party experience with the sensational online Co-op missions.
Just got it. Still new to this, but it's FUN, there is enough depth and user friendly balancing to make it worthwhile,
even for solo players. Yea the offline side of things is kinda small compared to what you can do online (I play this online only anyway. It's kind of like Left 4 Dead, it's playable offline, but it's 4x better online.) Even with it's offline/single player being it's weakest part, it's still worth playing.
This is the most fun DBZ team fighting since DBZ Legends, and most fun DBZ open battlefield gaming since Tenkaichi 3 matches. :) And it's even more intense and exciting than the Budokai/Tenkaichi series.
While by today's standards it's lacking in total roster size, but it does at least meet the basic roster standards,
which is impressive for the first game of this kind with this engine.
And has exclusive playable characters from the latest movie. Overall it's a solid roster with some newness included. It really should get more sequels, then it can reach Tenkaichi 3 roster standards and beyond. :)
The free flying has never felt better in a DBZ (makes all the other DBZ games feel stiff) and there is plenty of battle mechanics and innovative elements (like being able to play a support role in the team to fill up their Ki, revive them, etc.)
The default controls are great.
R1 is to enemy lock on (right stick to change targets)
Right Analog stick is to move camera/switch targets
R3 is to change to Support role (right stick up/down to target allies), with hold/press O to give them Ki (I may be seeing things but giving teammates Ki doesn't seem to reduce your own Ki, which is actually cool because this means that teammate help recharge each other's Ki faster without penalty. So there is incentive to help raise partners Ki. Though watch out for attacks in the wonderful chaos.
It is very helpful to be a healer role, because there's only so much retries/respawns the team has. So be sure to watch their HP, and be close enough to revive them the moment they are knocked out, they have about 5 seconds window to be picked up, which is enough time if you play healer/support role effectively, and anyone can heal/revive. )
L1 is block. move in a direction while blocking to teleport/fast evade.
L1 + a button does some unique action.
Like L1 + Triangle can be a rush attack (that can lead to a Triangle smash chase)
L1+ O can be a laser attack, etc.
L1+ X , L1+ Square. Try them all for each character!!
L2 and R2 are unique special actions.
Triangle is melee attack (Triangle and O can slowly generate some Ki.)
O is basic Ki attack (doesn't drain special Ki meter, that's for like supers/specials)
Square is to ascend/flight
X is descend/flight/land
Very straightforward yet very meaty gameplay system. While it doesn't get complex with button inputs for combos, it doesn't need multiple melee buttons or dial a combos to have combat depth.
The learning curve
and input is fair and complex enough for everyone to enjoy, with plenty of room for mastery without fighting your controller.
There's even more to it like Synchronized attack system (insanely epic, especially with 4 players, you basically beat the fluff out of a single enemy target, together with fully powered hits. )
Smash Chases (with teammates you can take turns playing volleyball, chasing smashing the enemy.
just be ready for that Triangle signal when it's your turn. Position doesn't matter, it's the timing.).
Super attacks: O+Triangle (very addicting. The kamehameha beams are some of the most
EPIC, most
MASSIVE and most addicting supers to perform. They feel like super ultimate attacks!!!!)
I haven't used Ultimate attacks yet but I think it's L1+Square+X and has to do with the Energy Bar on top.
There is a lot of TEAM STRATEGY like never before in a DBZ game. It's challenging, fun and REWARDING.
These classic DBZ fights, as much as we played through those fights in various DBZ games, NOTHING feels as sensational as experiencing theses fights in Battle of Z, especially with 2-4 players Co-op online (yes!!
After the first few tutorial missions, the Story campaign supports 4 players CO-OP online in realtime!! And the netcode is on par with the best out there!!!! )
It also ahs 8 players online versus!!!! Extremely revolutionary features for the franchise, with a battle system
that is more unique, more intense and more fun than the Street Fighter and Smash clones out there.
The interface is very cool, it feels like a next gen DBZ game. The ring of spheres, are used to cycle through (CPU or player teammates can fill those), with the Center being the Start function.
You highlight your sphere and use X to open character select. or use Triangle to customize/examine a character's equipped Cards (enhances stats and stuff). to the right of the ring of spheres are a stacked selection of other commands like collections and a shop. Basically use the Mission sphere to select a mission. then select the center Start command to ready up. Other players ready up choosing the center of the spheres as well.
Online, it seems players take turns using mission select. This is actually awesome because it allows all players to have a turn choosing a mission they want to do. After the mission is over, the next player chooses a mission. It's much much better and faster than a voting system, or only the host determining the mission the team does next.
In online lobbies you can use Select to choose from several categories of Text Messages to display on screen,
most of them are polite and friendly. :) And yes there is mic support.
The loading screens are actually fast, hardly notice them.
And if there is any lag, it's pretty much only after a cutscene when the game uses Synchronization for a few seconds to sync everyone's connection. All the sessions I been in, it's smooth.
The matchmaking is cool because it also allows Lobby List style searching. So you can check connection rating,
if they are in a battle, if they are in the lobby seeking teammates, how many players they have, etc.
The graphics really are gorgeous and it feels like it's 60 fps. The battlefields really are breathtaking, especially when you are fighting multiple enemies, as well as GIANTS (which feel like more epic versions of MMO raid bosses, without the lag.) When you see players doing their massive super beams together on a giant boss,
you know this really is more breathtaking than the usual 1 vs 1 / tag team / 4p versus matches out there.
The cutscenes are amusing too. Some familiar voices, and they reinvented some scenes/events in some cool ways.
As for the a.i. some like it, some hate it, experiences may vary, but I think people will adapt to it, and those that expect more, can co-op with people online.
Battle of Z has sooo much potential for an ongoing series. This really deserves more sequels. People buy Madden, FIFA, WWE, COD, and other series every year, Battle of Z is too good to only be a one shot deal,
with at least 2 more sequels it can surpass Tenkaichi 3's roster, it's already surpassed the fun factor of every DBZ game to date, with an up to date roster having all the DBZ movies and GT characters (they aren't canon but it does have several awesome characters), plus adding Character Creation on par with Dragon Ball Online, it would be one of the most phenomenol series of all time. :)
It's already the most revolutionary, innovative and fun DBZ game to date, it really has the best formula to reach the next levels of Dragon Ball epicness, camraderie and entertainment. :)
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