Overview
Dragon Ball Z turns into an all-out brawl!Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z is a sci-fi fantasy third-person freeform-fighting game developed by Artdink and published by Bandai Namco for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita on January 23, 2014.
Based on the anime and manga series Dragon Ball Z, Battle of Z differentiates from other third-person Dragon Ball Z brawlers with a larger eight-person player count and focus on multiplayer and co-operative teamplay (with special team-based techniques, including use of a special team-based "Energy Gauge", which is known in the Japanese version as the "GENKI Gauge"). Each of the 70+ fighters in the roster are categorized in multiple classes (or "battle types"), ranging from combat-focused characters to those focused on support and distraction, and players can augment each fighter using "cards" earned in-game.
Along with chronicling the entirety of the mainline Dragon Ball Z saga (from the arrival of the Saiyans to the awakening of Majin Buu), the game features a variety of bonus missions, from what-if scenarios to fights from the series' various films (including a mission based on the tie-in film Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods). Unlike some other games, most of the story is re-tooled for allowing four-player teams (e.g., Goku's climactic battle against Frieza on Namek now has Gohan, Piccolo, and Krillin fighting alongside him).
Gameplay
For the first time ever in a Dragon Ball Z game, a 4 versus 4 game mode will be included. In this mode 8 people battle it out in a all out brawl via Xbox Live and PSN.
Revive Soul
During multiplayer matches, when an ally is downed a player can preform a "revive soul" to bring them back into the fight.
Synchronized Rush
When in battle multiple players can gang up on one character and preform a synchronized rush, causing far more damage than a typical combo.
Meteor Chain
During a meteor chain a player and teammates can be seen chaining up combos and tossing an enemy around, each delivering a major blow.
Characters
Like most other Dragon Ball Z games of the type, Battle of Z features a large character roster with over 70 fighters to choose from (with several being alternate transformations or alternate eras). Each fighter is categorized based on their abilities into one/two of four "types":
- Melee Type fighters are skilled at close-ranged combat and have improved melee combos.
- Ki Blast Type fighters are skilled at long-ranged combat and have improved ki blasts.
- Support Type fighters are skilled at healing allies and have improved revival and ki-sharing.
- Interfere Type fighters are skilled at disrupting enemies and can intercept enemy ki-sharing.
Most characters have extra lives, or "retry amounts", with some having two.
The game also includes "giant" character battles, where teams fight against a single large computer-controlled opponent:
- Great Ape Vegeta
- Great Ape Gohan
- Meta-Cooler Core
- Hirudegarn
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