Breaking 9000 in Dragon Ball Xenoverse - Preview
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 27 October 2014 / 8,325 Views
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z was an ambitious entry in the Dragon Ball series, featuring some great high flying combat, but it was plagued by an overly eclectic camera that held a potentially great game back. I managed to get some hands-on time with Bandai Namco's latest entry, Dragon Ball Xenoverse, and while the camera could still use some work, I nonetheless have high hopes for Xenoverse.
Instantly noticeable are the superb visuals. Dragon Ball has never, in its 30+ years, looked as good as it does in Xenoverse. Lighting is one of the greatest features, as the characters gleam with highlights and shadows, particularly when using different Ki powers, which most definitely catch the eye. Backgrounds pop with the same effects and are vibrantly detailed, boasting similar destruction visuals to that of the show, but much more impactful. It certainly has the feel of Dragon Ball - although, to be fair, so did Battle of Z.
While it's not technically a sequel, the game feels very much like Battle of Z. The gameplay features some improvements. While basic combat is still generally the same, with kicks and punches launching into combos and rapid Ki blasts being fired, signature moves like Goku's Kamehameha and Picollo's Special Beam Cannon feel much more fluid. Rather than having to use button combinations, signature moves are performed with the trigger and face buttons, allowing for more interesting and entertaining combos to be formed.
Chaining together Tien's Volleyball Fist in the demo for Xenoverse was some of the most fun I've had with a Dragon Ball game in years, as it felt much more natural than just watching scenes unfold for signature moves. Dodging has also been tweaked, allowing you to disappear and re-appear behind opponents mid-combo just as the Z Fighters do in the show. It's a much more faithful adaptation of the show's combat, in turn making it a much more enjoyable experience.
Yet, there are still some issues. The camera is still not perfect, occasionally jumping around when you get too close to an opponent and are locked on. While the demo only had 1v1 battles, which means I couldn't see how the camera worked while switching between targets, based off of the initial improvements it's safe to say it will be an improvement. Basic combos also aren't too intensive, still only requiring repeated presses. The added dodging definitely helps to alleviate this, but more complex combos would certainly be welcomed.
There's quite a bit to be excited for in Dragon Ball Xenoverse, especially with the slick visuals and immersive combat. However, like every Dragon Ball game before it, it's not without its issues, even if they do seem to be minor in nature. Let's hope these can be hammered out, and that the original story and character creation being included don't disappoint when the game comes out on February 17th, 2015.
