Dragon Ball Xenoverse: Opinions?

[Matt Bellamy]

I can't believe I bought a Dragonball Z game at full price.

 

And I can't believe I am actually enjoying it.

 

This is the second DBZ game to have the Custom Character creation, but this ones is much more customizable, and you can choose multiple races and genders. Each race also has at least 10 hair designs, different faces, eyes, even a few different ear types.

 

The races included are:

 

Human (Male/Female)

Saiyan (Male/Female)

Majin (Male/Female)

Namekian (Male)

Freiza's Race (Male)

 

The only issue I have with this system, is the way the game handled body types. You can't choose to be a thin Majin ( unless your female), and have to be the fat version. With other races, changing your height, literally just makes the character model bigger or smaller. There is a second option to make the wider. It's not a height or weight increase, just simply stretching the models. I wanted to make a shorter character, but it ended up looking more awkward since the proportions do not change along with the height. (It's like having a 1/100 Gundam kit standing beside a 1/144. The proportions are exactly the same, just smaller.). You only really notice it more with the Humans and Saiyans, as they are more common body types.

 

That being said, it is ages better than the previous game that tried custom characters.

 

While playing, you can earn experience, and put stat points into stats that you want. Want more melee attack? done. Want your normal energy attacks to be stronger? Can do. Need more Health, Ki or Stamina? Done, Done and done.

 

The combat it much more toned down from previous games, and is basically a button masher for Melee, without annoying button combinations for special moves. Your equipped move list is brought up by the R trigger, and pressing any of the 4 normal buttons will activate a selection (assuming you have the Ki for it). "Ultimate" moves have a separate list which is brought up by holding both the L and R triggers.

 

The thing is, the game is not a fighting game. It is an action game based on a fighting series... And the format here works really well. The battles (which can have up to 6 characters... and can range anywhere form 3v3 to 5v1) feel a lot more like in the show, and the arena's can be quite big, so you can really cover a lot of ground by fighting. There's destructible landscape, but not as much as you would expect, given the series.

 

As it is a customizable character, you can equip a variety of clothing pieces and skills that are from the DBZ universe ( and some originals. Mainly clothing). You can get, Body, arms, legs and feet pieces of every character in the game, as well as some characters that do not even appear in the game ( like a some clothing from Dragonball characters like Emperor Pilaf and Commander Red). Unfortunately, there is only a limited few outfits that you can customize the colors for. Basically, anything from an actual character, cannot be changed, Although you do get some generic outfits later like a basic Turtle Hermit Gi, that can be changed. The original outfits you do get however, are not bad, and still look pretty good. All the clothing can also help buff/debuff some of your basic stats There is also an accessories slot for some random it's from Dragonball lore. Like a scouter, sword, hat or even wigs. No stat boosts, just for fun.

 

Skills are a mixture of everything that characters can do in Dragonball... From Ki attacks, to melee combos, powering up, or defensive/Evasion skills. You can equip 4 "Supers", which are the more basic attacks, and only use 1 ki bar to pull off. "Ultimates" require 3 bars, and tend to have a special short cut-scene before use. You can only equip 2 ultimate attacks, and 1 evasive/Defensive. You can mix and match whatever you like. Be all melee, just have energy attacks... From Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo AND Frieza all at once.

 

The campaign is based around time travel. You get chosen by Shenron to help them out. Future Trunks is your boss. There seems to be someone going around and changing history, and someone has to stop it. The campaign missions have some really nicely done CG cut scenes. I should mention here, that you can change the voices to Japanese, as well as English... But any text and name will remain in English ( ie they will say "Mr. Satan, but will read as Hercule). Here's the basic example of a campaign mission: You see Raditz fighting Goku and Piccolo. Gohan tries his rage attack, but something powers up Raditz, and Gohan misses, thus Raditz doesn't take the damage from him, and Raditz kills Gohan. Goku and Piccolo attempt the "Special Beam Cannon" with Goku trying to hold Raditz in place as usual... But Raditz is now too powerful and breaks the hold, meaning Goku takes the hit and dies, but Raditz doesn't. Raditz then kills Piccolo.

 

You warp in just before that all starts. Gohan still misses, but you save Gohan, and join the fight against Raditz, in order to weaken him for the normal ending. Piccolo wonders where you went.

 

This is the kind of thing you do in the campaign. Bad guys get powered up, the fight drastically changes... You come in a bit earlier than the scene you just watched, and try to make it end properly. It SOUNDS repetitive, but it is very interesting to see the changes they make. Then you get introduced to the characters making the changes, and you get some original missions.

 

Along with the campaign, there are "Parallel Quests" that you can do that change things up even more. Like fighting alongside Frieza and defeating the good guys, or Beating up the entire Ginyu force. Repeatedly. Training missions, fighting big fights from the series etc... Some really fun missions. But it is sadly linked to one of the worst parts of the game.

 

You know all those clothing and skills I told you about? The majority are unlocked RANDOMLY from certain missions. Each mission has a list of stuff available in it... But it is almost completely random what you get... And you sometimes get nothing, or a piece of clothing you already have. Thankfully you cannot get copies of the skills. There are stores where you can buy some of them, but you have to play through further in the campaign to start unlocking them. IE: the Super Saiyan ability does not unlock in the store until after you beat the cell games story missions. It appears in the Parallel quest when Goku turns Super Saiyan... But you just might not be lucky enough to get it.

 

There is as well a "Mentor System" in which you can learn some skills from characters. This is actually an easier... But longer way to get some new skills... But they give you a lot of stuff not available elsewhere. Things like Vegetas Final Flash, or Goku's Kamehameha Ultimate attacks can only be acquired through them. Each mentor has 4 levels, and each level gives you an ability. To unlock the next level, you need to 1. Use that ability and 2. Fight along side your mentor. This is pretty easy to do as you can choose 2 helpers when doing offline Parallel Quests. The harder the missions, the quicker they level up ( I believe it is tied to how much exp you get). Each time you need to fight the mentor for the new skill. Once you have their Ultimate skill, if you do not choose a new mentor right away, you can randomly use a boosted version of that skill, and your mentors silhouette will show up with you as you use it, giving it a boost in strength.

 

Unfortunately, the mentor system is locked via level caps... Some mentors cannot be used until you reach certain levels and/or have mastered another mentor. The majority are unlocked before level 30 I believe (Cell being unlocked at 30)... But Goku needs level 70 for some reason. As well, during Parallel Quests, your mentor will sometimes show up if you are having trouble, and become an NPC fighter to help out.

 

The BEST thing though?

 

Online Co-Op for Parallel Quests, and battling. Co-Op can improve almost ANY game. This is true with this as well. It makes a Mediocre Fan Service game, into a Good Fan service game.

 

There is some DLC coming as well, including new campaign and parallel missions from Dragonball GT, as well as new characters and mentors.

 

Overall, while there are some issues, it has a lot of promise, and a lot of it could be tweaked or improved in a sequel. Still, a very fun purchase if you are a Dragonball Z fan, and want something new, but a little simpler than just a fighting game.

[H222G981]

Thanks for sharing this. So many DBZ games are just wash and repeat. But I love the sound of a custom feature. 

[Shin Mefilas]

Yes been playing the game since it came out, it fun.

[H222G981]

Yes been playing the game since it came out, it fun.

 

How good is the customization system any ways?

 

Is there a lot to work with as far as variety goes?

[Matt Bellamy]

Yes been playing the game since it came out, it fun.

 

How good is the customization system any ways?

 

Is there a lot to work with as far as variety goes?

 

The options include, but are slightly different numbers for each race and Gender:

 

Hair - Usually 10+ styles

Eyes - Around 10

Pupils - about 6-8

Nose - About 6-8 (including no nose! lol)

Chin/Mouth - About 10

Ears - About 4-6

Voice - About 10

 

Body Height - 4 options

Body Width - 3 options

 

And a whole lot of color options for hair, eyes and skin colors.

 

So really, a lot of variety.

[Guyver0]

I picked up the game not too long ago.  In some ways I like it and in other ways I am dissapointed.  I love the story and concept behind it, but as you said Matt the game is more action/adventure than fighting.  From that perspective I've become so accustomed to the fighting driven games I am having a hard time adjusting to the less extensive game mechanics that is in place for the fighting sequences.

 

However, I do enjoy the character customization as well.  Heck a lot better than Ultimate Tenkaichi, which wasn't all that ultimate.

[Shin Mefilas]

Yes been playing the game since it came out, it fun.

 

How good is the customization system any ways?

 

Is there a lot to work with as far as variety goes?

 

The options include, but are slightly different numbers for each race and Gender:

 

Hair - Usually 10+ styles

Eyes - Around 10

Pupils - about 6-8

Nose - About 6-8 (including no nose! lol)

Chin/Mouth - About 10

Ears - About 4-6

Voice - About 10

 

Body Height - 4 options

Body Width - 3 options

 

And a whole lot of color options for hair, eyes and skin colors.

 

So really, a lot of variety.

 

This fin gent pritty much sums it up.

 

Their are a lot of different head and hair designs to pick from, although lets be honest nemekiens dont have a lot of veriastion but they did well.

 

My only real complaint with costumes is that you cant change the colour of them exept of the original character ones. 

 

Also you can only pick one one accesories . You have up to 12 different types of scouter (4 Old, 4 Current, 4 New), swords, hats, glasses. You can even have the Z-Sword.

[Shin Mefilas]

Sorry Posted on Wrong Topic. 

Edited March 15, 2015 by Lord Frieza

[H222G981]

Sorry Posted on Wrong Topic. 

 

lol, it happens to the best of us. 

[*PrimalNemesis]

Now that Xenoverse has been released what are the opinions of my fellow Advocates? Do you like the game? What are critiques? If you own the game what are your character builds? What system do you have it on?

[H222G981]

Now that Xenoverse has been released what are the opinions of my fellow Advocates? Do you like the game? What are critiques? If you own the game what are your character builds? What system do you have it on?

 

Trying to decide whether I should get it for PS3 or PS4. I have both consoles so not sure which version I plan on buying. 

[Matt Bellamy]

Whoops!

 

I think I screwed up the Fusion dance slightly...

 

Both Xenoverse topics are now one! (even if I did it backwards!)

[Shin Mefilas]

Whoops!

 

I think I screwed up the Fusion dance slightly...

 

Both Xenoverse topics are now one! (even if I did it backwards!)

 

[Shin Mefilas]

Golden Frieza is going to be part of the 3rd DLC pack for Xenoverse!!!!

 

[H222G981]

Man. Gold Frieza looks really awesome. 

 

Its like Frieza on steroids!!!!!

[Shin Mefilas]

Along with that we are getting:

 

- Jaco as a playable character
- A new mentor
- Five parallel quests
- Thirteen new special moves
- Gohan's sport jersey from Resurrection F as a costume
- Two new accessories from Resurrection F including Tagoma's scouter (Wanted this so badly, almost a much as Golden Frieza)
- Three new Z Souls.

[H222G981]

Okay. I finally got my hands on Xenoverse. My wife bought it for me on the PS4.

 

So, I had to debate. Saiyan...or Frieza clan? Hmmm, so I chose saiyan. 

 

I played in the offline quest mode for a while and hit up level 14. Just wondering? When is my guy going to get to go Super Saiyan? 

 

And what is the level cap?

[H222G981]

Check it out. Gold Frieza is going to be a DLC for Xenoverse. 

 

http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/03/27/golden-frieza-coming-to-dragon-ball-xenoverse