Dragon Ball FighterZ
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About Dragon Ball FighterZ
Arc System Works dropped Dragon Ball FighterZ in January 2018 to bring the manga's chaotic energy into a modern fighting game. Bandai Namco handled publishing for this 2D arena brawler available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The game features a massive roster of characters from the Dragon Ball franchise including Z Fighters, villains, and even cameo appearances. It runs on their trademark Anisette engine which prioritizes fluid movement and cinematic special attacks over traditional grappling mechanics. Players jump right into fast-paced combat that feels distinct from other 2D brawlers by emphasizing team dynamics and screen-clearing explosions rather than slow, methodical zoning.
Gameplay
You build a team of three fighters to battle in a three-on-three tag system. Your main goal involves managing character health bars while switching partners during combos to extend damage or escape pressure. The core loop relies on precise execution of normals that link into supers which often play out as scripted cinematic sequences with dramatic camera angles. A typical session involves selecting your active fighter and waiting for the opponent to commit to an attack before punishing them with a chain. You can perform assists by calling in your benchwarmers to grab or push the enemy, creating openings for heavy damage. Controls feel responsive with inputs registering instantly even during high-speed exchanges where screen effects obscure the fighters.
What Players Think
Critics and players agree this is one of the best 2D fighters available since its launch. Metacritic sits at 86 while IGDB users rate it 85.6 based on 234 ratings. PlayPile data shows the community mood leans heavily toward satisfaction with an average completion rate that suggests many finish the story mode. The game has seen a historical low price of $8.49 on Gamesplanet making it accessible for new players. Achievement hunters find it challenging since only 17.4% unlock every trophy on average. The rarest task is "Just Looking" which requires a specific interaction and has an unlock rate of just 1.30 percent. Most reviews praise the visual fidelity and netcode performance over time.
PlayPile's Take
Dragon Ball FighterZ works well for people who want fast action without complex execution barriers compared to older fighters. The $8.49 price point makes it a solid value given the amount of content available including training modes and arcade stages. You will spend most of your time trying to master assist timings rather than memorizing long strings of commands. The achievement system provides a reason to keep playing after beating the story if you enjoy grinding for that 100 percent completion. Fans of anime fighting games should pick this up immediately while others might wait for a deeper sale. It stands as a technical marvel in its genre without needing excessive polish to feel great.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
85.6
RAWG Rating
4.1
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