Since its debut in 1984, Dragon Ball has slowly percolated throughout cultures around the world. From martial artists like Jackie Chan and Ronda Rousey to X-Factor finalists and football players, fans of the series are everywhere. Even Dragon Ball’s creator Akira Toriyama doesn’t quite understand its popularity. But for all the distance the franchise covered — manga, televised animation, films, merchandise (and more) — it wasn’t until this year that fans got a video game that genuinely captured the series’ attitude and frantic aesthetic.
In just six months, Dragon Ball FighterZ (DBFZ) has gone from the fastest-selling Dragon Ball title to leading registration numbers at EVO 2018, the year’s largest championship series to determine the top players within the fighting game community. Hype aside, DBFZ forfeits execution as a gameplay cornerstone in exchange for visual interest. Simplicity in controls isn’t a bad thing, though; as a result, it’s quickly becoming one of the most expressive, cinematic fighters out there.
Battles, much like the show, are equal parts performance, struggle, and awe. Shifts in power and control swing back and forth between players, and each match paints a beautiful rendition of each character’s best moments in action.
Source: Destructoid Dragon Ball FighterZ feels like competitive performance art