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| The Entertainment Review |
| Genre: Fighting Developer: Namco Bandai Publisher: Namco Bandai |
Most of the games in the Dragon Ball series that have appeared on the Nintendo Wii have come in the form of the later more grown up
series of Dragon Ball Z. This time around the game is based on the classic Dragon Ball titles featuring a younger version of Goku and
the rest of the characters and the story revolves around the Dragon Balls. Collect all seven and the legend says that a dragon will
emerge and grant players whatever wish they desire. With characters and style based on the original series, players will get a more
comedic take on the franchise, similar to what Nintendo DS players have experienced with “Dragon Ball: Origins.” In the end the
games of the Dragon Ball series consist of Goku being crazy beating the crap out of a bunch of guys and then moving onto the next level.
The latest release in the series, “Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo” is a pure action fighter. The game is comprised of stages
within a variety of worlds, a single player campaign that consists of roughly six hours of running, jumping and taking out a variety of
enemies throughout each level. As a little bit of a hook, different combinations can be executed by holding up or down on the control
stick at the end of a string of attacks, sending certain enemies across the screen in a stunning finish, or popping them up in the air. For
each of these attacks, Goku is able to execute a speed dash by tapping the Z button. When hitting enemies into a pop up, the screen
zooms in, adds a few speed lines and Goku knocks out the enemy with a couple of finishing blows.
During mini-boss and main boss encounters large attacks are usually followed with a few resting frames by the enemies which is
when Goku can speed in and use a dash attack to fight back. When it comes to projectiles and other in level objects, seeking not only
kicks back any launched weapons, but it also gives Goku an extra double jump. It all may sound like it could be quite a bit chaotic, but
with only one button to worry about, seeking battles and level traversal become as much about running around the world as they are
regular button mashing combination game play. It is a nice little hook to pull in players.
“Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo” is geared much more towards a younger audience and because of this it has a few issues with
repetition. Each stage of the game is fairly similar to the previous, including eight hidden treasures per world, a few short branching
paths, and a little story in between each mission. Unfortunately, while the game does have a nice opening sequence and offers players
some very well produced voice work in both English and Japanese, it doesn’t carry out through the entirety of the game. Short mission
briefs are voiced and specific story pieces will also get voice work, but the game also break into moments that tend to get to be a little bit
heavy with text, especially when the target audience in young children.
Outside of the main story mode, which is essentially a couple of hours of side scrolling fighting, there isn’t a lot more to the package
once players are finished. Cash can be earned while playing through each level, which will allow players to unlock content in the game’
s shop, but the purchases are very simple. Players will get a model viewer, music section, voice player and a list of a dozen upgrades
for Goku while playing through the single player mode. Most of these are buffers such as increased health bars and more. The
Tournament mode is a two player fighting game that is adapted off the core game’s combination model, putting two players against
each other in a more arena based design. The camera is zoomed in closer to models, each player has a guard break gauge outside of
their main health and super meter, but the combinations are simplified from the main game, removing the ability to seek with the Z
button. Younger gamers will have a good time jumping in and smashing away at the buttons, but with one combo button and a super
meter it really just turns into a game of attack versus block and will be way too simple for any hardcore players. For those expecting a
more in-depth game will be quite disappointed.
There was nothing wrong with a good fighting game, and that is exactly what “Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is. Combining
classic two dimensional arcade brawling with a simple fighting game mechanics for two player support, the latest addition to the
Dragon Ball franchise is a fairly polished and well executed game. Younger players will love the humor and simplicity of the game,
while those that are more hardcore fans of the series will appreciate the game’s lock-on mechanic which adds a bit of depth to an
otherwise simple package. Players need to remember that the Dragon Ball series is for a younger audience than the Dragon Ball Z
games. This game will appeal more to the gaming crowd that watches Saturday morning cartoons. However, for those hardcore
gamers that still find themselves watching Saturday morning cartoon, this simple designed game may still fit pack a punch.
series of Dragon Ball Z. This time around the game is based on the classic Dragon Ball titles featuring a younger version of Goku and
the rest of the characters and the story revolves around the Dragon Balls. Collect all seven and the legend says that a dragon will
emerge and grant players whatever wish they desire. With characters and style based on the original series, players will get a more
comedic take on the franchise, similar to what Nintendo DS players have experienced with “Dragon Ball: Origins.” In the end the
games of the Dragon Ball series consist of Goku being crazy beating the crap out of a bunch of guys and then moving onto the next level.
The latest release in the series, “Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo” is a pure action fighter. The game is comprised of stages
within a variety of worlds, a single player campaign that consists of roughly six hours of running, jumping and taking out a variety of
enemies throughout each level. As a little bit of a hook, different combinations can be executed by holding up or down on the control
stick at the end of a string of attacks, sending certain enemies across the screen in a stunning finish, or popping them up in the air. For
each of these attacks, Goku is able to execute a speed dash by tapping the Z button. When hitting enemies into a pop up, the screen
zooms in, adds a few speed lines and Goku knocks out the enemy with a couple of finishing blows.
During mini-boss and main boss encounters large attacks are usually followed with a few resting frames by the enemies which is
when Goku can speed in and use a dash attack to fight back. When it comes to projectiles and other in level objects, seeking not only
kicks back any launched weapons, but it also gives Goku an extra double jump. It all may sound like it could be quite a bit chaotic, but
with only one button to worry about, seeking battles and level traversal become as much about running around the world as they are
regular button mashing combination game play. It is a nice little hook to pull in players.
“Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo” is geared much more towards a younger audience and because of this it has a few issues with
repetition. Each stage of the game is fairly similar to the previous, including eight hidden treasures per world, a few short branching
paths, and a little story in between each mission. Unfortunately, while the game does have a nice opening sequence and offers players
some very well produced voice work in both English and Japanese, it doesn’t carry out through the entirety of the game. Short mission
briefs are voiced and specific story pieces will also get voice work, but the game also break into moments that tend to get to be a little bit
heavy with text, especially when the target audience in young children.
Outside of the main story mode, which is essentially a couple of hours of side scrolling fighting, there isn’t a lot more to the package
once players are finished. Cash can be earned while playing through each level, which will allow players to unlock content in the game’
s shop, but the purchases are very simple. Players will get a model viewer, music section, voice player and a list of a dozen upgrades
for Goku while playing through the single player mode. Most of these are buffers such as increased health bars and more. The
Tournament mode is a two player fighting game that is adapted off the core game’s combination model, putting two players against
each other in a more arena based design. The camera is zoomed in closer to models, each player has a guard break gauge outside of
their main health and super meter, but the combinations are simplified from the main game, removing the ability to seek with the Z
button. Younger gamers will have a good time jumping in and smashing away at the buttons, but with one combo button and a super
meter it really just turns into a game of attack versus block and will be way too simple for any hardcore players. For those expecting a
more in-depth game will be quite disappointed.
There was nothing wrong with a good fighting game, and that is exactly what “Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo is. Combining
classic two dimensional arcade brawling with a simple fighting game mechanics for two player support, the latest addition to the
Dragon Ball franchise is a fairly polished and well executed game. Younger players will love the humor and simplicity of the game,
while those that are more hardcore fans of the series will appreciate the game’s lock-on mechanic which adds a bit of depth to an
otherwise simple package. Players need to remember that the Dragon Ball series is for a younger audience than the Dragon Ball Z
games. This game will appeal more to the gaming crowd that watches Saturday morning cartoons. However, for those hardcore
gamers that still find themselves watching Saturday morning cartoon, this simple designed game may still fit pack a punch.
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