Developed to fully utilize the power of current generation gaming consoles, Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 builds upon the highly popular Dragon Ball Xenoverse with enhanced graphics that will further immerse players into the largest and most detailed Dragon Ball world ever developed. Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 will deliver a new hub city and the most character customization choices to date among a multitude of new features and special upgrades.
Dragon Ball Z is my favorite anime of all time. I know many people feel the exact same. As a result, I have played my fair share of Dragon Ball Z games such as the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Compared to previous Dragon Ball Z games Dragon Ball Xenoverse was hands down the best by far. Anyone who is a big fan of the series, including myself, is going to have high expectations. Not just game will do if it is going to have the DBZ name. To date, Xenoverse is the best-selling game in the history of the series. When you decide to release another one expectations will be at an all-time high.
The big question I had for the second is how is it any different than the first? Was there even a point to releasing another? Yes, there are many things that are different in this one and have improved. Just like in the first one you can create your own character, customize it, and pick the race you want. Now each race has their own transformation they can use in battle. The Saiyans can go up to SS3, Frieza’s race can go golden, Humans can use the flying nimbus and use the pole Goku had in Dragonball, Namekians can grow very large in size, and the Majins can turn into kid buu. Why should the Saiyans have all the fun right? I think it’s only fair that each race has some fun yet helpful transformation skill in battle.
Another change that was made is that the hub world was redesigned. The hub world was in my opinion, confusing in the first one. Now it is more functional, sleeker, and better organized. Another welcome change is that there are more options when it comes to customizing your character. This time the game dives right into character creating right off the bat. Then after that, the story begins. The story starts off from when Bardock and the other Saiyans were trying to stand up to Frieza. Just like in the first one someone has been messing with the DBZ timeline. New characters make an appearance and some old ones that have only appeared in the movies such as Turles. After the story intro, each race has a different starting point in the game.
Let me just say that the graphics were amazing before, they are even better in the second one. I didn’t think it was possible for the graphics to improve but they did it. The colors are bright and don’t have a muted look to them. Each outfit, race, background, and character stands out. I love the dimension that they brought to all the colors used in the game. The over-the-top special attacks really stand out and have a 3D look to them. Just about everything in this game glistens and sparkles. The best graphics I have seen any game.
The combat system is pretty much like that in the anime. Unlike games like Mortal Kombat where it is a one-on-one fight in Xenoverse 2, it can be multiple people fighting all at once in the same 3D space. You can start off fighting one enemy then immediately switch to a different enemy that was fighting someone else on your team. Just because you were fighting someone else doesn’t mean you are immune to other enemies standing by you. You can end up getting hit from multiple angles all at once. Definitely more realistic and more interesting than typical arcade style fighting. What I love about Xenoverse 2 is that instead of a typical arcade-style setup where you pick your character, your enemy, and backdrop then fight it says no to all of that.
Instead what you get is to pick your character then you are dropped into a DBZ fight from the timeline. It is a treat to not only getting to witness a fight from the anime as it happens but getting to experience it for yourself is even better. That’s what every fan loves about these games. Unlike standard arcade fighting games where your fights don’t matter at all in this game they do. Your fighting helps to develop the story. The more fights you take on from the timeline the more the story progress. If you need a break from that you can go explore the time patrol hub, train with a master of your choice from the anime or take on a parallel quest. The parallel quests allow you to take on missions with other players online.
This is a great game if you are a fan. If you aren’t a fan of the series and have never watched the anime you might not enjoy the game. Xenoverse 2 automatically takes it for granted that you know who the characters are, the movies, and the various sagas from the timeline. It would also make it harder to pick a race for your character. Another criticism I have about the game is that a lot of the villains we fought in the first one we fight again. Why would I want to battle Raditz when I already did in the first one? A lot of features got improved from the first one, ones that didn’t work got taken out, and new characters got added. Even though Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 isn’t perfect it is definitely a must have for any fan of the series. A lot of new things were added to the game that don’t make it feel like it just another run of the first one.
