The impossible has happened. We are are living in an era where high quality anime video games are a commonplace occurance. Gone are the years of disappointing games like Samurai Champloo : Sidetracked , Inuyasha: Secret of the Divine Jewel , and Zatch Bell: Mamodo Battles . We’re getting games based on animes that are worth playing, and none is so exemplary a specimen as Dragon Ball XenoVerse .
If you haven’t heard of it and you frequently play games, then there’s a good chance you’ve been in a bubble the past few days. Dragon Ball XenoVerse is a hybrid delight. Difficult to categorize, it’s easiest to simplify and say that it’s pure wish fulfillment. It touches on so many bases, and while that may seem a recipe for disaster, it works here.
I believe Dragon Ball XenoVerse ‘s success stems from its unique purpose. This isn’t a game where people are rehashing the same old stories and fights. Instead, it’s playing off of that formula by tasking people with righting timelines gone awry so things can return to the established order. Players make their own saiyans and take on an array of missions to ensure time flows as it should. The good succeed, the bad get their comeuppance, and players are rewarded with a plethora of what-if situations that make them see what the established canon would have been like had one thing changed. (As an aside, I’m 100% looking forward to the fanfiction scenarios Dragon Ball XenoVerse will inevitably spawn.)
However, the importance of creating your own saiyan is an element that can not be underplayed. These characters are iconic. At one point, we’ve all wished we could be the superheroes we’ve idolized. Dragon Ball XenoVerse allows that, especially since it offers five different races to choose from. Your custom avatar matters. Instead of being some odd-man-out tossed into the works while the real heroes do important things, you’re a critical part of the action.
The way in which Dragon Ball XenoVerse is handled is important too. The action (and even mild RPG) elements tend to get the focus, which makes it okay that the fighting systems aren’t as in-depth as previous Dragon Ball Z games. The inclusion of both single and multiplayer elements ensure a better shelf life for the game, meaning people can still derive joy from it even after the initial popularity fades.
Indeed, the concept of Dragon Ball XenoVerse as a whole seems designed to craft an experience that could be enjoyed for as long as possible. While previous Dragon Ball games focused on fighting could easily fade into obscurity once a newer iteration appeared or the gameplay gimmick aged, this installment feels like one that will continue to deliver value over time.
It’s delightful to see Dragon Ball get such a wonderful game. The series holds a fond place in the hearts of so many. It’s only fitting that it gets Dragon Ball XenoVerse , the game it deserves. Let’s all celebrate by being saiyans together.