These elements were easy to love in the 90s, thanks to a story and soundtrack that made DBZ one of the most compelling shows on Cartoon Network. But can the series continue its stride in its first PS3 and Xbox 360-exclusive fighter, Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit?

Dragon Ball Real

As an anime game series, you wouldn’t expect to see realistic fighting moves as one of its features. But that’s just what you get in Burst Limit. Before noticing any other gameplay differences – but not before perusing the gorgeous, Blu-ray-quality menus – these classic DBZ warriors will have grabbed your attention.

Android #18, the evil robotic killer, is largely different from her adversaries, having moves that are almost human. Her arms and legs are slightly clunky – not enough to fool a Super Saiyan but just enough to fool someone passing by. At the same time, Gohan and Goku look as though they’ve picked up new fighting styles. Technically they haven’t. Many of their moves are performed with familiar button combos and rolling motions. But instead of a whirlwind of punches, these warriors unleash a host of real-world attacks: footsweeps, roundhouse kicks, grapples/throws, etc. Things that were exaggerated in the anime are now realistic and as a result are more fluid and intense.

This stage looks amazing.

Burst Limit is no quicker than Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but its amenities – the camera, teleportation, the way backgrounds shift during battle – are much improved. The game is no longer bound by the strange, semi-transparent wall that keeps players from leaving the confines of the environment. To counter this alteration, the developers made a new set of stages that create the perception of a wide-open space. This is done with enormous buildings, mountains, foliage, and other graphical wonders that are placed far enough away to make the game feel larger than it actually is. At the same time, the gameplay is more of a fist-to-fist fighter with constant confrontations – as opposed to a fly-around-the-screen, dodge-every-attack experience that the series is known for. You can still dodge aerially and by strafing, but the whole game feels less hyper.

As a fan of the Budokai Tenkaichi gameplay, I wouldn’t have been intrigued to know this before playing Burst Limit. More than likely, I would have been turned off. Experiencing it firsthand in the game, however, turned out to be a reward of physical and visual proportions. It’s not a mind-blowing fighting game, but it is an eye-popping evolution of a series that’s approaching its 10th birthday.

 
Smell-the-fart acting at its best.

New Chronicles, Same Story

By now you probably know the story of Dragon Ball Z. You know Goku’s true heritage, that assassins came looking for him, and how nearly every main character has died and been revived more times than the cast of a soap opera.

If once, twice, a dozen times are never enough, you’ll get to relive that experience all over again in Burst Limit’s new Z Chronicles mode. Missions/chapters are separated by individual battles, which include not only our famed heroes but the villains as well. This means you’ll get the chance to play as Frieza, Vegeta, the androids and other villains in the same battles they fought on Cartoon Network.

Sounds just like Budokai Tenkaichi, doesn’t it? There are a few differences: real-time intros, improved sound quality, and the addition of scenes that occur mid-battle. That latter element is a mixed blessing. I like how the characters come to life during battle, talking and reacting to every situation. However, these scenes pull you away from the gameplay, sometimes in the middle of a charging Ki Blast (but never in the middle of a combo, thankfully). And unlike the intro and battle conclusion sequences, mid-battle scenes cannot be skipped. This was likely justified by their extremely short length (8 to 10 seconds at most), but it’s still a minor irritation when all you want to do is fight.

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit doesn’t stray far from its PlayStation 2 roots. Subtle differences are the primary feature – the rest is somewhat expected. If you’re a DBZ fan, the upgrades are enough to warrant a purchase; but if you’re just a fighting fan that’s already played the series to death, you might want to wait for SoulCalibur IV or the next Mortal Kombat. Either way, Burst Limit is a solid rental.