Okay, so how many DBZ games have there been? Some have been a great addition to the franchise, while others have not been as successful. However, it looks like Dragon Ball FighterZ may be the answer that Bandai is looking for. This game has had anime and gaming fans alike waiting in anticipation since footage of the trailer emerged at E3 in 2017. Speculation arose about who would be included in the game, what type of abilities would be available, and what would the primary storyline be. Rumors hit a fever pitch when a new character, Android 21 was introduced. A connection between the new Android and Android 16 was revealed, and this was enough for some to piece together the story.
For some, waiting for this game has seemed like an eternity, but finally, FighterZ is here and ready for you to spend your Saturday morning, afternoon, and even evening in a binge. The game looks great, with early playthroughs by popular YouTube streamers revealing a blend of realistic anime graphics with colorful video game stylings. Along with the excitement about the characters included, the game also promised to have dramatic moments. These cutscenes would take gamers back to some of the most iconic moments in the DBZ franchise when they paired certain players against others. Millennials and Gen Xers love some nostalgia, so it seems like the developers have hit a slam dunk in this regard. There is a lot to unravel about this game, so check out our 25 amazing things you didn’t know you could do in DBZ FighterZ.
25 A Volleyball Match Of Olympic Proportions
The Olympics are a blast, and a favorite fan sport is understandably volleyball. During the match, someone will spike the ball and send it flying over (or into) the opposing team. The athletes that participate in this sport are impressive, but there is a pair that is even more fun to watch during a “game” of volleyball. In FighterZ, there is a secret special attack that Gotenks can only do with Piccolo.
It is a pretty cool move that shows the iconic pair.
Using a particular combo, Piccolo will lay up a ball for Gotenks to spike to hit an enemy. It is like a blend of furious dodgeball with the insane velocity of beach volleyball. It is a pretty cool move that shows the iconic pair. How cool would this be if this was an Olympic sport?
24 Relive The Drama Of Goku
Some people may be sick of talking about the “Face of the Dragon Ball Z franchise,” but no one can deny that Goku is a beast. He is everyone’s favorite hero, and one reason is that he knows how to pull off finishing moves that make viewers and players alike take a double take. During specific battles in the game, there are secret dramatic cut scenes that occur. When Goku finishes Freiza during one particular super move, a cutscene will happen that references a significant event that occurred during the show. This one just so happens to be the most famous of all time. The moment in this game revealed when Goku turned Super Saiyan for the first time. So, grab some popcorn and walk down memory lane.
23 Catch Him If You Can
While attacks can be used to hurt enemies, if players are smart, they can also use them as a way to move around the screen. Beerus has a high mid-air kick that can slash the opponent. However, this is a great way to get away and dodge the attacks of other enemies and stay in the air for an extended amount of time. Players can use the characters legs to float around the screen and ward off future attacks. Playing games like these are all about finding hacks that can be exploited to make the victory even easier. You are as good as what you know to get out of a sticky situation. Therefore, it is important to notice how players move and how special moves can be used for other purposes.
22 #RelationshipGoals
Some of the most refreshing and most understated characters in the Dragon Ball Z universe are Android 18 and 17. They share a familial bond as twin siblings. Their skill and bond together can be exploited when players know who to pair them with. The two can work in tandem even more efficiently when Krillin, Android 18’s husband, joins the team.
It is a family affair when players match all three of these players together.
Opponents will not know what hit them. One of the coolest features about Android 18 is that her brother is the character who assists her during matches. Adding in Krillin is the key to pulling off a sibling victory of epic proportions. Instead of fighting with your sibling, team up to form an unbeatable team in the same vein as Android 18 and 17.
21 Don’t Mess With Gohan
Okay, so Gohan is one of the most controversial and scrutinized characters in the DBZ universe. Many refer to him as “trash” and a disappointment to his powerful father. However, some feel that people are not fair to the masterful Super Saiyan’s offspring. He always has to live in the shadow of a father who was never there for him. Heck! Piccolo has been more of a father to this guy then Goku. Therefore, there are a lot of reasons why Gohan may not be on the most potent spectrum of DBZ characters. However, FighterZ does his character justice by giving him a significant cut scene dramatic moment. Playing him against Cell Saga triggers a cutscene that shows the young adult Gohan going Super Saiyan for the first time.
20 Are You Pulling My Leg?
This entry is very much like the Beerus one from earlier. Again, it is essential to know the talents and range of each character. They may have some surprising usages that you never thought of before. Kid Buu is one fast player, and he is also incredibly flexible. Players probably don’t know that they can move through the air by stretching Kid Buu’s leg. Not only can it be used as an attack, but it can move players high through the air. He is unforgiving in his attacks, and knowing this can help create a split second of separation between you and the opponent to pull off a super. A pretty impressive trait for the pink nuisance. While many players will probably go to Goku or Vegeta, they are missing out on some great characteristics with Kid Buu.
19 Wiped From The Universe
Like him or hate him, Lord Beerus has s swag about himself that can’t be denied. He is as sly as his breed reveals, and his sarcastic quips are as sharp as his attacks. If you play him against Goku Black, it will spur an iconic scene that is sure to make players take a double take. If players make a finishing move as Beerus on Goku Black, then Beerus will wipe him from existence. Against the regular Goku, Beerus just completes the finishing move, but against Goku Black, players are in for a stunning scene where Goku turns into purple shards that fade away. Beerus also makes a statement acknowledging who is pulling the strings behind Goku Black, Zamasu. Pretty insightful for an intergalactic cat.
18 Frustrate Opponents With Orbs
The alien characters in this game have moves and special attacks that rival some of the best. Want stretching limbs and long-range grabs? Check out characters like Piccolo, Kid Buu, and Majin Buu. Related to this fact, Piccolo has a special attack that allows him to send out homing orbs. What makes this attack have a secret edge is that not only does it hurt enemies, it will block most attacks they throwback. These homing balls can protect Piccolo all the way across the screen. The character does have to watch out for some potent attacks that opponents may throw out, but for the most part, Piccolo has an excellent defense in this mysterious energy orbs. Again, the strategy to mastering opponents is knowing their weaknesses and how your player can capitalize on it.
17 And Then There Were Three
A family that fights together stays together. This is on display in FighterZ for one of Gohan’s dramatic finishes that happens after a super. While Gohan is fighting Kid Buu, he pulls off a legendary move. The Adult Gohan will call upon his family to help him pull off an epic finishing move on the slippery Kid Buu. Gohan will then be joined by the Super Saiyan versions of, Gotenks and Goku to deliver the final blow. Honestly, how cool is this?
Actually, this is probably the most interaction Gohan has had with his dad in the whole DBZ franchise.
Fighting with your cocky younger brother and legendary (but absent) father is pretty amazing. Okay, we will lay off Goku and his lousy parenting duties, but seriously….they are really really terrible.
16 An Iconic Moment
Oh, Trunks! The future traveler and more understated (but still deadly) character in the franchise. He is vicious and savvy. He also has a pretty cool cutscene that gamers will enjoy. Players can match up Trunks and Frieza for one of the most iconic moments in the DBZ franchise. If Trunks KOs him, players can trigger the memorable scene when Trunks went Super Saiyan for the first time. What is cool about this is that Trunks finished the move by remarking that Goku isn’t the only person in the group who can go Super Saiyan. Which in turn implies that Goku isn’t the only star of the show. Hear that Goku? Trunks may be gunning for your position. Thank goodness for this game, because we can set up a match-up for these two.
15 Help From The Dark Side
So, let’s get this fact out of the way, Goku Black is a beast. He is known for giving Future Trunks a run for his money in the original DBZ series. He is evil and intimidating. The one thing about this character is that his timeline is so confusing: present Goku, Future Bulma, Future Trunks…altered timelines…it’s a lot to process. However, in FighterZ his aim is simple: destroy enemies at any and all costs. One of his specialties is the Black Kamehameha, power blasts that can drain an opponent’s health bar. What many players probably don’t know is that if they do the binding version of this attack which takes a little more time, Zamasu will sneak from the back and hold the opponent so he cannot defend the attack.
14 Stay Tuned For The Battle Of The Gods…
If you have not already gathered this from the previous entries, this game is meant for hardcore DBZ fans. It is flexible enough that anyone can jump in and start playing, even if you are not a fan of the DBZ franchise. However, there are references to storylines and legendary battles that will cause any fan to “geek out.” This one, in particular, is sure to jog a few memories. Players can pull out their popcorn to witness Beerus defeat Goku just like he did in Battle of the Gods. Players just need to KO him on the space stage and wait for the magic to happen. The best way to win over fans is to appeal to nostalgia, and the developers of this game have probably figured that out.
13 Break Away From Auto Combos
There is nothing worse in a game when players have to deal with features that seem unchangeable. Flexibility and customization are always preferred, and players have a right to control their gaming experience so that it best suits their play. Developers for FighterZ did not miss the memo on this, and they created a way to allow players to get away from having to use auto combos. Auto-combos may seem like there is no way out of them. However, players can get away from these combos by pressing backward while performing the chained moves to disable them. This means players can also perform light attacks while better controlling their combo process. This will come in handy when you are facing an unpredictable foe that is highly mobile.
12 Get Unpredictable With Krillin
Krillin, the good-natured and spunky life-long friend of Goku, is a pretty decent character to fight within FighterZ. He may seem average at the outset, but he has an ability that most other characters do not have in the game. All players can pull off a Ki blast, which is a shot of energy players can direct at the opponent. The problem with this ability is that its direction cannot be altered, it always moves straight. What many players don’t know is that Krillin’s blast can be directed if they press the special button for the character while summoning the Ki blast. This will make his burst more unpredictable to opponents. See, Krillin is useful for something other than being Goku’s sidekick and Android 18’s main squeeze.
11 Transfer Dragon Balls To The Next Character
It is so easy to forget why we are all here. Why does DBZ exist in the first place? The fights are cool, and the Super Saiyan transformation is always fun to witness. Heck, even the awkward and often misplaced humor is a hallmark of the show. However, the franchise initially began so that Goku could capture all seven Dragon Balls to make a wish. FighterZ has brought this to the game. Players can attract Dragon Balls by rapidly setting off auto combos (so they are necessary in some respects for a valuable reason). What players don’t know is that even if they die their Dragon Balls can be transferred to the next character. The only stipulation is that this handoff can only happen three times.
10 Summon Shenron
Again, let’s not forget who holds the cards here. Shenron is the “Eternal Dragon,” that can grant characters a wish for capturing all the Dragon Balls in the series. He is nice only to a point. The guy (or dragon) lost his temper when someone took a little too long to make a wish…so you might want to have your choice already made before summoning him. Once players gain all seven Dragon Balls and perform an auto combo, they can then summon Shenron. Players can have their health restored, revive an ally, or become immortal. All three sound like a sweet deal. Some early players have said that summoning Shenron is rare in the game, and can be challenging to pull off. However, from the sound of the rewards, it is worth a try.
9 Frieza…Giving Lebron A Run For His Money
Frieza, there are not many other characters in the DBZ universe that are as sadistic and ruthless as this guy. Many Saiyans have lost their lives due to this bulbous headed villain. FighterZ has done a great job of making sure they keep the viciousness that goes along with his battle style.
Frieza has a unique collection of attacks, and one is his Death Ball.
Just like a basketball player, Frieza jumps up in the air, creates a substantial purple orb resembling a basketball on fire, and he dunks the sphere on unsuspecting players. It is a complicated and lengthy button combo, so it would take a second for players to find out about this one. His form is so good while releasing this attack that he should have thought about a career in the NBA.
8 You Know What…I Hate You
Bet you didn’t know that the easiest super does not reside with Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, or Piccolo. The pink terror, Majin Buu, holds this honor. Not only does he have one of the most straightforward and most potent supers around, but the title may also be one of the most fitting in the game. He has the only super that covers the entire screen with “You Know What…I Hate You.” The power sends off a furious blast that hurts anyone on the screen no matter where they are. It is quite comical to behold. Majin Buu stops, begins to throw a screaming tantrum, and pink thunder rains from the sky. The developers knocked it out of the park with this one. It is all fun and games until you are on the opposite side of this powerful super. You will likely be shouting the title of the move to your enemy after it is all said and done.
7 He Saw Fireworks
As stated before, there is more than meets the eye with it comes to Krillin. He is one bad dude, albeit short and bald (can’t have everything right?). For those who totally hate Nappa for what he did to Yamcha, they can get some nice sweet revenge on the guy. Players can trigger a secret dramatic scene when Krillin is fighting Nappa and his minions. Krillin will spur fireworks that roast every person on the screen, clearing the way to take on Nappa alone. This guy is full of surprises.
We like an understated underdog.
While everyone else is picking Goku, Vegeta, or Beerus catch them off guard with Krillin. Nine times out of ten, they will not have played him enough to know the tricks up his sleeve.
6 Is The Terminator In This Game?
Ah, Android 16! The once evil android who was shown to have a heart of gold and love for nature. He was undoubtedly a surprise fan favorite, but let’s not forget how much of a warrior this guy (or robot) is. He possesses one of the most powerful but also challenging supers to master in the game. One of the most complex supers is Android 16’s Hell Flash: Full Power. The player has to grab the opponent and then connect a tricky string of buttons to produce rocket launchers in his arms to blast the player. It is difficult to pull off because each button push has to be timed just right. If you can master Android 16’s powerful rocket launcher arms, then opponents will be begging for mercy.