Dragon Ball games have never been consistently good, but the Xenoverse series has been fairly good, impressing critics and fans alike. As a role-playing game (and fighting game, especially), Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is not on the same level as Dragon Ball Fighter Z, but it’s still fun in its own right.
The last game, Xenoverse 2, was released in 2016, and there has been little word on whether the developers, Dimps, are working on a sequel. However, with the commercial success of Xenoverse 2 and how the entire Dragon Ball franchise is famous around the world, it’s just a matter of time.
When they make the sequel, there are a few things we think they should address to improve the game and elevate it to the status of a game like Fighter Z. These include changes that affect the game modes, gameplay and character roster.
10 New Races
In Dragon Ball Xenoverse 1 and 2, just five races were featured: the Frieza Race, Namekians, Majins, Humans and Saiyans. Granted, these races felt unique in both appearance and play style. However, adding a couple more races would make the sequels infinitely better. The developers can include races like Angels—with a fan-favorite character like Whis—Majins or Androids. All of these races are powerful, although the Angels are a little too overpowered. Plus the Androids have been part of Dragon Ball for decades, and deserve to be included, if only to please fans of the anime and manga.
9 Focus on Dragon Ball Super
Dragon Ball Z is the most popular series in the franchise, and it’s the main reason that Dragon Ball has become such a household name around the world. So, it makes sense that the two Xenoverse games focused on DBZ. In the story part of those games, the action started from the fight with Raditz, and it continued until it covered most of DBZ, right until the fight against Majin Buu. Dimps did add some original content, but it wasn’t too much.
Xenoverse 3 should focus on the continuation, Dragon Ball Super—let's just assume that Dragon Ball GT never happened.
8 Should Feel Like a Sequel
Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 was a much better game than its predecessor. However, it felt more like an expansion pack—a sizable one, though—than a full-fledged sequel. There simply wasn’t enough new content, or enough improvements to the game, to justify the price tag.
This is why Xenoverse 3 should feel like a proper sequel. For starters, Dimps should include new maps to the game; especially if they use content from Dragon Ball Super. They should also provide a longer story with branching paths, improve the multiplayer aspect and add new characters. In the case of Xenoverse 3, bigger can--and should--be better.
7 Improve Drop Rates
It’s no secret that the drop rates for Parallel Quests in Dragon Ball Xenoverse are annoying; especially for the first Xenoverse game. In Parallel Quests, you have to grind to get some of the best loot. However, it is way too much work, and far too repetitive, to be anything less than a chore.
This is one of the areas Dimps should really improve because for now, only the most diehard players are spending time in Parallel Quests. They should drastically increase the drop rates and make this mode feel less of a grind than the other games.
6 Branching Storylines
The first Xenoverse was as linear as video games can get, but the second one did try to introduce branching paths within the story. However, players soon learned that these paths didn’t actually change the story; the game was still linear, but with a few changes in dialogue.
For players to get more invested in the story of Xenoverse 3, Dimps should make the story more like a traditional story-based RPG. The more player choices influence the story, the more invested they will be, and the more likely they will replay the game. This should increase its shelf life, like RPGs such as The Witcher and Skyrim.
5 One Currency
In most games coming out nowadays, microtransactions have become the norm. Dragon Ball Xenoverse is no different. The game comes with two currencies for players, which allow them to buy new moves, cosmetic items and more. They include TP medals, which can end pretty fast if you’re in a shopping mood, and Zeni, which are easily available.
For Xenoverse 3, it would make sense for there to be only one currency. This will minimize confusion and make it easier for players to purchase in-game items. However, the developers should avoid adding transactions to the game.
4 Improved Online
The online experience in Xenoverse 2 was not the best. There were some abilities you could use offline that you couldn’t online, and this was pretty frustrating for a lot of players. Dimps should pay attention to this so that players don’t feel like they aren’t utilizing their characters’ full abilities when online.
Dimps should also ensure that the servers are stable, and ideally, we should see more online modes so that the game doesn’t get stale after a few months. Online lobbies should not be empty in a game like this, but people will only keep playing online if they are having enough fun.
3 Rebalance the Races
The Saiyans have always had the most transformations in Dragon Ball; and it was necessary, or Goku and co would never have been able to defeat all those villains. However, the games have focused almost too much on the Saiyans. Their tool kit is massive compared to the other races.
For Xenoverse 3, it would make sense for the developers to create a somewhat level playing field. It’s not possible for this to be canon—after all, no other race from the two games can compare to a Super Saiyan—but this will provide an important balance.
2 Upgrade Combos
In the Xenoverse games, the combo moves you start with will remain the same throughout the game. This makes fighting become a chore pretty fast, unless you don’t mind seeing the same move over and over again.
A decent addition would be an upgraded move list. This way, the player can create new, more powerful combo attacks as the game progresses. It will make the combat constantly feel fresh, and can even encourage players to replay the game. Furthermore, players can become more immersed in the gameplay if the combos become more challenging and fun.
1 Introduce Fusion
Fusion is one of the most interesting abilities in the Dragon Ball franchise, where two characters merge together to become one who is twice as powerful and has both of their personalities. Fusion appeared in the Dragon Ball video games with the release of Dragon Ball Fusions. A Nintendo 3DS game, Fusions allowed players to fuse a character from the game with their own avatar, to create a new character with unique abilities.
A system like this can work wonders for Xenoverse 3. With the depth of customization already in the game, fusion can make it so much cooler.