Of the popular anime series out there, few are as perfect for video game adaptations asDragon Ball Z.Akira Toriyama’s immensely successful shonen series has been around for three decades, but its popularity is as present as ever. This is something Bandai Namco must be happy about, as it is able to pump out a consistent line of games based on the popular IP. This trend continues with the recent announcment ofDragon Ball: The Breakers.
Unlike most games related to the series that allow players to take control of the most powerful fighters in the universe,Dragon Ball: The Breakerstakes a much different approach. The game will be an asymmetrical multiplayer project where players control regular civilians in theDragon Balluniverse trying to avoid dangerous villains like Frieza and Cell. This is completely out of left field, yet a breath of fresh air and a sign that Bandai Namco shouldn’t be afraid to experiment.
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A Break From the Norm
Dragon Ball Zclearly places on emphasis on its high-flying action and muscle-bound characters. The many fighers intheDragon Balluniversecan topple mountains and obliterate cities with a single move, making them all close to a godlike level of power. Many of the showdowns in the franchise are recoginzed as some of the most iconic in all of anime, with Goku’s face off against Frieza on a crumbling planet being a notable stand-out.
Because of its focus on non-stop combat, it’s not a surprise that many video games over the years have opted to follow this vision closely. Lending itself well to the fighting game genre, titles likeDragon Ball FighterZandDragon Ball Xenoverse 2have attracted diehard fans and more casual fighting game players in general. It’s undeniably fun to take control of these characters and unleash all of their potential.
All that being said, variety is the spice of life. As great asDragon Ball Zis for the fighting game genre, with so many games over the years a sense of deja vu can set in. While combat is the focus of the franchise, there is so much more to it than that. A wild sense of humor, surprising emotional beats, and adventure all underline the flashy fighting, so asDragon Ball: The Breakershas demonstrated there is more to explore than just fists smashing into faces.
A Universe of Possibilities
The question now remains what other genres should be explored by theDragon Balluniverse.Dragon Ball: The Breakersisn’t the first attempt at something new, asDragon Ball Z: Kakarotis a sprawling action-RPG. Additionally, although not a great game,Dragon Ball Z: Sagasin 2005 marked an early attempt to translate the franchise into a more level-based adventure concept. The potential is there, all that is necessary is the right team and vision behind the project to bring it to life.
The earlier stories of Goku’s youth inDragon Ballhave a stronger emphasis on adventure and lighthearted joy, marking an opportunity to adapt those stories into a third-person adventure game possibly similar toThe Legend of Zeldafranchise. Maybe a first-person shooter of sorts would make sense, giving players control over one of the many antagonists and letting them completely obliterate landscapes similar toMegaton Rainfall. If Bandai Namco wants to go really nuts, aMario Kart-style racing game would be unexpected, but could be considered canonical given Goku learned how to drive a car at one point in the series.
Dragon Ball: The Breakersreleases for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in 2022.
