Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans

 DS
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 47 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 47
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 47
  3. Negative: 5 out of 47
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  1. Xelion
    Jan 15, 2013
    9
    This is how I always imagined a Dragon Ball Z RPG. Good visuals, good gameplay, good sound and music. Wonder why they took so long to release a game like this...and why they keep releasing fighting games for consoles instead of a good RPG. I hope there will be a sequel.
  2. MightyQuinn21
    Sep 16, 2013
    9
    Oh my God this game is amazing!!!! This is one of the best DBZ games that I've ever played and the fact that it's an RPG and still a great game shows how great it is. The fighting animations are great as well as all the team combo's that you can create with all the characters. One negative part of the game is that it only takes place to the fight with Vegeta, but there are many sideOh my God this game is amazing!!!! This is one of the best DBZ games that I've ever played and the fact that it's an RPG and still a great game shows how great it is. The fighting animations are great as well as all the team combo's that you can create with all the characters. One negative part of the game is that it only takes place to the fight with Vegeta, but there are many side missions to keep you busy. Especially the fight against Broly who is cheap as hell!!! If you want a great game for only $25 bucks or just borrow it from a friend because this is a game that any DBZ fan has to play.… Expand
  3. Happymonk
    Mar 27, 2012
    9
    In a word, Awesome. This is the second best Dragon Ball game I have ever played, the combat works perfectly, never really getting old. With the powers, combined powers and timing working really well. It lasts around 15 to 20 hours, meaning it's a tad short, but if it was any longer, it could get a little boring. It is one of the best RPGs I have played and well worth a look if you're a fanIn a word, Awesome. This is the second best Dragon Ball game I have ever played, the combat works perfectly, never really getting old. With the powers, combined powers and timing working really well. It lasts around 15 to 20 hours, meaning it's a tad short, but if it was any longer, it could get a little boring. It is one of the best RPGs I have played and well worth a look if you're a fan of the series, or a fan or JRPGs.… Expand
  4. NiCo_2
    Jan 15, 2013
    9
    I liked this game because Dragon Ball Z is new in this style of game and the result was good.
    The characters are very interesting: Goku, Yamcha, Krilin!!! also Ten, Piccolo and Gohan
  5. Mattia9336
    May 26, 2020
    10
    In my opinion, it's one of the most underrated DS games ever. For once a Dragon Ball games that is an RPG, and it works perfectly. The gameplay is really fun and the difficulty is really well balanced. One of the best RPG and the best Dragon Ball game I've ever played
  6. TobyS
    Jan 4, 2010
    9
    This game is brilliant, best dragonball z game ever made, if I could give it a 9.5 I would, but not a 10
  7. AlexanderO'S
    Dec 19, 2009
    10
    The best DBZ game I have ever played. True to the story and the gameplay is solid and based on mathmatics and not chance. I got a solid 24 hours of gameplay out of it and I still want more. A MUST HAVE if you have ever tried any other DBZ game.
  8. JonnyG.
    Jan 31, 2010
    8
    Pretty linear but to be fair you cant change the story as its already been established, recommended if your a dbz fan!
  9. DeeZ
    Nov 14, 2009
    9
    A great old school RPG and simply the best Dragon Ball Z game ever made. A notch above Legacy of Goku 2.
  10. BobS
    Nov 27, 2009
    10
    OMFG This game is legendary, I am a super sayian. Punch punch kick boom!
  11. ThomasN
    Dec 26, 2009
    9
    I loved the game hope they continue to make DBZ games like this. All other Dbz games for handheld's were just terrible. This is Finally the right game for DBZ for handheld's. Just wish it was a bit longer.
  12. bonnin40
    Feb 18, 2013
    7
    A very impressive, addicting, and fun Rpg, set in the saiyan saga of Dragon Ball Z. This game was done very well, and is reminiscent of the Dragon Ball Z rpgs on the super nintendo. The battle system, and leveling up, as well as the story progressions, and giving characters like tien and yamcha more backstory within the story, and just the overall execution was done really well. awesomeA very impressive, addicting, and fun Rpg, set in the saiyan saga of Dragon Ball Z. This game was done very well, and is reminiscent of the Dragon Ball Z rpgs on the super nintendo. The battle system, and leveling up, as well as the story progressions, and giving characters like tien and yamcha more backstory within the story, and just the overall execution was done really well. awesome music and great graphics, as well ofcourse amazing gameplay, this is an awesome rpg that i definitely recomend… Expand
  13. guardian009
    Jan 17, 2013
    7
    A brilliant game- following the basics of RPG's faithfully following the series main story. While it doesn't add anything to the established series nor is innovative in game play mechanics- it is a game made specifically for fans of the series. So don't go expecting one of the greatest games ever made.
  14. Lance22
    Mar 9, 2023
    9
    An amazing game that follows the dragon ball storyline with great gameplay, and a bunch of good content, the only issue that I have with the game is that it is relentlessly difficult, but if you’re a hard-core RPG fan You’ll definitely love this game.
    Pros.
    -Great gameplay. -Great story. -Easy to pick up and play. -Special ending after we beat the game Cons. -Relentlessly difficult. -Exp    An amazing game that follows the dragon ball storyline with great gameplay, and a bunch of good content, the only issue that I have with the game is that it is relentlessly difficult, but if you’re a hard-core RPG fan You’ll definitely love this game.
    Pros.
    -Great gameplay.
    -Great story.
    -Easy to pick up and play.
    -Special ending after we beat the game
    Cons.
    -Relentlessly difficult.
    -Exp grind fest.
    -Doesn’t continue to the freezea Saga.
    9.2/10.    … Expand
  15. hector_bcn98
    Nov 7, 2022
    9
    La sorpresa que me llevé al recibir un JRPG de Dragon Ball Z que repasaba la saga de los saiyans y ofrecía una gran cantidad de horas. Una de las joyas de la consola y, por lo que veo, masacrado en prensa. Ver para creer. Lo que pagaría por recibir por recibir otro juego del género de la franquicia hoy en día.
  16. Tiziown
    May 22, 2021
    9
    A Dragon Ball RPG made by Monolith Soft, is there anything else to say? I don't think so.
  17. Anon2291
    Oct 1, 2021
    10
    A surprisingly solid dbz rpg that will never get a sequel. Gives neglected characters more story to work with and doesnt do much wrong, and amazing compared to most dbz games altogether.
  18. CaptainCharisma
    Nov 21, 2022
    9
    Brilliant RPG, the best Dragon Ball Z RPG I can think of. Nice graphics for a DS game too.
  19. ZangBang
    Oct 24, 2022
    4
    47/100
    Dragon Ball Z Attack of the Saiyans is, like most turn-based RPGs, plagued by an extremely repetitive, slow-paced gameplay with an excessive random enemy encounter rate, but manages to make it significantly more bearable thanks to the active guard feature, which rewards a precisely-timed input when attacked to halve the damage taken. This adds a really exciting, pleasantly    47/100
    Dragon Ball Z Attack of the Saiyans is, like most turn-based RPGs, plagued by an extremely repetitive, slow-paced gameplay with an excessive random enemy encounter rate, but manages to make it significantly more bearable thanks to the active guard feature, which rewards a precisely-timed input when attacked to halve the damage taken. This adds a really exciting, pleasantly challenging action twist to gameplay, with particularly small reaction times. On the other hand, as a turn-based game Attack of the Saiyans gives the player a lot of freedom with the building of characters, allowing for custom stat distribution upon level up and unlocking/upgrading of different abilities. Sadly, abilities are severely lacklustre, mostly differentiated by their damage outputs, since there is a remarkable shortage of stat buff and debuffs abilities. This leads to an extremely linear and pretty dull progression system that most of the time boils down to the usage of the latest, most powerful ability and not much else. Esthetically, level design is delightful, with detailed and lively environments that perfectly capture the tone and atmosphere of the source material. Structurally it's just decent, perfectly functional with a couple of hidden secrets and small branching paths, nothing impressive. With its narrative, the game adapts the Saiyan Arc of the original story, and does so with great care for its characters and its world. However, approximately halfway through the game, the developers made a bold change to the original plot to accomodate the gameplay, but it's an extremely awkward alteration that severely spoils the dramatic tension and emotional impact of the entire third act of the story.    … Expand
  20. Yojimbo2015
    May 24, 2023
    6
    An attempt to ape the early Final Fantasy games incorporating the characters from Dragon Ball Z. Obviously not very original but it has some charm and is one of the better entry level RPGs aimed at kids.

Awards & Rankings

49
#49 Best DS Game of 2009
13
#13 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
67
#67 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Nintendo Power
    80
    What it is, though, is about as good a Dragon Ball Z game as anyone's going to make. [Dec 2009, p.87]
  2. Vandal
    72
    The last installment of Dragon Ball in the portable market is a notorious RPG game of classic style... maybe too classic for the times.
    Read full review
  3. 1UP
    58
    Not exactly what fans would call "Super Saiyan," but certainly good enough.
    Read full review
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