Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z

 PlayStation Vita
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Pocket Gamer UK
    Jan 27, 2014
    80
    A welcome addition to the Dragon Ball Z franchise that's sure to have you screaming in anger and excitement.
  2. Gaming Age
    Feb 6, 2014
    75
    Fun though that may be, it won't take long until you're craving more, and unless you're a hardcore fan, Battle of Z doesn't have that to offer.
  3. Gamestyle
    Jan 30, 2014
    70
    Dragonball Z: Battle of Z is a decent game, that anyone can dive into, but it is one aimed at fans first and foremost. Fans will lap it up, but there is room for the newcomer, as long as they are willing to take their time to buy into it and learn more about the Dragonball Z world.
  5. Push Square
    Jan 23, 2014
    70
    Its power level won't be breaking your scouter any time soon, but Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z brings Akira Toriyama's ever-popular creation to Western Vitas with a bang. While its online components are inconsistent at best, its team-based twist on the series' typically over the top action is refreshing – if unrefined – and fans will jump at the chance to assemble their favourite fighters and take on the universe's most feared warriors.
  6. 3DJuegos
    Feb 3, 2014
    60
    Battle of Z is not the best DBZ's videogame, but fans should enjoy it in PSVita.
  7. Gameblog.fr
    Jan 29, 2014
    60
    Battle of Z suffers from bad cameras and sometimes muddled gameplay, but it is still a nice brawling game... that really needs to be played online if you want to enjoy it.
  8. DarkStation
    Feb 14, 2014
    40
    With a shallow combat system and boring mission structure and unbalanced online function, Battle of Z is not for the faint of heart and can easily be skipped, but if you REALLY want to play a Dragon Ball Z game you could do a lot worse.

Awards & Rankings

42
#42 Best PS Vita Game of 2014
21
#21 Most Discussed PS Vita Game of 2014
6
#6 Most Shared PS Vita Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 63 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 63
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 63
  3. Negative: 15 out of 63
  1. stockops3
    Jan 31, 2014
    8
    DBZ: Battle of Z feels like it was made for the Vita, the presentation looks incredible on the Vita, even better than consoles in someDBZ: Battle of Z feels like it was made for the Vita, the presentation looks incredible on the Vita, even better than consoles in some aspects. The missions just feels like a pick up and play in attitude, whilst the missions are stupidly restrictive, they are very fun!

    The co-op is the best feature in this game, working with people online to complete missions is a
    Blast, though lag is a major issue, if you find a good party, it can run smoothly.

    The battle mode is a bit more chaotic and can cause a lot of errors, but I'm hoping namco can sort it out in the future.

    Overall this game impressed me more on the vita than the console versions, it is a much better fit to the handheld, with some great graphics and attack effects and a unique, but restrictive mission structure and lack of local coop or CPU Vs makes this short of an a Great DBZ game. But its a massive improvement over the previous efforts. 8/10    … Full Review »
  2. wannabcubanpunk
    Jan 29, 2014
    8
    If you are a die-hard Dragon Ball Z fan, Battle of Z tries to properly emulate the crazy action that takes place during a battle in the DBZIf you are a die-hard Dragon Ball Z fan, Battle of Z tries to properly emulate the crazy action that takes place during a battle in the DBZ universe. While the visual aspect is dazzling (with cool blast effects, epic ultimate move animations, plentiful cut-scenes, etc), the game loses some of the complexity older games had, by implementing a more simplistic, casual fighting system. Even with tweaking the button play a bit, melee attacks are limited to about 3 different melee combos and 4 special attacks, leaving very little room for variation. The game tries to make up for this by animating every punch and kick to make it look like it REALLY hurts, but fans looking for a complex battle system will be slightly disappointed. It makes up a bit for it with light customization options though.

    As far as different modes of play, Battle of Z has quite a few to offer with a lengthy story mode, co-op, and 8 battle free-for-alls. Although, co-op is pretty awesome, the fun can be slightly marred by connection and lag issues, slowing things down to a crawl. However, I was still able to have a blast in a few battles. Battle mode is a different story. With 8 different fighters going at it, it's severely chaotic and can be super frustrating. One point that may make or break decisions to buy the game is the complete lack of a computer (CPU) versus mode. If you like going 1V1 against a computer, or if you like setting up 100% customized battles, you're out of luck. You're only option is to create your dream team and replay missions, which is unfortunate.

    Overall, the game, while with its flaws, still remains an enjoyable option for any Vita owner, and I have had a lot of fun with it personally. While battles may feel slightly repetitive at times, the large roster of over 70 characters makes up for it by giving the player different abilities that can be experimented with and customized. There is currently a demo in the PS Store, so if you'd like to check it out first, I'd recommend it, as it definitely may not be for everyone.    … Full Review »
  3. Thisiscrazy82
    Jan 28, 2014
    7
    Try out the demo. If you don't like the demo, don't get the game.. If you do like the demo, know that every other fight you play will beTry out the demo. If you don't like the demo, don't get the game.. If you do like the demo, know that every other fight you play will be exactly like what you played in the demo. Obviously, the more you play the more you unlock new characters and get more challenging levels, but the formula to win stays about the same the whole way through. I imagine most die hard dragon ball fans won't mind it too much, but I can see how only casual fans could get tired of it after the first 10 fights. If you own a vita I say pick it up there. Avoid the console version since it's the exact same game, with no differences at all.… Full Review »
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