Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butōden

For a generation that grew up on the sagas of Goku and his friends, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butōden is exactly what they wished to experience on their own console in the nineties — the chance to take control of the strongest fighters in the universe and unleash their legendary energy attacks against one another. This Saturn fighting game brings the furious clashes known from the anime into a form you can play yourself.

Games in the Dragon Ball Z series traditionally build on fast, spectacular fights that are primarily about ranged combat using energy waves, blocking and counterattacks. Instead of grounded combat realism, what reigns here is a show full of aura explosions, charging attacks and the effort to read your opponent at the moment they are preparing their strongest move. It is precisely this drama that makes Dragon Ball fighting games such a rewarding and immediately graspable experience.

The title's charm lies in its faithfulness to the source material. Fans find their favourite characters, their signature techniques and an atmosphere that fits the world of the anime — and this very ability to control iconic heroes and pit them against each other was the main draw for fans of the brand. The fights work best in two-player mode, where the tension of who lands their devastating attack first comes fully into play.

Dragon Ball had a long tradition of fighting games on Sega's consoles and elsewhere, and Shin Butōden fits into this line of titles aimed above all at devoted fans of the series. For them it offers a pleasant way to relive in interactive form what they loved on screen.

As part of the rich history of Dragon Ball video games, Shin Butōden remains a title that will delight above all those who have a nostalgic relationship with the brand and want to do battle with its heroes.

Why play it: For fans of Dragon Ball Z who want to personally play out spectacular fights full of energy attacks with their favourite heroes.