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PS2
Chou Dragon Ball Z
- New Import |
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NCS Game Synopsis
«©NCSX»
Six months after Banpresto shipped Chou DBZ in Namco
256 kit-form for arcade operators to reap profits,
parent company Bandai takes away those coin-op
profits with a spiffy home conversion on the PS2.
Super Saiyan are on the loose once again in a brisk 3D cel-shaded
fighting game where two combatants bout on the
ground and in the air. The control scheme uses four
buttons - two for attacks and the other two which
trigger guard and jump. By using a mish-mash of
joystick thwacking and button slapping, players
guide Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, Trunks, and 14 other
fighters in a fast-paced action game that's set in
close quarters.
Whereas other DBZ games have allowed for wide range soaring freedom of
movement and run 'n gun tactics, Chou DBZ reins in
the size of the arenas so that fighters can battle
toe-to-toe and fire projectile attacks at close
range. There are well defined
perimeters for each stage which limits the distance
that a combatant can fly/escape to. Before a match starts,
the fighters pose and vogue for the camera before
the smashing commences. When attacks connect,
Japanese characters appear over the target's body to
give an idea of the damage being inflicted.
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NCS Game Notes
» In the intro to the game, a stream of light
glimmers downwards followed by the Chou DBZ logo.
Goku sits meditating followed by the other
characters flying, posing, performing moves, and
firing off blasts at empty air. Afterwards, the DBZ
heroes are shown in quick sequences where their
special powers are on display with fiery eruptions
looming about them. The Chou DBZ logo appears again
accompanied by an elderly sounding voice who
mutters, "Supa Dragonballo Zed-toh."
» After hitting START, the game mode selection
screens appear as eight panels of a manga. Shuffle
around and you'll discover options such as STORY
MODE and VERSUS MODE.
» In the OPTIONS selection screen, players may set
the following:
Controller button configuration
Center screen or adjust screen position
Adjust BGM, Voice, and Sound Effect volumes
Adjust the position of the top/bottom screen
indicators
Load and save data to and from memory card
View ranking of top fighters
Set starting health bar, etc.
» At the outset of the game, only 13 characters are
playable. The other 5 must be unlocked.
» In June of 2004, producers Noritaka Funamizu (Street
Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter III, Power Stone,
Monster Hunter, etc) and Katsuhiro Sudo (Street
Fighter Alpha 3, Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs.
Zeon, etc) left Capcom and formed a new house
called Craft and Meister a few months later.
They developed Chou Dragon Ball Z for Banpresto and
their Street Fighter roots are apparent. Owing to
the development team's influences, Goku has a
"dragon punch-esque" move where he punches up and
his body arcs like Ryu's or Ken's except he doesn't
yell out "Shoryouken." He does wail a lot when
fighting however... Executed properly, the punch has
potential to connect multiple times for a stuttering
effect. Shooting fireball bursts are also
prevalent... The familiar semi-circle motions on the
d-pad from Street Fighter are used to pull of the
various special attacks in the game.
» There is no ring-out in Chou DBZ although some of the stages would make
ringing-out a natural system feature. If Vegeta's beating
up on Goku like a champ near the edge of a cliff,
there's no way to sock him over the edge and into
oblivion for a quick knockout.
» A first attack bonus is granted for whomever draws first blood. Attack
chains are also counted on the screen directly below
the fighter's portrait.
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This document and photos are ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No
reproduction in whole or in part of this document
may be made without express written consent of
National Console Support, Inc.
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