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Play ‘Dragon Ball FighterZ’ on the Switch September 28th
We heard at E3 that Dragon Ball FighterZ, the popular fighting game styled to look just like the anime, would be arriving on the Nintendo Switch sometime this year. Today, publisher Bandai Namco gave a release date, September 28th. But those who preorder will get a bonus title: Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden, a fighting game released in Japan in 1993 on the Super Famicom.
'Dragon Ball FighterZ' is coming to the Switch this year
Dragon Ball FighterZ came out for PC, PS4 and Xbox One in January and quickly won over fans with its tight fighting gameplay and visuals that closely resemble the anime. At long last, Bandai Namco announced that the game is coming to the Nintendo Switch sometime in 2018.
Naruto, Monkey D Luffy and Goku do battle in 'Jump Force'
The Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, Death Note and DragonBall universes collide in the best way possible in Bandai Namco's newest fighting game, Jump Force. Players will be able to form three-character squads, pulling from a stable of iconic characters spanning half a century of Japanese Weekly Shonen Jump manga titles, to beat the snot out of a variety of marquee villains from their respective series. The game is slated for release at some point in 2019 for the Xbox One, PS4 and PC via Steam.
This Japanese VR arcade put me inside 'Mario Kart'
Back when Bandai Namco opened its first VR arcade in Tokyo last April, I was keen to check out its various HTC Vive-powered VR games. My first ride there would have been Gundam VR: Daiba Assault, just so I could get a taste of what it's like hitching a ride on a Gundam's hand. The problem was by the time I got to the city the following month, this pop-up store already had a three-month waiting list, and I never got around to visiting before it closed in October. Luckily, as of last Friday, VR Zone is back in new form. Not only is it now the world's largest VR arcade, but it's also moved to Shinjuku, a more accessible downtown area in Tokyo. And this time, it's staying for two years. More importantly, the arcade has added some widely anticipated games that may sound familiar to you -- namely, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, Dragon Ball VR: Master the Kamehameha and Evangelion VR: The Soul Seat. As a bonus, Gundam VR has also been brought over from the previous site.
'Dragonball FighterZ' looks dangerously close to the anime
There have been so many Dragonball (Z or otherwise) games that it's hard to tell most of them apart. While the latest Xenoverse titles attempted to spin out Akira Toyama's characters into alternate universes with online play, Dragonball FighterZ is an easier-to-explain premise: a 2D fighter with the anime's top-flight characters, with assistance from the same talent that made BlazBlue and Guilty Gear, both well-regarded competitive 2D fighters.
'Dragon Ball FighterZ' is a lavish 2D fighter coming to Xbox One
If you loved the visual style of the Naruto: Ultimate Storm series, or just carry a childhood fascination with the Dragonball series (still!), Dragonball FighterZ might be for you. Three-on-three battles, powered-up final forms, insane projectiles and energy beams are just the start. Notably the game going back to two-dimensional beat-em-up basics. Yep, while scene transitions and high-powered moves will see the camera shift to make fights more cinematic, the majority of the battle will place on just one plane -- with some teleporting and lighting fast dodging thrown into the mix. The game will launch (on Xbox One) in early 2018 -- though it doesn't appear to be a Microsoft exclusive.
'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2' goes Super Saiyan later this year
Dragon Ball Xenoverse, the brawler that launched a thousand Dragon Ball Z OCs (original characters), is getting a sequel, and it's being shown off at E3 this June. Unsurprisingly, it's called Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, and it looks a whole lot like the first game.
Dragon Ball Online has reached its final form
Dragon Ball Online is officially on its way to the other world, as NetMarble has announced that the game will be shutting down in its two remaining territories. Korea's Dragon Ball Online server went offline September 26th and the Taiwan server is set for closure on October 31st. Once Taiwan goes dark, the Dragon Ball MMO will officially be no more. Dragon Ball Online launched in Korea in 2010, followed by releases in Taiwan and Hong Kong in 2011. The game took place 216 years after the Dragon Ball manga series and was under the creative control of original Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama.
Dragonball Online open beta with Tiawanese client
Heads up, Dragonball manga fans. Dragonball Online is now in open beta, and if you're willing to fiddle a bit with your PC gaming rig (or you're fluent in Mandarin), you can check out the game's Taiwanese client. Fansite Dbocom is providing an English translation patch for the game's UI (though you'll still be at the mercy of your Mandarin skills when it comes to NPC names, quest descriptions, and the like). Dragonball Online, which is being developed by NetMarble, takes place 216 years after the conclusion of the Dragonball manga series. Player characters are responsible for repairing various "cracks in time" while playing through a game under the creative control of original Dragonball artist Akira Toriyama. [Thanks to Scott for the tip!]
Joyswag: Super Saiyan prize pack [update]
Update: The entry period has come to a close. Keep an eye on your email's inbox to see if you won! Namco's just unleashed its first two Dragon Ball games after wrestling the license back away from Atari and we're looking to gift one of you Super Saiyan wannabes with the above prize pack. The gotta-have-it item is obviously the Instant Anime Character Costume, which features an orange t-shirt, blue wristbands, hair gel and completely ridiculous Namco employee pose cover art. Oh, if only our legal department would let us keep it! Leave a comment telling us who your favorite character from the Dragon Ball series is (full list here) You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec) Limit 1 entry per person per day This entry period ends at 11:59AM ET on Tuesday, November 24 At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for Wii ($50 ARV), Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for DS ($30 ARV) and an Instant Anime Character Costume ($20 ARV) For a list of complete rules, click here
Dragon Ball license leaves Atari, returns to Namco Bandai
Atari's slow collapse continues with the loss of the company's most lucrative franchise. No, not Ghostbusters -- it's Dragon Ball, which has produced approximately a billion video games so far. The franchise will now go back to Namco Bandai, the original Japanese publisher of the series. According to a statement by Namco Bandai, the agreement will run for five years beginning in January 2010 and will supersede any existing publishing rights. In addition, Namco Bandai will publish the upcoming Dragon Ball: Raging Blast game for Xbox 360 and PS3, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for DS all this year.The loss of the Dragon Ball franchise is perhaps the greatest evidence of the financial challenges that face Atari. Earlier this year, the company pulled out of E3, sold its European publishing division, and even sold exclusivity rights for Ghostbusters, all presumably for a small cash influx. With Phil Harrison recently stepping down from his position at the company, it's clear that Atari will see even more troubled times ahead.
Namco Bandai grants European Dragon Ball fans' wishes
Last week, Namco Bandai introduced two new Dragon Ball games to Japan, including the gorgeous Dragon Ball: Tenkaichi Daibouken, a 2.5D sidescroller for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast, the latest Budokai Tenkaichi fighter for PS3 and Xbox 360. Namco Bandai Europe just announced that it will release both of those games in Europe, along with a DS role-playing game called Dragon Ball: Attack of the Saiyans. All three games are due out this fall. Check the gallery for new screens of the Wii game.According to Namco Bandai's press release, the Wii platformer, now called Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo, will also include a versus mode, meaning that almost two new Dragon Ball fighting games were announced. Neither Namco Bandai nor Atari have announced any North American plans for any of these games, but it's only a matter of time.%Gallery-64132%[Screens via Nintendo Everything]Source -- Dragon Ball: Revenge of King PiccoloSource -- Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the SaiyansSource -- Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast
Dragonball: Tenkaichi Daibouken revealed ... and it's a side-scroller
The Wii is seeing a revival of the classic side-scroller -- with 3D trimmings. Siliconera has shed more light on Bandai's latest Dragonball -- Tenkaichi Daibouken -- which follows in the leaping, bounding footsteps of "2.5D" titles such as Klonoa and New Play Control! Donkey Kong Jungle Beat.The game is (to no one's surprise, we'd imagine) cel-shaded -- and looking quite sharp, as the above screenshot implies. It stars young Goku and is based on the earliest pre-"Z" Dragonball material. You can catch a glimpse of gameplay on the game's Flash-based Japanese site (if you don't mind giant kanji characters obscuring some of it). Neither Namco Bandai nor Atari has laid claim to a US release, but that may very well change come E3.[Via Siliconera]
Oh no! It's a Dragonball Evolution trailer
This is the trailer for the upcoming video game adaptation of the Hollywood live action adaptation of the classic anime/manga series. The very existence of this game is ludicrous, but the trailer manages to go to a whole new level of ridiculousness with its cheesy narrator. According to the trailer, some of the features you'll be able to find in Dragonball Evolution include "Battle," "Character," "Story" and "Gallery." Enjoy.%Gallery-42642%
Dragonball: Evolution coming to PSP in April
We salute you, PSP. Much like a brave (or fatally clumsy) soldier collapsing on a grenade before shrapnel pierces the entire squad's fleshy bits, Sony's portable platform has kept the latest licensed game all to itself. Based on the upcoming Dragonball: Evolution, which critics are optimistically calling "a film," this online-capable fighter comes to us courtesy of Namco Bandai.Featuring all the characters that fans will insist were ruined by the movie, Dragonball: Evolution promises explosive punches, unreasonably high kicks and Chow Yun Fat in surprisingly casual garb. Look for the manga-to-movie-to-game transition in stores this April. Gallery: Dragonball: Evolution
Namco Bandai officially announces Dragonball: Evolution
PSP will be the sole home of the next Dragonball game. While every game in the series so far has been based on the anime and manga, Dragonball: Evolution will be based on the upcoming live action movie from 20th Century Fox. The game will be available in April, just in time for the movie's theatrical release.The character models are based on the live action actors, as opposed to the anime characters so familiar to DBZ fans. We're not sure how well this game will fare, considering it looks just as bad, if not worse, than the movie.%Gallery-42642%
Dragonball: The Movie: The Game coming to PSP
According to the latest Shonen Jump in Japan, a game based on the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of the Dragonball movie will be hitting the PSP. It may be an exclusive, as no other platforms were announced. We're hoping it'll be just as totally awesome as Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game.Trailer for the movie and bonus video of the Street Fighter movie game, after the break.[Thanks, JV247!]
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit becomes bestselling game in Japan
PS3 software topped the charts in Japan this week, thanks to the release of Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. It's amazing to see that, years after the end of the series, the dedication to this popular manga/anime goes strong. Although this brawler is multiplatform, you wouldn't be able to tell from this week's top 10 software charts. It'll be interesting to see what they look like next week, when Metal Gear Solid 4 reigns terror upon the charts. Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3) Fushigi no Dungeon (Wii) Wii Fit (Wii) Mario Kart Wii (Wii) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 3 (PSP) Yamamura Misa Suspense (DS) Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) Ninja Gaiden II (360) Family Trainer: Athletic World (Wii) Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP) [Via PSPHyper]
Namco Bandai throws Dragon Ball onto the DS
Recent V-Jump scans reveal that a Dragon Ball game is in the works for the DS. While we don't have many details on the game, it's going to be an action/adventure title that delves into the background of the Dragon Ball saga. We also know that the controls will be similar to those in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, as the player will use the stylus to perform actions and lead Goku around the screen. From what we saw in the tiny scan screens, the game looks to be shaping up pretty nicely. We've never been too into Dragon Ball ourselves, but if we were, we'd be over 9,000 kinds of excited right now.
'Vegeta! What does the scouter say about the DS's power level?'
Completing the trifecta of designer, limited-edition DSes we've featured this week is this wonderful handheld customization from deviantART member SSJ4Maromaru. We really think we saved the best for last. If you're unfamiliar with the meme phrase scrawled on its lid, hit this goofy video up. SSJ4Maromaru sketched the Saiyan onto his Electric Blue DS with a pencil before going over the outline with a Sharpie marker. Fantastic! If any of you now feel inspired to decorate your DS with Dragon Ball Z characters, make sure to send us the results!See also: What is wrong with the world today?
