Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout

"Only if you're a fan but still..."

The greatest manga to have graced this planet gets another beat-em-up and this time it's on Playstation. All of you probably know about Akira Toriyama's work, initially Dragon Ball which then turned into Dragon Ball Z as the main character grew old which then became Dragon Ball GT as the character returned back to being a kid [wow, talk about plots !]. DBZ got a lot of games in its time - in beat-em-ups and RPGs for the NES and the SNES- and it sounded logical to think that it would be the same for GT. And this gives us Dragon Ball Final Bout which isn't a RPG but merely a beat-em-up with all the characters.

The developpers should understand that only reputation doesn't make a game. It seems that they didn't care a damn about the control and just thought about the graphics. The graphics in Dragon Ball Final Bout are really great. The intro is superb with all the characters fighting and with a superb animation which isn't really a surprise considering how DBZ was always an incredible anime with some excellent artwork. Each character is just like in the anime and has the same outfit too. A lot of details have been added to make them as pleasant as possible.

From the anime to the PSX, the characters are still the same with absolutely no changes whatsoever. They're all magnificent and their fighting techniques look great too. As for details, you're going to be amazed at the amount of those that DBFB has to offer. From their gloves to their hair which changes at the wind flows through it and as your character turn into a Super Sayajin, everything is perfect and in terms of graphics, this game remains unsurpassed.

As for the backgrounds, they are really great. The one which represents the ring where the tournament is held is one of the best and on the whole, the stages are cool. Like in the series, you'll love the design and graphics of the game. With magnificent colors and light effects, you'll probably wonder that the game can only be good but unfotunately, the good points end here as you'll see below.

The music isn't as good though. Just a few themes which you'll forget once you've switched off your PSX. Some of them can actually annoy you because they are too repetitive. Personally, I've listened to the original soundtrack of the anime and I was always impressed at how they could pull of such fine themes. But don't expect to find those here or you're in for a major disappointment. Instead, a couple of hurried themes that don't really strike as being good but which only succeed in making you spit at your screen.

The voices are horrible for all the characters. And the way they shout out when they perform their special moves are so lame. The voices are edgy and will make you turn off the volume like I did. I really think much better could have been done here. A clear example of this is to take the way they do their ''Kamehameha'' which was so great to hear in the movies. Well, it isn't the case in the game!

The sound effects are ever worse with really lame effects during the moves. None of the moves actually has decent effects but instead, a bunch of idiotic ones. Those great moves which has you amazed in the anime have all been screwed up and it seems more likely that you won't like the anime too after palying this pseudo-game.

The worst thing is Final Bout must be the control. How can a beat-em-up have such an inaccurate and hesitant control, I wonder!!? The characters take a lot of time to do what you've input and the animation is even slower than a tortoise. It's as if they weigh ten tons the way they 'dash' across the screen. And don't expect them to do combos or anything such!

Let's take an easy example of how you should play this game. If you want your character to do one attack at a particular instant, well you'll have to press the buttons 5 seconds are that. This gives way to an annoying control and the animation just succeeds in making things worse. This game would indeed be contender for ''Game with the Worst Control'' if there ever was one along with Clayfighter. Moves which are supposed to be quick take several seconds to come out and by this time, you're already dead !

All this is sad because this game had a lot of potential and really looks nice. However, looks are not everything and the game falls short everywhere else. Bad music, bad control, little gameplay and no replay value. I just don't understand how the developers went that wrong but unluckily, they managed to do so and at the same time, managed to screw what is probably the best anime. Akira Toriyama must be crying wherever he is.

Sure, there are some cool modes of play such as the build-up one and hidden characters which you need to unlock. And also options too with which you can fool around. But the control is probably what hurts the game most ! It is bound to make you even more annoyed when you desperately try to do a move but only succeed in getting killed. I, myself, am a veteran beat-em-up fan and yet, I couldn't play it due to the atrocious control. And if you so happen to be a newbie to fighting games, just pass your way then…

I must say I was pleasantly impressed with the intro but everything stops here. The animation is simply catastrophic and the game is too slow to stand out as a beat-em-up. Sure, the graphics are great but graphics have never made a game and even Dragon Ball won't change anything to that. The die-hard fans will probably like it but if you're not one of them, don't even bother about this one. Go play a real beat-em-up instead of losing your time trying to grasp the worst controls ever created !

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 04/05/01, Updated 11/09/02