"The beginning of 16-bit SNES DBZ fighters sure isn't the best, but it's not the worst"

The first installment in the most popular DBZ game series, this game has some glaring flaws. The gameplay looks like it belongs on the NES, and the sound isn't much better. The graphics are decent, but they were way improved for the later Super Butouden games. But, then again, this game has the highest diversity of characters, and it covers all 3 of the first main sagas. You DBZ fans will appreciate that, but other guys will probably be as confused as hell as to what's going on. Oh well, let's get started!

Like I said, the graphics in this game are a little lacking. They are better than the other early SNES games, but that's about the only boast they have. Like any other fighter, the sound in this game is really not a factor. The sound effects are annoying, but then again, this game was made in the young days of the SNES.

The gameplay is really slow. In fact, this is one is the slowest, non-smoothest fighter I've probably ever played. When you get close and start exchanging blows(which you DBZ fighter buffs know doesn't happen a lot in DBZ fighters), it looks like someone put it on turbo mode. You might say, ''So why are you complaining about how slow the game is?'', but the added speed really screws it up. Here you are, with a guy who's speed is comparible to a turtle, and all of a sudden you get close to your opponent and he's trying to be Jackie Chan. It really makes you lose you concentration, or your aura, or your groove, or whatever you call the thing that makes you win games is.

This game is actually pretty difficult, until you get the hang of it. To me, it was really frustrating for the first couple of hours I played it. After that, it gets a lot easier, but like I've said a million times, the gameplay is choppy so don't be expecting any Tekken-like slick combos or moves once you've gotten to be pretty good at it. After you beat the game a couple of times, it starts to get old. Once it starts to get easy to dismantle story mode, there's nothing left to do. Two player's pretty fun for maybe 30 minutes, but after that it is old. This game will be good for some occasional fun, but don't expect a game that you just can't seem to put down.

This game is in Japanese, so to those who can't read it or aren't familiar with DBZ the plot will go way over their head. Then again, in a fighting game, who does pay attention to the plot? Anyways, this game covers the Saiyan Saga, the Freiza Saga, and the Cell/Android Saga. The characters are some of the best we've seen in a DBZ game, but people seem to really not care about that factor.

All you people who aren't true-blooded fighting game fans, or DBZ fans really won't like this game. Even those previously mentioned parties probably won't like this game. But, hey, video games aren't like movies. The first game in the series is NEVER the best. If you are a fan of the first two, well, you probably won't like this game either. However, this game started the Super Butouden, from which everyone's favorite child DBZ Hyper Dimension spun off of. So, without this game, you wouldn't have your ''greatest DBZ fighter ever, no wait, the greatest fighter ever!''. So, people, try not to be too hard on this oldie. Who knows, maybe you'll like it.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/01, Updated 12/28/01