Of the popular anime series out there, few are as perfect for video game adaptations as Dragon Ball Z. Akira Toriyama's immensely successful shonen series has been around for three decades, but its popularity is as present as ever. This is something Bandai Namco must be happy about, as it is able to pump out a consistent line of games based on the popular IP. This trend continues with the recent announcment of Dragon Ball: The Breakers.
Unlike most games related to the series that allow players to take control of the most powerful fighters in the universe, Dragon Ball: The Breakers takes a much different approach. The game will be an asymmetrical multiplayer project where players control regular civilians in the Dragon Ball universe trying to avoid dangerous villains like Frieza and Cell. This is completely out of left field, yet a breath of fresh air and a sign that Bandai Namco shouldn't be afraid to experiment.
A Break From the Norm
Dragon Ball Z clearly places on emphasis on its high-flying action and muscle-bound characters. The many fighers in the Dragon Ball universe can topple mountains and obliterate cities with a single move, making them all close to a godlike level of power. Many of the showdowns in the franchise are recoginzed as some of the most iconic in all of anime, with Goku's face off against Frieza on a crumbling planet being a notable stand-out.
Because of its focus on non-stop combat, it's not a surprise that many video games over the years have opted to follow this vision closely. Lending itself well to the fighting game genre, titles like Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 have attracted diehard fans and more casual fighting game players in general. It's undeniably fun to take control of these characters and unleash all of their potential.
All that being said, variety is the spice of life. As great as Dragon Ball Z is for the fighting game genre, with so many games over the years a sense of deja vu can set in. While combat is the focus of the franchise, there is so much more to it than that. A wild sense of humor, surprising emotional beats, and adventure all underline the flashy fighting, so as Dragon Ball: The Breakers has demonstrated there is more to explore than just fists smashing into faces.
A Universe of Possibilities
The question now remains what other genres should be explored by the Dragon Ball universe. Dragon Ball: The Breakers isn't the first attempt at something new, as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a sprawling action-RPG. Additionally, although not a great game, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas in 2005 marked an early attempt to translate the franchise into a more level-based adventure concept. The potential is there, all that is necessary is the right team and vision behind the project to bring it to life.
The earlier stories of Goku's youth in Dragon Ball have a stronger emphasis on adventure and lighthearted joy, marking an opportunity to adapt those stories into a third-person adventure game possibly similar to The Legend of Zelda franchise. Maybe a first-person shooter of sorts would make sense, giving players control over one of the many antagonists and letting them completely obliterate landscapes similar to Megaton Rainfall. If Bandai Namco wants to go really nuts, a Mario Kart-style racing game would be unexpected, but could be considered canonical given Goku learned how to drive a car at one point in the series.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers releases for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One in 2022.
