One of the games on display at Bandai Namco’s E3 2017 booth this year is Dragon Ball FighterZ. A 2.5D fighter from Arc System Works, it will run at 60fps at 1080p. However, the PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X versions will be optimized, offering a higher frame rate.
Six members of Dragon Ball FighterZ’s roster have been revealed so far. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Cell, Frieza, and Majin Buu were available. Each character has its specialties, as some are close or long range fighters. This is a 3v3 fighting game, which allows someone to use a Z assist to bring a teammate in for a Ki blast or Z change to swap characters. An Ultimate Z Change will have all of your characters do a super attack at once. There are super attacks that use one and three bars for each character. Each character can also execute an air dash with RT or a rushdown attack with RB. Matches at E3 2017 had 240 seconds on the timer to start.
Dragon Ball FighterZ will have a crucial aerial combo system. It is similar to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, where a character can be launched into the air during an attack, then your character can follow to continue the combo. As an example, Goku can use his uppercut to launch his enemy. Once the enemy and Goku are in the air, you can either go with a super combo or have a follow-up hit send the enemy back to the ground.
Vanishing is another important part of the game. This allows your character to teleport behind another character. Characters’ super gauge appears to max out at seven, and Vanish uses one bar. If your character is not being hit, you can not use it. However, if someone is in a hitstun state from Ki blasts, it will be necessary to use the Vanish move to escape.
Here is a list of each character’s special and super special attacks.
Goku
Specials:
- Dragon Flash Fist: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B
- Rapid Kick Rush: quarter-circle backward X, Y, or B
- Kamehameha: quarter-circle forward A (changes by pressing up or down)
Super Specials:
- Super Kamehameha: quarter-circle forward RB (changes by pressing up or down)
- Instant Transmission Kamehameha: quarter-circle forward RT
- Meteor Smash: quarter-circle backward RB or RT (uses three gauges)
Vegeta
Specials:
- Super Dash Kick: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B
- Crusher Knee Kick: quarter-circle backward X, Y, or B
- Intercept Kick: down X (in the air)
- Ki Blast Rush: quarter-circle forward A
Super Specials:
- Big Bang Attack: quarter-circle forward RB or RT
- Final Flash: quarter-circle backward RB or RT (uses three gauges)
Gohan
Specials:
- Fire Strike Combo: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B (more strikes with more buttons)
- Dragon Flight: quarter-circle backward X, Y, or B
- Aerial Kick: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B (in the air)
Super Specials:
- No Motion Kamehameha: quarter-circle forward RB or RT
- Father Son Kamehameha: quarter-circle backward RB or RT (uses three gauges)
- Father Son Kamehameha Full Power: Hold down any button while performing the above attack (uses two gauges)
Frieza
Specials:
- Earth Breaker: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B
- “Next time, you’ll die”: quarter-circle forward A
- Death Saucer: quarter-circle backward A
- Warp Smash: down down A
Super Specials:
- Death Roll: quarter-circle forward RB or RT
- Nova Strike: quarter-circle backward RB (uses three gauges)
- “You should be killed by me!”: Hold down RT while you are down (uses three gauges)
- Golden Frieza: quarter-circle backward RT (uses three gauges)
Cell
Special Skill:
- Step-in Low Kick: forward B
Specials:
- Perfect Attack: quarter-circle backward X, Y, or B
- Rolling Crush: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B
- Hell Strike: down Y (in the air)
- Kamehameha: quarter-circle forward A (only on the ground, changes by pressing up or down)
- Telekinesis Crush: quarter-circle backward A
Super Specials:
- Energy Field: quarter-circle forward RB or RT
- Solar Kamehameha: quarter-circle backward RB or RT (uses three gauges)
Majin Buu
Specials:
- Mount Dive: quarter-circle forward X, Y, or B
- Cartwheel: quarter-circle backward X, Y, or B
- Sweeping Breath: quarter-circle forward A
- Potbelly Attack: quarter-circle backward A
Super Specials:
- “You know what… I hate you!”: quarter-circle forward RB or RT
- “You’re my snack now!”: quarter-circle backward RB or RT (uses three gauges)
Dragon Ball FighterZ will come to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in early 2018. A closed beta is planned for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions of the game in Summer 2017.
