Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission is a faithful rendition of the popular Japanese arcade card game for console audiences. Released in April of 2019 for the Nintendo Switch and PC, the game features over one thousand cards and 350 characters from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and Dragon Ball GT. While it delivers a decently satisfying trip of nostalgia for fans of the Dragon Ball universe with iconic characters, ki blasts, and flashy transformations, it ultimately falls short of achieving much of anything worthwhile.

The card battle system used throughout the game takes much from its arcade counterpart. Thankfully it is engaging at the onset and has been impressively implemented on the Nintendo Switch thanks to its touchscreen. In short, players assemble a deck of seven cards from a vast roster of Dragon Ball characters, each with their own unique abilities and attacks. Players then take their seven-card deck of characters into battle against an opposing force where battles unfold swiftly, punctuated by flashy yet poorly animated basic punches and kicks, ki blasts, and special moves. Overall, there is some form of strategic depth to this card-battling system, and it is likely exciting for any veteran card game players, but it felt like a water-down version of a fighting game to me, especially when the battles hinge on a timed button press to land a powerful combo. Ultimately, the repetitive mechanics and predictable AI behavior quickly got old and dampened any long-term plans I had of reliving Dragon Ball memories in card battler form.

Super Dragon Ball Heroes: World Mission falls victim to a storytelling problem that has plagued Dragon Ball games since nearly their inception - rehashing familiar Dragon Ball scenarios with an original twist brought on by an enemy meddling in the timeline. While this approach worked decently well in fighting game format - i.e. the Dragon Ball Xenoverse games - and serves as a nostalgic trip for seasoned fans, it offers little to newcomers unfamiliar with the source material and has become old hat to veterans of Dragon Ball media. Furthermore, the narrative surrounding the player character is serviceable, but lacks any emotional depth or originality that would distinguish it from the sea of other Dragon Ball games where you just take on the role of Goku, another Z-Fighter, or can craft your own character.

The largest praise I can offer Super Dragon Ball Heroes is in its sheer volume of Dragon Ball content. As stated, the game boasts a massive roster of characters, spanning the entirety of the franchise from the popular Z-Fighters to the lowest Frieza Force grunt, and ensures battles take place across numerous iconic locations. Despite the way cards are acquired in the game becoming more and more of a drag as the game progresses, fans will at least initially delight in collecting and unlocking their favorite heroes and villains, building decks that cater to their individual preferences and combat styles. This abundance of content is the whole reason I picked up the game and, interestingly enough, makes the game a veritable time capsule of Dragon Ball media.

Overall World Mission delivers a competent card battle experience that caters squarely to Dragon Ball fans. While it offers a satisfying dose of nostalgia, the game ultimately lacks the strategic depth and narrative intrigue to appeal to a wider audience. For casual players and seasoned card game enthusiasts seeking a deeper experience, other titles within the genre may offer more compelling options. And for Dragon Ball fans, go replay Dragon Ball FighterZ or just re-watch the anime.