This game was released during a long period of stagnancy for the Dragon Ball franchise and threatened to breathe new life into the series. I wish I knew more about the development process of this game - as it was only made available in a select few countries and languages. Considering the popularity of the IP, I do not know why more of a push was not made for this game globally.
In terms of gameplay it did not really make many innovations so much as copying the tried and true format associated with World of Warcraft, but in a Dragon Ball setting. That being said, the developers did a good job of translating the setting and IP into this formula. My fondest memories were of the (granted, very slow and grindy) Dragon Ball hunts - and that feeling of elation when I found one.
What I love about this game is the attention to detail and reverence for the source material - particularly the original manga, of which was directly shown in the games 'Time Machine Quests'. Even just playing in a language I could not read when language translation was not as good or easy to access as it is today - I was consistently getting hits of joy upon discovering little easter eggs, references and just inhabiting the world. I also was very interested in understanding the lore and what had happened in the 2 century time-skip.
This game had a lovely soundtrack, with a handful of tracks I still listen to to this day - particularly the ones that hold a mystical and melancholic ambience you might not expect from Dragon Ball.
I still feel sad about it's cancellation as it felt as though it had not even properly got off the ground, and was in a way set up to fail. I wish I knew where the story was heading and what was planned for the plot.
Many of the assets invented for this game were recycled into other games (namely Xenoverse and the Heroes series), but this always felt to me to be lacking the love & care that was so evidently put into this game.
Although I doubt it, I hope they revisit this world someday - whether it be through a sequel, or an entirely new game - in a way that does the setting, characters and story justice.
In terms of gameplay it did not really make many innovations so much as copying the tried and true format associated with World of Warcraft, but in a Dragon Ball setting. That being said, the developers did a good job of translating the setting and IP into this formula. My fondest memories were of the (granted, very slow and grindy) Dragon Ball hunts - and that feeling of elation when I found one.
What I love about this game is the attention to detail and reverence for the source material - particularly the original manga, of which was directly shown in the games 'Time Machine Quests'. Even just playing in a language I could not read when language translation was not as good or easy to access as it is today - I was consistently getting hits of joy upon discovering little easter eggs, references and just inhabiting the world. I also was very interested in understanding the lore and what had happened in the 2 century time-skip.
This game had a lovely soundtrack, with a handful of tracks I still listen to to this day - particularly the ones that hold a mystical and melancholic ambience you might not expect from Dragon Ball.
I still feel sad about it's cancellation as it felt as though it had not even properly got off the ground, and was in a way set up to fail. I wish I knew where the story was heading and what was planned for the plot.
Many of the assets invented for this game were recycled into other games (namely Xenoverse and the Heroes series), but this always felt to me to be lacking the love & care that was so evidently put into this game.
Although I doubt it, I hope they revisit this world someday - whether it be through a sequel, or an entirely new game - in a way that does the setting, characters and story justice.