At Arc System Works they are totally devoted to the work of Akira Toriyama, and their passion comes from far, far back: before fulfilling our expectations with Dragon Ball FighterZ and leaving us spellbound with DBZ Extreme Butoden, the Yokohama people adapted with enormous success – and extra mime – the cult manganime to the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS through Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors . Two essential games for fans of Goku and company.
On paper, the two installments of Supersonic Warriors are presented to us as the umpteenth fighting video game starring the heroes and villains of Dragon Ball . With its chains of combos, its devastating cannons of pure energy and all the great moments that we saw in manga and television. Console in hand, we are talking about two titles full of action whose simplicity to the controls does not detract an iota of intensity from their combats.
Because, despite the limitations of both systems, Arc System Works managed to capture the emotion and essence of the explosive collisions of Saiyans through their first official contact – at least, in video games – of Dragon Ball . And, in the process, they managed to offer two alternatives within the fighting genre with original concepts, whose modest sprites and successful gameplay continue to hold the type to this day. Surprising positively.
While Goku’s legacy in video games is as huge as it is varied and interesting, it is no secret that Nintendo laptops received some of the best titles inspired by the early adventures of the boy with the monkey tail and the sensational battles of saiyans. across the cosmos. A privileged release streak -with the occasional notable exception- that Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors established with remarkable success.
And the most interesting of all: beyond the traditional and essential modes that every fighting game requires, the two installments of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors were pioneers when it came to imagining and presenting the player with alternative and untold stories of the Dragon World . And that, seen with perspective, ends up adding extra points that make a difference.
DBZ Supersonic Warriors: the explosive battles of saiyans through Game Boy Advance
Before merging with Namco, the adaptations of the adventures of Goku and Bandai company to practically all consoles and arcade games had an unfinished business: aerial combat . In SNES, Mega Drive and 32-bit systems, it was decided to divide the screen or scaling, which forced the games to have two game planes: one for each fighter.
There were alternatives , of course, such as the recreational Dragon Ball Z by Banpresto or the much-remembered and not so well-aged Dragon Ball: Final Bout on PlayStation, but in both cases the mobility of the characters when the feet did not touch the ground was terribly rough or limited.
There was an exception: the battles of Dragon Ball Legends , for SEGA Saturn, had enormous freedom of movement , but the progression of the combats – basically, loading a battle bar – and the enormous similarity of movements between all the fighters beyond Meteor Attacks set him too far apart from traditional fighting experiences. Being, on the other hand, an interesting premise to experiment.
Coincidence or not, those first ideas of open mobility from Dragon Ball legends will end up being continued by a very unique duo and very used to transferring the successes of the manganime to video games: in 2004, Cavia and Arc System Works will launch Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors original for Game Boy Advance, offering the player team battles in which there were no longer limitations when fighting on the ground or in the air.
Through the crosshead of the laptop we can go in any of the eight directions, inviting the player to master mobility to the same extent as their own offensive or defense capacity: knowing when to approach, move away, carry out an assault or dodge projectiles. guarantees half of the game.
The other half of the game was won, logically, by learning when and how to hit the enemy. And, as far as possible, subdue it with a huge blast of energy.
Seen in perspective, most of those tiny sprites adapted to 240×160 pixel screens were updated a decade later to become three-dimensional models in Dragon Ball FighterZ . And despite their modest presentation of their time and hardware limitations, they were exquisitely fluid. Making chaining combos a joy.
On the other hand, the gameplay rounds off that exceptional presentation: each character has two types of attack (fundamentally fast and strong) in addition to the option to charge or launch energy and request a relief in case we have another character in the chamber.
A very aptly simplified control scheme in which Arc System Works added depth through dodges, charged rounds or the ability to rebound, juggle or continue chains of combos after forced falls.
And although launching giant kamehamehas was as simple as fully charging our energy bar and pressing the buttons, calculating the moment and direction to be able to hit the projectile gives an extra excitement to the fighting and a new layer of depth. to the fighting experience. Being, in both cases, a resounding success.
With that ahead, the gameplay experience of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors was not the only claim of the game: in addition to the Z Battles (the equivalent of the arcade of a lifetime) and the multiplayer options, the title was crowned with especially interesting modes. Above all, a story mode with which we will relive the original story of the manganime and completely original plots through each character.
In other words: not only does each fighter have a unique story with their own ending, something that was also seen in Dragon Ball Z: Lapelle du Destin, but by meeting certain milestones we have access to alternative stories . A perfect excuse to unlock the extra characters that are included in the game and, in the process, give pure fanservice to fans almost ten years after the last chapter of the manga was published.
That the events of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors encompassed the sagas of the Saiyans, the trip to Namek, the arrival of the Androids and the threat of Buu could lead to think that it was an exceptional title without sequel options. However, the hardware and design of the Nintendo DS opened up interesting possibilities that Cavia and Arc System Works were keen to take advantage of.
Supersonic Warriors 2, a powerful sequel that takes advantage of both Nintendo DS screens
Barely a year had passed since the release of Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors and its sequel was already on the shelves. Of course, in the form of a cartridge for Nintendo DS. And despite the fact that it offered the same arcs of the manganime seen in the Game Boy Advance title, Supersonic Warriors 2 was a huge leap in quality in each and every one of its sections thanks to the hardware of the dual-screen laptop.
All the contents of the original Supersonic Warriors said present : each one of the fighters was back and those game mechanics and mobility that had convinced so much were making their triumphant return. Of course, the additions were manifested in the first game.
To start with, not only are there many more scenarios, but they are all recreated in 3D, offering a sensational experience of pixels battling on arenas that adapted wonderfully to the energetic pace of the matches. To which we must add effects and lighting to match the possibilities of the console. A sensational move that Arc System Works will repeat in Dragon Ball Extreme Butoden.
When it comes to the control system, Supersonic Warriors 2 takes advantage of the two extra buttons on the console to add an individual projectile and lock button. Which, on the other hand, opens the door for many of the characters to transform during the game and, in the process, gives more strength and excitement to the fighting.
And what is better, in addition to using the touch screen to do the relays, using certain combinations of characters on the same team we can unleash powerful combined attacks and finishers.
On the other hand, not only was the number of original characters generously increased (more than double), but assistant characters were introduced who, although they are not fighters, are capable of adding advantages and elements to the game.
What about the modes? Supersonic Warriors 2 brings back all the original experiences and expands them to make character unlocking more interesting and a Practice mode with new and better possibilities. And although only 15 fighters have their own story mode, Arc System Works was even more inspired when it came to imagining alternate plots.
To which must be added the addition of the definitive test: the Maximum mode will seek to test our acquired skills in the rest of the game options with the most demanding challenges. Rewarding us finally with the possibility of unlocking Majin Vegeta.
Both Supersonic Warriors and its sequel arrived at the height of Dragon Ball in the United States and that translated into a great commercial reception worldwide. Which, added to the sensational performance of the Dragon Ball Z Budokai saga and the recently released DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi promoted Goku and company to become, ten years later, one of the workhorses of Bandai -and later Bandai Namco- to international level.
Dragon Ball and Arc System Works: a winning combination
Arc System Works is no longer solely synonymous with Guilty Gear, although it is still its star saga. Those from Yokohama have been consecrated on the basis of highly successful adaptations of successful manganimes ranging from a successful Beat’em Up of Sailor Moon for the Brain of the Beast to a spectacular conversion of The Fist of the North Star to the recreational of the SEGA hand.
They even dared to bring the crazy pirates from One Piece to Nintendo 3DS, which is quite a milestone. However, the treatment they have given Dragon Ball is exceptional.
What distinguishes and positions the two Supersonic Warriors installments above so many experiences inspired by the adventures of Goku and his friends is the masterful treatment that ASW makes of their characters . So, although the game mechanics are shared, each fighter has his own identity in combat , which is manifested both in his technique and in his animations.
Something that will settle with great success in Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden and the way in which it successfully renews the legacy of the mythical series that began on SNES.
Arc System Works makes something as simple as a chaotic exchange of punches, kicks and colossal projectiles terrifyingly exciting, infusing your game with the feel of the original manga and anime. Establishing deep mechanics in limitless mobility.
Introducing an extra character in those tiny sprites based on small and large details that do not go unnoticed and making modest settings become real battlefields.
Making game sharing with two Game Boy Advances or two Nintendo 3DSs especially fun and exciting, even for those who aren’t particularly good at fighting games.
The treatment of the alternative missions was a surprise and a joy for fans of Dragon Ball. And although they were not the first to dare to imagine new stories beyond Toriyama’s imagination, they managed to discover them with each of the characters through story mode was special. Rewarding the curiosity of the most unconditional fans of Dragon Ball.
Son Goku continued to experience adventures on the Game Boy, Nintendo DS, and the rest of Nintendo laptops. Many of them exceptionally good. Some even recovered with remarkable success the adventurous and thuggish spirit of the early days of Toriyama’s work. Of course, the achievements of Supersonic Warriors and that devotion to the original manganime will not be forgotten by the fans, nor by Bandai Namco.
After a very successful opportunity to shine on Nintendo 3DS with Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden , Arc System Works will dare to make the game that all Dragon Ball fans wanted to see come true: taking advantage of the enormous pull of Dragon Ball Super, those of Yokohama will launch An arcade-style team fighting game that radiates the intensity and epicity of anime: Dragon Ball FighterZ.
Because FighterZ is a love letter to the manga and the legacy of Akira Toriyama made for fans and by fans. But it’s also a milestone that continues to reflect all the accomplishments and passion put into the much more modest, yet equally pampered Dragon Ball Z Supersonic Warriors on the Game Boy Advance.
