Game Card
Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu (aka DBZ: Goku Densetsu) (DS)
- Publisher:
- Atari
- Developer:
- Bec
- US Release:
- 05.06.2007
- EU Release:
- n/a
- Number of players:
- 1 - 4
Review
We play Dragon Ball Z: Harukanaru Densetsu (aka DBZ: Goku Densetsu)...
Another month and another Dragonball Z spin off game to mop up the spare money of the seemingly rabid fanbase. This time around, the DS gets some card-battling action from Goku and chums, with slow pacing and tactical thought being the order of the day. It's about as far away from the standard franchise fighting games as could possibly be, but given the over-saturation of all Dragonball related media at the moment, perhaps that's no bad thing.
As you've no doubt guessed, Goku Densetsu is a card-battling game that takes inspiration directly from any number of the popular card-based franchises down the years, whether digital or otherwise. Played out in the manner of a Top Trumps Dragonball set, Densetsu casts the main storyline onto an overworld map, on which players are free to choose directions and encounters. There are three storylines to initially choose from, and each game board then represents a particular hook in the chosen campaign, similar in style to an individual episode of the animated series. In practice this works pretty well, and although the animation is necessarily toned down to fit the stylings of the DS, the quality is decent enough to warrant the effort of play.
In execution, Goku Densetsu works as you'd expect. Each card in the randomly allocated pack has a dual role for both the overworld and encounter screen, serving movement and item activation duties or combat and healing as necessary. Players take it in turns to activate cards on the overworld map, and soon become involved in one of the many encounters littered throughout each chapter.
Choosing a card in battle depends largely on the strategy needed to defeat each foe. Every card has both offensive and defensive ratings (1-8, with 'Z' marking special undefeatable cards), and the player with the higher offensive number gets to activate the properties of their card for that turn. The properties of each card will either be offensive (damaging an opponents health) defensive (improving the statistical properties of the offensive or defensive ratings in your deck), or item and special-attack based. There is also an ability to flee from some of the less necessary confrontations, which can save a good amount of time in the process, although rarely becomes necessary to activate.
Encounter rates on each board are generally well-paced and the campaign has a solid flow, with the design of each map forcing players to plot routes and strategies accordingly. The battle system soon becomes repetitive (it is a card-battling game after all), but there is a good degree of choice throughout, and enough variation in card abilities to keep combat relatively fresh. Played correctly (and with a good slice of luck), it can be possible to defeat an enemy without them even managing to take a single card, turning some of the battles into fairly easy routes to progression.
Outside of the campaign mode, the local multiplayer options for up to four people also work entirely as prediction dictates. Each battle takes the same form as the single-player game, with every player choosing a card per turn and fighting to the death. Some form of local co-op for the campaign mode would have been a nice addition, but unfortunately doesn't seem to have made the cut.
With that said, it needs to be made clear that Goku Densetsu isn't for everybody. Although the card system is relatively easy to pick up (largely due to the vast array of tutorials available at the start of the game), the plotlines and characters are straight out of the DBZ series, which will mean complete bafflement for anybody not familiar with the source material. Although it would be impossible to mark a Dragonball game down for being, well, too much like Dragonball, this is definitely not the title to initiate yourself to the series with, and remains one of the most impenetrable titles in the franchise history thus far.
Also, when all is said and done, card-battling games still have a long way to go before their merits as a videogame genre can be assessed, and Goku Densetsu brings up that nagging feeling that this is a pastime that simply deserves to be played in the flesh rather than the screen. It isn't a bad game by any means, and DBZ fans will be well-served, but in terms of play mechanics, innovation, graphical quality and overall appeal, Densetsu unfortunately ranks as nothing more than average at very best.
Top Game Moment: Defeating a tricky opponent without losing a single turn.
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| This is the main battle screen, which you'll be seeing a whole lot of |
Cut scenes and animation throughout are generally decent |
As you've no doubt guessed, Goku Densetsu is a card-battling game that takes inspiration directly from any number of the popular card-based franchises down the years, whether digital or otherwise. Played out in the manner of a Top Trumps Dragonball set, Densetsu casts the main storyline onto an overworld map, on which players are free to choose directions and encounters. There are three storylines to initially choose from, and each game board then represents a particular hook in the chosen campaign, similar in style to an individual episode of the animated series. In practice this works pretty well, and although the animation is necessarily toned down to fit the stylings of the DS, the quality is decent enough to warrant the effort of play.
In execution, Goku Densetsu works as you'd expect. Each card in the randomly allocated pack has a dual role for both the overworld and encounter screen, serving movement and item activation duties or combat and healing as necessary. Players take it in turns to activate cards on the overworld map, and soon become involved in one of the many encounters littered throughout each chapter.
 |
 |
|
| 'Z' rated cards are the most powerful, and need to be used tactically |
It's all as over the top as necessary |
Choosing a card in battle depends largely on the strategy needed to defeat each foe. Every card has both offensive and defensive ratings (1-8, with 'Z' marking special undefeatable cards), and the player with the higher offensive number gets to activate the properties of their card for that turn. The properties of each card will either be offensive (damaging an opponents health) defensive (improving the statistical properties of the offensive or defensive ratings in your deck), or item and special-attack based. There is also an ability to flee from some of the less necessary confrontations, which can save a good amount of time in the process, although rarely becomes necessary to activate.
Encounter rates on each board are generally well-paced and the campaign has a solid flow, with the design of each map forcing players to plot routes and strategies accordingly. The battle system soon becomes repetitive (it is a card-battling game after all), but there is a good degree of choice throughout, and enough variation in card abilities to keep combat relatively fresh. Played correctly (and with a good slice of luck), it can be possible to defeat an enemy without them even managing to take a single card, turning some of the battles into fairly easy routes to progression.
Outside of the campaign mode, the local multiplayer options for up to four people also work entirely as prediction dictates. Each battle takes the same form as the single-player game, with every player choosing a card per turn and fighting to the death. Some form of local co-op for the campaign mode would have been a nice addition, but unfortunately doesn't seem to have made the cut.
With that said, it needs to be made clear that Goku Densetsu isn't for everybody. Although the card system is relatively easy to pick up (largely due to the vast array of tutorials available at the start of the game), the plotlines and characters are straight out of the DBZ series, which will mean complete bafflement for anybody not familiar with the source material. Although it would be impossible to mark a Dragonball game down for being, well, too much like Dragonball, this is definitely not the title to initiate yourself to the series with, and remains one of the most impenetrable titles in the franchise history thus far.
 |
 |
|
| Each game board has its own plotline | Battle animation is colourful and varied enough to keep it relatively interesting |
Also, when all is said and done, card-battling games still have a long way to go before their merits as a videogame genre can be assessed, and Goku Densetsu brings up that nagging feeling that this is a pastime that simply deserves to be played in the flesh rather than the screen. It isn't a bad game by any means, and DBZ fans will be well-served, but in terms of play mechanics, innovation, graphical quality and overall appeal, Densetsu unfortunately ranks as nothing more than average at very best.
Top Game Moment: Defeating a tricky opponent without losing a single turn.
