Story 8.5

The story follows our Create-a-Character (CAC), a unique character created to protect the timeline from time distortions. Trunks and his Time Patrol are responsible for maintaining Dragon Ball history. Along the way, we encounter iconic anime characters like Cell, Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza, Beerus and others. The game's adaptation story is unique as it allows us to experience time distortion issues that should not have occurred due to mysterious enemies in Universe Mode, providing a fresh experience for long-time Dragon Ball fans and introducing new ones to the story. The non-playable characters (NPCs) in Toki-Toki City are interesting, with distinct dialogues that highlight the importance of protecting the main timeline. Through small talk with fighting characters, VS Battle allows us to become immersed in the story. Apart from the main narrative, the NPCs in Toki-Toki City (the primary place) are quite remarkable for detail lovers, providing distinctive dialogues when interacting and showing how important of our position as a main timeline protector. In VS Battle, you're able to immerse yourself in the lore with small talks around the fighting characters.

Gameplay 7.5

Talking about the main battle system, Xenoverse is a combination of elements from previous games such as Budokai Tenkaichi and Budokai series. The game features a Budokai Tenkaichi-esque 3D third-person fighting system with explorable and destructible environments, as well as classic split-screen multiplayer features. While the use of capsules in battle for buffs and additional world exploration features in Toki-Toki City is similar to the Budokai series. The game also includes a character creation system with various customizations and perks, skills, outfits, and anime-accurate Z-Soul (Stat Increaser) that can be obtained and used from Shop, Master, and Parallel Quests. Additionally, the game features a training feature for a character from the anime (Master) as well as a special connection called "Z-Assist". Despite introducing multiplayer coop and versus features with an impressive concept and incorporating fresh RPG elements of customization, Xenoverse fell short in a relatively short time. With the release of Xenoverse 2, most of its multiplayer features became unplayable, along with issues in gameplay such as monotonous combat flow, brainless friendly AI, pretty limited roster, and the "RNG within an RNG" system.

Graphics 8.5

Despite being nearly a decade old, the original Xenoverse still boasts graphics that remain impressive today. It features detailed cel-shaded art, a vivid color palette enhancing gameplay, dynamic special effects, sharp and authentic character models, realistic environments, smooth character animations, interactive foot placement IK, stylistic glare effects, flowing hair and fabrics, along with FXAA anti-aliasing, depth of field, and motion blur during gameplay. These elements contribute to the immersive and fast-paced combat experience, particularly suitable for cooperative battles involving more than two players on expansive maps. Additionally, the game's user interface, with its futuristic industrial theme centered around Capsule Corp, effectively captures the essence of our journey as Time Patrollers alongside Trunks throughout the timeline. In essence, the graphics and aesthetics of the game harmoniously blend to enhance both the storyline and gameplay experience.

Sounds 8

The sound design in this game is noteworthy, particularly the blend of retro and modern sound effects that effectively complement the anime's aesthetic. The voice acting, both in Japanese and English, is also well-done, and the soundtracks are decent. The opening track, "FLOW - CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA," sets a great tone. However, the first Xenoverse game had some sound issues, including repetitive sound effects, mediocre soundtracks, and an unbalanced mixing volume during fights. This is an unusual instance where the sound design in a Dragon Ball game doesn't quite live up to its predecessors' standards.

Replayability 6.5

The initial promise of Dragon Ball: Xenoverse, with its innovative blend of RPG and multiplayer elements, falls short due to various execution issues. The game's replay value is significantly diminished by the overwhelming presence of Xenoverse 2 and the numerous gameplay problems it faces. The character customization options, including outfits and skills, are rendered largely ineffective by the random nature of the reward system, which not only consumes energy but also time and effort. Furthermore, the cooperative features and achievements are rendered inaccessible due to the multiplayer's decline and the dwindling player base. As a result, the game's longevity relies heavily on the availability of DLCs and the nostalgia of fans of the Dragon Ball series.


Dragon Ball Xenoverse is a fighting game that combines RPG elements and multiplayer capabilities, but it falls short due to several flaws. The fighting system, although visually impressive, lacks depth and complexity, leading to repetitive gameplay. The reward system's randomness limits character customization options, which can be frustrating and time-consuming. Additionally, the multiplayer elements, such as cooperative play and achievements, are no longer available due to the decline of the multiplayer community and the release of Xenoverse 2. Despite these shortcomings, the game offers an immersive experience through its graphics and sound design, which effectively capture the anime's style. Overall, Dragon Ball Xenoverse has its moments, but it fails to live up to its full potential and is overshadowed by its successor.

nice

It allows you to customize your and take enemy's asscessories