The Nintendo SNES era was a golden age for gaming, with numerous iconic titles that continue to captivate audiences today. One such game is the Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen (Japan) [En by Kakkoii v0.313] (~Dragon Ball Z - The Legend of Goku 1), an action-packed fighting game that brings the beloved anime series to life on console.

Developed by Dimps and published by Nintendo, this game was initially released in Japan for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1995. The English version, translated by Kakkoii, was later made available for fans outside of Japan. This review will delve into the game's mechanics, features, and overall gaming experience.

Gameplay Overview

Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is a side-scrolling fighting game that combines the intense action of Dragon Ball Z with a unique " Den" system. The "Den" represents the spiritual energy that warriors tap into during battles, which can be used to enhance their abilities and perform special moves.

Players control one of 20 characters from the Dragon Ball Z universe, each with their own set of special moves and attacks. The game features a variety of stages, including iconic locations from the anime series, as well as original environments inspired by the franchise's epic battles.

The gameplay itself is fast-paced and intense, with players able to use a range of techniques, such as dodging, blocking, and charging up their Den to perform powerful attacks. The game also features a unique " ki" meter that fills up as the player lands successful hits or uses certain moves, which can be used to unleash devastating special attacks.

Character Roster

One of the standout features of Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is its impressive character roster. The game boasts 20 playable characters, including some of the most iconic figures from the anime series, such as Goku, Vegeta, Trunks, and Piccolo.

Each character has their own unique abilities and special moves, which are designed to reflect their personalities and fighting styles in the anime. For example, Goku's Kamehameha wave is a staple of his character design, while Vegeta's Prideful Stance allows him to perform a powerful slash attack.

Story Mode

The game's story mode is relatively short, consisting of 12 stages that follow the events of the Dragon Ball Z anime series. The stages are well-designed and faithfully recreate iconic moments from the show, with detailed backgrounds and character models that bring the world of Dragon Ball Z to life.

However, the story mode is also somewhat incomplete, as some characters and stages were left out of the initial release. Despite this, the game's narrative is still engaging and faithful to the original anime series, providing a fun and action-packed experience for fans of the franchise.

Graphics and Sound

At the time of its release, Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen boasted impressive graphics for its era, with detailed character models and backgrounds that helped bring the world of Dragon Ball Z to life. The game's sound effects and music are also memorable and iconic, perfectly capturing the energy and excitement of the anime series.

The English translation by Kakkoii is generally well-done, although some fans have noted a few minor errors or inconsistencies in the text. However, overall, the translation does an excellent job of conveying the spirit and tone of the original Japanese dialogue.

Replay Value

Despite its age, Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen still offers a significant amount of replay value, thanks to its challenging gameplay and varied character roster. Fans of the anime series will enjoy the game's faithful recreation of iconic moments from the show, while players looking for a fun fighting game experience will appreciate the game's fast-paced action and unique "Den" system.

However, some fans may find the game's difficulty level to be somewhat off-putting, as it can become challenging even for experienced players. Additionally, the game's incomplete story mode and lack of additional content may be seen as a drawback by some players.

Age Rating

Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is rated M (Mature) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), due to its violent themes, cartoon-style violence, and suggestive content. The game also contains some mild profanity and brief suggestive scenes, although these are relatively rare and not gratuitous.

Conclusion

Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is a classic fighting game that brings the beloved anime series to life on console. With its fast-paced gameplay, unique "Den" system, and impressive character roster, this game is a must-play for fans of the franchise and action-packed fighting games.

While some minor issues with difficulty level and incomplete story mode may be present, these are relatively minor complaints in an otherwise excellent game. Overall, Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is a great addition to any retro gaming collection, offering a fun and challenging experience for players of all ages.

Final Verdict

Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is an action-packed fighting game that brings the beloved anime series to life on console. With its fast-paced gameplay, unique "Den" system, and impressive character roster, this game is a must-play for fans of the franchise and action-packed fighting games.

Rating: 8.5/10

Recommendation:

If you're a fan of Dragon Ball Z or action-packed fighting games, then Dragon Ball Z - Super Gokuu Den - Totsugeki Hen is an absolute must-play. The game's challenging gameplay and varied character roster make it a great addition to any retro gaming collection.

However, if you're sensitive to violence or have young children who play video games, then you may want to exercise caution before purchasing this game. Despite its cartoon-style violence, the game's themes and content are still intended for mature audiences only.