Dragonball Z: Burst Limit allows you to play the role of Goku and a multitude of other characters in their attempt to either save or conquer the universe. Staying true to the previous Dragonball games you will begin with a small roster mainly focused around some of the main characters, Goku, Krillin, Piccolo, and Gohan but as you complete each battle one by one new characters will be unlocked.

With Burst Limit being on the Xbox 360 enhanced graphics are a must. Players will noticed an abundance of lighting, shading, and glow effects which bring a greater level of detail to each character. Whether it is from the sun or lava putting off a glow from the background of the map or a Super Sayain’s aura it’s absolutely an improvement from Budokai Tenkaichi 3, the previous Playstation 2 game.

Generally everything has received an improvement making playing the game closer to as if you were watching the anime. Cut scenes called "Drama Pieces" also add to this giving your character boosts to their attack, defense, or ki regeneration and a small movie-like scene between your character and their opponent.



Unfortunately some players may be dismayed at the fact that Burst Limit only reaches to the Cell Saga and does not continue to the end of the GT saga as Budokai Tenkaichi 3 did. Players are looking at three Sagas, the Sayian, Freiza, and Cell saga with a hand full of levels involving Bardock and Broly. Thus limiting the roster to around twenty-one characters, excluding transformations. Even then the transformations are limited to what is actually seen in the anime, no Oozaru Bardock/Nappa, etc. Although there are three different types of game play modes other than the storyline which would be Survival where the player fights up to a max of one-hundred bouts, Time Attack fighting to a max of ten bouts against a timer, and Battle Point mode where points are accumulated based on your attacks and performance through a maximum of ten fights.

Versus mode offers the usual player one vs. computer, player one vs. player two, computer vs. computer, and what many have been waiting for Xbox LIVE Battle. All of the modes offer preliminary set up of the matches from how many rounds of fighting, time limit, to if Drama Pieces are allowed. Xbox LIVE multiplayer offers Player Match (which I have yet to have work) and Ranked Match (which has worked). Fights in Player Match will not affect your power level (ranking) while Ranked Matches will. Losses will occur in loss of power level and wins will occur in gain. Depending on whom you play and your tactics of combat will determine your Xbox Live Multiplayer experience, possibly testing your patience and desire to play online again.

For those who are familiar with the past Dragonball games there are two different control styles that have been used, the Budokai system and the Tenkaichi system, which is better is entirely personal preference. The Budokai system involved in Dragonball Z: Burst Limit offer simplistic combos to pound out, your usual X, X, X, X combos which can be ended with a Y (block breaker/charged) attack or stun move or Y, Y, Y, Y combos often resulting in breaking an opponents block. Your special attacks are easily carried out with the left or right directional pad and the B button held, also your Ultimate move with an up direction and the B button held. Each character has relatively a different special and ultimate move with transformations offering a change and allowing you to perform different moves.



Movement in it self is slower than past games but that’s made up for with some blistering fast Aura Spark Pursuits where mashing A, B, X, and Y comes into play as fast as you can to win the clash between your character and the opponent. These pursuits taking place anywhere just above the ground to up into the clouds, depending on where you are often the end result of a successful Aura Spark Pursuit will allow you to knock the opponent into the sky or down into the ground for extra damage.

Overall Dragonball Z: Burst Limit is a fun fast paced fighter though fans of the series may find it more enjoyable than those who are not. A larger roster with a story line that leads to end of Dragonball GT would be fantastic but it’s to be waited for in what many fans hope to be a second Burst Limit.