Z Fighters

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Lore & Background

The Z Fighters in Dragon Ball FighterZ are initially powerless when Android 21 seals away their powers and souls. The player's soul is implanted into Goku, who awakens next to Bulma to confront the crisis of clones appearing across Earth. As Goku rescues Krillin and other Z Fighters, they learn that Android 21, a Red Ribbon Army android who was originally a normal human woman whose son became the model for Android 16, is behind everything. The Z Fighters reunite and confront Android 21, who destroys Android 16 for his betrayal. Goku brings the Z Fighters to the Sacred World of the Kai to protect Earth, where they combine their power to obliterate Android 21. In the Enemy Warrior Arc, the player's soul is implanted into Freeza, who reluctantly allies with Goku and the Z Fighters to stop Android 21. In the Android 21 Arc, Android 21's good and evil personas split into two separate beings, and the Z Fighters battle Evil 21 on the Sacred World of the Kai, ultimately defeating her when Good 21 sacrifices herself.

In Their Own Story

The sky above West City turned a bruised purple as the energy signal spiked, a frequency only they could feel. Goku stood atop the Kame House roof, his gi fluttering in the sudden wind, eyes locked on the horizon where a rift was beginning to tear open the fabric of reality. Beside him, Vegeta clenched his fists, the familiar heat of rivalry replaced by the cold certainty of duty. They didn't need words; decades of shared survival had forged a silent language between them. As the first shadowy figure began to descend from the crack in the sky, the signal went out—not through radios or phones, but through the spiritual pressure that rippled across the globe, summoning the family home for one last stand.

Reader's Guide

In Dragon Ball FighterZ, the Z Fighters are represented as playable characters that players select to form a team of three. Each character has unique moves and an assist move that can be called upon during battle. The game's Story mode follows three arcs: the Super Warrior Arc, where the player possesses Goku and reunites the Z Fighters to confront Android 21; the Enemy Warrior Arc, where the player possesses Freeza and the villains ally with the heroes; and the Android 21 Arc, where Android 21's good and evil halves split and the Z Fighters battle Evil 21. The Z Fighters' powers are sealed by Android 21's power-suppressing waves, and they must rely on the linking system that allows a human soul to possess them and provide strength. The base roster includes 21 playable characters, with 3 unlockable through gameplay and 21 released as paid DLC, plus 2 additional DLC characters, for a total of 45. Android 21 is a new character original to the game, designed by series creator Akira Toriyama.

Did You Know?

• Android 21 is a new character original to Dragon Ball FighterZ, designed by series creator Akira Toriyama.
• The game's Story mode takes place sometime between the 'Universe 6' and 'Future Trunks' saga of Dragon Ball Super.
• Android 21 was originally a normal female human who became an android created by the Red Ribbon Army after her son became the model for Android 16.
• The game sold 10 million copies worldwide as of May 2023.
• Versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S were released in February 2024 alongside an update adding rollback netcode for these versions and Windows.

Development History and Platform Availability

Dragon Ball FighterZ stands as a quintessential example of successful third-party collaboration within the fighting genre. Developed by Arc System Works, renowned for their technical prowess in titles like Guilty Gear Xrd, and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game leverages deep familiarity with the source material to create a polished experience. Initially launching on PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in early 2018, it quickly expanded its reach to the Nintendo Switch later that year. The title's longevity was further cemented when enhanced versions arrived for next-generation consoles in February 2024. These updated releases were not merely graphical upgrades but included critical technical improvements, specifically the addition of rollback netcode, which addressed previous criticisms regarding online stability while bringing the game to modern hardware standards.

Core Mechanics and Combat Systems

The gameplay architecture draws heavy inspiration from the Marvel vs. Capcom series, utilizing a dynamic three-character team system where players can switch fighters mid-battle or call upon teammates for assist moves. This mechanic allows for complex, simultaneous attacks that define the game's high-speed flow. Beyond standard strikes, universal tools like the Vanish Attack enable instant teleportation behind opponents, while Dragon Rush forces character switches or breaks through guards. A unique strategic layer is added by the Shenron System; players collect Dragon Balls through successful combos to summon a wish-granting dragon capable of reviving allies, restoring health, or granting extra special moves. Additionally, 'Dramatic Moments' trigger cinematic finishers based on specific character interactions, deeply integrating narrative flair into competitive combat.

Narrative Structure and Antagonist Origins

The game's Story mode is situated between the Universe 6 and Future Trunks sagas of Dragon Ball Super, introducing a compelling new threat: Android 21. Originally a human woman whose son inspired the creation of Android 16, she was forcibly converted into an android by the Red Ribbon Army. Upon awakening, her internal struggle with a monstrous hunger drives the plot as she resurrects iconic villains like Frieza and Cell while sealing the powers of Earth's defenders. The narrative follows a player-controlled soul possessing Goku to investigate these anomalies. As the Z Fighters reunite, they discover that 21 is manipulating events using a linking system designed by Dr. Gero, forcing the heroes to confront both their old enemies and this new, tragic antagonist who seeks to control her own destructive nature.

Critical Reception and Commercial Performance

Upon release, Dragon Ball FighterZ was met with widespread acclaim from critics, frequently cited as one of the premier fighting games of the eighth console generation. Reviewers particularly praised its stunning visual presentation, robust character roster, engaging story mode, and memorable musical score. While some criticism was directed at its initial online functionality, the game's core combat system was universally lauded for its accessibility and depth. Commercially, the title proved to be a massive success, selling over 10 million copies worldwide by May 2023. This enduring popularity is reflected in its extensive roster expansion, which grew from an initial base of twenty-one characters to a total of forty-five through unlockable content and paid downloadable passes, ensuring long-term engagement for the global fanbase.