More than 35 years in, one thing is certain: the Dragon Ball saga remains fertile ground for fighting games. Many have been good, others quickly forgotten, and then there are those that belong to the fans in a very special way. That brings us to Hyper Dragon Ball Z, a title built on the MUGEN engine with excellent animations, original sounds, and an enormous challenge in terms of moves and techniques. It's free, and you can download it today.
Dragon Ball and MUGEN, Destined to Meet
On one side, the Dragon Ball saga. Adventures that marked entire generations, with unforgettable characters, relentless villains, and extraordinary powers. A story of determination, teamwork, humor, and drama... with the occasional filler episodes that frustrated everyone.
On the other side, MUGEN. Born as a fighting game in 1999, MUGEN became clay for a large number of enthusiasts willing to create their own universes. Incredible crossovers, attention to detail that many companies envy, and persistence through time. Inevitably, Dragon Ball and MUGEN had to cross paths. This is the result.
A Fan-Made Game That Keeps Improving
The first time we talked about Hyper Dragon Ball Z was in April 2017, and it has improved tremendously since then. 21 playable characters (from which you can choose 15 on the first order), 28 stages that any Dragon Ball fan will recognize instantly, music and sound effects that fit perfectly, and a set of moves and techniques that will demand the best from every player, even if they consider themselves experts in the genre.
Configuration and Controls
The general interface offers several configuration options, but with MUGEN in the background, that means we can modify its CFG file as we please. Personally, I believe the best experience is achieved by keeping the original parameters, that is, 640 x 480 at 60 FPS, but I know there are many users with high-definition monitors out there, and for them it is advisable to adopt a resolution that preserves the true size of the pixels.
In addition to the basic documentation, Hyper Dragon Ball Z includes a copy of the entire movelist in its zip file, so you don't need to be connected to the network to study it. Due to the complexity of its moves, we definitely recommend using a gamepad, or at least a keyboard with NKRO capability. Some fights get very heated, especially when they are team battles.
What's Next for Hyper Dragon Ball Z?
What's next for Hyper Dragon Ball Z? Mainly, the inclusion of new characters, with a certain emphasis on those we saw during Dragon Ball Super. The developer's Twitter profile shows multiple progress on the animation and attacks of Jiren, as well as Caulifla and Hit. If you want to collaborate, there is always the Patreon or PayPal route, but don't hesitate to download a copy. If you are a fan of Dragon Ball, fighting games, or both at the same time, I know you will enjoy Hyper Dragon Ball Z, and a lot.
Official site and download: Click here
