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Dragon Ball GT: Transformation review (Game Boy Advance)

CNET Editors' Rating

3.5 stars Very good
Review Date:

Average User Rating

0.0 stars No reviews. Write a review

A solid beat-'em-up and one of the better Dragon Ball games.

Dragon Ball GT: Transformation is a Final Fight-style beat-'em-up set in the universe of the popular Dragon Ball GT cartoon series. The game doesn't bring anything new to the this genre, but its rock-solid design and succulent visuals should be more than enough to satisfy Dragon Ball fans that are looking for some on-the-go butt-kicking.

Dragon Ball GT: Transformationscreenshot
You can swap teammates at any time. There are nine characters to pick from.

The opening cinema shows an adult Goku training with his friend Uub. Seconds later, we see Goku transformed back into a teenager at the hand of a jealous Pilaf and the black star dragon balls. In order to return to normal, Goku and his friends must retrieve the dragon balls, which just so happen to have scattered themselves to different planets in the solar system. Basically, the plot provides the necessary explanation as to why players have to journey from planet to planet and beat up the henchmen and bosses located on each of the game's 12 levels.

You won't find much innovation in the design, but it's still pretty fun to play, because, like any good beat-'em-up, Dragon Ball GT: Transformation makes it easy to dispatch the baddies. Movement happens on a 2.5D plane, so you can maneuver around enemies. Characters can run, jump, and float at the touch of a button. Each character has its own unique attacks and combos, including powerful ki blasts that can sail the full length of the screen. Objects in the environment, such as rocks and street signs, can be picked up and thrown, or destroyed to reveal items that can upgrade your characters' health, strength, and ki attributes.

The game's most interesting aspect is that it's team-oriented. Before you start a game, you have to form a team of three characters from a roster of nine available GT characters. During the game, you can swap teammates at any time by pressing the Select button. Characters regain health when they're out of action, which is nice. The main thing to keep in mind when you play is that when a team member runs out of health, he or she is put out of commission for the rest of the level. Aside from the tag-team dynamic, Dragon Ball GT: Transformation plays just like any other beat-'em-up. You'll run into generic enemies as you walk through each level and then face off against various big, bad bosses at the end.

It's a shame that the story mode doesn't support multiplayer. Certainly this type of game is more enjoyable when you can churn through it with a friend. There are three survival-style bonus games to try, which do support link play in addition to solo play, but it's hardly worth tracking down multiple copies of the game. Rounding out the features is the ability to unlock various hidden characters and galleries by spending the money you pick up during the story mode.

 

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Quick Specifications

  • Release date08/9/05
  • ESRB Everyone 10 and older
  • Developer Webfoot Technologies
  • Genre Action
  • Elements Action - fighting
  • Context Fantasy
  • Number of players 1-2 Players
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