67
MONSTER
Dragon Ball Xenoverse is the first installment of the Xenoverse series and the Dragon Ball game developed by Dimps. It is the first fighting game to feature full 3D battles similar to the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Fighters can traverse the levels free-roaming in large spaces and can fight on ground, in the air and underwater. The game features spoken dialogue from a majority of main characters while in battle, and characters show facial expressions when they strike an opponent or take damage. Although limited, the players have some freedom to explore the planet Earth as it exists in the Dragon Ball universe along with a handful of other locations.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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69
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse dazzles with inventive time-travel twists and fan-service-packed lore interactions but falters by leaning too heavily on recycled tropes, offering a clever yet shallow experience that prioritizes nostalgia over original storytelling.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
69
Positive Reviews (80-100)
13%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
78%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
9%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse dazzles with inventive time-travel twists and fan-service-packed lore interactions but falters by leaning too heavily on recycled tropes, offering a clever yet shallow experience that prioritizes nostalgia over original storytelling.
Gameplay Mechanics
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71
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse delivers flashy, customizable combat and RPG depth but falters with repetitive missions, clunky controls, and underwhelming AI, leaving a mixed legacy despite its fan-friendly core.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
31%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
66%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse delivers flashy, customizable combat and RPG depth but falters with repetitive missions, clunky controls, and underwhelming AI, leaving a mixed legacy despite its fan-friendly core.
Graphics and Visual Design
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72
Praised for its anime-accurate cel-shaded visuals and dynamic action sequences, but plagued by technical flaws like poor textures, frame rate issues, and an outdated hub city, resulting in a mixed reception that balances creative ambition with graphical shortcomings.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
72
Positive Reviews (80-100)
36%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
64%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Praised for its anime-accurate cel-shaded visuals and dynamic action sequences, but plagued by technical flaws like poor textures, frame rate issues, and an outdated hub city, resulting in a mixed reception that balances creative ambition with graphical shortcomings.
Music and Sound Design
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55
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's sound design and music delivered nostalgic highs with energetic rock-metal themes and iconic callbacks, but technical flaws—like muddled mixing, missing audio, and jarring lip-sync—overshadowed its efforts, leaving critics underwhelmed by an ultimately forgettable audio experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
55
Positive Reviews (80-100)
0%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
27%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's sound design and music delivered nostalgic highs with energetic rock-metal themes and iconic callbacks, but technical flaws—like muddled mixing, missing audio, and jarring lip-sync—overshadowed its efforts, leaving critics underwhelmed by an ultimately forgettable audio experience.
Voice Acting
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66
Bilingual voice options and iconic character performances win praise, but technical flaws, uneven delivery, and poor lip-sync plague the dubbing, making it a polarizing, fan-pleasing yet flawed experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
66
Positive Reviews (80-100)
12%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
76%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
12%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Bilingual voice options and iconic character performances win praise, but technical flaws, uneven delivery, and poor lip-sync plague the dubbing, making it a polarizing, fan-pleasing yet flawed experience.
Technical Performance
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60
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's tech is a patchwork of promise and pitfalls—stable core mechanics on PS4/Xbox One but plagued by online instability, glitchy controls, and design flaws; PC improved over time but faced early server chaos. While playable, its polish fell short, with updates offering partial fixes but not erasing persistent issues across platforms.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
60
Positive Reviews (80-100)
0%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
96%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
4%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse's tech is a patchwork of promise and pitfalls—stable core mechanics on PS4/Xbox One but plagued by online instability, glitchy controls, and design flaws; PC improved over time but faced early server chaos. While playable, its polish fell short, with updates offering partial fixes but not erasing persistent issues across platforms.
Replay Value
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72
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse excels in customization, side content, and multiplayer but suffers from repetitive missions, grinding, and lackluster post-game polish, offering mixed replay value that leans toward fan service over innovation.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
72
Positive Reviews (80-100)
17%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
79%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse excels in customization, side content, and multiplayer but suffers from repetitive missions, grinding, and lackluster post-game polish, offering mixed replay value that leans toward fan service over innovation.
Overall Verdict
67
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
67
Positive Reviews (80-100)
26%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse dazzles with inventive RPG mechanics, nostalgic depth, and responsive combat, hailed as a standout for fans. Yet, tech glitches, repetition, and underdeveloped systems tarnish its potential, leaving mixed reviews that praise its ambition but question its polish.
67
MONSTER
Reviews
85 reviews found89
NZGamer
Mar 16, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Considered one of the best Dragon Ball games, combining RPG elements with familiar combat mechanics, offering a satisfying experience for fans.
80
Dealspwn
Mar 22, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A strong recommendation for its immersive storytelling, exceptional combat, and unique ability to let players become part of the Dragon Ball universe. While it has technical and design flaws, it's hailed as a significant step forward for anime-based games.
80
MondoXbox
Mar 11, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A positive experiment that successfully blends fighting game and RPG elements, offering a fresh take on the Dragon Ball universe. While not perfect, it lays a strong foundation for future titles.
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80
Attack of the Fanboy
Feb 25, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball Xenoverse is praised as a significant improvement for the series, with a fresh story and MMO-inspired features. However, flaws like camera issues and missing training modes prevent it from being perfect, making it a must-play for fans but a blueprint for future entries.
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80
Hobby Consolas
Feb 24, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is a mixed experience that excels in fan service with its deep customization, combat mechanics, and narrative freedom but struggles with technical flaws, camera issues, and a steep learning curve for newcomers. It appeals primarily to dedicated Dragon Ball enthusiasts.
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80
Cheat Code Central
Feb 25, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Xenoverse is a mixed experience that caters to fans with its homage to Dragon Ball lore and creative freedom but suffers from gameplay flaws, shallow storytelling, and technical shortcomings. It succeeds as a fan-driven project but falls short of being a polished fighting game.
80
Gameplanet
Mar 13, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Xenoverse is praised as the best Dragon Ball title in a while for fans, despite issues with online stability and a steep difficulty curve. It successfully blends fighting game elements with RPG mechanics.
80
Push Square
Feb 24, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A refreshing take on the Dragon Ball universe that prioritizes RPG elements over traditional fighting mechanics. It succeeds in offering accessible combat, customization, and online features but may disappoint fans seeking a conventional brawler.
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75
IGN Spain
Feb 24, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Dragon Ball: Xenoverse as a significant evolution of the series, combining familiar elements with new RPG mechanics, and calls it one of the best Dragon Ball games in years despite minor flaws.
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75
COGconnected
Mar 6, 2015
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A well-received game for Dragon Ball fans despite its flaws, with praise for its innovative story approach, combat, and content, though technical issues and a grinding mechanic may deter some players.
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