Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 (video game)

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22 (ドラゴン ボール ゼット アルティメット バトル トゥエンティー ツー, Doragon Bōru Zetto: Aruteimeito Batoru Touentii Tsū) is a fighting game for the Sony PlayStation.

Gameplay

The game is notable for using actual cel drawings from the animators as character sprites and cut scenes before the fights, a novelty at the time of its original release in Japan (these cut scenes were removed in the European and North American versions). Another fighting game, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Butōden, was released in the same era for the Sega Saturn and is considered by many to be the better of the two games. The aforementioned game never received a North American release. When Ultimate Battle 22 was officially released in North America eight years later by Atari, an English dub track was not produced and the pre-battle cut scenes were removed.

Characters have two different meters to display status; a basic health meter and a strength meter (latter explained below). The fighters have an array of basic close-up punches and kicks, as well as special attacks that require a motion with the directional buttons and attack input. Most special attacks are based on actual moves used by characters in the anime, i.e. Son Goku's Kamehame-Ha, but require a large strength reserve to be used repeatedly. Other basic special attacks include a variety of fireballs and explosion-based attacks.

The game is unique for having two levels of gameplay; grounded or in the air. By pressing triangle, the player's character will rise up and levitate, and if the other character does so too then the camera goes to a dynamic aerial view. It does not have major effects on gameplay except for the different camera angles. In addition, if a character is hit with an attack that does heavy damage while in the air, they will plummet downwards and receive additional damage (much like fights in the regular anime).

Most characters have some sort of fireball attack, melee attack, or "approach" attack. Doing special attacks drains the "strength" meter. When the meter is fully drained, the character will be "exhausted" and cannot move until strength is recovered or until being hit. To restore strength, one must hold the Square button, the X button, and the Circle button. The character will then do the signature "charge" pose by glowing in a yellow aura and yelling.

Playable

• Super Saiyan Goku
• Super Saiyan 2 Gohan
• Majin Vegeta
• Super Saiyan Trunks
• Cell
• No. 16
• No. 18
• Freeza
• Zarbon
• Recoome
• Captain Ginyu
• Dabura
• Goten
• Kid Trunks
• Shin
• Majin Boo
• Super Boo
• Super Saiyan Gotenks
• Great Saiyaman
• Krillin
• Tien
• Piccolo Junior

Secret

• Super Saiyan Gogeta (Although in the NA release, he was mistakenly called Vegetto and given his biography and Fusion method.)
• Hercule
• Master Roshi
• Super Saiyan 3 Goku
• Kid Goku

Strategy guide

The title of the strategy guide is Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22.

Gallery

Trivia

• The method to unlock the five secret characters is mentioned in the instruction booklet that comes with the game. To unlock them, you must press Up on the control pad, press the Triangle button, press Down on the control pad, press the X button, press Left on the control pad, press L1, press Right on the control pad, and press R1 at the title screen, which comes up after the intro. After inputting the code, you will hear a sound and another intro will be shown featuring the five hidden characters. After that, it will take you back to the title screen which will have changed from "Ultimate Battle 22" to "Ultimate Battle 27" due to the addition of the five hidden characters.
• Even though an English dubbing was not added to the game, FUNimation still appears on the English box art.

Reception

Ultimate Battle 22 was the subject of an overwhelming number of negative American reviews. The original Japanese version came out in 1995, and thus, by comparison to the more recent titles of the time, the game paled.

• GameSpot gave it a 1.2/10, calling it a "really, really terrible game."
• X-Play said it was "a waste of time and money."
• Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine gave it a 1/5, the second lowest score possible.
• Electronic Gaming Monthly said that "someone crapped in a jewel case and passed it off as a game."
• Overall, it has a 32% on GameRankings.
• IGN gave it a 4.0.