Dragon Ball Z: Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu (or Dragon Ball Z: The Legend, Dragon Ball Z Legends)
Considering how Dragon Ball has been around for nearly 31 years and has spawned 88 game titles, it is easy to miss a few. However, I cannot stress how important it is to play this game. If this game does not sound familiar, don’t feel too bad; it was released in 1996 exclusively in Japan for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, while the 1997 Greatest Hits version was only available in France and Spain. American fans had to take extra steps to acquire it, but was well worth it.
The game was a radical departure from other DBZ fighting games. Normal attacks don’t actually inflict damage. Your attacks and combos determine whether or not you fill up the Power Balance gauge at the bottom of the screen – represented by a fluctuating tug of war battle between blue and red. If your respective color fills up the bar, it will trigger a special move animation that does significant damage to your enemy.
This game made you feel like you were living out a Dragon Ball Z episode. The combat was extremely fast-paced and energetic; this effect was further multiplied into an unrivaled spectacle when you had three on three matches. In versus mode, you could create the most eclectic combinations of hero and villain team-ups throughout the entire Dragon Ball Z story arcs. It also featured a Special Mode where you engaged in ultra-difficult team-up matches often at a severe handicap… Damn you, Special Mode Frieza – damn you to the Home for Infinite Losers!