Quick to Pick Up, Hard to Master
5 Takeaways From The Dragon Ball FighterZ Beta
The tutorial was my first stop in the beta, and I was surprised with how simple the game controls are. Fighting games are often esoteric, complicated affairs, but right off the bat, Dragon Ball FighterZ is accessible. Three of the controller’s face buttons are mapped to weak, medium, and heavy attacks, and chi blasts are tied to the fourth face button. Like most fighting games, different combinations result in different actions. Learning effective combos is organic and doesn’t require constantly looking at the menu-screen like other fighters, and I quickly felt like a demi-god in the beta’s tutorial section. This illusion was pleasant, but quickly shattered by players who have obviously played their fair share of Arc System Works’ games. Those with experience with other ASW titles will quickly adjust to this game and inevitably develop mastery sooner than others, and those with less experience might feel like a fool on an occasion or two. I certainly did.
But being walloped into oblivion isn’t purposeless. Getting demolished is discouraging, definitely, but most of the time, these eviscerations come with a few profound learning moments. By the end of my time playing the beta, I felt more capable. While getting better with practice may seem obvious, improvement feels more tangible in Dragon Ball FighterZ. Having an actual path to improvement is a welcome change in a genre often barricaded by elite players. In a game that will magnetize inexperienced players purely because of its brand, this accessibility is crucial.
