Dragon Ball GT: Transformation, released by Webfoot Studios and Atari for the Gameboy Advance in 2005. Historically speaking, Dragon Ball Z games have been average fare. They’re often repetitive and rarely add anything to the world of fighting or adventure games. It may still be seen as a bit repetitive because of its single-minded focus on combat, but it’s presented in such a way that you just can’t wait to get into the next skirmish. Let’s dive into whether or not this game is worth players time and money.
Graphics Dragon Ball GT: Transformation That Rival the Cartoon
The first thing you are likely to notice about Dragon Ball GT: Transformation is the graphics. It’s amazing how much of a difference great graphics can make. The game is rendered in faux 3D; the backgrounds have multiple scrolling levels that add depth, and the player can actually walk around your opponents, which adds more freedom and strategy to the gameplay. The player can also pick up items in the environment and throw them at the enemy. Or smash some items to obtain various power-ups that lie within.
Fun in the Little Things
It’s difficult to say that there’s a lot of variety to this game, but like a good blues song, it’s all in the details. There is a good balance of things to do within Dragon Ball GT: Transformation’s limited framework, which ensures the players are not overwhelmed by control configurations or bored with only a few characters and commands.
Dragon Ball GT: Transformation Characters
There are nine characters to choose from. Each has a different set of moves and powers. They can run, jump, and float in the air to perform some aerial combat. Each character also has a Ki energy blast that they can use to send an enemy hurling toward the opposite end of the screen. The move sets aren’t as extensive and varied as those in Dragon Ball Z FighterZ, but given its age and the limited inputs available on the GBA, this is pretty forgivable.
Before the player begins the story mode they must choose three of the nine characters for the team. The player can then switch among the characters they have chosen instantly. All characters replenish their health when out of service, so make sure to switch out characters that are getting low on health to give them some time to recover before they’re knocked out of the bout completely.
Goku has been transformed into a teenager while training with his pal Uubu. To restore himself to adulthood he must collect all the Dragon Balls, which have been scattered throughout the universe. As straightforward as the story may be, it gives us an excuse to go planet hopping, where we’ll discover some incredible scenery and some absolutely huge and imaginative bosses.
Last Thoughts
Despite the tag-team configurations of the story mode, Dragon Ball GT: Transformation has no multiplayer story mode. What is offered instead are a few multiplayer bonus games that support the Link system. Unfortunately, players need to have individual copies of the game, which just isn’t worth purchasing for the multi-player experience alone. Luckily the single-player mode is top notch.
With such spectacular graphics, it’s hard to complain about the rather workmanlike sound design. This is the GBA and the sound quality is limited by the hardware, but what’s here is fine. Players will hear some grunts, smacks, and explosions, with a sprinkling of music from the cartoon series. As mentioned, the graphics are great and really do the cartoon series justice. If you’ve always wanted to own a Dragon Ball game, then Dragon Ball GT: Transformation is the one to get.