DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2: A Time-Traveling Power Fantasy on Windows

Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 is an action-RPG fighter that drops you into the iconic Dragon Ball world with a mission to protect the timeline from meddling villains. Published by BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment and developed by Dimps, the game offers a mix of third-person brawling, character customization, and online multiplayer. Its core highlights include a fully customizable avatar that can learn any fighting style, a time-traveling story mode that revisits key moments from the anime, massive hub worlds to explore, and robust co-op and PvP modes. This title is built for Dragon Ball superfans who want to live out their own Saiyan saga, as well as fighting game players looking for a lighter, more accessible brawler with deep RPG hooks.

Step into the Time Nest – Your Role as a Time Patroller

From the moment you land in the bustling Conton City hub, Xenoverse 2 makes it clear this isn't just a retelling of the anime—it's your own chapter. You create a custom character (race and gender from Saiyan, Human, Namekian, Frieza's race, or Majin) and join the Time Patrol, a team tasked with fixing historical distortions. The story kicks off with a dramatic showdown against Towa and Mira, but quickly jumps into famous battles from the Frieza, Cell, and Buu arcs. The twist: you're actively participating, often altering events just enough to keep the canon intact. This isn't a simple beat-for-beat recap; new enemies and scenarios keep even veteran fans on their toes, and the writing leans into self-aware humor without feeling forced. It's a clever way to fill both a fan wish and an RPG progression structure.

Combat That Feels Like a Big Budget Anime Episode

The fighting system strikes a balance between accessibility and depth. Basic attacks, ki blasts, dashes, and throws are mapped to a handful of buttons, while special moves and Ultimate attacks are assigned to a skill bar. The camera stays tight during fights, and the lock-on works reliably even in chaotic three-on-three battles. The real beauty lies in the "Super Attacks" and "Ultimate Skills" that you can equip—think Kamehameha, Spirit Bomb, Final Flash, or even a charged Meteor Strike. You unlock new moves from mentors (like Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo) by completing their training missions, which adds a satisfying sense of progression. The combat lacks the frame‑perfect precision of Street Fighter or Tekken, but it nails the cinematic feel of Dragon Ball: huge energy blasts, screen‑shaking explosions, and dramatic slow‑motion finishes. Newcomers can pick it up in an hour, and veterans can tweak stat builds to maximize their combo potential.

The Heart of the Game: Your Custom Hero and the Learning Curve

Let me call out the single most distinctive feature of Xenoverse 2 — the character creator. While other DBZ games let you play as Goku or Vegeta, this game lets you build a Saiyan from scratch, choose their hair, face, voice, and even unlock new transformations (Super Saiyan, Super Vegeta, etc.) as you level up. You're not stuck with one skill set either; you can respec your attribute points (Health, Ki, Stamina, Basic Attacks, Strike Supers, and Ki Blast Supers) at any time, encouraging experimentation. This sense of ownership is rare in fighting games and turns every multiplayer match into a showcase of personal creativity. The user interface, while functional, is a bit overloaded on the menus—especially when comparing gear stats—but the in-game HUD is clean and keeps your health, ki, and stamina bars visible. The Windows port runs smoothly even on mid-range hardware (I tested it at 1080p with a GTX 1060; solid 60 fps with occasional stutter during teleport moves), and keyboard/mouse controls are remappable, though a controller is strongly recommended.

Parallel Quests, Raids, and Why You'll Keep Coming Back

Beyond the 30‑hour story campaign, the real longevity comes from the Parallel Quests — cooperative missions for up to three players where you fight waves of enemies, protect NPCs, or defeat giant bosses. These quests often have multiple objectives and secret conditions for unlocking new moves or characters, and the matchmaking is fast and stable. There's also a “Raids” mode where a whole lobby fights a super-powered boss. The learning curve for these is gentle: the game teaches you basic combos early, and the higher-difficulty quests simply demand better timing and gear. One unique twist is the “Easter Eggs” hidden within the hub—chatting with certain NPCs or finding secret spots unlocks additional story chapters or cosmetic items, which rewards exploration without being tedious.

What Sets It Apart from Other Action-Adventure Brawlers

Most action‑adventure games either focus on a linear story (God of War) or pure competitive combat (Mortal Kombat). Xenoverse 2 carves its own niche by blending a persistent RPG progression system with an existing beloved franchise. Unlike Dragon Ball FighterZ (a strictly 2D competitive fighter), Xenoverse 2 prioritizes player expression through custom avatars and the freedom to mix skills from different characters. It also offers a persistent hub world with hundreds of NPCs and mini‑games, which gives it a “MMO-lite” feel that sets it apart from most other licensed action games. The ability to replay historical battles from a new perspective—and the sheer number of unlockable characters (over 80 playable in addition to your custom avatar) — gives it tremendous replay value for its current price point, especially on Windows where it regularly goes on sale for around $10–15.

Should You Buy It? My Honest Take

I'd recommend Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 to any Dragon Ball fan who wants more than a button‑mash fighter, especially if you enjoy character progression and online co-op. If your only interest is a deep, tournament‑ready fighting game, this might feel too loose and grind‑heavy. On Windows, the experience is solid but expects you to use a controller—mouse and keyboard are usable but not fun. The game has been updated with multiple DLC packs (including new story arcs from Dragon Ball Super), so you can buy the base version first and expand later. For the price, it delivers dozens of hours of satisfying, anime‑authentic action with a personal touch that no other Dragon Ball game matches. Jump in, create your Saiyan, and start punching history in the face.

FAQ

How do I start the main story and create my own avatar in Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2?

After launching the game, select 'New Game' from the main menu. You'll be guided through character creation, choosing race, appearance, and stats. Then proceed to the first Time Patrol mission to begin your story. No additional settings needed.

What are the basic controls for combat and how can I practice them?

Basic controls include buttons for basic attacks, Ki blasts, guard, and Super moves. To practice, go to Conton City > Training School > select a mentor or use the 'Training' mode from the main menu. Follow the on-screen tutorials.

How do I explore Conton City and find key NPCs like shops or quest givers?

Use the map (press M on PC or select from pause menu) to see icons for shops, quest givers, and facilities. Walk or fly to highlighted markers. Major areas include the Shopping District and Time Nest. No special setup needed.

How can I customize my character's appearance, abilities, and moveset?

Go to Conton City > the 'Item Shop' or 'Appearance Shop' to change clothes and accessories. For abilities and moveset, open the menu > 'Customize' > 'Skills' to equip Super/Ultimate attacks, Evasive skills, and Awoken skills.

What is the best way to unlock new skills and transformations for my character?

Complete Parallel Quests, story missions, and raise your friendship with mentors. Each mentor teaches specific skills. For transformations like Super Saiyan, you must reach certain race/level requirements and complete related quests. Check Mentor Progress under 'Info'.

How do I join or host online multiplayer battles and Raid Battles?

From the main menu, select 'Online' > 'Multiplayer Lobby' to join or create a room. For Raid Battles, check the 'Raid' tab during special events. You can also use the 'Quick Match' option. Settings: Online > Matchmaking.