Metacritic Games

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (Playstation 3)

Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is the first game of the Dragonball Z series to hit the next generation consoles. During each battle, find conditions to create new dramatic scenes. After the battles, watch a unique story unfold each time you play. There is also a stronger element of offence and defence, due to added energy saving and fighting techniques. Competition grows with the ability to play online in both the co-op and vs. modes. During each battle, find conditions to create new scenes and watch a unique story unfold at the end of each game. Experience visuals and movement reminiscent of the anime due to Z3 shading technology and detailed effects. Increased speed of charge and release on the field, free movement around the field, and increased speed and power of attacks. Use of special skills will no longer drain energy. The lower your energy, the stronger you get, making for a possible turnaround of the battle. Each character in the game has his own "Fatal Blow". If the player successfully attacks his opponent, this would be a finishing move, but if not, it will put the player in the disadvantageous situation, and he must battle with no Fatal Blow for the rest of the battle. [Atari]

Atari
Fighting
Players: 2
T (Teen)
Developer: Dimps
Released June 10, 2008

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

72 / 100

Critic Reviews

90 Hardcore Gamer Magazine
It's nice to play a game that manages to be fun for the hardcore and casual alike. [Summer 2008, p.48]
88 Cheat Code Central
From the amazing graphics to the incredibly deep combat system, everything about Burst Limit feels new, and I can't wait to see where this franchise is headed next.
85 GamePro
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit managed to really impress me. It's not perfect but it's a fast, over-the-top fighter that's an absolute blast. The single-player Z Chronicles mode is perfect for hardcore fans and the multiplayer options are good enough that you'll want to call your friends over for a few matches.
80 GameZone
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit isn’t an innovative or groundbreaking fighting game. But with a new, more realistic direction and gameplay you won’t want to put down, Burst Limit is an arcade-style fighter that’s well worth your time.
80 Thunderbolt
While it comes off as a tad bare-bones, Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is definitely worth getting if you're a fan, or if you just like fighting games without a great deal of depth, and the newly added online mode will keep the replay value high for quite some time.
80 AceGamez
In spite of cries that the series has grown too large (and in all honesty, the franchise is at risk of making greedy plumber Mario jealous), Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is a fine example of a fighter with exciting graphics, fantastic sound and enough innovation to keep things interesting.
79 PSX Extreme
Perhaps the best Dragon Ball Z videogame to date. Even though the online mode may be thin, there isn't much else beyond the single-player experience, there's still a solid foundation here for future games to come.
79 IGN
Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit is a strong fighting game, with combat mechanics that are both simple and deep. There are some issues in terms of variety, however, with a limited number of stages and characters that are fairly similar to one another.
76 DailyGame
The DBZ series' next-gen debut looks and sounds good, but its gameplay has some minor annoyances that are poorly timed, considering Soulcaliber IV isn't all that far off. You're better off waiting for that one instead.
75 GameSpot
This 3D fighting game can be enjoyed by newcomers to the DBZ universe and Super Saiyan wannabes alike.
75 Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
Just in case you’re starving for some more Dragon Ball, Burst Limit offers a great visual representation of the series with a solid combat system, but there’s not as much content as the last PS2 entry. With its online modes, Burst Limit is a positive debut for current gen console, but we crave for more. [July 2008]
72 Electronic Gaming Monthly
Get rid of the drama, though, and Burst Limit becomes a delight. [July 2008, p.78]
70 GameDaily
The visuals and sound carry the anime style to near perfection and the gameplay, while lacking originality, has lots of kick, even though online battles suffer from lag.
70 GamerNode
DBZ games took a big step forward with Burst Limit's visuals, animation, and true-to-show presentation style. Unfortunately, the other aspects seem to have taken two steps back.
70 PSM3 Magazine UK
Bouts also feel genuinely three dimensional. [Aug 2008, p.81]
64 Gamer 2.0
DBZ Burst Limit is a game that's very clearly made for its fans. A newcomer who picks this game up will have absolutely no idea what's going on in the story, other than seeing a lot of oddly dressed people yelling at the top of their lungs for no obviously apparent reason.
61 Play UK
Looks pretty good and re-creates the television show very well, but it’s a boring, repetitive, nonsensical television show. Plus, even hardcore Dragon Ball fans will be disappointed at the rather measly quantity of content.
60 Ferrago
At the end of it all, Dragon Ball Z has a solid fighting mechanic behind it. The controls make sense and are responsive. However, I always felt that I was missing out by not being a fan of the show.
60 VideoGamer
We can't help but feel that Burst Limit is an opportunity lost.
58 1UP
If you love Dragon Ball Z -- like, love it to the point where tears run down your face as you stare at your Vegeta wall scroll -- then you'll love Burst Limit. Casual fans, like myself, will be impressed initially but ultimately let down by the fact that -- despite the new name -- this is still part of the Budokai family of fighters.
50 Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
Once your eyes adjust to the razzle-dazzle, you find that the gameplay isn't nearly as pretty. [July 2008, p.82]
50 GameShark
Another problem that is baffling is that there are fewer characters available for the versus and online play match types than there were in the last game.

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