As I mentioned in my self-introduction on the class blog, one of my favorite games is Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, a fighting game based on the popular Dragon Ball franchise. Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is my favorite game for several reasons, but the ones I will highlight here are the mechanics that allow players to alter their characters mid-battle via transformation.
Dragon Ball is (in)famously populated with characters who can increase their strength at will and who signify these increases through dramatic changes to their physical appearance. In many Dragon Ball games, a given character can only take on one form at a time, and while some characters might have multiple playable forms, these must be chosen directly from the menu and are not accessible after the battle begins. In Budokai Tenkaichi 2, however, players have the ability to toggle their character’s form, and even combine two characters, mid-battle through certain button combinations. The set of transformations available depend on the characters being used, and fusing two characters requires having both characters alive and in the roster. Pressing the correct buttons triggers a transformation cutscene, after which the player will then control the transformed character, complete with a unique moveset. This mechanic adds a unique dynamic experience to the game, allowing for battles in which players can repeatedly transform and un-transform characters as needed. Fights feel more unpredictable and fast-paced, creating an increased sense of fun through narrative. Each new transformation helps raise the stakes of the fight, making the player feel as if they are participating in one of the dramatic, earth-shattering fights from the show and allowing the stakes and tension in each match to escalate to a grand and satisfying conclusion in which both characters are at their most powerful.
