Dragonball Infinite World : Review

Dragon Ball Infinite World is the last Dragon Ball game for the Playstation 2.
Released in 2008, IW has 45 playable characters (without counting the transformations and the fusions) and is very similar to Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, even thought there are some major gameplay differences between the two.

The common points between Z Infinite World and Budokai 3

Both games use the same graphical style, but Dragon Ball Z Infinite World's graphics are slightly better.
Also, the capsule system is similar (but not identical) and the playable arenas in both games are exactly the same ones.

The differences between Infinite World and Budokai 3

The Gameplay differences between IW and B3

In Dragon Ball Infinite World, the Dragon Rushs have been removed completly, same for the energy beam clashes (which now cancel each others).
Also the characters animations are better and the movements more free on the ground and in the airs.
Of particulary note, Infinite World introduces the Dash-ki, a new gameplay mechanisms which consist of flying at full speed and in a half circle in direction of the opponent.
It is very practical to reach behind him.
Also, a secondary throwing move has been added to all characters and they also have new combos and some of them have even the choices between two ultimate attacks.
In addition to this, the characters don't have to enter into an hyper mode state to perform their ultimate moves : They can now by launched at will, providing your character has enough ki.
Theses are quite important changes which make the fights in Infinite World quite different than in Budokai 3 as they are more fast paced and less random (thanks to the removal of the dragon rushes).

The capsule system in Infinite World

In Dragon Ball Z Infinite World, all the transformations of a character are contained in a single capsules, the capsule "Transformation".
This way, the player has more possibilities to customize characters like Goku or Frieza (who have many transformations).
Also, there are no Breakthrough capsules in Infinite World and last but not least, all capsules are displayed in the skills shop and can be obtained since the beginning of the game : So you can unlock them in the order you want.

The game modes of Dragonball Infinite World

The Scenario mode of Dragon Ball Infinite World is very different than in Budokai 3 : In the IW Story mode, the player controls a Super Deformed version of either Goku and Vegito on a 2D board map and select his fights which are represented on the board map by icons.
Interacting with theses icons will either launch a fight with conditions, a cutscene or a mini-game.
For example, by interacting with the icons positionned on the King Kai's planet on the board map, it will launch a mini-game where Goku will have to catch Bubble's (King Kai's monkey) which leaves a trail of bananas behind him.
In another mini-game, the player will have to run through the Snake Road, reach Raditz' Saiyan pod, help Imperfect Cell escape far away from Piccolo, etc...
Once all the fights on a board game are cleared, another board map (for example: Planet Namek) will be available.
In the end, though the mini-games are very funny to play and the cutscenes really well made, the Story mode is less interesting and interactive than in Budokai 3.
Also, the game lacks a Tournament Mode and it isn't possible to level up the characters.

The characters and Arenas of Dragon Ball Infinite World

The roster of Dragon Ball Z Infinite World is the same as Budokai 3, minus Supreme Kai, Uub and Cell Junior who have been removed.
But more characters from Dragon Ball GT and from Dragon Ball Z movies have been added to the roster.
They are the following ones : Goku GT, Vegeta GT, Videl Great Saiyaman 2, Pan, Super Baby 2, Super Android 17, Syn Shenron, Janemba and Pikkon.
Also, characters like Goku and Gohan have additional outfits and their Super Saiyan 2 forms now have a proprer 3D models (the only difference between Goku/Gohan SSJ1 and SSJ2 in Budokai 3 was the lightnings added around their model when they were in Super Saiyan 2).
In addition, the lightnings around the SSJ2 and SSJ3 characters in Infinite World are blue (instead of yellow).

There are also been a few changes when it comes to the non-playable characters : They are basically the same, with some removed and a few others like Bubbles and Giru being added to the game.
And like in Budokai 3, it is possible to make theses characters somehow playable by using cheat codes.

As for the arenas, they are exactly the same arenas which were available in Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3.

The background musics of DBZ Infinite World

The soundtrack of Dragon Ball Infinite World are a remixed version of the musics used in the previous Budokai games.
As for the characters voices, they are available in english and in japanese.

The cheat codes for Dragon Ball Infinite World

There exists various cheat codes for Dragon Ball Infinite World.
Some of theses codes unlock the characters, arenas and capsules while with others it is possible to play with the non-playable characters like Giru, Babidi or Bubbles or to start the fights in the destroyed versions of the arenas (which is normally not possible in IW).
Other codes gives bonus or malus to the characters (like infinite life, 1-hit kos, no chronometer for the mini-games and even better visuals effects for the Aura Burst).