Dragonball Evolution (video game)

Dragonball Evolution
Dragonball Evolution
	North American cover art poster
Developer	Dimps
Publisher	Namco Bandai Games
Designer	Kazuhiko Yamamoto
Engine	Shin Budokai (PSP)
Platform	PlayStation Portable
Release	JP: March 19, 2009; NA: April 8, 2009; EU: April 17, 2009;
Genre	Versus fighting
Modes	Single-player, online-player

Dragonball Evolution is a fighting video game for the PlayStation Portable based on the live-action film of the same name. The game was released in March 2009 in Japan, followed by a North American release on April 8, 2009. It is the first Dragon Ball video game to feature Bulma as a playable character.

Gameplay

The gameplay is very similar to that of its ancestor, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road. It was developed by Dimps, the same creators of Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai and Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road. Same rush attacks, Same Commands, and same Gameplay/Engine.

Plot

Characters

Goku
Bulma
Roshi
Yamcha
Chi-chi
Grandpa Gohan
Piccolo
Mai
Neo Piccolo
Fu-Lum
Great Ape Goku (Oozaru)

Reception

Aggregate scores
Aggregator	Score
GameRankings	37%^[1]
Metacritic	28/100^[2]

Review scores
Publication	Score
Famitsu	27/40^[3]
GamePro	^[4]
GameRevolution	D−^[5]
GameSpot	3.5/10^[7]
GamesRadar+	^[6]
GameZone	2.7/10^[8]
IGN	2/10^[9]
PlayStation: The Official Magazine	^[10]

The game received "unfavorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic, same as the film itself, Dragonball Evolution.^[2] IGN called it a "pile of trash", "disaster burned onto a UMD", and "competitor for the worst game on the PSP."^[9] Reviewers noted that pressing the same button repeatedly was sufficient to win battles against the AI in the game's story mode, while adding an Ultimate Attack to the mix was similarly effective in the arcade mode.^[7]^[9] GamePro gave the game a moderate review, writing, "despite horrible graphics, spotty A.I., and some severely unbalanced characters, Dragon Ball Evolution on PSP at least delivers fast action and multiple modes of play."^[4] In Japan, Famitsu gave it a much better score of one seven, one six, and two sevens, for a total of 27 out of 40.^[3] The game was included among the worst games of all time by GamesRadar in 2014.^[11]

Notes

^ Released under the Bandai brand name outside North America.

References

^ "Dragon Ball: Evolution for PSP". GameRankings. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Dragon Ball: Evolution for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Brian (March 11, 2009). "Famitsu review scores". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.
^ ^a ^b Noble, McKinley (April 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution". GamePro. p. 81. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ Kevin S. (April 30, 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ Hayward, Andrew (April 10, 2009). "Dragonball: Evolution Review". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Shau, Austin (April 20, 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution Review". GameSpot. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ Bedigian, Louis (April 19, 2009). "DRAGONBALL: Evolution - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c Roper, Chris (April 8, 2009). "Dragonball Evolution Review". IGN. Retrieved June 20, 2014.
^ "Dragon Ball: Evolution". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. May 2009. p. 85.
^ "The 50 worst games of all time". 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

[1] Released under the Bandai brand name outside North America.

[GR-2] "Dragon Ball: Evolution for PSP". GameRankings. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[MC-3] "Dragon Ball: Evolution for PSP Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on May 23, 2025. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[fam-4] Brian (March 11, 2009). "Famitsu review scores". Nintendo Everything. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2016.

[gamepro-5] Noble, McKinley (April 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution". GamePro. p. 81. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[6] Kevin S. (April 30, 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution Review". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[7] Hayward, Andrew (April 10, 2009). "Dragonball: Evolution Review". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[gamespot-8] Shau, Austin (April 20, 2009). "Dragon Ball: Evolution Review". GameSpot. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[9] Bedigian, Louis (April 19, 2009). "DRAGONBALL: Evolution - PSP - Review". GameZone. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[ign-10] Roper, Chris (April 8, 2009). "Dragonball Evolution Review". IGN. Retrieved June 20, 2014.

[11] "Dragon Ball: Evolution". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. May 2009. p. 85.

[12] "The 50 worst games of all time". 9 August 2017. Archived from the original on 2 July 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

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v t e Dragon Ball video games
Butōden	Super Butōden Super Butōden 2 Super Butōden 3 Shin Butōden Ultimate Butōden Extreme Butōden
Idainaru Densetsu	Idainaru Son Goku Densetsu Idainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu
Budokai	Budokai Budokai 2 Budokai 3 Shin Budokai
Origins	Origins Origins 2
Raging Blast	Raging Blast Raging Blast 2 Ultimate Tenkaichi
Xenoverse	Xenoverse Xenoverse 2
Other series	The Legacy of Goku Supersonic Warriors Budokai Tenkaichi Sparking! Zero
Standalone games	Side Story: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans Buyū Retsuden Ultimate Battle 22 Hyper Dimension Final Bout Legendary Super Warriors Taiketsu Advanced Adventure Sagas Transformation Super Dragon Ball Z Harukanaru Densetsu Burst Limit Infinite World Attack of the Saiyans Revenge of King Piccolo Evolution Online Heroes For Kinect Battle of Z Dokkan Battle Fusions FighterZ Legends Kakarot
Crossover games	Famicom Jump: Hero Retsuden Famicom Jump II: Saikyō no Shichinin Jump Super Stars Battle Stadium D.O.N Jump Ultimate Stars J-Stars Victory VS Jump Force
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