Honestly, the PlayStation Vita was a bit of a tragic hero in the handheld world. It had the OLED screen, the dual sticks, and a library that—while niche—was surprisingly deep. If you were a Dragon Ball fan back in 2014, your options were starting to shift. The era of Budokai Tenkaichi was long gone, and we were entering a weird experimental phase for the franchise. That’s where Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z entered the chat. People hated it at launch. Like, really hated it. But if you pick it up today on a handheld, it feels like a completely different animal than the console versions.
Why Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z Feels Different on Vita
Most critics back in the day reviewed this on the PS3 or Xbox 360. On a big screen, the flaws were glaring. The textures looked a bit flat, and the team-based combat felt chaotic. But on the PS Vita’s smaller display? It’s a gorgeous game. Artdink, the developers behind this one, chose a stylized, high-saturation look that pops on the Vita's screen. It doesn't try to be Xenoverse. It’s its own thing.
The game is built around 4v4 team battles. This wasn't the 1v1 duel format we grew up with in the Budokai era. You’ve got specific roles like Melee, Ki Blast, Support, and Interference. If you try to play this like a standard fighter, you’re going to get bodied by the AI. It’s more of an "action-brawler" with light RPG elements. You’re managing your energy, healing teammates, and trying to sync up "Syncro-Rushes" to take down massive bosses like Great Ape Vegeta.
It's chaotic. Sometimes too much.
The Card System and Customization
Instead of a traditional leveling system where you just get stronger by existing, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z uses a card-based upgrade mechanic. You earn cards by completing missions. These cards boost your stats—health, melee power, ki blast strength—and some even grant unique abilities. This is where the depth actually lives.
🔗 Read more: First Name in Country Crossword: Why These Clues Trip You Up
You can’t just spam your way through the later missions. You have to actually look at your deck. If you’re playing as a Support character like Bulma or Android 18, you need to stack cards that reduce cooldowns or increase the amount of health you restore to allies. It’s almost like a "lite" version of a hero shooter mixed with a fighting game. It’s weirdly addictive once you get the hang of the grind.
Breaking Down the Roster
The roster is actually pretty solid, though it has some annoying quirks. You have over 70 characters if you count transformations as separate slots. This was one of the big complaints: you couldn’t transform mid-battle. If you wanted to be Super Saiyan Goku, you had to select that specific version of him at the start.
- The Big Names: You’ve got all the Z-Fighters, the Ginyu Force, and the major villains through the Buu Saga.
- The Specials: This was one of the first games to feature Super Saiyan God Goku and Beerus (then called Bills in some translations) from the Battle of Gods movie.
- The DLC: There were a few extra characters like Super Vegito and Bardock (Super Saiyan), but good luck getting those now if you haven't already purchased them, given the state of the Vita store.
The Multiplayer Elephant in the Room
Here is the thing about Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z: it was designed for online play. The single-player campaign is basically you playing with three AI companions. Sometimes they’re smart. Usually, they’re about as useful as Yamcha in a Saibaman fight.
When the game was new, the 4-player co-op was a blast. Coordinating with actual humans to take down the massive boss fights felt like a precursor to the "Raid" style battles we see in modern DBZ games. Since the Vita's online community has dwindled, you're mostly stuck with the AI. This makes the later missions, specifically the "Another Age" scenarios, incredibly difficult. You’ll find yourself screaming at the screen because Goku AI decided to fly into a wall instead of reviving you.
💡 You might also like: The Dawn of the Brave Story Most Players Miss
Technical Performance on the Handheld
Surprisingly, the frame rate holds up. Artdink clearly optimized the engine for the Vita's hardware. You don't get the massive slowdowns you'd expect when eight characters are firing Special Beam Cannons and Kamehamehas simultaneously.
The controls take some getting used to. Because the Vita lacks L2/R2 triggers, a lot of the target switching and vertical movement is mapped to the touchscreen or the rear touchpad. It sounds like a nightmare, but it’s actually pretty intuitive. You tap the screen to lock onto an enemy. It’s fast. It’s tactile. Honestly, it feels more natural than using a controller for this specific gameplay loop.
What Most People Get Wrong
People often compare this to Tenkaichi 3 or Raging Blast 2. That’s a mistake. Those are fighting games. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z is a team-based action game. If you go in expecting frame-perfect combos and technical counters, you’ll be disappointed. This is about positioning and resource management.
Another misconception is that the game is "short." While the main story missions can be burned through in a weekend, the real meat is in the Mission Mode and the pursuit of the Platinum trophy. Some of those requirements are brutal. You have to get an S rank on almost everything, which requires a deep understanding of the card system and team composition.
📖 Related: Why the Clash of Clans Archer Queen is Still the Most Important Hero in the Game
Is it Worth Playing in 2026?
If you can find a physical copy or still have it in your digital library, absolutely. It’s one of the few "big" Dragon Ball experiences on a dedicated handheld that isn't the Nintendo Switch. There’s a charm to the Vita version that the console versions just lacked. It feels like a high-quality "pick up and play" title.
You’re not going to get the cinematic depth of Kakarot or the competitive polish of FighterZ. But you do get a weird, experimental, and colorful piece of Dragon Ball history. It’s a snapshot of a time when Bandai Namco was trying to figure out what the next generation of DBZ games should look like.
Next Steps for Players
If you're dusting off your Vita to jump back into the fray, start by focusing on the Weekly Challenge missions if they are still cycling, as these provide some of the best card drops. Prioritize unlocking Android 18 (Support) early; her ability to share Ki is a literal life-saver when your AI teammates start acting up in the Frieza Saga missions. Finally, check your local retro game stores for the physical cart—digital licensing for older Dragon Ball games is notoriously flaky, and having that physical media is the only way to ensure you'll keep access to the game long-term.