Dragon Ball Z-based RPG, buuut...

[Proteus]

Hi everybody! So! I have a question for you all, particularly anime/DBZ fans. I'm planning a DBZ-based rpg, but....there's no Goku in it!

No Vegeta, no Gohan, nothing! Okay, there will be the Kamehameha and sensu beans, etc. But the game's story is set 1000 years later, so Goku is frickin' dead, lol.

Would anime/DBZ fans not enjoy the game if none of the original iconic cast appeared in the game? Fresh faces (similar characters who would be Goku and Vegeta's descendants), new situation (earth's fighters defending against aliens, etc.), new attack moves, etc. etc. The main character will be LIKE Goku - strong, dumb, really happy, yet kindhearted - but no Goku in the actual game.

Apart from the opening prologue text, Goku and the other classic characters aren't mentioned or referenced directly. This was because I wanted to make a totally new story.

So would people not accept this kind of game, and would it be "disowned" by fans? What are you thoughts and opinions? Thanks!

 

[magnaangemon01]

I think if you are true to the show, have a decent story, and don't get all silly with it, it might actually be interesting. I'd try it.

 

[Kotori-chan]

Sounds interesting... i`m in ^~^

 

[magnaangemon01]

I could help as a writer/planner if you really need one. I own all of dbz on dvd, and whatever I need, is at my fingertips XD

 

[Probotector 200X]

Well, if the main character is going to be so similar to Goku, then why not just make him Goku? It's okay to have some similarities, but if they are too similar it defeats some of the point.

Also, even 1000 years later, you could keep some characters. Some characters would probably still be around, like Supreme Kai, maybe even Master Roshi (doesn't he have eternal life or something? But not immortality...?)

 

[magnaangemon01]

He is immortal but not invulnerable. He can still die, just not naturally. So there is a chance he could still be around.

 

[Proteus]

Well, I made him similar to Goku as an homage. He doesn't really look like Goku or anything, and he does have a more flawed personality. But I see your point in avoiding a rehash of old conflicts/relationships/themes. 

I figured if I made ENOUGH references to the old stuff, then people would find it more acceptable, without rehashing the original material. Also had the idea to reuse some of the classic music to further connect the new story to the classic (mostly some of the japanese tracks.) So it'll be a hard balancing act! Most of the characters are pretty different from the old cast. (They're all in their teens for example.)

Aaaand I didn't realize Roshi was immortal! Lol. But yeah....he dead.

The Supreme Kibito-Kai is mentioned, because Earth is attacked by invaders and one of them mentions killing off "a guy with funny earrings". So there will be little references like that.

Well, if the main character is going to be so similar to Goku, then why not just make him Goku? It's okay to have some similarities, but if they are too similar it defeats some of the point.

Also, even 1000 years later, you could keep some characters. Some characters would probably still be around, like Supreme Kai, maybe even Master Roshi (doesn't he have eternal life or something? But not immortality...?)

 

[Proteus]

I think if you are true to the show, have a decent story, and don't get all silly with it, it might actually be interesting. I'd try it.

Heheh thanks! I'll do my best. I'm already working on it and a demo will be available this year.

 

[magnaangemon01]

Well, I made him similar to Goku as an homage. He doesn't really look like Goku or anything, and he does have a more flawed personality. But I see your point in avoiding a rehash of old conflicts/relationships/themes. 

I figured if I made ENOUGH references to the old stuff, then people would find it more acceptable, without rehashing the original material. Also had the idea to reuse some of the classic music to further connect the new story to the classic (mostly some of the japanese tracks.) So it'll be a hard balancing act! Most of the characters are pretty different from the old cast. (They're all in their teens for example.)

Aaaand I didn't realize Roshi was immortal! Lol. But yeah....he dead.

The Supreme Kibito-Kai is mentioned, because Earth is attacked by invaders and one of them mentions killing off "a guy with funny earrings". So there will be little references like that.

Uhhhhh.... Kibito Kai is in Otherworld. How would they kill him invading Earth? 

 

[Proteus]

Uhhhhh.... Kibito Kai is in Otherworld. How would they kill him invading Earth? 

I figure he'd teleport there with backup as a last ditch effort to save Earth. Supreme Kai came to Earth because of Majin Buu as well. So if the threat from these invaders could threaten the whole universe, then I think he'd step in again. After they get Earth they're going after the rest of the galaxy.

 

[magnaangemon01]

If he has to step in, then these invaders are extremely powerful. This should probably happen later in the game. Why don't you give us an outline of your story? Have to make sure the fans will approve. :3

 

[Proteus]

Well that part's more like backstory. The invaders are from a parallel dimension and some of them are like Fat Buu strong (haven't worked out "official power levels", etc.) But the grunts are weaker obviously. At the time the story takes place, the Earth has been at war for years but is on its last legs with a final invasion coming. I don't want to post the WHOLE story here. But I can PM you an outline tonight and see what you think.

 

[arekpowalan]

Fangames with original characters and plots aren't bad. Just make sure it's worth of mentioning as the series' spinoff.

"Another surviving saiyan making appearance." thing is tad overused even in DBZ canon. If you really need someone similar to Goku yet itr's not him, be sure to design him in the way he's the character you create, not just a "Goku clone". Look at Adult Gohan, for example, he takes up a role as a hero, wears red gi like his dad, and fights world destroying monsters like him; but Gohan has different personality, ideal, and backstory to back him up as a different character. Don't make plots and characters like in Lord of the Ring: Third Age, where characters are Boromir/Aragon/Gimli/Whatever clones who are only capable of following their role models' footsteps.

In addition, you need to know what you're doing with your story and the Dragon Ball Z universe. Take times doing researches on the series, find some "gaps" or interesting plot points where you can smoothly place your story ad characters into it.

As a spinoff, your game should be 'in favor' of the mother series rather than 'destroying' it. Make your game interesting and fun to play by its own standard, while embracing and promotes everything Dragon Ball Z stands for.

Good luck!

 

[magnaangemon01]

And a thousand years in the future, the Saiyan bloodline, while probaby still alive, has probably thinned tremendously. It would probably take a miracle by this point to activate the Super Saiyan abilities.

But, yeah, message me an outline. I'll look over it, give you my critiques and fixes, and maybe throw out a few ideas for you.

 

[Proteus]

Fangames with original characters and plots aren't bad. Just make sure it's worth of mentioning as the series' spinoff.

"Another surviving saiyan making appearance." thing is tad overused even in DBZ canon. If you really need someone similar to Goku yet itr's not him, be sure to design him in the way he's the character you create, not just a "Goku clone". Look at Adult Gohan, for example, he takes up a role as a hero, wears red gi like his dad, and fights world destroying monsters like him; but Gohan has different personality, ideal, and backstory to back him up as a different character. Don't make plots and characters like in Lord of the Ring: Third Age, where characters are Boromir/Aragon/Gimli/Whatever clones who are only capable of following their role models' footsteps.

In addition, you need to know what you're doing with your story and the Dragon Ball Z universe. Take times doing researches on the series, find some "gaps" or interesting plot points where you can smoothly place your story ad characters into it.

As a spinoff, your game should be 'in favor' of the mother series rather than 'destroying' it. Make your game interesting and fun to play by its own standard, while embracing and promotes everything Dragon Ball Z stands for.

Good luck!

Hey thanks for the feedback! I'm just glad the response isn't overwhelming negative! I really want to strike a balance of honoring what made the original cool, while doing new things. And hopefully it'll be fun to play. I want to use Yanfly's combo skills script in interesting ways.