Dragon Ball’s first North American game release flopped

Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout, released in North America as the franchise’s first video game entry, was met with disappointment and lackluster sales upon its release.

The Dragon Ball series has a rich history of successful video game adaptations, captivating fans with thrilling battles and high-flying action. These games have played a vital role in maintaining the enthusiasm of the fanbase, even during periods when new episodes of the anime were not airing. Unfortunately, when it came to the first proper Dragon Ball game to make its way to the Western market, it turned out to be a resounding failure.

Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout, with its perplexing title, arrived at a time when Dragon Ball Z was gaining popularity in North America. The game’s name, referencing the least favored portion of the franchise, failed to resonate with fans, even as the Dragon Ball Z phenomenon was sweeping the continent. While the Dragon Ball franchise went on to achieve greater heights in the gaming industry, the initial exposure of Western gamers to the series was far from impressive.

Developed by Tose, a studio known for its behind-the-scenes work on video games rather than standout hits, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout was the result of the company’s previous involvement in Dragon Ball: Daimaou Fukkatsu, released in the West as Dragon Power on the NES. However, Tose’s most notable achievement today is their contribution to the Nintendo Switch port of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout was later localized for Western audiences and released in August 1996, receiving a title change from the original Dragon Ball: Final Bout. However, due to timing and the limited exposure of Dragon Ball Z in the West at the time, the significance of the new title and its relation to the series were lost on Western gamers. This confusion was compounded by the fact that Dragon Ball GT had yet to be introduced to English-speaking audiences, and the inclusion of characters and gameplay elements from later episodes of Dragon Ball Z only added to the perplexity.

Despite its challenges, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout attempted to engage its audience. The game featured 2D fighting gameplay within 3D environments, divided into three modes: Tournament, Battle, and Build Up. With over 15 playable characters from both Dragon Ball Z and GT, it offered Western players their first glimpse of the powerful Super Saiyan 4 transformation. For a fighting game of that era based on a massively popular anime franchise, a roster of 15 fighters was considered substantial content.

However, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout failed to live up to expectations. Critics and players alike found fault with its slow-paced gameplay, unresponsive controls, and problematic camera angles, which hindered the fast-paced battles that Dragon Ball was known for. The lukewarm reception from critics, though largely irrelevant due to the limited availability of the game, contributed to its poor sales in the North American market.

Only around 10,000 copies of Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout were made available in 1997, reflecting the franchise’s relatively modest popularity at the time. The low stock, coupled with the game’s lackluster performance, prevented it from becoming a major international hit. Ironically, this scarcity has transformed the game into a highly sought-after collector’s item, with dedicated fans and enthusiasts willing to pay exorbitant prices to obtain it. While Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout did not pave the way for immediate success in the Western market, it served as the foundation for future Dragon Ball titles, such as the immensely popular Budokai series. Every success story has its humble beginnings, and Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout stands as a testament to the notion that even in failure, there can be seeds of triumph.

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