Welcome to the DRAGON BALL: THE BREAKERS Closed Network Test. This test is on an in-development version of the game, and while some feedback from the Closed Beta Test has been implemented, bugs and glitches can still occur during this test. This test will allow us to properly test the network infrastructure ahead of the October 14, 2022 launch as well as gather feedback from users.
DRAGON BALL: THE BREAKERS is an asymmetrical multiplayer game, developed by Dimps, that pits seven Survivors, regular civilians trapped in a “Temporal Seam”, against a Raider, one of the famous rivals from the DRAGON BALL universe. The Survivors will have to team up in order to be able to escape their foe and come back to the safety of their world and timeline.
The Closed Beta test will be held on PlayStation® 4 (compatible with PlayStation®5), Xbox One (compatible with Xbox Series X|S), Nintendo Switch™ and PC via STEAM ® at the following times:
- Session 1: August 6th (Sat) 4:00 AM - 8:00 AM CEST
- Session 2: August 6th (Sat) 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM CEST
- Session 3: August 6th (Sat) 8:00 PM – August 7th (Sun) 00:00 AM CEST
- Session 4: August 7th (Sun) 4:00 AM - 8:00 AM CEST
While the Closed Network Test will be on all platforms, please note that the game doesn’t support cross-play.
■ IMPROVEMENTS AND FIXES ■
These improvements and fixes are available in the CNT. They are based on the feedback from the Closed Beta Test that happened in 2021. Feedback from this CNT will also lead to fixes and improvements for the game. For the CNT, the updates are focused on four areas.
- Making Survivor actions more intuitive
- Improvements on controls and UIs
- Game Balance adjustment
- Graphics, Matchmaking and Quality of Life improvements
Full patch notes are available here
- MAKING SURVIVOR ACTIONS MORE INTUITIVE -
Following the Closed Beta test, we noticed the importance of better onboarding for Survivors.
Therefore, starting with the CNT, a Practice mode will be available, which allows Survivors to try their moves and skills.
Practice can be done alone or in multiplayer. In addition to the Practice mode, a Prologue that acts as a Tutorial will be available that explains the background of the Survivors. These two changes will help players get a better feel and understanding when it comes to the Survivor’s role.
- IMPROVEMENTS ON CONTROLS AND UIS -
The UI and button arrangement for the in-game controls have been changed to make it simpler and more easily understood in order to make gameplay more accessible.
The display has also been changed in order to make the area visible from above the map
Changes have also been made to the Survivors’ communication tool (the Signal) with 4 new messages and enhanced on-screen notifications. We have also added the ability to send messages based on context (getting off a vehicle, escaping with the Time Machine, landing on the Saiyan Pod etc).
Trunks’ voice has also been added and will serve as a guide throughout the different parts of a game. Some item names have also been changed for more clarity.
- GAME BALANCE ADJUSTMENT -
Game Balance has been a key part where changes were made to make the game more enjoyable for all players.
For Survivors, reviving has been facilitated along with a new “Senzu Bean” that can revive yourself or other players. Adjustments have also been made to reduce the footsteps sound while crouching.
Changes have also been made to the distance of the camera to adjust to the varying size of the Raider after transformations.
During the Startup System’s defense phase, the progress of the Raider’s destruction gauge is now divided into three stages and the destruction progress will maintain by proceeding until a certain level is reached. To balance out the game on the Survivor’s side, the progress speed to activate the Startup System has increased.
Other balance adjustments have been made towards the Raider and Survivors' speed.
Several adjustments have been made to skills and items allowing for Survivors to get more chances to escape.
- GRAPHICS, MATCHMAKING AND QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS -
Survivor and Raider role priority function has been enhanced.
Graphics have been improved with better texture quality and environments.
Various in-game bugs have been fixed:
- Game System
- Controls
Raider Controls
Survivor Controls
- Game Area
The levels available in the Closed Network Test are the Cell and Frieza map, which are made of 6 areas per map. When a Raider evolves, it has the opportunity to destroy an area, making the map smaller as time passes.
- Gameplay Objectives
The game pits seven Survivors against a Raider. Players can decide if they would prefer to be a Raider or a Survivor.
▶ Raider ◀
The Raider’s objective is to prevent the Survivors from escaping the map, and there are several ways to do so:
- Eliminating all the survivors
If a Raider eliminates all the survivors, it will be a complete victory. However, the Raider doesn’t have to defeat all the players to win.
- Destroying the Time Machines
If a Raider destroys the “Startup System”, the “Super Time Machine” becomes unusable. However this doesn’t mean victory yet. The Raider will have to destroy an “Escape Time Machine” to seal its victory. A higher number of points are rewarded depending on the number of Survivors eliminated.
EVOLUTION
Raiders will evolve throughout the game. Here is how it will look for the Raiders available in the CNT:
- Cell will start as a larva and will need to raise his evolution gauge to reach its 1st form, 2nd form and Perfect Form by defeating and absorbing Survivors and Civilians NPC.
- Frieza will evolve depending on his “rage” gauge that will raise each time he fights or gets hit. He will start in his first form, then reach his second and third form before reaching his Final form.
- With each evolution, the Raider gains more power and new skills become available.
◉ Active and Passive Skills
Raiders have Active and Passive Skills to help them in battle.
- Active skills have no effect until activated. They can range from being able to detect Survivors with the “Ki Detection”, to powerful skills to be able to fight and defeat them. Frieza for example will be able to summon Dodoria and Zarbon for an assist attack.
- Passive skills are always active during battle with a continuous effect. They vary depending on the Raider played.
◉ Ultimate Special Attack
It can be used in the final form of each Raider, and is a very powerful attack that can change the course of the game. Raiders Ultimate Special Attack will be that as follows:
- Cell will use the Perfect Kamehameha, which hits everything in a straight line.
- Frieza will use “This Planet Will Die,” which will allow him to level an extensive part of the field to nothing!
▶ Survivors◀
The goal of the Survivors is to escape the “Temporal Seam” while avoiding the Raider. There are several ways to achieve this goal
How to escape?
Survivors can escape from the battlefield by activating the "Super Time Machine". In order to activate the “Super Time Machine”, they must protect the "Startup System," which appears in the middle of the map, for a certain amount of time. If Survivors are able to defend the “Startup System” until the activation is complete, the power of the Super Time Machine will fix the "Temporal Seam" and allow them to escape from the battlefield.
Power Keys” & “Startup System”
In order for the “Startup System” to appear, Survivors must first set the “Power Keys”. There is one “Power Key” hidden in each of the 6 areas, Survivors must find and place it in a specific location. If all Power Keys are set, then the “Startup System”, will appear. Survivors will need to activate the “Startup System” until it calls out the “Super Time Machine”. The more power keys are set, the less time it will take to defend the “Startup System”.
When an area is destroyed after the “Power Keys” has been set, it doesn’t alter their function. However, if the key of a destroyed area hasn’t been set, this will reduce the number of “Power Keys”, making the Startup System longer to activate.
“Super Time Machine” and "Escape Time Machine"
Once the “Startup System” is activated, Survivors can escape from the field by using the “Super Time Machine”. If the “Startup System” is destroyed, Survivors will not be able to activate the “Super Time Machine” ... BUT the game will not be over yet! Beacons will appear on the map to call out the “Escape Time Machine” and each player will have to try escaping.
However, only one “Escape Time Machine” can be called out at a time on the map.
This “Escape Time Machine” can be used to escape either alone or with other Survivors. If an “Escape Time Machine “ is destroyed, it cannot be called again.
If Survivors fail to escape or the time limit expires, it’s Game Over for them.
- TRANSPHERES AND DRAGON CHANGE
- “Dragon Change”
Survivors can equip up to three “Transpheres”, which contain the souls of Super Warriors. “Dragon Change” allows the Survivors to temporarily acquire abilities a super warrior would have. This ability can be activated by collecting a given amount of “Change Power” in the map thus giving the power of a super warrior to a Survivor.
Even if “Dragon Change” can help, Raiders will still overpower Survivors even in this form, making the technique only a temporary countermeasure. “Transpheres” can be set with 3 different levels. The higher the level, the higher the power of the super warrior will be, but more “Change Power” will be consumed in order to activate the skill. This skill needs to be used strategically to make the most out of it.
SKILLS AND ITEMS
- Active Skills can be used to help Survivors stay alive in a very hostile environment. For example, the “Saiyan Pod Remote” can be used to board a pod and land anywhere on the map, though it takes time to call and can injure you if you’re standing on the landing point. Other skills, such as “Change” let Survivors transform into a random object trying to avoid Raider, or “Solar Flare” that temporary blinds the Raider, giving Survivors an opportunity to escape a tricky situation.
- Various items can be found around the map, each with various uses. Weapons can be used to directly shoot the Raider, vehicles help players moving quicker on the map and radars help to find items such as “Power Keys”. These are three examples among many others.
Items can be found while looting the Time Patroller emergency supply boxes scattered around the map.
- Dragon Balls
Among the many items to help Survivors escape, Dragon Balls can be found while exploring.
Once the 7 Dragon Balls have been found and placed on Shenron’s Altar, the legendary dragon can be summoned, granting a wish to Survivors.
The wish can be to either raise the “Dragon Change” power of the survivor who is making the wish to level 4, or raise the power of all allies. The level 4 “Dragon Change” (also called “Ultimate Dragon Change”) can only be obtained by summoning Shenron, and gives a power that matches the final form of a Raider.
However, Raiders can also summon and wish to Shenron, wishing either to be healed or to raise their evolution level by one.
COOPERATION
In order to succeed, Survivors will have to cooperate to raise their chances of success. There are several elements to help doing so:
- Rescue – Survivors can rescue their downed allies in order to avoid them being defeated or worst, absorbed.
- Signal feature – This feature can be used to let other Survivors crucial info like “Power Keys” setup devices or Raider’s location.
- “Startup System” – This is a key moment to use all the skills, cooperation, and countermeasures available to ensure the activation of the “Super Time Machine” and success in the Survivors’ ranks.
