Dragonball FighterZ: Why Videl is Cool + Extras!
Videl is a strange character, that’s for sure. When I think of the big Dragonball all-stars who deserve a spot in the roster, she doesn’t really come to mind.
She was first introduced in Dragonball Z’s Buu Saga where she and Gohan attended the same high school. Her role in the Buu Saga seemed to just be limited to a love interest for Gohan. She didn’t know how to control her ki before learning from Gohan and even then she only knows how to fly.
What I’m getting at is that she kind of faded out of relevance by the time the Supreme Kai appeared during the World Tournament. She’s pretty good for the filler during the beginning of the arc, but she can’t keep up with the likes of Gohan or even Krillin.
So why, then, did Videl secure a spot instead of other fan favorites? She must’ve gotten her spot because she helped to represent the Buu Saga. It’s the same way Nappa helps represent the Saiyan Saga or the Ginyu Force for the Frieza Saga. Put Videl, Gotenks, and Ultimate Gohan in a room and you’ll know what saga they belong to.
Now, Videl in FighterZ. She was the second newcomer in FighterZ Pass 2. Though, she couldn’t have come at a worse time.
She came after Jiren, who definitely had his following because of his impact on the anime and became very popular during season 3, in no small part thanks to Dotodoya coercing his opponent to “try something”. And she came before GT Goku, THE most played and meta-breaking character during season 2. She was sandwiched between two very popular characters, and even the rest of the season pass with Janemba, Gogeta Blue, and Broly (Super).
So what can she do? Well, if you know one thing about Videl, it’s her reflect, or the lack thereof. Every character in FighterZ has a universal mechanic called the Z Reflect, where you can knock away Ki blasts or push back enemies who attack you.
Videl, well she…doesn’t have that. Instead, she gets a dodge. Doing the dodge, she can have projectiles and all attacks, even supers, pass right through her (grabs and Dragon Rush still hit her, same as reflect.) Her dodge is fine, but most people think that fact makes her low-tier.
I think a great way to change her is to let The Great Saiyaman teleport in do the reflect on her behalf. He can come, do the action, and strike a pose before disappearing. Speaking of Saiyaman, I think he’s a great replacement for ki blasts.
Since Videl only learned to fly, NONE of her attacks use ki, not even the supers. Her first level one is a simple double kick upwards. Her other level one is a counter super where she calls Goh- er, The Great Saiyaman for an aerial strike. Then her level three is just a flurry combo with Saiyaman ending with a sliding kick.
And instead of ki blasts, she calls Saiyaman, in which she can vanish before he finishes his actions and, as long as she doesn’t get hit, he’ll still continue his move. Plus, he has priority over super dash, making it good for getting in close.
She also has an alternate costume based on her high school outfit and long hair. Even Gohan gets a bit of a redesign, where instead of his do-rag, he has his helmet plus visor combo. Which got me thinking: WHY IS SHE THE ONLY CHARACTER WITH AN ALTERNATE COSTUME!?
It’s like they thought she was too lame of a choice so they gave her something unique to compensate. But if Videl, the canonically weakest character in the roster, can get an alternate costume, why isn’t there more?
There are some easy ones, Goku’s Yardrat outfit, Trunks’ appearance from Super, or Mecha Frieza. But more complicated ones, like Piccolo with his cape, or Krillin’s Saiyan armor. The complicated ones are as such because, in the case of Krillin, the shoulder plates might move around in a weird-looking way. For Piccolo, his intro and victory screens show him removing and putting back on the cape respectively, which conflicts with the outfit. Plus, it might just look strange with how much movement Piccolo does.
I think it was fun to have two Videl costumes, but it was more of a tease than anything. On the notion of costumes, just give us base Vegito and Gogeta already dang it!
The only thing, and I mean the ONLY thing different about it is the hair color. It’s not going to suddenly change the game, and there won’t be any confusion since they are the only versions of themselves. No overlap here! Or just their Super Saiyan forms would be nice, thank you!
While I’m already talking about Videl, give us Mr. Satan! I want him soooo bad. And this game needs at least one goofy character. I thought Roshi would take that spot, but he’s actually really tame with some actual heartfelt quotes tucked in there.
And I love how Videl has several interactions with Gohan, Cell, and even Majin Buu, but most of the characters she speaks to rarely talk to her, but to Gohan. It’s always like, “What the heck are you wearing, Gohan?”, and I think that’s hilarious.
Back to it, I think Mr. Satan would be a great comic relief character with multiple fun and unique moves. Even though we see Krillin contest the likes of Broly, to solve the power scaling problem, many have suggested making the entire fight just Mr. Satan retelling it to interviewers (thanks Globku!).
It’s like Lowain from Granblue Fantasy Versus, where he and his brothers are just dreaming about it. It would fit right into his character, and he wouldn’t even have to get rid of any universal mechanics. If it’s all a retelling, then he can still fly and reflect things.
Before, I thought he would have a dodge just like his daughter, but he moves back with a scared expression, and his flight could just be him with a jetpack, as many Dragonball games did it.
All in all, I want him in, and the devs best make sure to let Mr. Satan and his glorious facial hair turn super.
Ok, so maybe things got a bit off track from Videl, but she’s still an awesome character, so try her if you were on the fence before. I can’t really imagine FighterZ without her now, and I think she deserves to be remembered alongside the best of the best (although they did butcher her in Super by turning her into a common housewife, that’s another story.)
Preview:
References:
bocodamondo (Newgrounds)