Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball Z has achieved a prolific level of popularity that’s turned it into one of the most evergreen shonen anime of all time. Dragon Ball’s success has allowed its manga and anime to spin-off in many different directions and there are dozens of video games that are set within the beloved series. The most recent Dragon Ball Z video games have set a new standard for what’s possible in an anime fighting game, but it’s also important to remember the series’ humble origins.

RELATED: 10 Best Genesis Games You Can Beat In One Sitting

The Sega Genesis was a crucial video game console during the 16-bit era and there’s surprisingly only one Dragon Ball Z game for the system. 1994’s Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden, also known as Dragon Ball Z: Fierce Bravery Legend, is a game that often gets forgotten even though it makes some creative decisions for a Dragon Ball fighting title.

10 Buyu Retsuden's Development Was Triggered By The Success Of The Super Nintendo’s Butoden Games

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Goku Ki Split-Screen

Dragon Ball Z has celebrated many landmark fighting titles across different gaming generations, but the Super Butoden titles for the Super Famicom were some of the first 16-bit hits. Sega’s 16-bit alternative to the Super Nintendo didn’t have any Dragon Ball games and the success of the Butoden releases had the Mega Drive eager for their own adaptation. Curiously, Sega’s Mega Drive was more successful in Europe than the Super Famicom, which also increased demand for a Genesis-exclusive Dragon Ball game. Development for Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden actually lasted longer than the Super Butoden series, but the game didn’t perform as well.

9 Sega Genesis Dragon Ball Z Covers The Events Of The Frieza And Cell Sagas

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Gohan Cell Fight

There’s so much crossover between different Dragon Ball Z video games that one of the most important elements in a title is what stretch of the long-running franchise will receive representation. The Sega Genesis’ Dragon Ball Z game specifically keys into the Frieza and Cell Sagas, deciding to forego the introductory Saiyan Saga. The existing Super Butoden games already cover this material, but it’s still an exciting period to pull from for the Genesis fighter. Representation from both Dragon Ball Z’s earliest and final episodes would be appreciated even though the title is creative with its character roster.

8 It Has An Eclectic Roster With Many Villains Who Weren’t Previously Playable

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Character Roster

The fighting genre has evolved in such drastic ways that it’s completely natural to have a roster of at least 50 characters. These expectations are pushed to the extreme with Dragon Ball games, which have hundreds of unique characters to pull from the anime and manga.

RELATED: Dragon Ball: 9 Video Games That Actually Told Original Stories

The Genesis’ Dragon Ball Z title comes from a more humble time where 11 playable characters still seemed impressive. Buyu Retsuden features several Dragon Ball staples, but it’s encouraging to also have members of the Ginyu Force as playable characters, as well as Frieza, Cell, and Android 18. Krillin even makes the cut before he was included regularly.

7 Buyu Retsuden Became A Surprise Hit In French And Spanish Regions

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Cell Ginyu Fight

Many Sega fans were grateful to finally have a Dragon Ball Z fighting game at their disposal, but Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden didn’t receive a North American release since Dragon Ball’s dub had yet to take off. However, the Genesis Dragon Ball Z game wasn’t restricted to Japan and it received a surprising push in French and Spanish regions. In these regions, the game was released under the title Dragon Ball Z: The Call of Destiny. There was such interest in the title that Portugal even sold Japanese versions of the game that included a region converter so that it would work on European hardware.

6 There’s A Turbo Mode That Can Be Unlocked

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Game Turbo Mode Screen

The 16-bit gaming era containing many secrets for intrepid gamers and cheat codes that could be activated through specific button combinations was a frequent highlight. The Sega Genesis’ Dragon Ball Z game doesn’t contain any unlockable characters or elaborate secrets, but there’s still one extra feature that players can discover and experience. There’s a special Turbo Mode, which speeds up the gameplay. It's unlocked by holding down A and B while powering up the system, then pushing start when Goku’s face first appears. An orange background on the title screen means that it’s been activated.

5 Buyu Retsuden's Gameplay Combines Mechanics From Super Butoden And Its Sequel

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Air Land Split-Screen Fight

The Super Butoden video games on the Super Famicom were so popular that nobody would have questioned direct ports for the Mega Drive. Genesis versions of these classic games would have likely sold well, but Buyu Retsuden takes a much more interesting approach by adapting aspects of the first two Butoden games.

RELATED: 10 Fighting Games To Play If You Love Dragon Ball

Accordingly, the Genesis game reflects Butoden’s gameplay and popular mechanics like split-screen ki battles and the ability to fight on both land and air, but it still develops its own voice and ditches what previously didn’t work.

4 Rare Alternative Versions Were Released That Used VHS Box Art

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Future Trunks Gohan Fight

Effective marketing is crucial in the video game industry, especially when games are adapting popular franchises and want to take advantage of the built-in fandom. The original box art for Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden is nothing special, but it’s appropriate for a fighting game that covers the Frieza and Cell Sagas. The release of Buyu Retsuden in Portugal resulted in three slightly different releases, all of which have become coveted collectors’ items as a result. The second version of the game, which was distributed by Ecofilmes, took Japanese versions of the game and replaced their covers with the art from a Dragon Ball Z VHS cassette.

3 Characters Are Super Saiyan By Default

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Super Saiyan Goku Vegeta Fight

It takes some time for the powerful Super Saiyan transformations to emerge in Dragon Ball Z’s manga and anime, but they become a crucial component for combat. Dragon Ball Z video games manage Super Saiyan powers in different ways and some titles allow for in-battle transformations, while others delineate Super Saiyan forms as totally separate characters. The Genesis’ Dragon Ball Z game fully celebrates the Super Saiyan fad and it makes it the standard with its characters. Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, and Future Trunks are all Super Saiyans by default and don’t fight in their base forms.

2 Buyu Retsuden Remixes Krillin And Android 18's Relationship

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Krillin Android 18 Fight

A common feature in modern Dragon Ball Z video games is hypothetical “What If?” storylines that push the franchise’s narrative in unexpected directions. This is a strong way to offer audiences something new rather than continually adapting the same storylines. Buyu Retsuden is way ahead of the curve in this department and its storylines for Android 18 and Krillin deviate from the anime’s plot. Minor changes, such as when Krillin and Android 18 are married and why he wants to defend her against Cell, hold a lot of weight.

1 Buyu Retsuden Pales In Comparison To The Genesis' Other Big Fighting Hits

Games Dragon Ball Z Genesis Goku Recoome Fight

Dragon Ball Z: Buyu Retsuden makes its mark in the grander scheme of burgeoning Dragon Ball video games, but the longevity of any fighting game also depends on how it compares to the other triumphs of the genre. Some people turned to Buyu Retsuden for the Dragon Ball connections, but others just want a good fighting game. There’s a strong and unique foundation in place, but Buyu Retsuden isn’t as tight or varied as the Genesis’ other breakout fighter titles, Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat. The evergreen nature of these superior franchises ultimately hurt Buyu Retsuden.

NEXT: Nintendo: 10 More Genesis Games We Hope To See Added To Switch Online