Some of the nation’s best football players traded energy drinks for energy beams recently to duke it out in DRAGON BALL FighterZ. Bandai Namco Entertainment brought “FighterZ x Packers Event” to fruition, delighting sports fans and anime fans alike. There, four Green Bay Packers players decked it out for a few rounds as their favorite characters. Especially relevant is that this is one of the first times celebrities from fields outside of anime have tackled the game, and the players’ competitiveness is just as fun to see as it is on the field. As a Green Bay native, it’s great to see intersections like this, especially considering how hilarious their matches are.

For those unfamiliar with the game, DRAGON BALL FighterZ is an upcoming competitive arcade-style DRAGON BALL game. The game is set to release later this month, and Bandai has been releasing information regarding new characters steadily over the past year. Unsurprisingly, every revelation of a new facet of the game caused considerable excitement and energy from fans. The series contains characters from the original DRAGON BALL series like Tien and Yamcha, villains from DRAGON BALL Z, and newer characters from DRAGON BALL SUPER. While plenty of games featuring hundreds of playable characters exist, FighterZ is the first true arcade-style game to get a PC release. On top of that, it is the first DRAGON BALL title Bandai has marketed as a primarily competitive game.

From Touchdowns to Take-downs

Bandai filmed the event and released it via Youtube on Tuesday. The video features offensive guard Justin McCray, defensive end Mike Daniels, linebacker Chris Odom, and quarterback Brett Hundley. In addition to gameplay, Bandai gave fans a close look at the action off-screen as players reacted to the title. Check them out in the incredible video below:

Just like any gamer, the players tossed around lighthearted trash talk and jokes. Some even decided to use their own improvised sound effects! Most opted to use characters from the early stages of DRAGON BALL Z. The game allows you to form a team of three to take into battle, and longtime heroes like Trunks, Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo were prominent across a lot of matches. Alternatively, you can throw villains like Frieza or Cell into the mix for destructive attacks destroying the planet itself!

While some Packers preferred the characteristic physical battles, others got most excited at the intense energy blast cut-scenes and ultimate attacks. The athletes were able to share their own connections to the series, as well as their opinions on the game. More than anything, this is an incredible look at the interests professional athletes have in common with whom some would consider their polar opposite—anime fans. This isn’t the first time the Green Bay Packers made an unexpected appearance either. In fact, the team had a surprise cameo as singers in Pitch Perfect 2 and again in a THOR: Ragnarok trailer. These guys have a penchant for doing unexpected things, but the FighterZ teaser is certainly one of the coolest.

A Game to Look Out For

DRAGON BALL is a series that nearly anyone nowadays will recognize. For 2 decades, the series has been an entry-level anime for many and a favorite of even more. As a result, millions have watched or read the story. Videos like this prove that fans aren’t limited to those who binge multiple series on a daily basis; you can find them anywhere, from any path in life.

DRAGON BALL FighterZ launches January 26th, 2018 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. So far, there are 23 confirmed playable characters. On top of those 23, several characters battle as special support, and many playable characters have multiple transformations. Like most DRAGON BALL games, main characters will have forms from various points in DRAGON BALL’s storyline, giving fans a complete experience. Since games like DRAGON BALL Xenoverse typically add several additional characters as DLC, FighterZ is likely to do the same.

As the days to the official release tick away, there are sure to be exciting revelations and incredible gameplay. Too eager to wait, plenty of fans are already planning their perfect team. Who are you jumping into battle as first? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image from Youtube.