於1993年3月20日在超級任天堂（Super Famicom）推出的《七龍珠 Z：超武鬥傳》（Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden），是格鬥遊戲歷史上一款極具開創性的作品。它不僅是Bandai在16位元主機上推出的首款《龍珠 Z》格鬥遊戲，更奠定之後數十年龍珠格鬥遊戲的基本範式。在《街頭霸王》掀起的格鬥熱潮中，成功將鳥山明筆下的高速空戰和翻山倒海的打鬥張力轉化為玩家可直接操作的遊戲體驗，成為無數玩家心中不可磨滅的經典。

由Bandai發行，其最具代表性的技術突破在於創新的「螢幕分割系統（Split-screen）」。當兩名角色距離拉遠時，畫面會從中間垂直分裂，允許雙方在各自的空間中自由飛行與蓄氣；而當距離接近時，畫面則會無縫合併。這種設計解決當時硬體無法在單一畫面容納大型戰場的限制，同時完整呈現原作中廣闊的戰鬥空間。收錄從比克大魔王時期至賽魯篇的8名基本角色，若加上隱藏角色則可達到13名，對於當時的格鬥遊戲而言，陣容相當豪華。

劇情模式涵蓋《七龍珠》及《七龍珠 Z》的多個經典篇章。故事從悟空與比克在天下第一武道會的宿命對決展開，隨後進入賽亞人篇，對抗入侵地球的達爾。接著，戰場轉移至納美克星，玩家與弗力札展開生死決戰，最終章則是當時連載中最熱門的「賽魯遊戲」。遊戲劇情並非單純的對話演示，而是透過每場戰役推進，玩家的勝敗甚至會影響劇情發展，強烈的參與感讓玩家彷彿置身於動畫分鏡之中。

在操作上，採用十字鍵搭配A、B、X、Y四個按鍵的標準配置，分別對應拳、腳與氣功。最令人熱血沸騰的設計是「究極必殺技」系統：當玩家拉開距離並輸入特定指令（如悟空的龜派氣功或達爾的閃光炮）時，畫面會進入特寫分鏡。此時防守方必須在極短時間內做出選擇，如防禦、閃避或與對手進行氣功對拼。這種「對波」機制不僅視覺震撼，也考驗玩家的心理素質與手速，成為《超武鬥傳》系列的標誌性特色。

市場上，本作取得巨大成功，全球銷量突破百萬，成為超級任天堂最暢銷的格鬥遊戲之一。雖然以現代標準來看，動作節奏略慢且部分隱藏角色過於強大，但當時的視覺衝擊力是前所未有的。它成功將「飛行、瞬移、對波」這三大《龍珠》元素數位化，不僅讓Bandai在格鬥遊戲領域站穩腳跟，也為後續《超武鬥傳》續作（第二代與第三代）奠定深厚的系統基礎，影響力延續至今。

Released on March 20, 1993, for the Super Famicom, Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden is a groundbreaking entry in fighting game history. It was Bandai’s first Dragon Ball Z fighting game on a 16-bit console and set the foundational standard for Dragon Ball fighting games for decades to come. Amid the fighting game boom led by Street Fighter, this title successfully translated Akira Toriyama’s high-speed aerial battles and earth-shattering action into gameplay that players could directly control, cementing its place as an unforgettable classic.

The game’s most notable technical innovation was its original split-screen system. When two fighters moved far apart, the screen would split vertically, allowing each character to freely fly and charge energy in their own space. Once the characters drew close again, the screens would seamlessly merge. This system solved the hardware limitations of the time that could not accommodate expansive battlefields in a single screen while faithfully recreating the vast combat arenas seen in the source material. The base roster included eight characters spanning from the King Piccolo saga to the Cell saga, with hidden command characters raising the total to 13—a remarkably generous lineup for fighting games of that era.

The story mode covers key arcs from both Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z. It begins with Goku and Piccolo’s fateful showdown at the World Martial Arts Tournament, moves into the Saiyan saga where players confront the invading Raditz, and then continues to the Namek saga with life-or-death battles against Frieza. The final chapter is the highly popular Cell Games arc. The narrative unfolds through each major battle rather than simple cutscenes, and the player’s victories or defeats can influence the story’s progression, giving a sense of immersion akin to experiencing animated storyboards firsthand.

Controls are standard for the era: a directional pad combined with A, B, X, and Y buttons, assigned to punches, kicks, and energy attacks. The highlight of the gameplay is the “Ultimate Attack” system. When players create distance and input a specific command—such as Goku’s Kamehameha or Raditz’s Double Sunday—the screen shifts to a cinematic close-up. The defending player must quickly respond by choosing to block, dodge, or counter with an energy clash. This “energy clash” mechanic is not only visually striking but also tests players’ reflexes and mental focus, becoming a defining feature of the Super Butoden series.

The game achieved major commercial success, selling over a million units worldwide and becoming one of the best-selling fighting games on the Super Famicom. While by today’s standards its pacing may seem slow and certain hidden characters are overpowered, the visual impact at the time was unprecedented. It successfully digitized Dragon Ball’s three signature elements—flight, instant movement, and energy clashes—allowing Bandai to establish a foothold in the fighting game genre and laying a deep system foundation for its sequels (Super Butoden 2 and 3), leaving a legacy that continues to influence the series to this day.