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Game Information:

Publisher: Infogrames, Inc. Developer: Dimps Genre: Fighting Origin: Europe Platform: PlayStation®2 Number of Players: 2 Released: -Dec 04, 2002 US -Nov 29, 2002 EURO -Nov 29, 2002 JAP Suggested Retail Price: -AUS $99.95 -US $49.95 -UK £39.99 -CA $74.98 Extras: -Analog Control -Vibration -Memory Card ESRB Rating: Teen

Intro:

Dragon Ball Z®: Budokai™ is the first PlayStation®2 game released by Infogrames and it's by far one of the best Dragon Ball games to date. Being a Dragon Ball fan myself I will be completely unbiased on my review and stick to the game rating standards. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai is a 3D fighting game that is an immense improvement to the previous 3D PlayStation game, Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout. Unlike it's Super NES counterparts, DBZ Budokai remains true to the series and was built based on it.

Features:

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai has quite a few options and features that include 29 fighting levels, 60 combo moves per character, 5 fighting modes and 23 characters to choose from: Android 16, Android 17, Android 18, Android 19, Cell, Dodoria, Frieza, Ginyu, Goku, Great Saiyaman, Hercule, Kid Gohan, Krillin, Nappa, Piccolo, Raditz, Recoome, Teen Gohan, Tien, Trunks, Vegeta, Yamcha and Zarbon. The game covers the story line from the Saiyan Saga to the ending of the Cell Games. The main menu of the game is structured using the seven star Dragon Balls from the series. The first Dragon Ball contains the "Story Mode" feature. This mode lets you fight your opponents in accordance to the series. You start off in the Saiyan Saga where Raditz kidnaps Gohan and you go through it ending at the battle with Perfect Cell. Most of the story mode is a sequence of battles followed by cut scenes, but it does have other "games" within, for example, you are Goku and have to hold Raditz in a certain position by rotating the analog while Piccolo gets his power high enough to launch an attack. The Story Mode itself has sub-conquests where you have to complete a certain amount of fights with different characters. The further you progress in the game the more capsules you obtain (I'll talk more about these later) and the more characters you unlock that can be chosen in the character selection menu. There's plenty of humor in the clips that follow/precede each fight and unlike other games can be skipped if you get tired of them. Like most games this mode has hidden conquests, which are unlocked when going through the story mode. The second Dragon Ball contains the "Duel Mode" feature. This mode lets you fight either the computer or another opponent. It also has the ability to watch a computer vs. computer match but would only be useful if you're starting off and want to pick up some strategies. No hidden characters, capsules, or other options can be unlocked through here it's main function is a duel out with a friend or computer. The third Dragon Ball contains the "World Tournament" mode. This mode lets you fight in a World Tournament where you win cash prizes. There are three difficulty settings (Novice, Adept & Advanced) and are awarded Zenie (cash) for ranking in either top two places. There are three battles in Novice, four battles in Adept and five battles in Advanced. In order to proceed from Novice to Adept you need to purchase it in Mr. Popo's item shop using Zenie won in the Novice tournament. Same deal when proceeding to Advanced. Like the tournament from the series, you win by knocking your opponent off the platform or knocking him out cold. In this mode, if you win all three difficulty level tournaments, you unlock Mr. Satan (Hercule) and the "Legend Of Hercule" mode. The fourth Dragon Ball contains the "Practice" mode. This mode lets you fight any character you have unlocked to merely practice against. While perfecting your skills in this mode you can set the computer's actions to just stand, guard, deflect or attack and at what experience level. The screen displays information on attacks used and other useful information in order to build your perfect attack scheme. Nothing can be unlocked in this mode. The fifth Dragon Ball contains the "Edit Skills" mode. This mode lets you spend all the Zenie you have won in the World Tournament mode at Mr. Popo's item shop as well as customizing your character with the various capsules (which contain attacks or items) you have gained along the way. You can also make a wish to Shenron when obtaining all seven Dragon Balls. Shenron gives you the option to select one of three Breakthrough capsules. A Breakthrough capsule gives you the ability to use all of a character's skills. The Edit Skills menu contains "Skills List", "Change Caps", "Skill Shop" and "About Skills." "Skills List" simply lists each character's settings and skills. "Change Caps" is used for organizing capsules that will be used in a Duel/World Tournament. "Skill Shop" is where you purchase capsules that contain skills. And finally "About Skills" explains everything about the exciting skill system, for example: how to acquire skills, how to select skills, explanation of the skill sheet/icons and activating/increasing/trading skills. The sixth Dragon Ball contains the "Options" mode. This mode lets you edit the Game Options, Save/Load data, Controller settings, Screen adjustments and Sound configuration. The seventh Dragon Ball contains the "Legend of Hercule" mode. This mode can only be played once unlocked in the World Tournament mode. In this mode, you must fight as Mr. Satan (Hercule) in the Cell Games tournament. You need to defeat all the Z Warriors, Cell Jrs. and Cell in order to complete the mode. There are three settings: Novice, Adept and Advanced. Before each match Mr. Satan (Hercule) makes comments to the opponent and to himself some humorous and some are not. You can unlock hidden goodies when completing each setting.

Gameplay:

Although it's an immense improvement from the previous 3D game (Final Bout) the game still lacks certain features that have now become essential in virtual fighting games. The controls are basically the same as any other virtual fighting game: Square button equals Punch, Triangle button equals Kick, Circle button is a Ki Blast, and holding X blocks while pressing it deflects your opponent's attacks. You can do a grapple attack by pressing R2 or Square and Triangle and can do different attacks when pressing the analog. You can also sidestep by holding block and pressing either up or down and power up by holding block and pressing back twice. One thing I disliked about the fighting was the inability to fly or let alone jump/duck. The only time someone was able to fly in the air was once your opponent knocks you soaring into the sky. Once in the air you can only move forward or backward only to align yourself to your opponents position. Now onto the combos, each character is supposedly to have 60 combo moves and it only seems like they have 10% of that. I was expecting something like Mortal Kombat or Tekken when it came to combos but it seems it's just a conjunction of the same button pushed repeatedly followed by an energy blast or kick/punch depending on which one was initially pushed. Although each character does have great finishing/special attacks I didn't see much variety when it came to combos. The deflection of energy blasts is a great add-on and definitely made it a bit more enjoyable. The attack response time is definitely up to par unlike Final Bout where reaction time was long enough so you can leave and have breakfast before it actually initiates it. Reversals/Attack counters weren't added onto the game but would have been great if they were with that said this game is just based on basic attacks, minimal combos and some great special attacks.

Graphics:

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai is designed to look exactly like the characters from the anime series and have done that perfectly in my opinion. The "29" fighting levels are pretty much the same design which try to capture and remain true to the anime. My only problem with this is that the graphics don't quite use the full capability of the PlayStation®2 as I would like to see. One thing that excelled in this game was the special effects for the special attacks and finishers. Each special attack lights up the screen with a wonderful effect display. Another thing worth mentioning is the effects used to display the fast paced fighting called "Burst Zone" when the characters strike each other at the same time they erupt into an attack frenzy. The game menus and overall presentation are more than your standard game menu. Menu graphics again standard to anime feel.

Sound:

The sound differs between the American version and other versions of this game. Only the American version of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai had voice acting by the anime series voice actors and also kept the songs from the television series. All sound effects from the anime series were also used in the game. Although if you're not a fan of the American dubbing then this version of the game isn't going to be too pleasant to hear.

Closing Comments:

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai is overall an enjoyable game but does not keep me hooked to it as I've been to other games in the past. Its graphics are definitely true to the anime and are pleasant to look at but they don't get my mind off the fact that the fighting engine is limited (specially jump/duck). The game is excellent to most anime fans but in reality it's not part of the hegemony of virtual fighting games. If you enjoy fighting games and are picky to the maneuvers then this game isn't right for you but if you love Dragon Ball and want to have a crack at possibly the best Dragon Ball fighting game then go on and buy it.

Our Ratings (out of 10):

Presentation: 9 Graphics: 7 Sound: 9 Gameplay: 6 Lasting Appeal: 8.5 OVERALL SCORE (not an average): 7

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© 2002 Infogrames, Inc. All rights reserved. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.