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Video Games  - Dragonball Z Budokai 2

INFO:
Rating: T for Teen
Console: Playstation 2
Players: 1-2
Licensed by: Atari
Released: December 2003

 Rating:
Sound: 8.5
Graphics: 9
Controls: 10
GamePlay: 8.5
Overall: 9

One of the most highly anticipated games of 2003, Budokai 2 is truly the ultimate game for a Dragonball Z fan. 

It's not just for you DBZ lovers though, all fans of the fighting game genre should pay this game.  Playing as Goku, you travel along story mode fighting villains and finding the dragonballs with whatever friends you choose. You fight all the old villains from Budokai 1, but there is another, Majin Buu. Babidi, an evil magician, has unleashed this diabolical monster along with turning Freeza and Cell onto his side, while Goku and the Z-Warriors have to stop them and save the world once again.

Positive:

Once I saw that cell-shaded graphics were used, I knew there wasn't going to be many flaws with the graphics. IT'S BEAUTIFUL! All attacks land perfectly, and the Special Moves used by each character look just how they were used in the TV series. The backgrounds used are extremely detailed. The controls in this game are very simple to use and it is easy to pull off combos.  Doing a special attack is simple, as long as you meet the requirements, like having enough ki and being at the correct transformation level.  The sounds created from every attack sound great, even when shooting ki waves. When pulling attacks you'll hear comments from characters like 'DEATH BEAM!' or 'KAMEHAMEHA!!!.'  The Special Attacks become normal dialogue just like from the series, for example, when Goku uses his 'Spirit Bomb' attack he says 'Lend me your power!'

Negative:

Yes, after that great positive review it's hard to believe there are some negative components. I cannot argue at all with the cell-shaded graphics, there definitely isn't a problem there, nor with the sound or controls. But when it comes to the moves, a lot of them are just recycled through each character, and given a different name or a different sound. just like by the first game.  And charging up by spinning the control sticks isn't very fun time after time. The capsules in the game are fun to get, but some of them you can't even tell you have enabled when actually fighting. And it is kind of weird that this game is rated 'T' but being hit with a Super Kamehameha by Gohan doesn't ruin your clothes or even bruise your skin.

Overall:

This game is perfect for any Dragonball Z fan, or even just a fighting game fan. But for ones who want more of a challenge when it comes to the fighting genre of blood, gore, and all things of that sort, this isn't your game. I give this game, (from a fighting game fan point of view, not just a hardcore DBZ fan)....

                                                                            9 out of 10
-Beyond a Saiyan