Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 – PS2 – Review

Few fighting
games hold as much anticipation as those bearing the Dragon Ball Z name.
Before the first Budokai, before the first DBZ landed on U.S. shores, fans
were salivating for a video-game experience that captured the essence of one
of the world’s most popular anime series. Spawning several manga and movie
sequels, Dragon Ball Z was like a soap opera for gamers: a ton of action, a
little love, and a cast that died frequently but was never too dead to come
back to life.

Budokai
Tenkaichi 2 pushes the series forward another chapter, cramming dozens of
playable characters into one Super-Saiyan package. DBZ fans will be enthralled
by the aerial battles, engrossed by their addictive nature, and enthused by
the rich and anime-inspired cel-shaded graphics.

What’s
The Story Budokai Glory?

By now the
whole world knows the many sagas of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon
Ball GT. But just incase you don’t belong to the "whole world" group, or have
longed to relive the journey in a more interactive way, Budokai Tenkaichi 2
includes a story mode that redistributes the Z-sagas in a more compact form.
Starting with the day Radditz arrives (that old has-been claimed he was
all-powerful, but couldn’t even survive the first 10 episodes!), players will
get to experience the first time Goku and Piccolo encountered Vegeta, Frieza,
the heartless androids, Majin Buu, and dozens more.

The story is
presented like a Final Fantasy RPG, complete with a 3D world map and story
sequences leading up to every battle. Movie scenes are done in real-time. All
of the fighting scenes are conducted by the player as an actual battle.
Characters are voiced, and their dialogue sounds very close to the quality DBZ
fans are used to. (I’m guessing the voice-overs were taken directly from the
show, but couldn’t say for certain.)

The success
of each battle determines whether or not the story moves forward. In most
cases that means you have to win, but there are circumstances where staying
alive is all that’s necessary. Losing is rarely an option, but if you know DBZ
well, you already know that there isn’t always a choice.

However, if
the story calls for something to happen, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose.
The story will still proceed as necessary. For example, if you succeed at a
multi-character battle with just one character, the game won’t acknowledge
this fact and change the story. The warriors that were supposed to be lost
will still be killed off.

But don’t
shed a tear – this is DBZ, the anime and now video-game series where no one
ever really dies.

High-Flying Fantasy

These
warriors are not bound by the limitations of gravity. As such, their controls
were designed to reflect that of a third-person action/flyer. You don’t jump
over opponents’ attacks, or jump in for a kicking combo – you fly away or fly
right into your enemy. Teleportation occurs the instant it’s been triggered,
transporting your character behind the opponent for a continuation, or an
introduction, to a long and fruitful combo.

The aerial
gameplay style gives players freedom that, somewhat surprisingly, still cannot
be found anywhere except the Budokai series. Dash sideways to evade a
life-shattering, unblockable charge attack. Zip backwards to create distance
between you and your opponent. Take this opportunity to form your own charge
attack, to launch a few projectiles, or just to take a breather after being
beaten relentlessly. Charge forward for hard-hitting attacks and combo
catalysts, or just to intimidate.

Each of
these tactics – along with flying several feet into the air and several feet
under water – can be mixed and matched for a near endless collection of
fighting strategies. You’ll begin to form strategies within the first 30
minutes of play, likely without even realizing it. There are dozens of ways of
dealing with every move your opponent makes. Combos can be dished out evenly,
causing each fighter to attack at precisely the right moment in what becomes a
brief war of button-mashing. Charge attacks (and other projectiles that take a
while to execute) may be halted by an opponent who strikes before the move is
complete.

Taunts may
also be issued, but I’ve never been a fan of such a tactic. It might be good
to use against friends who have never played the game before – a way to
encourage their diligence and make them play until they win, thus creating new
challengers that, had they not been taunted, may have walked away after one
loss. But to taunt an experienced player is to put your foot in your mouth. It
might be a way to flaunt your superiority, or it might end up being the small
amount of leverage your opponent needed to get the upper hand.

The
animations are really something. Every move looks like it was taken right from
the show. Whether it’s a fighter’s stance, angle, or charge to execute
transition – even if you’re only a casual DBZ fan, you’re going to recognize
these attacks.

Projectiles
span great lengths, as do the battles themselves, which take place over areas
several times the size of the arenas found in other games. Tekken, Soul
Calibur, Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat – I’ve played and
love them all, but their stages are like ants compared to DBZ’s giants.

Wear and
tear starts to show on each warrior as they start to reach the end of their
life meter. Scrapes and small cuts cover the one who is injured. Small bits of
clothing may also be torn, but you might not notice with all the excitement
going on.

The only
area where Budokai Tenkaichi doesn’t deliver (other than it being somewhat of
a rehash) is the slightly jerky presentation. Players are asked whether or not
they want to save after every battle. Those brief stops – along with short but
frequent load times – slow down what is typically, and should always be, a
fast and DBZ-worthy experience.

The AI isn’t
too smart either, with opponents who take repeated hits from behind (where
damage is most prevalent). I also would have liked more attacks. I feel that
way about every fighting game, but if you’re a DBZ fan coming from a world of
Tekken or Mortal Kombat, you might be a little disappointed by this game’s
selection. BT2 contains more playable fighters than the competition, and its
move list is pretty impressive. But individually, Tekken, MK, and Soul
Calibur’s fighters have more depth.

Other than
that, DBZ fans can’t go wrong with this epic – a fighting game with several
weeks worth of characters, moves, and attack styles to master.

Review Scoring Details for Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

Gameplay: 7.9
Fast,
hard-hitting, in-your-face combos and special attacks. Players will delve deep
into the DBZ experience. All the great characters are here in playable form
and feature several moves that are nearly identical to those performed on the
show.

Graphics: 8.6
Excellent cel-shaded
visuals that do more than honor the original anime – their three-dimensional
depth, attack fluidity and overall detail are superior to anything you’ll see
in the TV series. The backgrounds aren’t without flaw, but most of what you’ll
see is at the very least impressive.

Sound: 7.9
Classic DBZ
tunes, a few I didn’t recognize, and voice acting that matches the quality of
the show.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
With some enemies
that are cheap, some that are pushovers, and some that aren’t worth mentioning
(he turned his back on me!? Why!?), Budokai Tenkaichi is not a game
that’ll challenge most hardcore players.

Concept: 7.7
A great fighting
experience that’s already been experienced. BT2 adds a few elements, like
items/equipment and tag battles. But the general idea was already invented
with the first game.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Budokai Tenkaichi
2’s multiplayer combat fulfills the requirements of the three As – it’s
awesome, amazing, and supremely addictive.

Overall: 8.1
Budokai Tenkaichi
2 isn’t the most perfect fighter, but that doesn’t ruin its fun. The game was
built for DBZ enthusiasts, but anyone who loves a great fighter will get into
this high-flying, non-stop experience. The two-player battles ensure a very
long lifespan for this fighter, making it worth the purchase even if you have
no desire to play through another story mode.