Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (Wii)

Developer
Dimps
Publisher
Bandai Namco
Genre
Fighting
Players
2
C3 Score
8
Reader Score (22 Votes)
7
8
7
Posted on 18.04.2007
Posted by Ben Southam (dojo)
Tags:
Dragonball, Z:, Budokai, Tenkaichi, 2, 5, Dimps, Bandai Namco, Fighting
Posted by Ben Southam (dojo)
Tags:
Dragonball, Z:, Budokai, Tenkaichi, 2, 5, Dimps, Bandai Namco, Fighting
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Dragon Ball Z has been a very popular franchise worldwide for almost twenty years now, and if there's one thing of which it has been very capable, it is selling merchandise. After its transition into videogame form on the original PlayStation in the late nineties, not much has happened to its mechanics apart from its refinement. So why choose this one?
The answer is simple. It is the newest. Although there haven't been many major updates to the original anim This idea of Fusion also translates over to Transformations too, a key aspect of Dragon Ball's stories. Goku, the main character, can go up to "Super Saiyan Level 3" with the correct conditions in place, and although he is essentially the same "character", he has a vastly improved set of moves at his disposal, as well as the signature yellow glow and hair. All of these little additions, spread across a plethora of individual characters, make for a very deep Dragon Ball experience.
With the game being available on Wii, there is naturally an option to play with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk combination, and whilst cynics could sit around a table and complain all day about the lack of precision offered by the instruments, it is clear that the developers went to a lot of work to make the system as intuitive as possible. Basic hand-to-hand combat is performed with the A button on the Wii Remote, whilst movement is handled with the analog stick on the Nunchuk. Dashing is done with a flick of the Nunchuk, whilst flying (mid battle) is handled with a tilt of the Nunchuk and the C button.
One of the most rewarding things about the game is the gesture-based blast attacks, which are activated after Blast Stock is charged up. For Goku's Kamehameha move, one must put their arms in a position similar to the way it is shown in the cartoon and press both the Z and B buttons. There are a wealth of other options at the player's disposal too, allowing the use of the Classic Controller expansion or a GameCube controller. One of the developers pointed out during the development process that he received complaints from people saying it was "too tiring" to play, so they gave themselves a lifeline by adding this feature. Although the game still plays solidly, it is worth noting that the fun you had playing it with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk is somewhat subdued in this way.
The game's many available modes, including a lengthy Dragon Adventure mode, Dragon Library, Dragon Tournament, Duelling (1P vs 2P), Training, Evolution Z, Data Centre and Item Shop, greatly overshadow some of its more niggling shortcomings, including its bland environmental graphics. Whereas the characters themselves look wonderfully sharp and colourful, the places in which they fight are of not worthy of any special mention. They are destructible and expansive, but surely the developers could have taken the time to improve the textures over the PlayStation 2 version of this game, as Wii is clearly more powerful.
Another complaint is the lack of cohesiveness in the story mode. The narrator will tell you that you must fight a character and "win the battle", but after completing the task, a cut-scene will show that you were brutally defeated and died. This inevitably means that the story modes can be quite boring and repetitive at times, especially if you know what is coming next anyway. The fact that most missions are based on either winning a battle or surviving for a certain amount of time surely demonstrates how much creativity there is to be found in the story mode. Whilst this stays in keeping with the game's aim to tell the whole of the Dragon Ball series from scratch, it makes you wonder if there is ever any point trying to win a battle if you're already destined to "die" afterwards (the answer is that you should, by the way, as progress is not possible until a certain mission is completed). Saying this, with such an extensive list of characters, locales and scenarios to include, Spike has certainly done an admirable job of making it fit at all.
Gameplay
8
This is where the game really does shine, with genuinely innovative (if not a little unresponsive) controls making it a lot more fulfilling than just pressing buttons. The Classic and GameCube controller options allow for a more traditional gaming experience too.
Graphics
7
As this game is essentially just a PlayStation 2 port with Wiimote controls added on, the graphics do not really do the Wii justice, but the cel-shading is colourful and cleanly done, and the environments are expansive. A shame, then, that they are so bland at the same time.
Sound
6
Fans of the Dragon Ball series will be at home with some instantly recognisable tunes, but after a short while you will realise that the music isn't very sophisticated, and is in fact reused (like many of the game's assets) in lots of circumstances.
Value
9
Again, another forte of the game; the story mode allegedly takes more than 60 hours to complete, even though most of it is just repetitive fighting. Tons of characters to choose from, and a wealth of other options still make this a monster of a game, though.
8
C3 Score This game is a must for Dragon Ball Z fans, but if you're just exploring the series, it might be more advisable to just watch the cartoons instead. There isn't much explanation of the characters bar a few short lines, and the modes available can be quite mind-boggling. In the end, all of the assets of the game add up to be a fun if slightly repetitive game./10
Please post your comments below.
Buy Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Reader Comments
1
Been a member for 5 years!
3351
L83 Fox McCloud
I'm really enjoying this and agree with most of your points. It's a must-have (like Budokai 3) for fans of the series.
As for the control aspects, I can't get to grips with the GC/CC control because of how intuitive it is to dash/fly using the nunchuk. The only problem that can occur with the wiimote/nunchuk combo is the Up Cursor Out guarding, but it hardly affects gameplay.
360 Gamertag: shiptoncraig
PSN: shiptoncraig
As for the control aspects, I can't get to grips with the GC/CC control because of how intuitive it is to dash/fly using the nunchuk. The only problem that can occur with the wiimote/nunchuk combo is the Up Cursor Out guarding, but it hardly affects gameplay.
360 Gamertag: shiptoncraig
PSN: shiptoncraig
I'm Apollo Justice! AND I'M FINE!
19939
C3 Mod
Good to see a good rating, I think it's a great game & I could continuously play it for hours on end. Would play more but got lotsa work to do ^^;
King "The One" | Shenmue III Supporter | C3 Sonic Defense Force
~My YouTube Smash vids and machinima|PSN ID: SuperLink9~

King "The One" | Shenmue III Supporter | C3 Sonic Defense Force
~My YouTube Smash vids and machinima|PSN ID: SuperLink9~
Oh, hello C3!
4696
L96 Marth
get reading about my trip to London to see EA, Nintendo and Eurogamer Expo!
9266
Reviews Editor
Nice review. I'm still not used to it, but that's because I've not played it in over a week because I've had stuff to do. Sigh...I look forward to enjoying it though when I can give it the time!
Cubed3 Staff :: Reviews Editor
Xbox Live/Twitter :: C3Mike
Cubed3 Staff :: Reviews Editor
Xbox Live/Twitter :: C3Mike
Spirit Tracks is complete
4145
L91 Wario
Being that I'm not keen on the cartoon, it was likely I wasn't going to show any interest in this, but after a few views of the game in action, I had to admit;
I'm Apollo Justice! AND I'M FINE!
19939
C3 Mod
The only bad points are for those who havn't watched the Anime. The story on this is VERY brief, & if you havn't seen the Anime, you won't have a clue what's going on, since some things in the story mode happen without any warning.
King "The One" | Shenmue III Supporter | C3 Sonic Defense Force
~My YouTube Smash vids and machinima|PSN ID: SuperLink9~

King "The One" | Shenmue III Supporter | C3 Sonic Defense Force
~My YouTube Smash vids and machinima|PSN ID: SuperLink9~
5047
L100 C3 Master
Great review! Recently played this at my friends house and i was surprisingly impressed how fun it was.
Star system fixed - sorry about that - thanks guys! J
14622
L100 C3 Master
Sweet review Ben, I should try this out sometime. Not willing to splash out the dosh, but hopefully someone I know will get it.
Doesn't sound too bad, the Wii controls seem pretty interesting.
Doesn't sound too bad, the Wii controls seem pretty interesting.
153
L16 Chibi
This game is great. I don't watch the cartoon (and was only into it for a few weeks when I was much younger) but the controls make it really enjoyable.
Oh, hello C3!
4696
L96 Marth
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