Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2
I'm always up for an anime brawler and when it comes to Dragon Ball, no other franchise does it better. After all, the franchise that took Japan by storm has seen many titles developed for so many consoles over the years (20 to be exact). It should be no surprise that with so much history behind the series that the latest game Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (say that ten times fast) is one of the best that I have played.
Like so many anime fighting games before it, DBZ: BT2 is steeped in a rich atmosphere and lots of exclusive appreciation. As someone who doesn't watch the show I was able to appreciate a lot of what went on in the game but there were some bits that fans of the series would enjoy more. That's really the stigma that gets attached to games like this. Fortunately the quality of the game supersedes the stereotype and as long as you are simply looking for an over-the-top, hard-knuckled fighting game you've come to the right place.
Gameplay:
The single greatest achievement that DBZ: BT2 has going for it is the fact that it's entirely different from anything else out there. The problem with playing anime fighting games is that they each inherently offer a similar experience and a relatively generic combat system. That is NOT what this game brings to the table.
In DBZ: BT2 the series has evolved yet stays faithful to the titles that came before it. Warriors fight it out across vast landscapes with super powers and a relatively open combo system. Instead of fighting side to side like a 2D brawler this game puts you in a 3D environment where you can walk, fly, and blast your way across the screen at lightning speed. To be fair the combat system is very simplistic. There is an attack button, a super attack button. Apart from that you can guard, jump, and throw. How you string each of these together is basically up to you and there are a variety of attack combos to figure out for each character.
There is a surprising amount of depth given the fact that there are a mere two buttons that act as your offense. The regular attack only works when you're up close but the special attack does its duty from anywhere on the screen. As long as you are locked on to your opponent you'll unleash a barrage of energy balls their way. If you happen to charge your meter with the L2 button you can also unleash a more powerful strike.
While the fighting may be fast and furious, battles take a surprisingly long time to come to an end. Each character has multiple health bars and constantly mashing on the buttons will take its toll on your fingers. The end result is satisfactory but in the process don't be surprised if you find yourself getting knocked around because your thumb is worn out. Irregardless of aching digits the combat in DBZ: BT2 is some of the most fluid that I have ever seen in a fighter. The simplistic implementation works well with the atmosphere and strangely enough it really feels empowering to blast the crap out of your opponent while flying at them at 50 mph.
Apart from the fact that the game is a lot of fun to play there are actually quite a few modes to go through as well. Naturally there is a Story Mode, though this one feels more robust than usual for a game of this nature. Fans of the series will get the most out of it but I still had a good time flying around the map and beating up bad guys. Another mode called Ultimate Battle Z pits you against a tier of opponents as you attempt to fight for items and new stages. There's also a tournament to take part in where you can fight for cash. Since this is a fighting game there is a Versus Mode as well.
The real treat for any of these modes is the fact that there are over 120 playable characters. I don't think that I have ever seen that many in one title before and even though most of them play out the same way that's a ton of variety. If neither of them tickles your fancy you could always just customize a character with the decent create-a-player feature.
DBZ: BT2 is a lot of fun. In fact it's probably the best anime game that I have ever played when it comes right down to it. Pounding your opponent into the dirt and through mountains provided hours of entertainment through each of the modes here. The combat system was easy to get into and relatively flexible though I do have to admit that at times it boils down to little more than button mashing. The real beauty of this game isn't really the combat engine and it really isn't the variety of modes; it's the fact that it breaks the borders of the "need to be a fan to enjoy" stereotype. I'm not a fan of DBZ and I had a great time with this game.
Graphics:
Despite the fact that I am not a fan of the show I have seen many episodes of Dragon Ball. It's safe to say that the graphics in DBZ: BT2 appropriately reflect the visual nature of the show. Cel-shaded character models look very similar to their animated counterparts and the animation is faithful to boot. The great part about the character models is that as the fight goes on they will show bruises and cuts that they have taken during the battle. That attention to detail really helped this title out. Environments are appealing though lacking in some of the finer details. Fortunately what they lack in graphical flare they more than make up for in size and destructibility. The vibrant colors also help the game pop and make an impression.
Audio:
For a fighting game; an anime fighting game no less, the sheer amount of dialogue in DBZ: BT2 is daunting. There seem to be literally hours of recorded voiceovers mixed in with bits of dialogue and in game battle phrases. The recordings aren't very repetitive either which is a definite plus. The music is decent with a couple of memorable tunes but nothing that will truly leave a lasting impression. Once again this title raises the bar of expectations for anime fighting games.
Conclusion:
I personally can't say it about the anime but there is a lot to love about Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2. The simplistic gameplay may boil down to little more than button mashing at times but once the action kicks in you won't care. The battles are fast and furious through highly destructible and open environments. A roster of over 120 characters plus the ability to upgrade each one and create your own means that you could be playing for hours and still not use everybody. The modes are also deeper than most anime fighting games so if you have found yourself going sour on the genre you definitely owe it to yourself to check this one out. It's easy to see why Atari has been pumping out installments to this series; it's simply one of the best anime games around.