Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

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Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Developer(s)	Spike
Publisher(s)	Japan: Namci Bandai USA: Aari
Release date(s)	PlayStation 2 Japan: October 5, 2006 EU: November 3, 2006 US: November 7, 2006 AUS: November 9, 2006 Wii US: November 19, 2006 Japan: January 1, 2007 EU: March 30, 2007 AUS: April 5, 2007
Genre(s)	Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Multiplayer
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Wii
Media
Input	DualShock 2, Wii Remote/Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or GameCube Controller (Wii)
Video games Listing - Category

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, known as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! NEO in Japan, is a fighting game released on the PlayStation 2 and on the Wii. It is the sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi.

The Wii version was confirmed as being a launch title in the US for November 19, 2006 in an IGN interview with Atari [1] though some stores in the US started selling the Wii version on November 15, 2006. A recent issue of V-Jump listed January 2007 as the release date for the Japanese version of the Wii release with an additional six characters and an extra stage. The game was released in Europe on March 30, 2007, but was delayed in Australia until April 5, 2007. Both the European and Australian versions have the extra features of the Japanese Wii version. It's sequel is Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.

[edit] Gameplay

There are 129 playable characters in most versions of the game and 135 in the Japanese and PAL Wii versions. All characters featured in the previous game are available in this game as well. Battles can now involve up to ten characters fighting one at a time on the battle field, with one teammate coming in after the other has been knocked out or when the player wishes to switch to another fighter. This is referring to Free Battle options.

Most versions of the game have 16 large arenas (11 of which are taken from the previous Budokai Tenkaichi game). The Japanese and PAL Wii versions have 17 with the inclusion of a new space level, and 9 game modes. The game also features in game transformations, in addition to being able to choose to play in a transformed state from the start. In order to transform, you must press R3 (1 on Wii) and Left/Up/Right to select the form you want. One may also press Down + R3 (Down + 1) to revert back to their original state (Only transformations that have shown that they can be undone in the anime can do this). Fusions can be performed in-battle as well, and it is performed the same way as tag teams and transformations except that you have to press L2 (Z). Fusion can only be done in Tag battles and Free battles, and the player must have the suitable character as a Tag partner. For example, base Goku and Vegeta (second form) to form Vegito. If that fused character has a second or third form, you can press R3 + L2 + Up (Z + 1 + Up) or Right to transform into that different form. A customizer has been made to change the characters. The Dueling Mode features a 'Battle Settings' option, where you can adjust the dueling time, COM difficulty level, and set the In-Game Transformations on or off during gameplay.

The Wii version of the game features a unique control scheme using the system's remote controller. Using the motion sensing controller, players are able to control their fighters by carrying a remote/nunchuk combo and mimicking moves from the series. Players are able to choose whether they wish to use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, the Wii Classic Controller, or a GameCube controller. [2]

Dragon Adventure is the main mode of the game which covers Dragon Ball Z to Dragon Ball GT, also including many of the movies. The outcome of the battles in the mode changes the course of the story. In this mode, new powers, characters, and "what-if" type scenes, similar to the ones in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai are unlocked. The player uses a character around Earth and Namek looking for Dragon Balls, skill capsules and opponents.

Another mode, Ultimate Battle Z, uses a system where the player selects a type of battle and progresses up a pillar similar to the Mortal Kombat system. Each pillar has a specific theme and condition. By beating a pillar, the player earns a score, items, and more pillars.

[edit] Playable characters

[edit] Voice cast

[edit] Reception

Critical reaction has been mixed. Numerous reviews praised the game's high fighter count and detailed cel-shaded graphics, as well as the high amount of fan-service to DBZ fans. Some people, however, have taken issue with the game's complex controls. Mark Bozon at IGN said "The sheer speed and complexity of the controls may turn some people off, but the general combat will eventually come down to two buttons, making the game amazingly easy to learn, but nearly impossible to fully master." Many have said that the game is a "DBZ fan's wet dream," with VGRC.net stating "non-DBZ fighting game fans might even want to give it a spin as well." The game received the 'Best Fighting Game of the Year' award from X-Play, which is surprising since most Dragon Ball Z games are rated from mediocre to poor in their ranking system. The only notable exception is Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 which received a four out of five. This game also received a four out of five from X-Play.

[edit] Trivia

• Unlike its predecessor, Tenkaichi 2 refers to Bulla by her correct English name.
• In Tenkaichi 1, sometimes before a battle Jeice will say "Don't play stupid with me, wanker!" The "wanker" is cut out of Tenkaichi 2 and Tenkaichi 3, though you can clearly hear the "w" spoken after he says "Don't play stupid with me!"
• In the what-if saga Beautiful Treachery, during one scene the narrator says "Suddenly, Goku vanished. Krillin had used the Dragonballs to teleport him back to Earth." But the text box incorrectly says "Right after, Goku disappeared. Actually, Krillin had asked Shenron for Instant Transmission."
• In the what-if saga Destined Rivals, Hercule fights 18 just like he does in the final round of the tournament in the anime, except in this what-if story, the tournament proceeds as planned. In the anime, Hercule's first opponent in the tournament was scheduled to be 18.
• This is the first game to include filler characters, such as Pikkon and Garlic Jr. However, both appear in movies, and are placed with the movie characters (though Garlic Jr.'s role in the game was that of the anime).
• Though the names of all the characters are spelt right on the character selection screen, some text boxes incorrectly spell Vegito's name "Vegeto".
• On the Wii Version Of the game,the game case says that you can only play with the Wii Remote and the Nunchuck and the Classic Controller.In the game,you can play with the Wii Remote and the Nunchuck and the Classic Controller and the Gamecube Controller.
• When in tournaments Supreme Kai and Kibitoshin's name in the text box appearing just before an after battle says Shin which is the identity he enters the 25th World Tournament under.
• For unexplained reasons, the Dragon Ball GT part of Adventure mode ended with Goku as an adult deciding to have lunch and Vegeta mentioning his annoying behavior as if nothing happened.
• If Zangya is matched with Andriod 18, Zangya will say, "You're man is kinda cute," thereafter Android 18 calls Zangya a "skank." This was removed in Tenkaichi 3.
• If Gotenks is tagged out in a tag battle, he will say "Peanut-butter jelly time!" as a reference to the popular internet meme.

[edit] Notes and references

[edit] External links

• Official Website
• Official Atari Website (PS2 Version)
• Official Atari Website (Wii Version)
• Official Atari US Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 forum
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 at IGN (Wii version)