PS2 DRAGONBALL Z BUDOKAI #MAIN

The Story segment of the game may be the most fun for fans, though it diverges from standard gameplay. Where most games have long, elaborate series of gameplay, intercut with story, Dragon Ball Z intercuts very short interactive battles with long animated sequences portraying everything from the Saiyan Saga through to the Cell Games. The animation and voicing in these sequences mirrors the television series and even uses the very same voice actors as the show. Some fans may be disappointed when gameplay ends with the Cell Games--or they may take it as a sure sign that future games will be released to cover the remaining sagas.

Fun? Yes. Flawless? No. There’s not a whole lot under the surface of the sagas--what you see is what you get. And you also might get a little carpal tunnel syndrome along the way--the button-mashing combinations needed to pull off the most awesome moves may not be friendly to fans’ forearms. Still, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai may be a slam dunk for fans of the series who now have the opportunity not just to watch the sagas, but to participate in them. --Maile Bohlmann

Pros:

• Faithfully re-creates the animated series
• Voicing by the original actors
• Two-player dueling option
• Story segment lets fans live in the Dragon Ball world

• Elaborate combinations are difficult to remember
• Doesn't contain all the sagas
• Little depth of gameplay