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Dragonball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy may be a nice distraction, but the only Wii game out this year that can really quench that insatiable thirst for both fighting goodness and long complex titles is Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2. For those who love all things Dragon Ball, prepare to fangasm all over your Wii this season. Tenkaichi 2 combines elements from the franchise and accurately follows the stories from the original Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT series to deliver one hefty experience. The story mode itself boasts well over 50 hours of play as you bounce from one episode and story arc to the next, replicating all those Earth-shattering confrontations. When not dealing with all-powerful foes, there are other missions and side quests to complete and explore. As you fight your way through story mode, you earn money that can be used to upgrade and customize your character.
Those worried about having a small character roster needn't give it another thought as having so much Dragon Ball in one package leads to a megaton of characters to deal with. Tenkaichi 2 boasts over 100 playable heroes and villains, including Super Saiyan forms (which are also able to be activated in the midst of battle). As if that wasn't enough, you can even fuse characters together. Of course, having that many characters doesn't mean very much if they all control the same. Rest assured that Spike has gone to lengths to make sure the characters are as deep as their anime counterparts. Equally exciting are the levels, which can be completely destroyed with some special attacks. Having over a dozen large 3D playing fields chuck full of destructible environments certainly adds to the fighting drama, especially when you consider that the battle can take place on land, in the clouds, and even under water.
The Wii difference is all about control, and so Tenkaichi 2 covers all the bases, offering full Nunchuk and Wiimote control, along with Classic controller and GameCube controller support. If you're just looking for a more conventional control system, the classic and ‘Cube controls will make the game feel very similar to the PlayStation 2 version. For those who want to be dramatic with their control, you can recreate the character's super moves with all kinds of motions and fighting stances. Wanna dash? Flick the Nunchuk. Wanna fly? Tilt the controller up and down. Using a combination of buttons and controller motions to execute everything from basic punches to world-crushing kamehameha waves provide a way to play not found anywhere else.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai: Tenkaichi 2 certainly looks to be a package to satisfy fans of the series, while introducing the story and characters to anyone else that's just looking for a good time. Nine different game modes, minigames, tag-team battles, two-player support, real-time in-game transformations, custom characters, destructible levels, a Dragon Ball encyclopedia, and 120+ characters definitely make Tenkaichi 2 out to be a meaty Wii launch title.
