Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, released as Dragon Ball Z2 (ドラゴンボールZ2, Doragon Bōru Zetto Tsū) in Japan, is a fighting video game developed by Dimps based upon the anime and manga series, Dragon Ball Z, and a sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. It released for the PlayStation 2 in 2003 and for the GameCube in 2004 and was published in Japan and Europe by Bandai and in North America, Australia and South Africa by Atari SA.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2
European cover art
Developer(s)Dimps[a]
Publisher(s)
SeriesDragon Ball
Budokai
Platform(s)PlayStation 2, GameCube
ReleasePlayStation 2
  • EU: November 14, 2003
  • AU: November 23, 2003
  • NA: December 4, 2003
  • JP: February 5, 2004
GameCube
  • NA: December 15, 2004
  • EU: March 18, 2005
  • AU: April 8, 2005
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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The World Tournament allows players to compete against up to 8 players in a Martial Arts Tournament. If more than one human player is present no prize money is available, but with only one human player prizes can be won. Dueling mode allows a player to fight the computer at a preset skill level, or two human players to fight each other using any custom skills. A player may also watch a fight between two computer fighters.

Made up of three sections, the Skill Shop, character editing, and instructions. A player may edit skills on either memory card. Aside from Dragon World, the Skill Shop is the place to get your skill capsules. Bulma will wear a different costume depending on how many the player has collected in Dragon World.

Each character has a Health bar, and a Ki bar. When the health runs out, the character loses (as in most fighting games). Ki is required to perform special moves, and Ki blasts. Characters can dodge attacks. There are varying mechanics for ultimate moves, some will automatically work upon their execution, some require a button input within a certain timeframe, some require rotating the control stick to build power, and some require both players to rotate control sticks in a struggle.

Development and release

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In Japan, 2,000 V-Jump readers were able to get Dragon Ball Z2V,[1] a revamped version of the game.

Soundtrack

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Reception

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In Japan, Dragon Ball Z 2 sold 584,183 copies.[17] In the United States, Budokai 2 sold 1.5 million copies[18] and was the fourth top video game rental of 2004.[19] The game sold a total of 2,084,183 copies in Japan and the United States.

Both version have an aggregate score of 66/100 on Metacritic.[15][16] GameSpot, who gave the game a 6.7/10 commented that "The improved visuals are nice, and some of the additions made to the fighting system are fun, but Budokai 2 still comes out as an underwhelming sequel."[6]

During the 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Budokai 2 for "Console Fighting Game of the Year", which was ultimately given to Soulcalibur II.[20]

Notes

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  1. ^ Ported to GameCube by Pyramid, Inc.

References

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  1. ^ "非売品ゲームコレクターが選ぶ「有名レアソフト」5選!". Excite. January 20, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2020.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Kato, Matthew (January 2004). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 (PS2)". Game Informer. No. 129. p. 133. Archived from the original on January 30, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  3. ^ Clockwork Crow (December 27, 2004). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 Review for GameCube". GamePro. Archived from the original on January 29, 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  4. ^ The Funky Zealot (December 4, 2003). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 Review for PS2". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 12, 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  5. ^ Davis, Ryan (January 7, 2005). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 Review (GC)". GameSpot. Archived from the original on March 31, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  6. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (December 4, 2003). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Theobald, Phil (January 5, 2005). "GameSpy: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 (GCN)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on January 1, 2006. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  8. ^ Schiaparelli, Frank (December 28, 2003). "GameSpy: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 (PS2)". GameSpy. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  9. ^ Knutson, Michael (December 18, 2003). "Dragon Ball Z®: Budokai(tm) 2 Review - PlayStation 2". GameZone. Archived from the original on October 4, 2008. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  10. ^ IGN staff (February 2, 2005). "Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 (GCN)". IGN. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  11. ^ Dunham, Jeremy (December 2, 2003). "Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 (PS2)". IGN. Archived from the original on August 24, 2023. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  12. ^ Logan (November 17, 2003). "Test : Dragon Ball Z : Budokai 2". Jeuxvideo.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  13. ^ Kitty (March 18, 2005). "Test : Dragon Ball Z : Budokai 2". Jeuxvideo.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
  14. ^ Pattison, Louis (December 2003). "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2". Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine. No. 41. p. 120.
  15. ^ a b "Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2 for GameCube Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 for PlayStation 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2014.
  17. ^ "Game Search". Game Data Library (Famitsu data). Archived from the original on 24 April 2019. Retrieved 30 January 2019. Dragon Ball
  18. ^ "US Platinum Chart Games". The Magic Box. Archived from the original on 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Marketplace: A Look At The 2004 Video Chart Picture". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 2. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 8 January 2005. p.��39. ISSN 0006-2510.
  20. ^ "2004 Awards Category Details Console Fighting Game of the Year". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
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