[Editor's note: To get information on the game's modes and combat system, please refer to our review of the PlayStation 2 version, as this one focuses on the control scheme.]
Earlier this month, Atari unleashed the latest game in its million-selling Dragon Ball Z franchise, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 for the PlayStation 2. Now that the Wii's arrived, the company decided to grace Nintendo's system with a version all its own. The game contains all of the same modes and characters as its PS2 counterpart, except it packs motion sensitive controls. Too bad they suck.
Whereas Atari made excellent use of PlayStation 2's DualShock 2 controller, it tossed in a bunch of motion sensitive moves designed to showcase the Wii's remote and nunchuk. However, some of these moves only work half of the time and feel tacked on. For example, to ascend and descend, the player presses and holds the C button on the nunchuk, then raises and lowers their arms in the desired direction (up means up, down means down). Unfortunately, it appears that the game's 129 Dragon Ballers decide when they want to fly, as raising one's arms (in futility) results in sore extremities and motionless characters. Because the chaotic fighting requires quick movements, this nearly kills the game. It would have been much better to press and hold C, enter an ascend/descend mode, and then execute the action with the nunchuk's analog stick.
The same goes for guarding and evading. Flipping the remote upwards to guard and moving it from side to side makes little sense, especially when it comes to fighting games, where frantically shaking around affects concentration. Atari deserves some credit for attempting to showcase the Wii's abilities, but it should have focused on a different game.
At least the rest of the game works. Using the remote and nunchuk's buttons to punch, kick, transform, and fire Ki blasts takes very little effort. If the thought of using the controller seems absurd, the game supports Nintendo's classic controller.
Atari tried to capitalize on the Wii's unique controls and failed miserably, but Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 still packs plenty of explosive special moves, twitch gaming and mindless button mashing. Just don't expect deep or even polished fighting mechanics. Tenkaichi 2 is nothing more than a mindless brawler that can't compete against the likes of the more refined PlayStation 2 games Tekken 5 and Virtua Fighter 4.
Related Links
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 Game Guide (Wii)
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 Game Guide (PS2)
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