Once upon a time, there were Dragon Ball Z games on the market whose very existence was questioned. I mean, take a look back at the PlayStation efforts, like Ultimate Battle 22 and even the incredibly rare (at least, until Atari re-released it) Final Bout. The games just didn't play that well at all, trying to combine aerial tactics with fighting moves with poor results. The graphics didn't fare any better, coming across like they were first-generation debug copies of the games. But popular they were, and Atari has since capitalized upon this with more focused fighting games, like the Budokai series that's gotten attention on the GameCube and PS2.

However, Atari felt that it was time for a change, and change they did with the release of Dragon Ball Z: Sagas, the company's attempt to create an action/adventure effort surrounding the DBZ characters. The formula sounded something like a dream, and the screenshots and movies almost made it appear like Atari knew what they were doing. But, oh, the letdown of the final product is so staggering that it would even knock down Goku on a good day. Sagas, unfortunately, reflects back to the old days of the crappy PlayStation games, and falters on every front.

The game focuses on a number of missions where you take control of a particular DBZ hero. This could be Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, or any given others. During the game, you'll encounter different enemies, both distance shooters and up-close attackers who have some slick moves of their own. As you proceed, you'll need to blast your way through rocks and other objects before you get to the obligatory boss battle against the likes of Frieza or Buu. That is, if your patience survives that long.

The main problem with Sagas is that the gameplay never goes anywhere. You have your basic punch and kick combos, and boy, do I mean basic. The combos can never really get mixed up to create devastating results, they can just be the same attack button hit five times to execute a bland attack. You also have fireball attacks that use up a meter in the lower left corner, and unfortunately, it's rather hard to refill when you run out of energy. You're left wandering around the level looking for energy, and if you can't find it, you have to restart. This is rather frustrating when enemies are bearing down on you near and far, and you just can't get past one stupid formation of rocks. Not even with your fists. Where's Goku's power when we need it?

Worse yet, the enemy AI wavers more than a drunk on a Saturday night. Some enemies are simple in their attacks, including some of the bosses, who can be read quite easily. And the distant enemies somehow seem to be able to hit you with every shot they throw at you, as you try to navigate the boneheaded automatic lock-on system to hit them and get them out of your hair. Avalanche really missed the boat here, making the game seem like a chore instead of the experience that so many fans wanted.

The graphics don't really take off any better. One thing that many gamers will notice right away is the lack of any kind of camera control, therefore making some enemies really tough to see unless you walk back into the range where you can see them again. And if you miss an item at the beginning of the level? You have to walk all the way back without seeing what's in front of you. Huh?! The system that's here also manages to stick a little bit too often, going so much in one direction and only shifting when you're into the right kind of clearing. It's frustrating and stupid. The in-game visuals don't fare any better. The animation's okay, but the level design is uninspired and never really changes any. Only some slick little anime intros introduce anything memorable in terms of looks.

Sounds are okay, but they too manage to wear out their welcome more than they should. The music isn't anything too inspired, as the tunes just manage to repeat themselves once they run out, and the sound effects get old like about five attacks in, without that much voicework incorporated or difference in enemy grunts.

The game does offer some extras, like unlockable stages and enemies, as well as an arena battle mode that tries to emulate the Budokai games. Unfortunately, none of these are particularly well worth investing in, as the core gameplay never changes from its terrible monotony.

Overall, Sagas is the worst kind of missed opportunity. You can see the kind of invention the developers wanted to go for, but the development somehow got lost along the way and fell into something truly lackluster. It's kind of like a take on the "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" saying. Fans may want to give it a rent just to see what could have been, but everyone else will want to steer clear and play something out of the Budokai library instead. Ka-me-ha-me-yuck.