Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2

Game Chronicles

The best Dragon Ball Z game ever. It does almost everything right and is a nearly flawless culmination of everything that was great about every US Dragon Ball Z game since Final Bout, be it characters, gameplay or graphics.

Worth Playing

It, in fact, accomplishes roughly 95% of what it set out to do, and with style besides. If you've ever liked Dragon Ball Z, even just as a kid growing up, then this game should automatically be added to your collection.

AceGamez

An epic anime beat-em-up unlike anything else currently on the market. Although the controls are slightly tricky at first, this is a game with so much depth and character that I can't help but recommend it to everyone.

GameShark

A solid and slick fighting game that beat 'em up fans and Dragon Ball z anime fanatics will love. There are a lot of small improvements (like the ability to jump into Super Saiyan mode more easily) to look forward and a ton of gameplay and extras to keep players occupied for a very long time.

IGN

This one uses every button on the controller, a good deal of motion on the Wii version, and it moves at an insane speed. Still, for gamers that can get into it, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is one of the most entertaining and fierce anime fighters around. This is every DBZ fan’s wet dream.

Gamers' Temple

It may not satisfy the hardcore fighting fan or impress those who aren’t fans of DBZ, but anyone who enjoys the Dragon Ball series will find it thoroughly enjoyable.

GamingTrend

If you don't mind your fighting games on the simpler side you will find a lot to enjoy.

GameZone

The game was built for DBZ enthusiasts, but anyone who loves a great fighter will get into this high-flying, non-stop experience.

Play Magazine

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is the type of game that will only give you back what you're willing to put into it. [Nov. 2006, p.85]

1UP

Even if you can't find people to play in the two-player modes, the story mode has enough action-packed content to soak up the entire DBZ legacy, and to keep you busy for a long, long time.

PALGN

The best and most substantial Dragon Ball Z experience that you're likely to get outside of watching the show.

PGNx Media

As a fighting game, it’s very flashy and somehow shallow, but fans of the cartoon will appreciate this as well as the careful use of the license.

Digital Entertainment News

What’s really impressive is how big of a game this is. This is bigger than any fighter in recent memory. This love note to fans will appeal to the biggest fighting game purist.

DarkStation

Atari finally comes good with the celebrated DBZ franchise with this high-flying, free-form fighting game. This is as close as you'll get to the frantic anime-style battles.

Gaming Horizon

An awesome variety of modes, a huge roster, customization, and the entire Dragon Ball story tied up nicely in one package add up to a title that every DBZ fan ought to have.

Games Master UK

A veritable Dragon Ball Z encyclopedia that fans will find abolutely irresistible. [Christmas 2006, p.66]

Action Trip

The fighting engine is unconventional, but the difficulty is better balanced this time, and eases you in slower.

GamerNode

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is a fighter that will draw fighting fans to its crisp, fast, fighting action and will entertain fans of the Dragon Ball franchise.

Yahoo! Games

Less Dragon-Ballsy gamers may get frustrated, but are encouraged to stick it out as well, until they get the hang of this deep -- albeit slightly convoluted -- fighting feast.

PSM Magazine

Love or hate Dragon Ball, the load times in Tenkaichi 2 will have you seeing red fast. [Holiday 2006, p.82]

GameDaily

Outside of some minor quibbles with the user interface and some obscenely difficult matches, the only real snag is the fact that everything's so heavily based in the Dragon Ball Z mythos, there isn't much here for the non-fan to enjoy.

Games Radar (in-house)

In short, it's pretty much everything you’d expect from Dragon Ball Z, only good.

DailyGame

It's hard to recommend this game to anyone other than the most diehard DBZ fans due to the bad camera angles, repetitive button mashing gameplay and the lack of online multiplayer. I suggest the developers start concentrating on quality over quantity.

Gamer's Hell

If you played the previous game in the series and liked it, then the expanded story mode as well as the number of new characters may be enough to pick up the next installment. If you have not played the original Tenkaichi or did not care for it, the sequel is most certainly not for you.

GameSpot

Burdened by clumsy controls and predictable artificial intelligence, Tenkaichi 2 is a game that can be loved only by forgiving DBZ fans.

Gaming Nexus

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 seems to have everything going for it, but thanks to a questionable control set-up, boring stories and annoying voice acting, it’s hard to recommend this newest fighting game.

Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK

There are new modes and a better camera, but the developer seems to have accidentally flicked the switch to Extreme Difficulty. [Jan 2007, p.81]

Eurogamer

Solid fundamentals, a good selection of modes and a huge cast will no doubt make this top of the must-have list for followers of the series but unless you're ga-ga for Goku, there are definitely better, flashier and more rewarding fighting games out there.

Gaming Age

As it stands, you really only need to play each character once to check out their special moves, say “cool”, and move on. Great license, great production values, and a mediocre fighter, that pretty much sums it up.

Game Revolution

A solid fighting game with some cool looking features. But unless you’re willing to dedicate a significant chunk of your life to understanding and mastering it, you’re likely to get bored fairly quickly.

PSM3 Magazine UK

The problem is that it's just too easy. [Jan 2007, p.83]