"A considerably enjoyable Dragon Ball Z title."

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 lets players fight in 16 diverse environments using over 120 characters from the series, boasting one of the largest character lists ever in a fighting game. It also spans a 60 hour storyline right from the series itself, although the game's story is realistically shorter than this. The Wii control scheme lets players re-create their favourite moves from the series, as well.

Graphics: 86%
For a cel-shaded graphics game, Dragon Ball Z pays some pretty close attention to its graphical design. While not the best, it's still visibly great, and it's most probably the closest thing you'll get to the show, which is great if you're a real big fan (like me). Environments can be shattered if you send your opponents flying into them, which looks pretty cool, and attacks from the show look brilliant, notably attacks like the Kamehameha and Spirit Bomb. It's a nicely crafted game in terms of visuals, with characters looking just like you'd expect them to, and that's what Dragon Ball Z games are sometimes noted for; recreating the characters to almost perfection.

Sound: 78%
The sound in DBZ:BT2 isn't too bad, however the background music can feel like it isn't even there at times. On top of that, there isn't too many tracks to roll with the environments. To counteract this negative, the sounds that come from the characters are genuinely authentic (from Vegeta's voice to the sound of Goku's Kamehameha) which makes for some great fighting, as it allows players to feel closer to the characters and the battle. That said, you'll probably be focusing more on the battle's sounds than anything in the background, even though you should probably stop and appreciate the semi-noticeable music tracks.

Gameplay: 87%
While no two battles are the same, the game can admittedly become slightly repetitive at times. This is probably the only downside, however, as battles become more rampant and destructive as you progress through the story mode, unlocking characters from the series and equips for characters to make them more buff than they already are. Fighting your friends can become extremely competitive if you're playing 5 on 5, which can be a positive or a negative depending on players. Generally the game does get harder as you progress, and some battles are very difficult, encouraging you to improve your DBZ skills as you overcome your opponent. Flying around the map in the story mode is easy and you'll soon find yourself immersed in the story of DBZ after a few simple battles in the Saiyan Saga.

Controls: 90%
The controls for DBZ:BT2 on Wii really take advantage of the motion-sensing and 3-axis. Players use the A and B buttons for combos, or B on its own to shoot a Ki Blast. Moving the Nunchuk up and down while holding C allows for up and down movement, and thrusting it forward allows the player to dash toward their opponent. But the best part of the game is using special moves using the special move buttons - when you want to do that Kamehameha, you pull your hands back and charge up a beam, then let it loose. Spirit Bomb required? Move the cursor up off the screen and bring it back down to unleash the fury. For rush attacks, The motion-sensing is done very well, and the fun you get from blasting your opponents with that immense blast of energy is unrivalled. Here's hoping the scheme is further bettered in DBZ:BT3.

Replay Factor: 86%
You can keep playing DBZ:BT2 over and over again to improve your skills, but it's definitely the multiplayer that will keep you coming back to the game. With friends, it becomes extremely competitive, which is entertaining if you have 2 Wii Remotes and Nunchuks to spare. It's a very entertaining game, especially when it comes to blasting your friends (or enemies) with a simple wave of the Wii Remote or Nunchuk; simply put, the replay factor increases with the more friends you have to play it with.

Final Score
8/10

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is a true fighting game which will have you entertained for the length of the storyline. Even after you complete the main story and unlock all the characters, you will still be able to draw fun from competing against your friends or foes, whatever the case may be. The control scheme is easy to pick up and challenging to master; always a nice aspect of a control scheme. The music is average, but the sound effects compensate for this and the visuals are nice to go along with that. Overall the game is nicely crafted, and fun in the majority of instances. Here's to hoping that the game's quality on Wii is further made better with the release of the third instalment.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/17/07

Game Release: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 (AU, 04/06/07)