Few fighting games hold as much anticipation as those bearing the Dragon Ball Z name. Before the first Budokai, before the first DBZ landed on U.S. shores, fans were salivating for a video-game experience that captured the essence of one of the world's most popular anime series. Spawning several manga and movie sequels, Dragon Ball Z was like a soap opera for gamers: a ton of action, a little love, and a cast that died frequently but was never too dead to come back to life.

Budokai Tenkaichi 2 pushes the series forward another chapter, cramming dozens of playable characters into one Super-Saiyan package. DBZ fans will be enthralled by the aerial battles, engrossed by their addictive nature, and enthused by the rich and anime-inspired cel-shaded graphics.

What's The Story Budokai Glory?

By now the whole world knows the many sagas of Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball GT. But just incase you don't belong to the "whole world" group, or have longed to relive the journey in a more interactive way, Budokai Tenkaichi 2 includes a story mode that redistributes the Z-sagas in a more compact form. Starting with the day Radditz arrives (that old has-been claimed he was all-powerful, but couldn't even survive the first 10 episodes!), players will get to experience the first time Goku and Piccolo encountered Vegeta, Frieza, the heartless androids, Majin Buu, and dozens more.

The story is presented like a Final Fantasy RPG, complete with a 3D world map and story sequences leading up to every battle. Movie scenes are done in real-time. All of the fighting scenes are conducted by the player as an actual battle. Characters are voiced, and their dialogue sounds very close to the quality DBZ fans are used to. (I'm guessing the voice-overs were taken directly from the show, but couldn't say for certain.)

The success of each battle determines whether or not the story moves forward. In most cases that means you have to win, but there are circumstances where staying alive is all that's necessary. Losing is rarely an option, but if you know DBZ well, you already know that there isn't always a choice.

However, if the story calls for something to happen, it doesn't matter if you win or lose. The story will still proceed as necessary. For example, if you succeed at a multi-character battle with just one character, the game won't acknowledge this fact and change the story. The warriors that were supposed to be lost will still be killed off.

But don't shed a tear – this is DBZ, the anime and now video-game series where no one ever really dies.

High-Flying Fantasy

These warriors are not bound by the limitations of gravity. As such, their controls were designed to reflect that of a third-person action/flyer. You don't jump over opponents' attacks, or jump in for a kicking combo – you fly away or fly right into your enemy. Teleportation occurs the instant it's been triggered, transporting your character behind the opponent for a continuation, or an introduction, to a long and fruitful combo.

The aerial gameplay style gives players freedom that, somewhat surprisingly, still cannot be found anywhere except the Budokai series. Dash sideways to evade a life-shattering, unblockable charge attack. Zip backwards to create distance between you and your opponent. Take this opportunity to form your own charge attack, to launch a few projectiles, or just to take a breather after being beaten relentlessly. Charge forward for hard-hitting attacks and combo catalysts, or just to intimidate.

Each of these tactics – along with flying several feet into the air and several feet under water – can be mixed and matched for a near endless collection of fighting strategies. You'll begin to form strategies within the first 30 minutes of play, likely without even realizing it. There are dozens of ways of dealing with every move your opponent makes. Combos can be dished out evenly, causing each fighter to attack at precisely the right moment in what becomes a brief war of button-mashing. Charge attacks (and other projectiles that take a while to execute) may be halted by an opponent who strikes before the move is complete.

Taunts may also be issued, but I've never been a fan of such a tactic. It might be good to use against friends who have never played the game before – a way to encourage their diligence and make them play until they win, thus creating new challengers that, had they not been taunted, may have walked away after one loss. But to taunt an experienced player is to put your foot in your mouth. It might be a way to flaunt your superiority, or it might end up being the small amount of leverage your opponent needed to get the upper hand.

The animations are really something. Every move looks like it was taken right from the show. Whether it's a fighter's stance, angle, or charge to execute transition – even if you're only a casual DBZ fan, you're going to recognize these attacks.

Projectiles span great lengths, as do the battles themselves, which take place over areas several times the size of the arenas found in other games. Tekken, Soul Calibur, Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat – I've played and love them all, but their stages are like ants compared to DBZ's giants.

Wear and tear starts to show on each warrior as they start to reach the end of their life meter. Scrapes and small cuts cover the one who is injured. Small bits of clothing may also be torn, but you might not notice with all the excitement going on.

The only area where Budokai Tenkaichi doesn't deliver (other than it being somewhat of a rehash) is the slightly jerky presentation. Players are asked whether or not they want to save after every battle. Those brief stops – along with short but frequent load times – slow down what is typically, and should always be, a fast and DBZ-worthy experience.

The AI isn't too smart either, with opponents who take repeated hits from behind (where damage is most prevalent). I also would have liked more attacks. I feel that way about every fighting game, but if you're a DBZ fan coming from a world of Tekken or Mortal Kombat, you might be a little disappointed by this game's selection. BT2 contains more playable fighters than the competition, and its move list is pretty impressive. But individually, Tekken, MK, and Soul Calibur's fighters have more depth.

Other than that, DBZ fans can't go wrong with this epic – a fighting game with several weeks worth of characters, moves, and attack styles to master.

Gameplay: 7.9
Fast, hard-hitting, in-your-face combos and special attacks. Players will delve deep into the DBZ experience. All the great characters are here in playable form and feature several moves that are nearly identical to those performed on the show.

Graphics: 8.6
Excellent cel-shaded visuals that do more than honor the original anime – their three-dimensional depth, attack fluidity and overall detail are superior to anything you’ll see in the TV series. The backgrounds aren’t without flaw, but most of what you’ll see is at the very least impressive.

Sound: 7.9
Classic DBZ tunes, a few I didn’t recognize, and voice acting that matches the quality of the show.

Difficulty: Easy/Medium
With some enemies that are cheap, some that are pushovers, and some that aren’t worth mentioning (he turned his back on me!? Why!?), Budokai Tenkaichi is not a game that’ll challenge most hardcore players.

Concept: 7.7
A great fighting experience that’s already been experienced. BT2 adds a few elements, like items/equipment and tag battles. But the general idea was already invented with the first game.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Budokai Tenkaichi 2’s multiplayer combat fulfills the requirements of the three As – it’s awesome, amazing, and supremely addictive.

Overall: 8.1
Budokai Tenkaichi 2 isn’t the most perfect fighter, but that doesn’t ruin its fun. The game was built for DBZ enthusiasts, but anyone who loves a great fighter will get into this high-flying, non-stop experience. The two-player battles ensure a very long lifespan for this fighter, making it worth the purchase even if you have no desire to play through another story mode.