Atari wants to try a new experiment. It has great scope, but will not work as given to us in this game.
The gameplay of this game is different from previous budokai games, as those who have played it may already know. It features a third person perspective battles, (behind the back of fighter camera), which brings the video game closer to real DBZ fights. It has a free roaming environment, and you have to lock on to your opponent ( find out where your opponent is and keep your gazed fixed on it). Dont worry, its automatically done by the computer, but this feature brings the game one step more closer to real DBZ fights. Plus, you can fly around the environment endlessly, smash your opponents through hard solid rocks or splash them in water. But unfortunately, this is where the fun part ends. The controls are easy and simple, which is the problem, they are too simple. You press the square to punch and kick, O to dodge, Triangle to fire a ki ball if you press it rapidly and it is also used to do DBZ exclusive super attacks, L1 to lock on, L2 to charge your ki, R1 to fly up or jump, R2 to come down. You can press R3 to taunt or when not locked on, you can press to give a over the shoulder camera perspective. You press the X to dash or dragon dash. O can be used to dodge the attacks by pressing it just at the right time.
Don't read this paragraph if you know the gameplayJJJJ
Sounds simple, but as I said it is too simple. You only have two attack combos per character, only two super attacks, two additional helper moves, and a finishing super attack(main move). While madly punching your opponent , press X before pressing 5 times square to initiate the next combo, and then press X again before pressing the square button five times, to continue on endlessly. This is fun only when you play first few times, after that it gets repetitive. When you do a super attack by pressing L2+T or L2+Up+T, time freezes in the game in which you charge your attack and then boom it on your opponent. Now, they added this new super technique High Power Rush, copying the dragon rush of Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3. You dragon dash at your opponent without your touching the remote ( you cant dodge, stop, move back, change direction or do anything in this, you just pursue your opponent), and then if you meet him,i.e are able to catch him a cutscene ensues in which you madly punch at him. super moves are done in the same fashion.
Problems --- The two 5 hit combos will not satisfy you the least. Time freeze feels unnatural though not poses any problems. The beam struggle is very unresponsive( you only have a slight chance of winning if you start rotating the analog sticks the millisecond the two beams collide and have a ki bar greater than your opponent). You'll soon get bored with the high power rush. The only fun remains is pushing your opponents through the rocks.
Major problems: No in game transformations, a real bummer. Camera angle is unable to cope with your opponent being beneath you, your beam wont even hit him in this.
Overall gameplay 4/10 to be honest, it could have been so much better
Graphics: This is the place where you cannot complain. The anime models are fantastic. The greatly capture the feel and look of the anime. The environments are awesome. The beams and super attacks are again awesome.
Sound: The beam sounds are all from DBZ Budokai 3, so no complains here, but they could have been a little more original.
Problems: The environments are too small, toooo small. you cannot fly endlessly
Game modes: There is not much variety here. Story mode covering all parts of db,dbz,dbgt
with last saga of the dragon missing. Ultimate battle mode in which you battle 100 opponents one by one and tournament mode.
Variety: 5/10; The only thing that varies are the character choices with there own set of melee attacks . It even has oozaaruuuu (omgwtfhappned)
Difficulty: Its only increases difficulty by giving your opponents greater damage power, greater defense, greater health bar..... but even then it loses.
Easy-- you can finish off your opponent with just one long 100 or more hit punch combo, opponent wont dodge. And it wont dodge your super attacks even if it is on the other end of the map.
Medium: You will need to rely on your super attacks now, and it may dodge some.
Hard: It will dodge all your super attacks, no matter the distance, even if he is directly against your head.(mot....fu.. a.i) and numerous glitches of attacks, like your opponent will repeat the same four or three punch combo again and again, make this game more and more predictable. Once you learn it you can defeat broli with hercule.
Overall – 5.5/10
As I said it was only an experimental game. It leaves several scopes on purpose. If you bought this like me, you plainly wasted your money. DBZ BT 2 will definitely be better