We got our first look at Dragon Ball Z: Sagas two months ago, when Atari unveiled the latest branch in its burgeoning DBZ games franchise. The game takes the series in a new and natural direction that presents a smarter use of the rich story that is the backbone of the popular long-running anime. We recently had a chance to take exclusive looks at work-in-progress incarnations of the three console versions of the game, developed by veteran studio Avalanche Software, to see how they've shaped up. While the versions weren't as polished as the recently announced final gold copies, they did give us a good feel for where the latest DBZ iteration is headed.

The Dragon Ball Z franchise gets a proper action adventure in the upcoming Sagas.

As with Atari's recent games based on Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas draws liberally on the anime's rich lore. For those unfamiliar with the long-running 'toon, the Dragon Ball series revolves around the defense of Earth by powerful superbeings. The anime series has gone through a hefty number of story arcs that have both spanned decades and featured an ever-growing cast of eccentric characters. Dragon Ball Z: Sagas' narrative focuses on two of the very first story arcs in the series (arguably the most beloved by that chunk of fans whose first exposure to the series was with these arcs): the Saiyan and Cell Game Sagas. The two adventures comprise what is essentially the kick off to the massive DBZ storyline that continues to this day. However, unlike the popular Budokai games, which have basically been one-on-one 3D fighters with heavy emphases on story, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas is a proper action game with some "lite" role-playing game elements that give it a good deal more depth than the fighters we've seen previously. You'll still find a good helping of those elements that have been part of the DBZ renaissance in gaming, such as over-the-top combat and anime cutscenes with authentic voices, but this time out, you'll find yourself venturing through a 3D world.

You'll find one basic game mode and two supplemental modes to try out in Dragon Ball Z: Sagas. The saga mode is the one- or two-player story mode that will send you on an adventure through the two story arcs we've mentioned. The tutorial mode is a brief, interactive primer on the basics of the game that will familiarize you with the control mechanics. The pendulum mode is an unlockable mode that will let you face off against all manner of foes. Speaking of unlockable content, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas also features an extras mode that will contain a slew of content you'll open up as you play through the main game.

The sagas mode is a linear, objective-based run through 19 levels that will span the two story arcs we mentioned. You'll play as one of five characters from the series--Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Trunks--as you go through key points in the stories. Two-player support is included, so you can choose to adventure with a friend if you'd like. Each level will be introduced by an animated segment taken straight from the 'toon or created specifically for the game, which will set up the action. The story-driven focus will determine which of the characters you'll play as on a given level. So, for example, you'll start out as Goku. But once he gets sent to Otherworld (a cloudy afterlife that's big on dragons), you'll find yourself playing as his son, Gohan. Your objectives in each level will vary depending on the particular portion of the story you're going through. So, for example, when you start playing as Goku, your goals are to collect some needed items, upgrade Goku's abilities, reach his kidnapped son, and face off against Raditz. When you play as Gohan, your "to-do list" will include similar chores, but it will add in the necessary task of collecting the mystical dragon balls to revive your recently deceased papa. At the end of each level, you'll be treated to a stat screen that will tally what went on, such as your attacks and items collected.

Sagas' fighting controls are pretty easy to pick up after a few minutes.

The game mechanics are accessible and should be a piece of cake to pick up for just about anyone. The core controls are a basic but functional assortment of moves that will grow over the course of play. You'll move your character with the analog stick. You'll have access to a punch, kick, jump, and ki blast. The left trigger will let you lock on to foes and focus your attacks on them, as well as keep your movement centered around them while they're locked, allowing you to quickly dodge their attacks or dash at them. The right trigger will let you fill up your ki meter, the energy source for the blasts you can fire, when you hold it and the jump button down. You can also perform moves seen in the anime, such as flying. This can be handled by pressing the jump button twice and unleashing mighty combo and ki attacks, although the latter will have to be unlocked when you upgrade your character by using the coins you'll collect over the course of your adventure.

The collectibles in the game are a basic assortment of four items. The two most important items are Z coins and senzu beans. Z coins are what you'll use to upgrade your character's abilities, while senzu beans will act as extra lives, allowing you to both regain full health after a defeat and continue your game from that point. The other two collectibles, red and yellow capsules, offer a longer-term benefit...if you can find enough of them. You'll find both types of capsules strewn throughout the levels you'll explore, and you can collect them, of course. Red capsules will restore a measure of health, while yellow ones will refill your ki a bit. However, if you manage to collect 10 of either, you'll gain a permanent increase in health or ki, which comes in handy as the action heats up.