Dragon Ball: Origins 2 Hands-On

It has been two years since the original Dragon Ball: Origins came to the Nintendo DS, and given that it was a solid action adventure game for the handheld, it's no surprise that we're seeing a sequel. Dragon Ball: Origins 2 picks up after the first game and continues the Goku and the Red Ribbon Army story arch. The gameplay remains largely the same as in the first game, which isn't a bad thing. During the pre-E3 event in Santa Monica, we got some hands-on time with the sequel and found that it still holds the same charm as the first.

Who's Making This Game: The game is being developed by Game Republic and is blushed by Namco Bandai.

What The Game Looks Like: Dragon Ball: Origins 2 looks and feels very much like the first game, with lush environments and colorful characters. Goku comes with a wide range of goofy expressions to help emphasize his exuberant personality.

What There Is To Do: The game is an action adventure, similar to the Zelda DS games, that is broken down into missions that you can repeat via the menu. The build we played had everything unlocked, so it looks like there will be eight worlds and eight levels within each.

There's also a cooperative multiplayer feature. We weren't able to check it out, but we do know that you can team up with a buddy and go on some wild adventures together.

How The Game Is Played: You can use the stylus or the control pad and face buttons to control Goku. He doesn't start off with his power pole; it somehow got stolen by a monkey while Goku was too busy trying to catch a fish. You can do a combination of light and heavy attacks, as well as aerial attacks, when enemies appear. His Kamehameha move can be activated once you've built up your gauges at the bottom of the screen to unleash his most devastating attack.

You will also be able to play as Krillin, Bulma, Yamcha later in the game and they each have their own abilities and power-ups.

What They Say: Battle alone or with a friend on Goku's continuing quest with engaging controls and a fun mix of fierce fighting, dynamic action, exploration and puzzles!

What We Say: The first Dragon Ball: Origins was a great game on the Nintendo DS, and so far the sequel looks to be sticking to the same formula. The controls feel the same as the previous game and you can pick the most comfortable set up with the option to switch between the stylus and the D pad. The game is targeted at fans who want to follow Dragon Ball lore, but those who are just seeking a fun romp on the go may want to keep a close eye on the game as well. Dragon Ball: Origins 2 is scheduled to be released this summer.