Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Dec 4, 2003
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 121
  3. Negative: 11 out of 121
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  1. neojotic
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    Same as the first game decent fighter and fun to play

    Cool graphics and can be a bit more difficult than the first at times
  2. ChesterField
    May 6, 2020
    8
    Good fighting game for ps2 with a change in his art style making it more cartoon than the previous one. This new ´parchis´ story mode is not bad too. Very nice.
  3. Rubiales
    Apr 17, 2020
    7
    This is the first Dragon Ball game that i played and it was funny and entertaining, with some changes from the anime like Buu absorbing Freezer or Cell.
  4. falsetokaiba
    May 19, 2019
    7
    An overall pretty decent game. I'll break my review down just to look at a few major areas:
    -General Gameplay: Simple but pretty fun. Simplification in activating some special attacks compared to Budokai 1 which makes using some moves easier, so you'll get to use all your favourites from the show. Also new interactive elements in fighting including button combos to power up certain moves    An overall pretty decent game. I'll break my review down just to look at a few major areas:
    -General Gameplay: Simple but pretty fun. Simplification in activating some special attacks compared to Budokai 1 which makes using some moves easier, so you'll get to use all your favourites from the show. Also new interactive elements in fighting including button combos to power up certain moves makes the gameplay more engaging. Overall it's a solid Mortal Kombat-esque fighting game of its time.
    -Graphics/Audio: BIG improvement on the plastic-looking Budokai 1 character models, with cel-shaded graphics making them look way better. The use of Finnish band Stratovarius' music for the soundtrack without consent may have made the gamemakers infamous, but the songs are pretty good :) Also all releases for an anglophone audience feature the voices of the cast from the Funimation dub of the show, which is a great improvement for fans.
    -Story Mode: Probably the best remembered feature of this game, it's quirky and generally divisive. The story mode is set up like a board game where you move your characters around as pieces on the board, collecting power-ups and battling opponents. A disproportianate amount of the story mode focuses on the Buu Saga, and they play it pretty fast and loose with the story from the actual TV show/manga, which is a bit of a disappointment. Some bits aren't especially self-explanatory either, e.g. collection of the Dragon Balls, which I had no idea how to do as a kid playing it. But it's still fairly fun anyway, and has quite a lot of replay value as you'll need to complete it several times to unlock everything- different characters, moves and extras are unlocked by fulfilling specific scenarios and beating certain villains with certain heroes, and some can only be unlocked with wishes with the Dragon Balls.
    -Other Modes: What you'd expect. There's a versus mode where you can battle other players or the computer, likewise on World Tournament mode. Some extras can be unlocked here too. There's also a Capsule Shop like on Budokai 1 where you can buy capsules containing attacks, transformations and items for characters (money can be found in Story Mode or won at the World Tournament.) There's also a tutorial/practice mode, and a hidden mode called Babidi's Spaceship which you can get from Shenron, and which also is needed to unlock some extras.
    -Character Roster: 29 characters which is pretty good. Disappointingly some characters like Android 19, Kid Gohan and Zarbon don't return from Budokai 1, and Cell and Frieza don't have any of their early forms. But on the other hand there's plenty from the Buu Saga, including all of Buu's forms and new fusion characters. A lot of the character moves are admittedly fairly generic, but most have at least some unique or signature moves to keep it a bit more true to the show rather than just another beat-em-up.
    Overall, if you want a game that stays very true to the DBZ story or dislike games where you need to go off-topic to collect extras along the way, this game will probably disappoint you, but in general it's a fun fighting game with plenty for the fans on top.    … Expand
  5. Chris1
    Jun 22, 2015
    7
    In my opinion this game is better then the first one. I know dargonworld is kinda stupid. But it had the boo saga which Budokai 1 didn't had. It also has more Characters and better Gameplay. But the Graphics even for 2004 it looks weird and strange also how i already mentiont the story mode sucks
  6. mewkid1234
    Nov 8, 2013
    1
    I love DBZ, really...I'm a huge DBZ fan. But..seriously. WHAT THE HECK WAS AKIRA THINKING?! The controls are good...but not near perfect. The gameplay and story is horrible. The graphics....suck....butt....I mean...I'm a 2008-era child, but this was a horrible game all in all. I mean...2008-era people are supposed to be all about great graphics and other things.But, this game has it's nameI love DBZ, really...I'm a huge DBZ fan. But..seriously. WHAT THE HECK WAS AKIRA THINKING?! The controls are good...but not near perfect. The gameplay and story is horrible. The graphics....suck....butt....I mean...I'm a 2008-era child, but this was a horrible game all in all. I mean...2008-era people are supposed to be all about great graphics and other things.But, this game has it's name in dirt. Even the first one sucked. Seriously, wanna play a good DBZ game..there are 2 (in my opinion): DBZ Devolution and DBZ Battle of Z. Just saying, you might want this game to die in the dirt later on. Overall, I give this game a 2.5.… Expand
  7. MrSonicFan
    Aug 29, 2013
    6
    While this game is a MASSIVE improvement over it's predecessor, there is really no reason to play this game since we have its sequel, Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, Which is overall a much better game. there is no reason to come back to this game. At least the original had a story mode that is worth playing through. This game really has nothing special to offer. And that was most likely why itWhile this game is a MASSIVE improvement over it's predecessor, there is really no reason to play this game since we have its sequel, Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, Which is overall a much better game. there is no reason to come back to this game. At least the original had a story mode that is worth playing through. This game really has nothing special to offer. And that was most likely why it was not in the Budokai HD Collection. It's a perfectly fine game. Just nothing special.… Expand
  8. Watermelon789
    Jul 11, 2011
    6
    If it wasn't by the weird and not right board, maybe it hit the 8 score. It gets to irritating moving little by little every time, is very desperate and gets tired. I applaud the visuals looks nice and gives a fresh feeling to the adventure.
  9. TheQuietGamer
    Mar 7, 2011
    9
    This was a huge improvement over the first one, with more characters and special moves, great graphics and sound, great controls, and a fantastic story mode and multiplayer and tournament modes, cool ways to customize your character and fantastic environments to fight in, make this a game that's easy to learn but difficult to master, add high re-play value, and you've got yourself aThis was a huge improvement over the first one, with more characters and special moves, great graphics and sound, great controls, and a fantastic story mode and multiplayer and tournament modes, cool ways to customize your character and fantastic environments to fight in, make this a game that's easy to learn but difficult to master, add high re-play value, and you've got yourself a fighter that will keep you entertained for many hours still today.… Expand
  10. NightmareVegetaKingVegeta
    Aug 3, 2005
    10
    This game is so good, but the first one was more interesting, the best thing that added in this part B2 is the new characters. So That would be great to have this one also in your collection of DBZ Games Fun.......I give 10 Because I love DBZ.
  11. DragonKnightofFinalFantasy
    Nov 28, 2004
    5
    Ugghhh is this Budokai 2 or Budokai 1.6? I say 1.6 because it does have some new stuff most of it is new characters,the new graphics, and the new Dragon Board which is crap it should've stuck with the Story mode give us the Majin Buu saga or somthing. Geez this is a good game if you haven't played Budokai 1 but otherwise just but Budokai 3.
  12. ForrestM.
    Aug 15, 2004
    10
    This game is good becuse you can be all tree forms of buu and gotanks.
  13. MamaP.
    Jul 4, 2004
    8
    I love gameplay but the graphics can do better.
  14. ArianH.
    Mar 27, 2004
    9
    I like this game alot its fun has better graphics. the story mode should be better but if they played the sayian saga though cell in budokai 2 like budokai it would be dull. its still a good game i give it a 9.
  15. TysonB.
    Feb 12, 2004
    5
    Better than the first Dragonball z Budokai. I still very happy that this still is the best in the series.
  16. GeorgeH.
    Jan 26, 2004
    9
    I liked the graphics, but i thought the mode where you fight Buu and all them was totally easy. I like the fusing part and turning super saiyan 3 alot with Goku.
  17. MattR.
    Jan 23, 2004
    10
    This game rocks!. the special attacks have improved, the graphics have improved and the line has improved greatly. The Dragon world mode, although it may have some awkward twists, rocks!
  18. StevenI.
    Jan 17, 2004
    9
    I love this game mode was bad and you cauld of made it better budokai was a better story mode but other than that this game is awsome.
  19. Dude
    Jan 14, 2004
    10
    I lovd this game! Me and my friend played it for 10 hours!! My customized Gohan rocks!!!
  20. Gokuson
    Jan 11, 2004
    10
    This game is the f.....n best. i could'nt stop playing.
  21. AtteK.
    Jan 2, 2004
    10
    An awesome nation building game set in the 19th - early 20th century and by a company with an outstanding support and patching record.
  22. JeffreyC.
    Jan 1, 2004
    10
    This game is by far the best DBZ game ever made.The graphics,gameplay,and characters make the game awsome.The only flaw you will find is the stroy line.Even though it goes way out of hand i still think the game is awesome. I give it a 10.
  23. RonaldD.
    Dec 20, 2003
    10
    If it was possible i would give it a 15 for graphics
  24. MaxR.
    Dec 19, 2003
    10
    It's a great game with good detial on the finishing moves but could use some work on the player graphics.
  25. MaxR.
    Dec 19, 2003
    10
    It's a great game with good detial on the finishing moves but could use some work on the player graphics.
  26. JamesR.
    Dec 18, 2003
    10
    This game is GREAT! Way better than the last one, and you can do more stuff. The story may be off but so what the game kicks ass!
  27. DBZfan
    Dec 16, 2003
    0
    Game sucks. no way around it.
  28. [Anonymous]
    Dec 14, 2003
    10
    It is so great.
  29. Thefanatic
    Dec 12, 2003
    10
    This game rocks and Siew Wai t. can lick my nuts with his sorry a** SNES games.
  30. Gogeta
    Dec 12, 2003
    10
    This is the best dbz game i have seen up to date this game is awesome and it has astonishing graphics, and it loads 4 times faster than the first one. True fans must buy this game not for its fighting engine and extreme details but for fan memorabilia.
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Awards & Rankings

31
#31 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 28
  3. Negative: 1 out of 28
  1. GamePro
    60
    Its uninspired controls, lack of character diversity, and the absence of a story mode make this only a marginally entertaining video game.
    Read full review
  2. Next Level Gaming
    89
    Worlds above what the first game was, with the greatly improved graphics (beautiful Cel-Shaded graphics)and game modes.
    Read full review
  3. Play Magazine
    42
    Takes the shallow one-on-one fighting action of its predecessor and repackages it with essentially no noteworthy enhancements to the fighting engine or visuals... Disappointing. [Dec 2003, p.82]
See all critic reviews »