Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2
Developer(s)	Spike
Publisher(s)	Bandai
Composer(s)	Shunsuke Kikuchi Toshiyuki Kishi
Platform(s)	PlayStation 3 Xbox 360
Release date(s)	NA November 2, 2010 (2010-11-02) EU November 5, 2010 (2010-11-05)[1] JP November 11, 2010 (2010-11-11)
Genre(s)	Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Single player Multiplayer Online multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: A ESRB: T PEGI: 12
Media/distribution	Blu-ray Disc DVD

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 (ドラゴンボール レイジングブラスト2, Doragon Bōru Reijingu Burasuto Tsū^?) is a video game based on the manga and anime franchise Dragon Ball and is a follow up to the 2009 video game Dragon Ball: Raging Blast. It was developed by Spike and published by Namco Bandai under the Bandai label for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles in the beginning of November 2010.

The game is a 3D fighter that allows players to play as characters within the Dragon Ball universe, either against the game's AI or another player in one of the various modes of play both on and offline. The game will come with a remake of OVA Saiyan Zetsumetsu Keikaku, now retitled Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans.

While becoming the second best selling game in Japan, the game would meet with mixed criticism over its gameplay, controls, repetitive AI, and lack of proper story mode.

Gameplay

A screenshot of the fighting gameplay. The border around the each character's profile portrait are the health and ki meters. The green bars are health and the yellow bars are ki.

Like its predecessor, Raging Blast 2 uses 3-D gaming mechanics with the camera alternating from over the shoulder to overhead angles at various moments. The player takes on the role of one of the available characters taking on another character from the franchise using various basic, melée, or signature ki fighting techniques.^[2] The combat features a technique called Raging Soul, where players are restricted from ki attacks, but physical attacks become stronger.^[3]

Replacing the standard story mode from previous Dragon Ball fighting games is the Galaxy Mode. Here each character is represented by a planet in the game's galaxy. Within these planets are several mission paths. Each mission has various advantages or handicaps that will affect the overall fight. Completing some of these missions will unlock powerups and or other mission paths.^[3] Other modes of play are the Battle Zone, where player take on fighters from different zones,^[4] on and offline battle modes where players can take on friends or other random players from around the world, and the World Tournament, which players can take part in either Tenkaichi Budokai or Cell games style fighting competition.^[5]

Development

The game was first announced in the May 3 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. The announcement revealed that the game would include up to 90 playable characters in total and improved visuals. Images within the announcement featured several screenshots and production that featured polished character models of Son Goku, Vegeta, and Frieza fighting on Earth and Namek respectively. It was also revealed that the game would be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles later that year.^[6][7] On May 11, Namco Bandai America announced that Raging Blast 2 along with Tenkaichi Tag Team would be released throughout North America sometime in the fall.^[8] The June 14 issue of Weekly Shonen Jump revealed that Dabura and the movie villains Turles and Janemba would be playable characters.^[9] In the July issue of V Jump it was revealed that Future Gohan, Pikkon, and Nail would be playable characters. There also featured a screenshot of Future Gohan in Super Saiyan form fighting #17. Giving the possibility that the storyline from The History of Trunks and Trunks: The Story might be in the game's story mode in some form.^[10]

On July 22, more gameplay screenshots were made public which revealed that the Super Saiyan 3 forms of Vegeta and Broly would be returning.^[11] The following issue of Shonen Jump also confirmed their return.^[12] The August 9 issue of Shonen Jump revealed that the game would include six character that have never been featured within a Dragon Ball game, and that the game would include a remake to the 1993 OVA Saiyan Zetsumetsu Keikaku (サイヤ人絶滅計画, Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku^?, Plan to Eliminate the Saiyans) which would be retitled as Super Saiyan Zetsumetsu Keikaku (超サイヤ人絶滅計画, Sūpā Saiyajin Zetsumetsu Keikaku^?, Plan to Eliminate the Super Saiyans). A feature that was originally a visual strategy guide for the Famicom game by the same name and was in turn, made into two video games for the Playdia. Included were design sheets for both Goku and primary villain Dr. Raichi stating that the remake would use current up to date animation methods and would feature about thirty minutes worth of new footage. It also revealed the Japanese release date for November 11.^[13] Shortly after, Namco Bandai's Japanese branch issued a press release confirming the feature's inclusion into the game.^[14][15] The following day Namco Bandai's North American branch announced that the feature would be included in that region's release of the game as Dragon Ball: Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans.^[16]

At the same time the European branch announced the inclusion of the featurette in their release of the game.^[17] The following issue of Shonen Jump, a few days later, revealed that the villain Hatchiyack would be a playable character within the game.^[18] In September it was reported that that Europe would also get a collector's edition of the game that would include a pop-up cover sleeve, a laser animation cel of Goku from Plan to Eliminate the Super Saiyans, and a set of scratch off card with codes to unlock bonus costumes that would, in turn, add new abilities to specific characters.^[19] In the following September 20 issue of Shonen Jump it was revealed that the Japanese release of the game would come packaged with a color booklette filled with the character design sheets from the Plan to Eradicate the Super Saiyans feature. It was also revealed that the game would feature another CG opening introduction with another new theme song by Jpop vocalist Hironobu Kageyama titled "Battle of Omega".^[20] On October 6, Namco Bandai released an announcement that the game was near completion for both consoles.^[21] The following week, a demo of the game was made available on the Xbox Live Marketplace, and was made available on PlayStation Network two weeks after.^[22][23][24] The November issue of V Jump revealed that Tarble, the character from the feature Yo! Son Goku and His Friends Return!!, would make video game debut as a playable character within the game. Marking the character's first time being marketed outside of Japan.^[25] Shortly after Namco Bandai would also announce that the game would be released throughout North America on November 2.^[26] With the company announcing that the game was in stores after the initial release date.^[27]

Reception

Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 was released in North America on Nov 2, 2010, in Japan on Nov 11, 2010, in Europe on Oct 1, 2010, and in Australia on Nov 4, 2010.^[28] The PS3 version would go on to be the second best selling game for November in Japan, beating out Super Mario Collection Special Pack and Pokémon Black and White.^[29]

Along with its sales, the game received mixed reviews from various gaming critics. Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions earned their own aggregated scores of 60/100^[30] and 57/100^[31] on Metacritic, 60.85%^[32] and 58.52%^[33] on GameRankings, and 7.1^[34] and 6.9^[35] on GameStats. Anthony Gallegos of IGN found the mechanics clunky, the controls too complex, each character's AI to be identical to each other, and the environments to be bland and ugly. He go on to commend the game for managing to copy the aesthetic of the series.^[36] Henry Gilbert of Xbox Magazine felt that players only interested in single player would still a lot to work with. However, he would complain that the story was esoteric to fans and that without a tutorial, new players would not know what they were doing.^[37] Brian Rowe of GameZone felt that the versus modes were the game's real selling points, and that the Power Battle was it highlight. As players could be overpowered with certain characters in battle. In the end his ultimate opinion on the licence was that it need to evolve.^[38] Carolyn Petit of GameSpot that the game was merely an expansion of the Raging Blast, citing that enough for $60. She also pointed that the Raging Soul system made building ki worth while.^[39] Nathan Grayson of GamesRadar complained about the repetitive gameplay, AI, and the awkward camera, but felt that the game was moving the license a small step in the right direction.^[40]

References

1. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 BBFC Certificate". November 2, 2010. http://www.bbfc.co.uk/ADM272552. Retrieved October 28, 2010. 
2. ^ "Battle Screen". Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Instructions. Bandai Namco. November 2, 2010. p. 5. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Petit, Carolyn (November 5, 2010). "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Review, Raging Blast 2's good looks and fan service can't conceal the shallow combat at its heart.". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/dragonballragingblast2/review.html. Retrieved February 9, 2011. 
4. ^ Islam, Zak (November 4, 2010). "PS3 Review – Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2". PlayStation LifeStyle. http://playstationlifestyle.net/2010/11/04/ps3-review-dragon-ball-raging-blast-2/. Retrieved February 9, 2011. "Then there’s the ‘Battle Zone’ mode which has players take on other fighters who are within a specific zone." 
5. ^ "Main Menu". Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Instructions. Bandai Namco. November 2, 2010. p. 4. 
6. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 PS3&XBOX360 同時発売が決定!! 帰って来た Real Battle!! RB2!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 193 & 194. May 3, 2010. 
7. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (May 10, 2010). "Dragon Ball Raging Blast Sequel in Development, Followup features more characters and improved visuals.". IGN. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1088539p1.html. Retrieved May 11, 2010. 
8. ^ "Namco Bandai Games Announces Two Adrenaline Pumping Dragon Ball Z Titles, Duo of hyperkinetic Dragon Ball games blasts onto multiple consoles this Fall". IGN. May 10, 2010. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/108/1088795p1.html. Retrieved May 12, 2010. 
9. ^ "『RB2』に 邪悪戦士 爆来!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 164 & 165. June 14, 2010. 
10. ^ "Custom & Soul!!". V Jump: 50 & 51. july 2010. 
11. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Xbox 360 Images". San Francisco, California: IGN. July 22, 2010. http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/073/073732/imgs_1.html. Retrieved July 23, 2010. 
12. ^ "凶悪なゐ超サイヤ人3 降臨!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 164 & 165. June 26, 2010. 
13. ^ "『RB2』で目撃せよ!! 超サイヤ人絶滅計画!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 25. August 9, 2010. 
14. ^ "『ドラゴンボール』新規描き起こしアニメーション　制作決定!". ValuePress!. August 9, 2010. http://www.value-press.com/pressrelease.php?article_id=62567. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 
15. ^ "Dragon Ball: RB2 Game to Add New 1/2-Hour Anime". Anime News Network. August 9, 2010. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-08-09/dragon-ball/rb2-game-to-add-new-hour-anime. Retrieved August 9, 2010. 
16. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 to Include Exclusive Dragon Ball Anime Episode, Game disc to feature brand new never before seen 30-minute Dragon Ball anime feature.". San Francisco, California: IGN. August 10, 2010. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/111/1111448p1.html. Retrieved August 10, 2010. 
17. ^ "'Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2' to include exclusive Dragon Ball anime episode". Namco Bandai, UK. August 10, 2010. http://www.uk.namcobandaigames.eu/news/2010/08/10/dragon-ball-raging-blast-2-to-include-exclusive-dragon-ball-anime-episode/806. Retrieved August 11, 2010. 
18. ^ "まさかの男が『RB2』へ!! サイヤ人の天敵ハッチヒャック急襲!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 25. August 23, 2010. 
19. ^ Rainier (September 15, 2010). "'Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2' (ALL) Gets A Collector's Edition". Worth Playing. http://worthplaying.com/article/2010/9/15/news/76938/. Retrieved September 23, 2010. 
20. ^ "宇宙に響け!! 激闘のシヤウト!!". Weekly Shonen Jump: 12. September 20, 2010. 
21. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Has Gone Gold, New Dragon Ball game is almost here.". IGN. October 6, 2010. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/112/1126012p1.html. Retrieved October 16, 2010. 
22. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Xbox 360 Demo Available on Xbox Live Marketplace Today, Get an early taste of the newest Dragon Ball game.". IGN. October 14, 2010. http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/112/1128107p1.html. Retrieved October 16, 2010. 
23. ^ Chen, Grace (October 26, 2010). "PlayStation Store Update". Playstation Store. http://blog.us.playstation.com/2010/10/26/playstation-store-update-162/. Retrieved October 27, 2010. 
24. ^ Miller, Greg. "This Week on PSN (10.26.10)". IGN. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1130553p1.html. Retrieved October 27, 2010. 
25. ^ "最後のサイヤ人戦士襲来!!". V Jump: 111. November 2010. 
26. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 PS3 Demo Available on PSN, Get some more Goku in your life.". IGN. October 27, 2010. http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1130847p1.html. Retrieved October 28, 2010. 
27. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Powers into Stores Today, Are you down with DBZ?". IGN. November 3, 2010. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/113/1132289p1.html. Retrieved November 4, 2010. 
28. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2". Gamespot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/action/dragonballragingblast2/similar.html?mode=versions. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
29. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (November 18, 2010). "Japanese Wii Sales Surge Following Mario Anniversary Wii, System driven by Mario and Wiimote Plus. PSP's Tactics Ogre tops the charts.". IGN. http://ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1135506p1.html. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 
30. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 for PlayStation 3 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-3/dragon-ball-raging-blast-2. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
31. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 for Xbox 360 Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-360/dragon-ball-raging-blast-2. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
32. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 for PlayStation 3". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/ps3/996389-dragon-ball-raging-blast-2/index.html. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
33. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 for Xbox 360". GameRankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/996390-dragon-ball-raging-blast-2/index.html. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
34. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Cheats, Reviews, News (PlayStation 3)". GameStats. http://www.gamestats.com/objects/073/073729/. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
35. ^ "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Cheats, Reviews, News (Xbox 360)". GameStats. http://www.gamestats.com/objects/073/073732/index.html. Retrieved September 3, 2011. 
36. ^ Gallegos, Anthony (November 2, 2010). "Dragon Ball Raging Blast 2 Review, Is this a fighting game for everyone, or just for the die-hard fans?". IGN. http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/113/1131658p1.html. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 
37. ^ Gilbert, Henry (November 3, 2010). "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 review". Official Xbox Magazine. http://www.oxmonline.com/dragon-ball-raging-blast-2-review. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 
38. ^ Rowe, Brian (November 16, 2010). "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 review". GameZone. http://xbox.gamezone.com/reviews/item/dragon_ball_raging_blast_2_review. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 
39. ^ Petit, Carolyn (November 5, 2010). "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 Review, Raging Blast 2's good looks and fan service can't conceal the shallow combat at its heart.". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/xbox360/action/dragonballragingblast2/review.html. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 
40. ^ Grayson, Nathan (November 2, 2010). "Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 review, Hardly what we'd call a blast". GamesRadar. http://www.gamesradar.com/dragon-ball-raging-blast-2-review-10/. Retrieved September 4, 2011. 

External links

	Anime and manga portal
	Video games portal

• Official website (Japanese)