Why no love for Budokai 2/Budokai 3 prototype?

[Black_Anime_Fan]

I think it's safe to say that even though Budokai 2 was a good game, it was just sort of....there, as some sort of placeholder for the next big thing. Ever since Budokai 3 was released it seemed like Budokai 2 might as well not have existed, but why is that? Budokai 1 didn't fall victim to this problem, and as far as gameplay goes it was pretty much identical to Budokai 2, and in some ways I thought Budokai 2 was the preferable game. Not only did Budokai 2 bring in cel-shaded graphics (which looked much better than the models used in Budokai 1 in my opinion), but it also brought in those sweet cutscenes that play during ultimate attacks. Remember that gigantic explosion from Vegeta's big bang attack in Budokai 3? Well that all started in Budokai 2. In fact, besides the gameplay mechanics and storymode, didn't Budokai 2 feel a lot like 3? It's as if Budokai 2 was used as a prototype, and both games even used the same character drawings too. That's how I view it, what are your thoughts?

[90sDBZ]

I've always loved Budokai 2 and from what I've seen online a lot of people were disappointed that it was excluded from the HD Collection. I've never thought of it as a Budokai 3 prototype and consider it a great game in its own right. It was a great game for several reasons:

-It introduced the cell-shaded graphics that all the Dimps/Spike games have used ever since.
-It introduced the Buu saga and Fusion to the Budokai series and was the first game in the series to include all of Z.
-The What-if Fusions and Absorptions were great. Way better than stupid SS3 Broly and the uninspired character designs from UT.
-The story mode was really fun and unique. Frieza and Cell coming back, getting possessed by Babidi getting absorbed by Buu and then returning for the epic showdown on Stage 9 with Kid Buu was great. And it was fun choosing different allies to see which good guys would interact with certain villains. For example Gohan vs Kid Buu. And there were other cool things like luring Vegeta onto the same spot as Fat Buu on Stage 6 so he'd blow himself up and you wouldn't need to fight him.
-Like all the other Dimps games, the music was awesome.
-Babidi's spaceship was a fun bonus.
-It had replay value. Unlocking all characters required you to play through Story differently each time.

[Black_Anime_Fan]

I agree 100% with your post. I was one of those disappointed that Budokai 2 never made it on the HD re-release, and I'm still angry to this day at BN for how bad they screwed it up. Just terrible.

[Xeogran]

I don't mind no HD Collection re-release. Atleast I don't have to suffer seeing a game I love with misplaced BGMs which don't fit the atmosphere.
The whole collection is lazily done to begin with.

[theoriginalbilis]

I had a good amount of fun with it. I still think the graphics and music are great. I still own it, even though I no longer have a PS2.

[Naruto6583]

Well compared to 1 and 3 it probably would've have been a bigger hassle to replace the bgm compared to the other two. Plus it would've required a much more original composed ost something Bandai wasn't going to put any effort into

[Hellspawn28]

I was a member of many Dragon Ball message boards when Budokai 2 came out. Budokai 2 was my second PS2 game, so I have nostalgia for it. I do remember people having very mixed feelings for the game back in 2003-2004. I remember things that people hated the most about the game was:

1. The story mode. Budokai 1 had a awesome story mode and I remember a lot of people hated the story mode in Budokai 2. I think most fans like a story mode that follows the show and manga over something different. Any events that follow the series in the story mode feels in Budokai 2 so incredibly compressed. Not to mention it got old pretty fast too since you fight against Cell and Freeza so many times. Also the story mode does not make any sense sometimes like, how did Cell and Freeza came back on the final stage? What happen to Vegito after he defeated Buuhan? Why did Babidi mind control Vegeta when he has Cell and Freeza? Majin Cell on his own would be good enough to help Babidi release Buu. The story mode also seems like that Goku defeated everyone when the story mode gives you the choice to defeated any villain you want with any character.

2. The game cut out characters from the 1st game like Cell's first two forms, Freeza's other forms, Kid Gohan, #19, Zarbon and Dodoria. Just having Cell's and Freeza's final forms feel lazy. Just having Teen Gohan feels pointless too since you can't use him in the story mode.

3. Blowing up the stages in Budokai 1 was awesome and Budokai 2 didn't have that feature. I remember people were looking forward to seeing that feature again and we didn't have it.

4. The fighting combat didn't have much improvements over the first game. I remember people bitch about how slow the game was compare to Budokai 1.

I think Budokai 1 was added into the collection because in 2012, it was the 10th anniversary of the franchise. Budokai 1 doing so well is the reason why we have DBZ games still being made today. I highly doubt we would get DBZ games today if Budokai 1 bombed back in 2002. Budokai 2 in my opinion has nothing going for it other then the fantasy fusions and forms.

[Saimaroimaru]

Budokai 2 is my favorite dbz game still, along with BT3.

For me:

1) The fantasy fusions and absorptions.

2) The story mode, seeing as so many games afterwards try to follow the story to a tee and fail(to the point that many are tired of it) the story mode looking back is a fresh breath. Take with it that there were what-if interactions that were rendered in the story mode that depended on if you won or lost and against who. (Cell w/Frieza interaction with Goku or Gotenks), Buu w Gotenks anger if you win against him with Gohan.

3) Mini-games, the Badidi's spaceship mini-games were interesting. Infact that is something that should bring back and create online leader boards for.

I think in general all DBZ game developers should look to the Budokai franchise as a guide or source of inspiration. Now a game combining what made each Budokai game great into one game would be gold.