"Sparking! NEO" (PS2/Wii)

ngnikolaos · Post by **ngnikolaos** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:22 am

Steven Perry wrote:How dare you! You should be banned! After hearing that, I had the worst experience in the whole year!

(evil grin) Yeah. Aren't I a stinker?

Conan the SSJ · Post by **Conan the SSJ** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:26 am

6 pages into this thread, I'm making my first post on it. All I can say is... Oi!

Yet another Ps2 DBZ game coming out this year (yes, I will be ignoring the Revolution release completely as I don't plan on getting that system), I guess I should be thrilled to my knees, but the truth is ... I'm tired out. The Ps2 games won't stop, and while I will buy this game to keep my collection as perfect as possible, I'll do it with minor restraints. I mean seriously, how many times can Atari and Japan game developers like SPIKE keep doing the same story in an interesting way over and over (and you know there'll be a story mode). I mean, at this point all I can hope for is a cross between Budokai's cut-scenes style and Budokai 3's Dragon Universe style of "world traveling, leveling-up, interacting, etc." Considering this is a release from SPIKE though, I have my doubts they'll go Dimps' route with an RPG-esque Fighting story mode seeing as they go with their own unique game engine.

Well, I guess this'll make the 7th DBZ Ps2 game released here in North America. Nice number I suppose, but damn, looking back on such threads I started as the "Have Ps2 games been overdone?", I wonder if I was right. I'm more than happy to get Super DragonBall Z because it's looking to be a great fighter game with new game-play, colors springing from the manga, and other fun treats, however Sparking NEO ... or Budokai Tenkaichi 2? I dunno, just doesn't have me quite as excited as the first 3 Budokais or Super DBZ does. Well, maybe I'll love the game when I buy it, who knows. Hopefully SPIKE learned more than enough from their many mistakes to give us a game that can surpass even Budokai 3. Here's hoping, but here's also doubting.

DB_Fan · Post by **DB_Fan** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:53 am

Conan the SSJ wrote:6 pages into this thread, I'm making my first post on it. All I can say is... Oi!

Yet another Ps2 DBZ game coming out this year (yes, I will be ignoring the Revolution release completely as I don't plan on getting that system), I guess I should be thrilled to my knees, but the truth is ... I'm tired out. The Ps2 games won't stop, and while I will buy this game to keep my collection as perfect as possible, I'll do it with minor restraints. I mean seriously, how many times can Atari and Japan game developers like SPIKE keep doing the same story in an interesting way over and over (and you know there'll be a story mode). I mean, at this point all I can hope for is a cross between Budokai's cut-scenes style and Budokai 3's Dragon Universe style of "world traveling, leveling-up, interacting, etc." Considering this is a release from SPIKE though, I have my doubts they'll go Dimps' route with an RPG-esque Fighting story mode seeing as they go with their own unique game engine.

Well, I guess this'll make the 7th DBZ Ps2 game released here in North America. Nice number I suppose, but damn, looking back on such threads I started as the "Have Ps2 games been overdone?", I wonder if I was right. I'm more than happy to get Super DragonBall Z because it's looking to be a great fighter game with new game-play, colors springing from the manga, and other fun treats, however Sparking NEO ... or Budokai Tenkaichi 2? I dunno, just doesn't have me quite as excited as the first 3 Budokais or Super DBZ does. Well, maybe I'll love the game when I buy it, who knows. Hopefully SPIKE learned more than enough from their many mistakes to give us a game that can surpass even Budokai 3. Here's hoping, but here's also doubting.

I am not that excited either, but that's probably because there are only four new charcaters. I am also more excited to get Super/Chou Dragon Ball Z to play as ChiChi.

DBZ MAN · Post by **DBZ MAN** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:14 am

You cannot ultimately think its a worse game then B3. In the end it's just your opinion. Personaly I prefere the way Sparking is made. I always welcome anything of DBZ that comes out..

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:38 am

Hey, could be worse. We could have another Ultimate Battle 22 or Sagas in our hands. o_o I'm glad that Japanese developers are doing Dragon Ball games again. I'd rather much prefer the games be done by Japan since they study their version of the anime and manga, whereas it seems the US side focuses on the cut version of the anime. :s

_Jrinu_ · Post by **_Jrinu_** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:53 am

I am not that excited either, but that's probably because there only four new charcaters.

Wait, when did they say that there were only going to be four new characters?

DB_Fan · Post by **DB_Fan** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 8:54 am

_Jrinu_ wrote:
I am not that excited either, but that's probably because there are only four new charcaters.
Wait, when did they say that there were only going to be four new characters?

Nope, I said that at the moment we only know four new characters (Slug, Giant Slug, #13 and Super #13).

Conan the SSJ · Post by **Conan the SSJ** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:40 am

DBZ MAN wrote:You cannot ultimately think its a worse game then B3. In the end it's just your opinion. Personaly I prefere the way Sparking is made. I always welcome anything of DBZ that comes out..

Personally, in my opinion, I do think Sparking!/Budokai Tenkaichi is ultimately inferior to Budokai 3. This however is not the thread for this type of discussion, if you wanna start up another Budokai 3 Vs. Sparking! thread, feel free. I'll post my opinions and reasons there. For the time being, I'll simply say I'm not the only one who prefers Budokai 3 over Sparking.

Regarding this release, I'm welcoming it, just not as enthusiastically as a few of the previous games. I mean I'd have preferred it if Dimps had done this game, but SPIKE did generally alright for their first try on a DragonBall game with Sparking!, so I'm trying to hold some hope for a good game. On another hand, 100 fighters in a game being made within less than a year ... that kind of screams repetitive move range IMO. In-game transformations being back seems to be a plus though. In the end, I'll have my opinion and you'll have yours. Right now to me, Budokai 3 is the best Ps2 DBZ game period. I think Super DBZ will come probably a close second to it. Sparking NEO on the other hand, like I've already said, we'll see.

ngnikolaos · Post by **ngnikolaos** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:58 am

I can sympathise with you Conan. If Atari didn't milk the DBZ franchise this much (and now it's going to get worse, because they need cash), they could have released only two Budokais (1 and 3 as "2"), one Tenkaichi (the one we're going to have in a few months), and 1 Chou DBZ. Sagas could wait, and be released on the PS3 with vast improvements and more storylines.

That way, each DBZ game would be more complete and less rushed, and you wouldn't have all that many DBZ games which have little differences with each other.

Solution? Do what I do. When Tenkaichi got released, I didn't buy it. Instead I waited. If a sequel would be released, it would only be an improvement, and I would buy that. If Tenkaichi would stick with "1", I would buy it for the sake of "being the only DBZ game with that style of play".

Skip the other Budokais, except for 3. That way, at the end of this year, I only have 3 DBZ games for the PS2 (the three top DBZ games).

Tenkaichi 2
Budokai 3
Super DBZ

It's safe to assume that Super DBZ and Budokai are quite different in gameplay, thus, count as different DBZ games.

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:23 pm

ngnikolaos wrote:I can sympathise with you Conan. If Atari didn't milk the DBZ franchise this much (and now it's going to get worse, because they need cash), they could have released only two Budokais (1 and 3 as "2"), one Tenkaichi (the one we're going to have in a few months), and 1 Chou DBZ. Sagas could wait, and be released on the PS3 with vast improvements and more storylines.

That way, each DBZ game would be more complete and less rushed, and you wouldn't have all that many DBZ games which have little differences with each other.

Solution? Do what I do. When Tenkaichi got released, I didn't buy it. Instead I waited. If a sequel would be released, it would only be an improvement, and I would buy that. If Tenkaichi would stick with "1", I would buy it for the sake of "being the only DBZ game with that style of play".

Skip the other Budokais, except for 3. That way, at the end of this year, I only have 3 DBZ games for the PS2 (the three top DBZ games).

Tenkaichi 2
Budokai 3
Super DBZ

It's safe to assume that Super DBZ and Budokai are quite different in gameplay, thus, count as different DBZ games.

I pretty much agree with everything you just said. I didn't even buy Sparking! when it came out, just waited until a sequel is coming out, see how it does & then I'll just purchase it. Like Conan, I'm very much excited for Super DBZ as much as I was when Dragon Ball Z 3 came out. Speaking of which, I think Vegetto EX should do some type of overview/review for the upcoming DBZ and/or DBZ related video games in the podcast just like he did with Sparking! when it came out. I wanna hear more of those.

sangofe · Post by **sangofe** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 1:15 pm

ngnikolaos wrote:I can sympathise with you Conan. If Atari didn't milk the DBZ franchise this much (and now it's going to get worse, because they need cash), they could have released only two Budokais (1 and 3 as "2"), one Tenkaichi (the one we're going to have in a few months), and 1 Chou DBZ. Sagas could wait, and be released on the PS3 with vast improvements and more storylines.

That way, each DBZ game would be more complete and less rushed, and you wouldn't have all that many DBZ games which have little differences with each other.

Solution? Do what I do. When Tenkaichi got released, I didn't buy it. Instead I waited. If a sequel would be released, it would only be an improvement, and I would buy that. If Tenkaichi would stick with "1", I would buy it for the sake of "being the only DBZ game with that style of play".

Skip the other Budokais, except for 3. That way, at the end of this year, I only have 3 DBZ games for the PS2 (the three top DBZ games).

Tenkaichi 2
Budokai 3
Super DBZ

It's safe to assume that Super DBZ and Budokai are quite different in gameplay, thus, count as different DBZ games.

I'd say Budokai1 is a must becaues of it's awesome story mode.

The S · Post by **The S** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:00 pm

That settles it. The list of PS2 games I must get this year has been brought up to five:

Chou Dragon Ball Z
Dragon Ball Z Sparking! NEO
The King of Fighters: Maximum Impact 2
Mortal Kombat Armageddon
Final Fight Streetwise

Hey, they're all fighters! How 'bout that?

ngnikolaos · Post by **ngnikolaos** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 3:23 pm

Ironically, you're right in a way Sangofe. Budokai 1 is the most "complete" Budokai of all. It has the necessary characters up to the Cell arc, a VERY VERY nice story mode, the best "nicely done" what-if's of all the Budokai series, and a funny survival mode with Mr. Satan. Nonetheless, B3 has the best roster, and the best gameplay of all. It's just a pity the DU mode was such a rush-job.

The S: Be warned. I read that Final Fight Streetwise sucks... bigtime. And as for MK, well... I'll buy it for the X-Box.

The S · Post by **The S** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:50 pm

The S: Be warned. I read that Final Fight Streetwise sucks... bigtime. And as for MK, well... I'll buy it for the X-Box.

The S cares not for reviews and opinions of others when it comes to entries in his favorite series. Why do you think I own Ultimate Battle 22, Final Bout, and Sagas?

You know, I was just thinking... if they actually took an extra year or so in-between each game in the series (even though many don't count the Sparking! games as part of the same as the Budokai games, they come consecutively after the Budokai titled, unlike Sagas and Chou DBZ), they might have a more 'finished' project at the end. Whenever a game comes out, there's at least one or more places that feels rushed.

ngnikolaos · Post by **ngnikolaos** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:06 am

Point taken. I just didn't know you were one of those guys. Happy playing then.

Tsukento · Post by **Tsukento** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:24 am

Erm..why are we still comparing Sparking! with Budokai 3 when both games are clearly two different kinds of fighters and are made by two different companies? >.>

DBZ MAN · Post by **DBZ MAN** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 9:22 am

Well you could say that we are just discussing what we like about each game and it would be our preference.

Steven Perry · Post by **Steven Perry** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 7:27 pm

ngnikolaos wrote:...they could have released only two Budokais (1 and 3 as "2"), one Tenkaichi (the one we're going to have in a few months), and 1 Chou DBZ. Sagas could wait, and be released on the PS3 with vast improvements and more storylines.

I say, the more the merrier. A constant flow of Dragonball Z games is any fan's desire. Besides, without Budokai 2, Budokai 3's fighting engine wouldn't have existed; it was based on improvements from its predecessor (Budokai 2) and suggestions from fans after playing it. Dimps wouldn't have been able to make such a big step forward from the original Budokai without little baby steps along the way. What I'm saying is, Dimps used their previous titles as the basis for their next games. So, Budokai 2 would have only been Budokai 2 (not 3). Get what I'm saying, or have I just taken your view the wrong way?

ngnikolaos wrote:That way, each DBZ game would be more complete and less rushed, and you wouldn't have all that many DBZ games which have little differences with each other.

What?! Hey, there were considerable differences between Budokai one and two. So, don't even go sayin' that they had little differences between them (forgive me if I've misunderstood you).

ngnikolaos wrote:Skip the other Budokais, except for 3. That way, at the end of this year, I only have 3 DBZ games for the PS2 (the three top DBZ games).

Tenkaichi 2
Budokai 3
Super DBZ

So, You're saying that without complete assurance of a sequel, only then you will buy the latest game. What the HFIL!? You can't be that much of a hardcore DBZ fan, can you? How can you just walk past a store, with the latest "explosive" DBZ game on the shelves... Waiting to be purchased by you?

ngnikolaos · Post by **ngnikolaos** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:22 pm

I say, the more the merrier. A constant flow of Dragonball Z games is any fan's desire. Besides, without Budokai 2, Budokai 3's fighting engine wouldn't have existed; it was based on improvements from its predecessor (Budokai 2) and suggestions from fans after playing it. Dimps wouldn't have been able to make such a big step forward from the original Budokai without little baby steps along the way. What I'm saying is, Dimps used their previous titles as the basis for their next games. So, Budokai 2 would have only been Budokai 2 (not 3). Get what I'm saying, or have I just taken your view the wrong way?

You have some points, I'll give you that. Indeed, without B2, B3's engine probably wouldn't be the same... or would it? It's highly debatable that B3's engine is "based" on B2. The way I see it, B3 would be exactly the same if B2 wasn't released. I thnk that Dimps was halfway done in the creation of Budokai 3 (as a "2"), but Atari (or Bandai) came to the them and said "Hey guys, instead of making two Budokais within 2 years, why not make three within 3 years? That way we make more money". Dimps says something like "But the game isn't ready yet. We have only made 4th stage Freeza and Perfect Cell with the new graphics, and we haven't even made power-up auras yet. And we haven't finished the Dragon Rush". Atari goes like "Don't worry about it. Just wrap as well as you can everything you've done so far, and we shall release it as a complete game".

This is Budokai 2 in my opinion. A rush job, the halfway stage between Budokai 1 and 3. And if I was thinking back then the way I'm thinking now, I probably wouldn't have bought it.

What?! Hey, there were considerable differences between Budokai one and two. So, don't even go sayin' that they had little differences between them

Actually, I will Steven. Aside from the main story mode, and the "chase the enemy" continuation of a combo, B2's gameplay is EXACTLY the same as B1's. Heck, special moves are performed in exactly the same way. At least in B3 the combos were traded for the Dragon Rush, and that gives you a feeling of change (as well as the teleportation techniques).

So, You're saying that without complete assurance of a sequel, only then you will buy the latest game. What the HFIL!? You can't be that much of a hardcore DBZ fan, can you? How can you just walk past a store, with the latest "explosive" DBZ game on the shelves... Waiting to be purchased by you?

You are correct. I am not a hardcore fan anymore. And if I have to be one in order to post here, maybe I shouldn't do so at all (although that's another subject for debate). Maybe because I am too old to drool over a cartoon that was meant for seven year olds. Or maybe because I am a bit fed up with DBZ after "living" with the franchise for ten years. Or maybe because, while I was very excited with Budokai for the PS2 (first SERIOUS attempt for DBZ gaming after 7 years), after three Budokais, one Legacy of Goku, and one Supersonic warriors, the excitement died off a bit.

Guys like you are the reason Atari makes 3-4 DBZ games every year (no offence, really, I am just stating a fact), but I prefer QUALITY over QUANTITY. Think of it this way:

Why can't they make a DBZ game (of any kind), try other kinds of DBZ games, and after 3 years at least, make a sequel that will have VAST imporvements over the previous one, since they had a lot of time in making it? Why do they have to make a sequel every 8 months? Aside from putting 10-12 new characters, they don't do anything THAT different. Wouldn't you prefer to wait 4 years after Budokai 3, and see a Budokai 4 in the PS3 with 70 characters (not 200) that would play in ENTIRELY different ways, with INDIVIDUAL combos and like, 5 main story modes (arcade mode, saga mode, character mode, RPG mode, parody mode--or something)? That, as far as sequels go.

As far as originality goes, you may have 7 DBZ games on your PS2 by the end of the year, but you basically only have 4. Tenkaichi 1 will not have anything Tenkaichi 2 won't include, so it will count as a "different" type of game. And if it wasn't for Budokai 1's story mode, the same could be said for the first two Budokais (I don't even think of B2's story mode). There are sequels that don't "kill off" the previous game (Metroid 1 and Metroid 2, Metal Gear Solid 1,2 and 3, Mortal Kombat 5, 6 and 7), and there are sequels that "kill off" the previous game (Budokai 1, 2, and 3, Bloody Roar 1, 2, 3 and 4).

In the end, you are of course, entitled to your opinion, but you really ought to restrain the HFILs just because you realised that I don't enter a store because it has a little DVD case with Goku's face in it. Sorry.

Thanos6 · Post by **Thanos6** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:58 pm

I actually think B2 has the best storymode of the three. I like to run "themed" Dragon World's, like the one I call Daughter-In-Law Training, where I see how I can do with fighting only with Videl.