Dragonball Z Budokai 2 announced for the Gamecube! Head on inside for the scoop!

Bandai and Atari are proud to announce that their Playstation 2 smash hit is now on its way to the Gamecube! Here's the press release in full for all you crazy Japanese fightin' fans!

London, UK � 06 December 2004 � Bandai and Atari have announced the launch of Bandai's Dragon Ball Z�: BudokaiTM 2 for the Nintendo GameCube� in March 2005. The top-selling franchise returns to the GameCube after the magnificent, chart busting performance of the game on the PlayStation� 2 since its launch in November 2003. The GameCube version has incredible new features, more characters, improved fighting action, the original Japanese voiceovers and an open-ended way to relive the DBZ� story, making it an essential purchase both for fighting game fans and fans of the DBZ series.

"The DBZ: Budokai series has become one of the world's best-selling fighting game franchises of all time through its ability to constantly improve upon its previous incarnations and challenge its competitors head on", said Martin Spiess, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Atari Europe. "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 was extremely successful on the Playstation2 and we have upped the ante by producing an even better version for the GameCube with additional character costumes, unlockable stages, two extra levels of difficulty and even more skills added, making this a thrilling and challenging fighting game."

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 offers a sophisticated fighting engine set in a highly detailed, cel-shaded environment true to the DBZ series. The addition of the original Japanese voiceovers, extra character costumes and unlockable secret stages, including islands, city streets, the Great Kai planet and the World Tournament, coupled with new skills such as "Sparkling", "World's Mightiest Warrior Certificate" and "World Tournament Cell Game Rule", results in a more faithful recreation of the high octane Dragon Ball universe than any previous game has achieved.

In addition, there is a variety of multi-player modes: Versus, Tournament and Training, giving a massive range of Dragon Ball Z playing experiences that players can enjoy time and again.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 for the Nintendo GameCube will be available across Europe in March 2005.

I hope Bandai and Atari will forgive us for saying, but didn't Budokai 3 just come out on the Playstation 2?

What's the big idea guys? Are Gamecube owners trapped in some kind of timewarp? Is it still 2003?

All criticism aside, this is welcome news, Dragonball Z holds a special place in the hearts of many Anime buffs and gamers alike, so the addition of this title is more than welcome to the -rather empty- Gamecube stable of fighting games.

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