Dragon Ball Z: Sagas

If you're not already a DBZ fan, there are better games out there, with storylines that won't make your head spin. On the other hand, if you're a diehard, you'll relish playing through your favorite early battles in the epic story. Sagas is a competent first entry to the action genre, just not exemplary.

It's a good enough game to rent as it would only provide up to 6-10 hours of gameplay and fun.But if your a Dragon Ball Z freak, buy it.

If you're not already a DBZ fan, there are better games out there, with storylines that won't make your head spin. On the other hand, if you're a diehard, you'll relish playing through your favorite early battles in the epic story. Sagas is a competent first entry to the action genre, just not exemplary.

Long gone are the days when all a video game needed for a story were some power pills and ghosts, but bringing the story of Dragon Ball Z--with a cast that tops 150 characters--to a video game is more than a little like cramming Shea Stadium into a teacup.

As a fan, I do have to give a nod where it's due though. The concept of a DBZ adventure game is a novel one. I was amped about this game when it was announced. I mean being able to fly in a DBZ-based adventure game? Oh my heart be still! But man oh man, Sagas as a series has a long way to go before it comes close to stardom.

In addition to the gaming issues, Sagas is an unattractive game. The character models are blocky, and the environments are dull. Perhaps Atari should have retained the cel-shading look that Budokai had adopted and nearly perfected for its last two titles.

As a fan, I do have to give a nod where it's due though. The concept of a DBZ adventure game is a novel one. I was amped about this game when it was announced. I mean being able to fly in a DBZ-based adventure game? Oh my heart be still! But man oh man, Sagas as a series has a long way to go before it comes close to stardom.

As a fan, I do have to give a nod where it's due though. The concept of a DBZ adventure game is a novel one. I was amped about this game when it was announced. I mean being able to fly in a DBZ-based adventure game? Oh my heart be still! But man oh man, Sagas as a series has a long way to go before it comes close to stardom.

I’m not going to lie. As I sat down with my copy of Dragon Ball Z: Sagas, I had some apprehensions. My past experiences with other DBZ titles haven’t been exactly pleasant. I’m not what you’d consider a diehard fan, but I do know enough about the series to understand the basic elements of the game, characters involved, etc. The original Dragon Ball series made its U.S. debut back in 1993, with the later incarnation (Dragon Ball Z) hitting the shores in 1996. Since that time it has cultivated a cult following around the globe.

I hate to say this but Dragon Ball Z: Sagas is the worst Dragon Ball Z game that I’ve ever laid my hands on. I’ve played a good amount of dull DBZ games since the 16-bit era and this takes the cake as being the worst of them all. Sagas is just so uninspired, and if it wasn’t for the DBZ license I would’ve given the game an even lower score than I already have.

The following is a public service announcement for all Dragon Ball Z fans: For your own good, do not play Sagas. If you do, not only will you be treated to some of the most antiquated and broken gameplay available on modern consoles, but you will also send the message that you actually enjoy seeing the popular anime series’ repeated desecration. Sure, it has Goku and company battling through the early DBZ story arcs, but that’s all you’ll get. Don’t expect responsive controls, a passable camera, or compelling visuals. However, if all you want is the Dragon Ball Z cast surrounded by spiritless action and absurd level design, you’ve got it. You might also be interested in our special “cookie and a throat-jab” combo meal.

The following is a public service announcement for all Dragon Ball Z fans: For your own good, do not play Sagas. If you do, not only will you be treated to some of the most antiquated and broken gameplay available on modern consoles, but you will also send the message that you actually enjoy seeing the popular anime series’ repeated desecration. Sure, it has Goku and company battling through the early DBZ story arcs, but that’s all you’ll get. Don’t expect responsive controls, a passable camera, or compelling visuals. However, if all you want is the Dragon Ball Z cast surrounded by spiritless action and absurd level design, you’ve got it. You might also be interested in our special “cookie and a throat-jab” combo meal.

The following is a public service announcement for all Dragon Ball Z fans: For your own good, do not play Sagas. If you do, not only will you be treated to some of the most antiquated and broken gameplay available on modern consoles, but you will also send the message that you actually enjoy seeing the popular anime series’ repeated desecration. Sure, it has Goku and company battling through the early DBZ story arcs, but that’s all you’ll get. Don’t expect responsive controls, a passable camera, or compelling visuals. However, if all you want is the Dragon Ball Z cast surrounded by spiritless action and absurd level design, you’ve got it. You might also be interested in our special “cookie and a throat-jab” combo meal.

Dragon Ball Z: Sagas is a third-person beat-'em-up that valiantly attempts to distill nearly 200 episodes worth of cartoons into a mere 20 levels. Fans and non-fans alike will appreciate the game's slick presentation, which rushes players through a recap of the entire animated series by combining a constantly changing cast of playable characters with nearly 60 minutes of full-motion video. Unfortunately, the underlying game itself is a disappointment.

Un juego mediocre basado en una licencia de éxito. Todo depende de lo que busque cada uno, si es un fan acérrimo de Bola de Dragón, tiene una PlayStation 2 y unos ahorros, podría considerar importar el juego... pero solo en un desesperado intento de poder disfrutar de un Beat'Em Up con las creaciones de Toriyama, de momento Budokai sigue siendo le mejor oferta -en cada entrega consecutiva ha ido mejorando- a la espera de que Dragon Ball Z Sparking se convierta -si todo sigue su curso- en el mejor juego de DBZ para la Bestia Negra de Sony... que ya toca, ¿no?.

Sagas offers little to nothing, and authentic voice acting and destructible environments isn't enough to counter-balance disgusting character models and code written with an Etch-A-Sketch. With Dragon Ball Z Sagas, Atari answers the age-old question of why there has never been a DBZ action game. Do not buy Sagas. Do not rent Sagas. Don't even tell anyone you read this far.

"Dragon Ball Z: Sagas" é uma óbvia tentativa de se aproveitar da popularidade da obra de Akira Toriyama - que certamente merecia mais respeito do que isso. Nem mesmo os fãs são encorajados a gastar seu tempo nesse título.

Even the most hardcore DBZ fans will feel ripped off if they purchase Dragon Ball Z: Sagas, and non-rabid fans will be angry to the point of violence. Saying the game isn't much fun is an understatement to the degree of saying Antarctica is "a bit nippy." Play Budokai 3 if you want a console Dragon Ball fix, or switch over to the GBA's Legacy of Goku II if you want more action and adventure in the mix. If we had all seven dragon balls in our possession, we'd make a wish that this game was never made.

In the end, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas fails in all departments. It's nowhere near as fun or functional as the Budokai games, and completely fails in taking the series into a new direction. Admittedly, the concept sounds fun. Assuming the role of your favorite DBZ character and running amok in free-form environments sounds like a damn good time. Unfortunately, improper execution detonates any fun Sagas potentially contained. The camera blows and the enemies lack intelligence.

Dragon Ball Z: Sagas fails in all departments. It's nowhere near as fun or functional as the Budokai games, and completely fails in taking the series into a new direction. Admittedly, the concept sounds fun. Assuming the role of your favorite DBZ character and running amok in free-form environments sounds like a damn good time. Unfortunately, improper execution detonates any fun Sagas potentially contained. The camera blows and the enemies lack intelligence. Control, the most important factor in many games (and certainly fighting games) suffers from a lack of precision and finesse. Most of the environments feel bland, and level layout is equally uninspired. To sum up, there's just not much to recommend here. Especially considering Sagas is a full priced game. Buyers beware! You want to stay away from this one. Miles and miles away.

Up until this point, virtually every console game based on the Dragon Ball Z anime restricted players to a narrow play field. You could glide across the floor, shoot off into the sky and even toss your enemies into the surrounding hillside. But it was still restrictive. You couldn't take to the skies and explore the heavens at will, for example. And you couldn't use the environment to your advantage, either, save for the throwing-someone-into-a-mountain thing. It's this very lack of freedom that Atari and Avalanche Software set out to eliminate with their latest game, Dragon Ball Z: Sagas.

If Dragon Ball Z: Sagas weren't so patently ill-conceived, it would probably stand as another piece of evidence that you just can't do beat-'em-ups in this day and age. But it doesn't seem that quality or relevance were high priorities during the game's production, and the fact that it's being sold at full price only makes Sagas that much easier to pass up. Hardcore fans might be able to rationalize the purchase, but they'll still be out $50.

If Dragon Ball Z: Sagas weren't so patently ill-conceived, it would probably stand as another piece of evidence that you just can't do beat-'em-ups in this day and age. But it doesn't seem that quality or relevance were high priorities during the game's production, and the fact that it's being sold at full price only makes Sagas that much easier to pass up. Hardcore fans might be able to rationalize the purchase, but they'll still be out $50.

If Dragon Ball Z: Sagas weren't so patently ill-conceived, it would probably stand as another piece of evidence that you just can't do beat-'em-ups in this day and age. But it doesn't seem that quality or relevance were high priorities during the game's production, and the fact that it's being sold at full price only makes Sagas that much easier to pass up. Hardcore fans might be able to rationalize the purchase, but they'll still be out $50.

The story is lame, the gameplay is repetitive and the entire control system is compromised in one way or another. Let the developers fix their mistakes before you throw any money in their direction. Don't even rent this one.