Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team box art

System: PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Namco Bandai	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Namco Bandai	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Oct. 19, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Despite this lack of replay value, Tenkaichi Tag Team does have some elements that will pull fans into its grip. Chief among these is the huge player roster, which has more than seventy characters. Though there are no new characters (I'm pretty sure everyone has been used before, with the notable exception of Master Roshi's turtle), the list includes all your favorites as well as plenty of supporting characters. Unlocking characters will take some perseverance, as the game's story mode is a little bit on the lengthy side, and you'll have to beat some mini-game like extra battle modes in order to get all the characters. Once you do get all the characters, it is fun to make some unlikely pairs (my favorite was Raditz and Chaiotzu) and try them out in battle.

Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team screenshot

And speaking of battle, the battle system does seem worth mentioning, although it is nearly identical to the battle system found in other Tenkaichi titles. You use a single button to hammer on your basic attacks (which can be modified with the directional buttons), you have another button to use your super-attacks, and then another for your ranged attack. The game also includes a "follow" command, which allows you to keep pace with a fast enemy over long stages. The battle system is simple and will feel instantly familiar to fans of the Tenkaichi series, which is good if you want to skip the training mode but a little depressing if you were hoping for something a little bit newer from this title.

Technically, this game is fairly proficient on the PSP. It’s not the best-looking game on the PSP, but the fighting environments and animations are well done and nicely detailed. However, the story-mode's overworld does look dated; the environment is stoic, and the non-moving enemies look bland. Sound is also a mixed bag in Tenkaichi Tag Team, as the voiceover (which features performances from the anime's original cast) sounds great, but the background music is bland and repetitious.

Your enjoyment of Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team will likely depend on two factors: how excited you are to play another Dragon Ball Z game and how high your tolerance for repetition is. The fact is that the Dragon Ball franchise (at least on the PSP) hasn't changed much in the past five years, and with the notable exception of DBZ: Another Road, this game feels almost exactly like every other DBZ game for the system. Though the Tag Team mechanic is an interesting twist on the formula, at the end of the day it doesn't have a meaningful impact on the gameplay, and it doesn't make Tag Team Tenkaichi a stand-out Dragon Ball Z game. The series really needs some invigoration if it is going to continue in any meaningful capacity.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC News Editor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.6

Graphics
In-battle graphics look satisfactory on the PSP, but the overworld looks bland.

3.1

Control
Fighting controls are instantly familiar and work well despite offering little innovation.

3.1

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The game's dialogue is voiced by the anime's original voice actors, which is a plus, but the music is mediocre at best.

3.3

Play Value
Though completing the 70+ character roster gives the game some replay value, there's not much else to do once that is finished.

3.0

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Create your Ideal Team – Experience 2 vs. 2 team battle play for the first time in the Dragon Ball series! Using the ad-hoc mode, up to four players can now experience the ultimate Dragon Ball battle. Work together with your teammate to take on your opponents in a test of skill and strategy.

Customize your Favorite Characters – Choose from any of seventy fan favorite characters including Super Saiyan Goku, Super Saiyan 2 Gohan, Super Saiyan Vegeta, Super Saiyan Trunks, Piccolo, and more! Gain the upper hand by customizing your characters with special items that alter their attack parameters and then use these custom characters in battle.

Pick your Path – A variety of single-player and multi-player modes to keep your adrenaline pumping and your skills at the ready. Follow the original anime story and relive key scenes from the Saiyan saga through the Majin Buu saga in the all-new “Dragon Walker” mode. Or undergo rigorous training to hone your skills and sharpen your senses in the “Training” mode. Ready for battle? Jump straight into the action as you clear key battle scenes from the anime or create your own in “Battle 100” or face off against advancing enemies in “Survival” mode.

Enter the World of Dragon Ball – Fight in any of ten different fields from the Dragon Ball universe, moving about them freely using the game’s optimized control system.