Budokai 2 Now Avaliable at Selected Stores
With all this nonsense about what the real Budokai 2 release date I was glad to see that its avaliable in NZ now - at least in some places. I went to my local mall to check for the game and the first store I checked said it would be in on Wednesday so I went to my local Electronics Boutique store where I saw that they had changed the pre-order cover but then I realised that this was the actual game itself! Amazingly it seems that New Zealand and Australia are getting the same cover as the USA (this one) despite the fact we live in a PAL country like the UK and France who get the much nicer cover (this one) which is odd really. I'm also now 100% sure after checking in the manual and seeing the voice cast listed that the voices in the game are in English and ARE the ones from the show!!! I don't have the game yet but I'll definitely get it on Monday with a first impressions review on the site on Tuesday perhaps. Like I said its only avaliable at some stores.
I haven't managed to get the Dragonball or Dragonball GT releases yet either as they have been postponed until Wednesday.
While checking the manual for DBZ Budokai 2 I looked at the voice cast of the game which confirmed in my mind who does certain characters and I thought it was interesting to note that the voices of Raditz and Nappa (two characters that when they originally appeared had the old voices) who in flashbacks have been voiced by Chris Sabat were not listed as being done by him. This is interesting as the current redub of Dragonball Z episodes 1-53 is being done and will be released next year so the voices of Raditz and Nappa in the game is probably what they will sound like when the episodes come out so we'll get a sneak preview of the new voices for Raditz and Nappa!
19th November 2003 by gohan2k
Budokai 2 Released This Saturday
I spoke to Gamewiizz Interactive who are distributing Dragonball Z Budokai 2 in New Zealand and they told me the release date is set for this Saturday, November 22nd so make sure you go get yourself a copy. Unfortunately for me I'm working all day Saturday and Sunday so I'll have to wait till Monday to get the game....Assuming it comes out on that date as the GP Store has the date at 26th November
Meanwhile the Platinum version of the first Budokai comes out today so I'll be intrested to see the new cover. Theres no diference apart from the platinum cover and the lowered price down to $59.95.
Tommorow sees the release of the third and fourth volumes of Dragonball GT, The Dragonball movie "The Path to Power" and the first Dragonball Z movie boxset featuring the first three movies in a box for the lowered $69.96 (if you buy them separately they costs $39.95 each for a combined total of $120!). Click on the links to see more on each of those or to buy them online from Manga.co.nz.
Tommorow: I check out the latest isssue of Beckett DBZ Collector to hit New Zealand shores. Plus Baby takes Vegeta!
16th November 2003 by gohan2k
Budokai 2 has Funimation Voices!
I know some fof you will be glad to hear this and some of you will not but it has been confirmed that the PAL version of Dragonball Z Budokai 2 (released in NZ, Australia and the UK) will have the same voices from the TV show when the game is released in English rather than in Budokai 1 when the game had Japanese voices.
Speaking of Budokai 2 the Lycos Top 50 has named Budokai 2 as the 12th most searched for game on its Top Video Games searches for Christmas based on results from the Lycos search engine. The top game was Final Fantasy XI also above Budokai 2 were games like Grand Theft Auto Vice City, The Sims and Yu-Gi-Oh! The Sacred Cards.
In case you didn't already guess I didn't get Budokai 2 on Saturday but I did go and see the Matrix Revolutions and...well I'm not going to spil it for you...I mentioned a DBZ vs Matrix thing but I've decided not to mention that right now as it may spoil the movie for people who have yet to see it and want to..
14th November 2003 by gohan2k
Todays Dragonball Releases all Delayed!!
Bad news I'm afraid as it seems all of todays releases have all been delayed until next Thursday for unknown reasons. This affects the following releases....
Dragonball "The Path To Power"
Dragonball Z Movie Collection 1 (Movies 1-3)
Dragonball GT Volume 3 "Creation"
Dragonball GT Volume 4 "Proliferation"
Obviously this is really annoying but I suppose it can be expected as this was the first month where we got the releases the same month as Australia (which won't be happenning again anytime sooon)
I did manage to find out that the Movie Collection (which is DVD only) is an awesome price of $69.95 for three DVD's when original you would have paid $120 to buy them separately. Theres no difference between the boxset and the loose DVD's so if you already have them (like me) you don't have to buy them again.
In other delayed news Budokai 2 has been delayed until November 26th and Dragonball Z Taikestsu for Gameboy Advance which was originally scheduled for November 28th has now been delayed until December 12th although the place where I pre-order Budokai 2 says they may be getting it this afternoon....
Tommorow: Hopefully some updates, Will I get Budokai 2? and DBZ vs The Matrix Revolutions!
13th November 2003 by gohan2k
DBGT Volume 4 Preview
Dragonball Z Budokai 2 is released in the UK tommorow and it seems the NZ release may be delayed again as the Australian release is now set for November 22nd and NZ will get it either the same day or after Australia meaning our current release date of November 18th seems unlikely. Interestingly though the Platinum version of the original PS2 Budokai will be released tommrow in both Australia and NZ. Also Budokai 1 for GameCube has been delayed until 28th November. Anyways here the preview for Dragonball GT Volume 4 which is released this Friday!
Dragonball GT Volume 4 "Proliferation"
Release Date: This Friday
Rating: Currently unknown
More Details/Buy this Online!: Click here
Summary: Baby's hunt for the Saiyans reaches a new level of danger as he begins to make his way across the globe, leaving his seed of evil planted in his wake. But when Baby crosses paths with Gohan and Goten, a showdown is inevitable! Baby knows that he must defeat the powerful brothers if he is to have a shot at his ultimate prize, Vegeta! Baby needs to subjugate the planet quickly before Goku, Trunks and Pan arrive back on Earth. The race for the fate of Earth is on!
By the sounds of volumes 3 and 4 of DBGT they should be really good and I'm also looking forward to see Dragonball "The Path to Power" all of which come out in New Zealand tommorow!
Tommorow: Not sure yet but we shall see!
12th November 2003 by gohan2k
DBGT Volume 3 Preview
Not much news to report today other than that then Budokai 2 cover is looking increasingly likely to be the IGN cover and that the strategy guide for the game does include a DVD which may contain the top five DBZ fights as voted by fans. Confirmed fights are Gohan vs Cell and Vegito vs Super Buu but the DVD might be completely different...We shall see...
Anyway heres an extensive preview of the third Dragonball GT release "Creation" which is relased along with GT volume 4 and The Path to Power on Friday...
Dragonball GT Volume 3 "Creation"
Release Date: This Friday
Rating: Currently unknown
More Details/Buy this Online!: Click here
Summary: With the truth about his connection to Dr. Myuu in the open, Baby begins his assault on his most hated enemies, the Saiyans! Meanwhile, Goku, Pan and Trunks continue their hunt for the dragon balls. Their search leads them to a battered ship about to be crushed by the gravity of a nearby star! With a dragon ball detected on board, the three Saiyans must risk life and limb to recover the powerful orb, or watch the fate of Earth fade away with the obliterated spacecraft! But wait! Someone, or something, is still alive on the doomed craft!
Features the episodes:
HIDDEN DANGER
Believing Dr. Myuu�s evil vision contained�Goku, Pan, and Trunks set out to recover the remaining Dragonballs. Their search leads them to a battered ship soon to be destroyed by the gravity of a nearby star! But a Dragonball is not the only discovery that the tattered craft offers up� something onboard is alive!
DISCOVERING THE TRUTH
Goku and the others take a short detour from Dragonball hunting and land on Planet Vidal to get medical treatment for the boy that they rescued in outer-space. But who is this mysterious, young survivor and why can�t the Doctor assigned to his case be trusted?
BABY'S ARRIVAL
When a roughneck starts wreaking havoc in the city, Goten has to interrupt his big date to teach him a lesson. But as soon as Goten subdues him, another deranged fighter steps out of the crowd to take his place. Who are these strange criminals and where do they get their super strength?
Tommorow: a preview of the fourth DBGT release which is released on Friday "Proliferation"
11th November 2003 by gohan2k
Two More Budokai 2 Covers, Path to Power Preview
Yeah thats right now theres five possible Dragonball Z Budokai 2 covers! Thwe difference with these new tow though is that they are both in PAL format One is from IGN.com while the other is from DBNet. The IGN cover features Kid Buu, SSJ Vegito, SSJ Goku and SSJ3 Goku while the DBNet cover has Kid Buu, SSJ Goku, SSJ Goten, SSJ Kid Trunks and SSJ Vegeta. I prefer the first one myself. This adds on to the other probable covers - EB Pre-Order Cover, Atari Australia cover and GP Store covers. I highly doubt that the GP Store cover is even a possibility actually. My favourite cover of all of these is the IGN cover which is just damn cool followed by the EB Pre-Order Cover. I also have some sad, but inevitable, news to report that the DBZ Budokai 2 game has been delayed from this Friday to Tuesday which isn't much but still worth mentioning for those of you who plan to buy it on the first day. Finally in Budokai 2 news heres what all of you really want - a screenshot of SSJ3 Goku from the game. See that by clicking here.
And now everyone heres the first preview of the three releases coming out on Friday starting with the first Dragonball release to hit New Zealand shores - the Dragonball movie "The Path to Power"
Dragonball Movie "The Path to Power"
Release Date: This Friday
Rating: Currently unknown
More Details/Buy this Online!: Click here
Summary: When an adventure thirsty girl named Bulma runs across� and nearly runs over� a bizarre young boy named Goku, they find themselves thrust into an adventure that will last a lifetime! Together they set out to recover the mystical Dragonballs, artifacts of incredible power! Legend says that whomever collects all seven Dragon Balls can call forth the awesome Eternal Dragon, a powerful creature that will grant whatever wish their heart desires! But there is another interested party eager to control the power of the Dragonballs. They are known as the Red Ribbon Army, and they will stop at nothing to use the Dragonballs to achieve their wish of total world domination. Along the way Goku will find out that the greatest power of all lies within himself. This is where the legend begins.
Tommorow: A preview of the third DBGT release "Creation" as the build up to the release on Friday continues!
10th November 2003 by gohan2k
Dragonball Z Budokai 2 NZ Version in ENGLISH!!!
Yeah you read that right it has been confirmed that the New Zealand, Australia and UK versions of the Dragonball Z Budokai 2 game for PS2 will indeed have English voices. Naturally I was jumping for joy after hearing this news as it was my number one hope for this game. Heres the catch though...It hasn't been said whther the voices will be the Funimation voices (the ones in the TV show) as they could be just a bunch of unknown people doing the voices of the characters and while I hope not I'm still glad we'll actually know what the hell the characters are saying! The Budokai 2 game is released i NZthis Friday and on that day I'll have a special preview of it and in answer to a common question - yes you can be Super Saiyan 3 Goku (and Gotenks).
In other news Dragonball GT has aired its first episode on Cartoon Network in the USA. As expected the series began with "A Grand Problem". The episode aired on Friday at 6.30pm and the series will be airing weekly at that time. Once the first season is completed (and who know how long that will be) a couple of months after that it will air in NZ but I'm sticking to a June 2004 date for the series to air in NZ. So stop waiting for it to be on TV and go buy it! (or rent it even)
Finally today don't forget to check out Part Two of the Weekly Trivia section athe bottom of this page. This week I explore (briefly) on how Dragonball Z became Dragonball GT!
Coming This Week: With a large amount of Dragonball/Z/GT releases on Friday the previews begin look out for previews of Dragonball The Path to Power, Volumes 3 and 4 of Dragonball GT and Dragonball Z Budokai 2 for PS2!
7th November 2003 by gohan2k
No Dragonball Release for Christmas....
Today Manga.co.nz announced the December anime releases and sadly there was a not a single Dragonball one (although Fruits Basket and Transformers Generation One got releases) meaning we'll have to wait until January for volumes five and six of DBGT as well as the DBZ Series 3 Part One boxset and Movie Collection 4-6 boxset and until February for the original Dragonball series to be avaliable. On the upside next week is a pretty big week with Volumes 2 and 3 of GT being rleased in NZ along with the Dragonball movie "The Path to Power" and the PS2 fighting game, Dragonball Z Budokai 2. Speaking of Budokai 2 by now you've probably seen the cool as preview cover in some EB stores well here's what the games actual cover could look like although I hope not because that would be the crappiest cover ever. Personally I'm still hoping like hell that Atari grew a brain and released the PAl version of the game with English speaking characters....
In other news the Armageddon website announced Eric Vale (voice of DBZ and GT Trunks) as attending the expo so if you didn't believe me when I announced this on Monday heres your proof! From the site it seems that Eric will be hosting the events trademark Kamehameha Contest at 3pm on Saturday 17th April. You'll definitely want to watch the Kamehameha contest. I saw the one earlier this year and it was awesome! More Armageddon details soon!
Finally today as promised I have a review of the latest Beckett Best of Dragonball Z. This one is number 12 an the focus it seems is on Dragonball GT including indepth profiles of main GT characters Goku, Trunks and Pan, a whole set of Japanese GT card pictures, GT toys, "wanted" posters for 12 of DBZ and GT's nastiest villains, a guide to The Leagacy of Goku 2, reviews of the first four volumes of GT (find out what happens in the GT volumes released next Friday), alist of all 64 Japanese episodes of GT, Pan's diary. All of this plus more in a cool collectible soft cover book format for NZ $22.50! Find it at selected magazine retailers!
6th November 2003 by gohan2k
DBZ Movie 9 Title Confirmed
In the latest Funimation newsletter "Prime Anime Report" Funimation has confirmed that "Bojack: Unbound" is the tile of the ninth Dragonball Z movie. I reported this earlier when the Official DBZ CCG Website said it but I couldn't be sure until Funimation mentioned it and now they have. Its interesting that the new CCG expansion (Kid Buu) has the Bojack subset as its released in November and usually the DBZ movies are released in February and August so does this mean that Movie 9 will be coming earlier?
Theres not much relevant to NZ fans in the newsletter part from perhaps the fact that Dragonball GT will begin screening in America tommorow on a once a week basis. From this in NZ we can get two things....
1. In New Zealand Dragonball GT will screen once a week
2. Dragonball GT will not be on TV in NZ for another six months at least
So for those of you waiting for GT to come on TV and not buying it you'll have a while to wait and I'd suggest buying it as apart from the long time until its on TV - you know it'll be edited anyway. Check out the Funimation Newsletter here
Tommorow: My review of the latest Beckett Best of Dragonball Z
4th November 2003 by gohan2k
Taiketsu and Budokai (NGC) Releases Delayed
Onto video game relases now and it seems that both Dragonball Z: Taiketsu for Gameboy Advance and Dragonball Z Budokai for Nintendo GameCube have both had their NZ releases delayed a week. Taiketsu is now set for relase on December 5th while Budokai for Gamecube will be relased a week after Budokai 2 for the PS2's date of November 14th on November 21st.
I noticed the Gohan's Comic Corner section hasn't been updated in over a month basically becuase I've run out of comics so I've instead started a new weekly section "Dragonball Weekly Trivia" so check that out at the bottom of the page and I also moved the "When Bulma Attacks" comic to have a page of its own. Check that out here.
3rd November 2003 by gohan2k
Exclusive DBZ News Announcement!
Sorry about the lack of news updates recently but there really has been none to report and news has been slow...until now! You may remember a couple of weeks ago I said that "exclusive" news was coming in mid November well I decided to do it today instead. But first the updates to the various parts of the site. Firstly the Character Guide has been updated to include what happens to the DBZ characters in the GT episodes we in NZ have seen so far. I also added Broly and Paragus next up is to add the new characters introduced in GT such as General Rilldo, Dr Myuu and of course, Baby. I added the GT events to the Timeline and added Movie 8 to the Movie Guide.
I am also pleased to announce that Courtney Bullimore of Greymouth who won the GT competition has received his prize of the first DBGT volume "Affliction". The competition went quite well and hopefully there will be another one soon (at the moment it'll probably be in ecember as my Christmas present to you guys).
I know I'm evil leaving this exclusive news till last but what the hey. I emailed the organisers of the upcoming Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo to be held in April of next year to find out which (if any) DBZ guest will be coming to NZ for the expo and although the official announcement has yet to be made on their site they said I could announce it here first that Eric Vale will be coming to NZ for the expo! Who's Eric Vale you may ask? Eric is the voice of both Future and GT Trunks as well as the World Tournament Announcer and has never been to NZ for the expo before! His name was originally Eric Johnson but due to the fact there were several others by that name (including the guy who used to play Lana's boyfriend on Smallville) he changed it. Many thanks to the organisers of the Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo for letting me announce this first (they'll announce it on their site on Friday) The expo begins Friday April 16th and ends Sunday April 18th 2004. More expo details coming to this site shortly!