Review: Anoyo-ichi Budokai Saga (DBZ Episodes 195 - 199)

Ah, filler. Sometimes it's a refreshing break from the intensity of the main storylines, and sometimes it's an awful look at what happens when you write stories to fill time. Or worst of all, it's boring. We've known a lot of filler arcs since starting our journey with Dragon Ball ep 1 - how does the Anoyo-ichi Budokai hold up? What are it's strengths? And what are it's flaws, if any? Let's get into it, after the break.

BONUS CONTENT! Anoyo-ichi Budokai

Riding Tricycles.

Dragon Ball Z ep 199 - Don't Let Victory Get Away!! Finish With an Ultra-Fast Kamehameha

The Anoyo-ichi Budokai crowd and Paikuhan are shocked by the sudden appearance of Super Saiyan Goku. With Paikuhan's weighted gear tossed aside, and Goku's ki powered up, the two finalists have taken the proverbial gloves off for a spectacular final round.

Kaio-sama likes Goku's chances.

Dragon Ball Z ep 198 - Final Round of Flame!! Goku or Paikuhan?!

Dragon Ball Z ep 197 - Grand Kaio's World Gone Wild!! Goku Kicks Up a Whirlwind

The Anoyo-ichi Budokai's preliminary rounds have finished, and the 8 quarter-finalists have been decided:

From the Northern Galaxy,

Son Goku and Olivue!

Dragon Ball Z ep 196 - I'm the Best in the Next World!! Heroes of the Ages Assembled

Goku is all fanboy over Paikuhan from the West Galaxy. He regales Kaio-sama with how Paikuhan easily took out Cell in two blows, but Kaio doesn't seem that impressed. After all, Kaio says as they approach a building on Grand Kaio's world, the Next World is full of many incredible guys!

Dragon Ball Z ep 195 - A Deep Impression!! There They Are! The Next World's Awesome Dudes

Grand Kaio-sama is the strongest man in the Next World. After losing his life in the battle against Cell, Son Goku has come to live among those martial artists granted to keep their body in the afterlife, so they can continue to train. The Grand Kaio is an expert martial artist who relishes in the sport of hand-to-hand combat. He rules over the four Kaios - North, South, East, and West - and on his planet the martial arts masters of the universe come to train for eternity.

Naturally, Goku wants to fight them.

"Those dudes are really that strong?"

Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (Part 2)

Deep in space, the Z-senshi have flown to the edge of the universe to find the Dark Planet where the sinister Dr. Raichi plots his revenge. But along the way, they get caught in some kind of... space storm.

Dragon Ball Z Gaiden: Plan to Eradicate the Saiyans (Part 1)

It's a comfortable, lazy day at the Son House. Chichi calls her husband and son in for dinner, as Goku does some stretches and Gohan collects firewood.

"I think today is going to be a great day."

"Dad, the woods are dying."

"And an evil gas is going to kill everyone."

"Well... maybe tomorrow."

Dragon Ball Z: The Galaxy at the Brink!! The Super Incredible Guy (DBZ Movie 9)

(AMV) Tree of Might

Something I made. Enjoy.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai - What If scenarios

After reviewing Dragon Ball Z: Budokai, I decided to have even more Budokai fun! Thanks to YouTube users DBOFRIEND and ClashElectrode, who uploaded all the Budokai What If scenario cutscenes to YouTube, I can take you through them, like an episode of DBZ! So for your enjoyment, a little alternate spin on the Saiyan, Freeza, and Cell Sagas.

Review: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai (Playstation 2)

(All images taken from Gamespot, unless otherwise noted.)

It was the height of the Dragon Ball Z craze in America, in Christmas 2002 when Dragon Ball Z: Budokai was released. In Japan (where the game was released under the simple title Dragon Ball Z), a resurgence of interest in the classic anime and manga had come about due to a long delayed home release of the entire series on DVD. These were the perfect conditions to unleash a new type of Dragon Ball Z fighting game onto the world.

I was a child when I first played Dragon Ball Z: Budokai. Okay, I wasn't quite a child anymore, but I wasn't grown up yet, either. I remember spending a very memorable weekend at a friend's house, trying to unlock everything the game had to offer. These are just some of the very fond memories I have surrounding this game and its sequels, and when sitting down to review this game, I tried not to let those fuzzy feelings cloud my judgment. You can decide whether or not I succeed.