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Sand Land, a game adaptation of Akira Toriyama's manga, drops on April 26
Bandai Namco’s Sand Land finally has a release date of April 26. This is a video game adaptation of a classic manga by artist Akira Toriyama.
‘Sand Land’ first impressions: An Akira Toriyama manga, brought to life
You may have never heard of Sand Land, but don’t let that put you off, because it’s a 2000s comic penned by legendary manga artist, Akira Toriyama. Yes, Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama. The man who created the character designs for Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon and the Dragon Quest series. And Toriyama’s creations have never looked better.
'Dragon Ball Project Z' is now 'Kakarot,' arriving early 2020
If you've been jonesing for a Dragon Ball Z game that wasn't a straight-up 2D fighter, you're in luck. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (formerly Dragon Ball Project Z) is coming to the Xbox One and PC sometime in early 2020. There aren't many details available in the initial trailer, but you can clearly see the cel-shaded look, a variety of combat, familiar characters and screaming... lots of screaming. In other words, it's probably what you were looking for if you were already a fan of Goku, Vegeta and crew.
Funimation is launching its own streaming anime service
Funimation announced on Thursday that it is partnering with Sony DADC to create its own ad-free Crunchyroll-style streaming platform, called FunimationNow. The new service will begin rolling out in February and complement the company's existing streaming offerings through its website. It will be available through not only iOS, Android and Kindle apps as well as directly through the Apple or Amazon Fire TVs. Subscribers will have access to more than 400 titles from the studio's expansive archive including full series of Dragon Ball Z, Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, One Piece, Tokyo Ghoul and Space Dandy. There's no word yet on pricing.
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z announced for PS3, Vita and 360
Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z is a new, unfortunately-named Dragon Ball brawler for PlayStation 3, Vita and Xbox 360, from Namco Bandai. The game's main draw, other than the fact that it appears to include the very latest in Super Saiyan technology, is its four-player co-op support and eight-player free-for-all battles. The game, which appears to at least span the Saiyan and Namek sagas, is "coming soon" to Europe, according to the press release after the break, though no further launch details were given. We've reached out to Namco Bandai to see if Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z will also surge power levels across North America.%Gallery-192077%
New Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dragon Ball games coming from Namco Bandai
Two new games in longtime Namco Bandai anime franchise series are on the way. People who either love Naruto or love CyberConnect2's brand of cinematic fighting will be delighted to hear that a new Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm game is on the way next year, called Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations. The PS3/Xbox 360 game includes a "number of playable and support characters far beyond any Naruto game" and promises some kind of updated online functionality. In other Namco anime license news, the game formerly known as "Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011" has been named by fan feedback. Proving that they fear change, the community decided upon "Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi" for the new fighter, which is coming out on Xbox 360 and PS3 October 25.%Gallery-127534%
Namco Bandai working on new Dragon Ball fighter for 360 and PS3
According to Japanese blog Tale Tale Source (as translated by Andriasang), the upcoming issue of Weekly Shonen Jump includes an announcement of a new entry in Namco Bandai's Dragon Ball fighter series. The game, which is (assumedly tentatively) titled Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011, is reported to focus on "3D fighting action," a blanket descriptor which could easily apply to the many Budokais which have come before it. The blog also mentions that the magazine lists Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011 for a Fall 2011 release in Japan on Xbox 360 and PS3. We'll keep an ear to the ground for any news about the title and its American launch plans. Considering how loud those Dragon Ball guys yell, we don't think it's going to be too hard to hear.
Power up with trailers for two new Dragon Ball games
It seems like Namco Bandai has at least two Dragon Ball games up its sleeve at all times. At Gamescom, the two obligatory games are Raging Blast 2 for PS3 and Xbox 360 and Tenkaichi Tag Team for PSP. Both games are fighters, and both trailers are loaded with guitar rock. See both after the break.
Dragon Ball Origins 2 demo on Nintendo Channel next week
For all the time we spent expressing our admiration of Game Republic's Dragon Ball: Origins (admiration that will probably also apply to the sequel, though we don't really know yet), Namco Bandai's latest effort will be a lot more effective in convincing people to try it out before its June 22 release. On Monday, May 31, a downloadable demo for the DS action-adventure will be available through the Wii's Nintendo Channel. In this slice of gameplay, you'll get to gather up Goku's lost belongings, after he is knocked off of his Flying Nimbus cloud. Mostly, you'll get to fight a bunch of stuff, including a boss. And if you hate it, you've just lost a few minutes of your time and added an infinitesimal amount of wear to your DS. %Gallery-85949%
'Dragon Ball drought' to end, fans get much-needed sequel
Click to make with the embiggening "Will there ever be new Dragon Ball games?," you begged. "Will they be sequels?," you cried. Namco Bandai has heard your pleas, Dragon Ball fans. There will be more Dragon Ball games after all! One of them is even a sequel. Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2 is set to fill that Goku-shaped void in your PS3 or Xbox 360 with 20 more characters than the first Raging Blast. That and a "new Raging Soul System which enables characters to reach a special state, increasing their combat abilities to the ultimate level." Yes, they can power up. Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team is a fighting game for PSP featuring four-player simultaneous Ad Hoc battles. Both are due "this fall." Hang in there! %Gallery-92799% %Gallery-92798%
See Dragon Ball Origins 2's combat
We're sure a lot of you missed Dragon Ball Origins the first time around -- after all, licensed games are a dime a dozen on DS, and it's hard to devote your attention to any one, especially if the license isn't something you care about. However, we thought it was something that deserved attention, as the sequel is likely to be. These brief clips of Dragon Ball Origins 2 will pretty much get you up to speed: it's top-down, stylus (or button) controlled fighting, much like the DS Zeldas but faster and with more combat. If knocking a bunch of dudes off of snowmobiles with a giant, magical staff sounds like your kind of fun, you're in for a treat. %Gallery-85949%
Dragon Ball Origins 2 flying to DS on a cloud this summer
If, like us, you were surprised by how much fun Dragon Ball: Origins for DS was, prepare to be delighted once again. Namco Bandai announced that it is publishing Dragon Ball: Origins 2 in North America, with a summer release in mind. The sequel features the same kind of Phantom Hourglass-esque, stylus-controlled action, with the option to switch to buttons. This time, a two-player co-op mode is included, so Goku and a non-Goku friend can beat up the Red Ribbon Army over local wireless. The Japanese release also includes an emulated version of what we know as the NES's Dragon Power -- there's currently no word if that awful game will be a bonus in the American version. %Gallery-85949%
Namco prepares a Raging Blast of Dragon Ball DLC
If there's one thing Dragon Ball has, it's a giant, sprawling cast of unique characters. Namco Bandai understands this, so it will be offering new downloadable characters for Dragon Ball: Raging Blast every two weeks from now until April of 2010. Best of all, the downloads will be free. Each pack will include "customized versions of popular characters, each with different powered-up abilities." In other words, if the initial lineup of characters just wasn't enough, soon you'll have remixed versions on top of the current cast. Check out the full DLC schedule after the break. Unless otherwise noted, the DLC will release simultaneously on XBLM and PSN.
Dragon Ball license leaves Atari, returns to Namco Bandai
Atari's slow collapse continues with the loss of the company's most lucrative franchise. No, not Ghostbusters -- it's Dragon Ball, which has produced approximately a billion video games so far. The franchise will now go back to Namco Bandai, the original Japanese publisher of the series. According to a statement by Namco Bandai, the agreement will run for five years beginning in January 2010 and will supersede any existing publishing rights. In addition, Namco Bandai will publish the upcoming Dragon Ball: Raging Blast game for Xbox 360 and PS3, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for DS all this year.The loss of the Dragon Ball franchise is perhaps the greatest evidence of the financial challenges that face Atari. Earlier this year, the company pulled out of E3, sold its European publishing division, and even sold exclusivity rights for Ghostbusters, all presumably for a small cash influx. With Phil Harrison recently stepping down from his position at the company, it's clear that Atari will see even more troubled times ahead.
New Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo footage looks rad
A quick poll of the Joystiq staff proved that most of us stopped watching Dragon Ball years ago (some never got into it), but general consensus is the upcoming title looks very appealing. A platformer at its core, Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo (Dragon Ball: Tenkaichi Daibouken) focuses on the Red Ribbon Army and Piccolo Daimao story arcs of the famed anime and manga series. Looking for a new 2.5D adventure? Namco Bandai's upcoming Wii-exclusive might find a spot on your radar. A mash-up of three Japanese commercials (with game footage) can be found after the break.
Namco Bandai grants European Dragon Ball fans' wishes
Last week, Namco Bandai introduced two new Dragon Ball games to Japan, including the gorgeous Dragon Ball: Tenkaichi Daibouken, a 2.5D sidescroller for Wii, and Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast, the latest Budokai Tenkaichi fighter for PS3 and Xbox 360. Namco Bandai Europe just announced that it will release both of those games in Europe, along with a DS role-playing game called Dragon Ball: Attack of the Saiyans. All three games are due out this fall. Check the gallery for new screens of the Wii game.According to Namco Bandai's press release, the Wii platformer, now called Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo, will also include a versus mode, meaning that almost two new Dragon Ball fighting games were announced. Neither Namco Bandai nor Atari have announced any North American plans for any of these games, but it's only a matter of time.%Gallery-64132%[Screens via Nintendo Everything]Source -- Dragon Ball: Revenge of King PiccoloSource -- Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the SaiyansSource -- Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast
Shocker: New Dragon Ball games headed to Wii, 360, PS3
Attention Dragon Ball fans, we have some news that will probably make all kinds of sense to you. Daizex.com noticed reports of new games set in the Dragon Ball universe for the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3. First up, French site Wiiz.fr has magazine scans showing off a new Wii game based on the original Dragon Ball series, apparently entitled Dragon Ball World: Big Adventure, a 2D/3D affair in which Son Goku (who?) faces the Red Ribbon Army (whatever that is).Meanwhile, Xbox Evolved reports that a new Dragon Ball Z game is on the way for Xbox 360 and PS3 entitled Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast. Daizex.com suspects that the game is more closely related to something called Sparking! than Burst Limit. Sparking!, evidently, is the Japanese name for the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Or something.We don't really understand anything else, but we're sure it's all very exciting.
Dragonball: The Movie: The Game coming to PSP
According to the latest Shonen Jump in Japan, a game based on the upcoming Hollywood adaptation of the Dragonball movie will be hitting the PSP. It may be an exclusive, as no other platforms were announced. We're hoping it'll be just as totally awesome as Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game.Trailer for the movie and bonus video of the Street Fighter movie game, after the break.[Thanks, JV247!]
DS Daily: Surprised by license
JC wrote up a most excellent review for Dragon Ball Origins yesterday. If you haven't read it, you certainly should. Go on. We'll wait.Back? Good. See, his review talks about a licensed game surprising him, in terms of production values and overall quality. A fun, licensed game? Shocking, we know.There are a few out there, though. What licensed games have you found to be above the rest? They don't have to be on the DS necessarily, so feel free to shout out any. We just want to know!
Pole vault into exclusive Dragon Ball: Origins video and screens
Atari has provided us with an exclusive new Dragon Ball: Origins video focusing on Goku's arsenal of touch-controlled attacks using his Power Pole. They're all fairly self-explanatory -- the attacks all have various speed, distance and multiple-targeting advantages, and can be used to smack environmental objects in order to solve puzzles.In addition to his proficiency with a stick, the little monkey boy is powerful on his own. Non-pole abilities include the Rush Attack (not to be confused with the Rush 'n Attack), in which Goku dashes straight into an enemy; the Power Punch, a combo punching attack; and, of course, the famous Ka-me-ha-me-ha, in which Goku throws an ancient Hawaiian king. If the video isn't enough Dragon Ball awesomeness for you, or even if it is, we've also got eight exclusive new screens in our gallery! %Gallery-28185%
