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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%
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%
Kamehame-awww: Atari recalls Dragon Ball Origins in Australia
If you're in Australia and you've been holding off on picking up a copy of the delightful Dragon Ball Origins, your wait has just been artificially extended: Atari has issued a recall in Australia for every copy of Dragon Ball Origins on store shelves, due to an apparent mis-rating. Origins has been out in the region since December.The cause seems to be a lazy OFLC: Dragon Ball Origins was given the same PG rating as other recent Dragon Ball games, but Origins features, well, multiple pants-free scenes. The first such scene occurs within the first hour of gameplay!Atari will reissue the game once it's been re-rated and labeled accordingly. If you've already got it, congratulations! Instant collector's item.%Gallery-28185%
DS Daily: Most surprising game of 2008?
It's the time of year when websites begin looking back at all the other times of the year -- with roundups, lists, retrospectives, etc. And we're no exception! We thought we'd include you in the festivities as well, because we hate thinking up our own ideas value your contributions.When we talk about a year's biggest gaming surprises, that could mean a few different things -- most unexpected news stories, surprise game announcement or game release, etc. But what we mean this time is this: what game did you not expect to like so much this year? For us, it was Dragon Ball Origins. Sure, it looked great, but it was a licensed game, so we expected disappointment. Then it turned out to be great! Surprise!%Gallery-28185%
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!
DS Fanboy Review: Dragon Ball Origins
Game Republic's Dragon Ball Origins adapts the first chapters of Akira Toriyama's classic manga into an action-RPG game. The perspective and the stylus-based controls recall The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass strongly, and it's clear that Game Republic had played Phantom Hourglass when designing Dragon Ball Origins, but Dragon Ball changes enough in terms of level structure and overall flow that it hardly feels like a ripoff. In fact, the transition from an epic adventure to an action-oriented, streamlined action game results in something a lot more enjoyable than would be expected from a licensed game.%Gallery-28185%
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%
DS Daily: Ignoring a license
It doesn't happen often that the gameplay of a licensed game entices us to play when we aren't interested in the license. Usually, if anyone cares about a licensed game, it's because they love the source material. But we find ourselves drawn to Dragon Ball: Origins for reasons totally unrelated to Goku and the gang. It sounds like Phantom Hourglass with more action.How about the rest of you? Anyone playing a licensed game totally because it's a good game?%Gallery-28185%
DS Fanboy hands-on: Dragon Ball Origins
The Namco Bandai Games-developed Dragon Ball: Origins for the Nintendo DS attempts to shed light on the origin of Goku, Dragon Ball's prolific spikey-haired protagonist. Controlling Goku is simple: tap the screen with the stylus, and Goku will set out in that direction at a walk or a run depending on the distance between him and your chosen spot. Tapping and holding the stylus will cause Goku to keep moving as you drag your pointer across the screen.%Gallery-28185%
