Joystiq

New Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dragon Ball games coming from Namco Bandai

JC Fletcher — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST

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: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations (Xbox 360/PS3)

Continue reading New Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dragon Ball games coming from Namco Bandai

New Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Dragon Ball games coming from Namco Bandai originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Bandai working on new Dragon Ball fighter for 360 and PS3

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 03 May 2011 23:00:00 EST

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.

Namco Bandai working on new Dragon Ball fighter for 360 and PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 May 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Power up with trailers for two new Dragon Ball games

JC Fletcher — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:00:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Power up with trailers for two new Dragon Ball games

Power up with trailers for two new Dragon Ball games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Ball Origins 2 demo on Nintendo Channel next week

JC Fletcher — Mon, 24 May 2010 16:45:00 EST

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: Dragon Ball Origins 2 (DS)

Dragon Ball Origins 2 demo on Nintendo Channel next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Dragon Ball drought' to end, fans get much-needed sequel

Randy Nelson — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:30:00 EST

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: Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2

Gallery: Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Tag Team

'Dragon Ball drought' to end, fans get much-needed sequel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 May 2010 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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See Dragon Ball Origins 2's combat

JC Fletcher — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:45:00 EST

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: Dragon Ball Origins 2 (DS)

Continue reading See Dragon Ball Origins 2's combat

See Dragon Ball Origins 2's combat originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Ball Origins 2 flying to DS on a cloud this summer

JC Fletcher — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST

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: Dragon Ball Origins 2 (DS)

Dragon Ball Origins 2 flying to DS on a cloud this summer originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco prepares a Raging Blast of Dragon Ball DLC

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:47:00 EST

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.

Continue reading Namco prepares a Raging Blast of Dragon Ball DLC

Namco prepares a Raging Blast of Dragon Ball DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Ball license leaves Atari, returns to Namco Bandai

Andrew Yoon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST

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.

Dragon Ball license leaves Atari, returns to Namco Bandai originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo footage looks rad

Xav de Matos — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST

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.

Continue reading New Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo footage looks rad

New Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo footage looks rad originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Bandai grants European Dragon Ball fans' wishes

JC Fletcher — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:30:00 EST

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: Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo (Wii)

[Screens via Nintendo Everything]

Source -- Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo
Source -- Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans
Source -- Dragon Ball Z: Raging Blast

Namco Bandai grants European Dragon Ball fans' wishes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shocker: New Dragon Ball games headed to Wii, 360, PS3

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:00:00 EST

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.

Shocker: New Dragon Ball games headed to Wii, 360, PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 19 May 2009 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragonball: The Movie: The Game coming to PSP

Andrew Yoon — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

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!]

Continue reading Dragonball: The Movie: The Game coming to PSP

Dragonball: The Movie: The Game coming to PSP originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DS Daily: Surprised by license

David Hinkle — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: DS Daily

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 Daily: Surprised by license originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pole vault into exclusive Dragon Ball: Origins video and screens

JC Fletcher — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:37:00 EST

Filed under: Video, 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!

Pole vault into exclusive Dragon Ball: Origins video and screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Back to the beginning with Dragon Ball: Origins

Alisha Karabinus — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Screens

If you've been admiring the footage of Dragon Ball DS, then perk up: it's headed outside Japan this winter. According to a press release from Atari, the game will hit U.S. shelves in November under the title Dragon Ball: Origins, with Europe to follow in December. We expect a few people will peeking under a certain skirt around the holidays.

We've got new screens, too! Check 'em out below. Look now and get bonus character portraits, just because we care.

Back to the beginning with Dragon Ball: Origins originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon Ball DS trailer doesn't disappoint its audience

JC Fletcher — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Imports

We were pretty impressed with the trailer for Dragon Ball DS at first. Not just because the game's 3D graphics are so impressive, but because we thought we were witnessing the first Dragon Ball DS media not to feature Bulma lifting her skirt.

We thought this for one minute and twenty-three seconds. We get it, Banamco! It's a famous scene from Dragon Ball, and it makes a clever use of the DS screens, and also it's good for pervs. Move on!

Speaking of moving, the game continues to look really awesome -- fast-paced and action-packed in a way that the real Zelda games never were

[Via NeoGAF]

Dragon Ball DS trailer doesn't disappoint its audience originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comically ill-divided Dragon Ball screens

Alisha Karabinus — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:18:00 EST

Filed under: Screens

Sometimes, DS screenshots just don't look quite right. They're often a little rough around the edges -- even with games that look fantastic in motion -- but worse, the split between the screens sometimes ends up in odd places if a developer is trying to use both screens to tell a story. That happens a lot in these Dragon Ball DS screens, sometimes to comic effect ... so often, in fact, that it seems like it was done on purpose, particularly when it results in images like the one to the right.

Check out the full set in the gallery below. They're just begging to be adapted into a game of a different sort.

Comically ill-divided Dragon Ball screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gonk! New Dragon Ball DS screens arrive

JC Fletcher — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screens, Imports

Courtesy of Famitsu, we're treated to new screens of Namco Bandai's Zelda-like Dragon Ball DS game, and they're GONK-heavy. It seems that every time Goku strikes an enemy, a GONK sound effect appears. Is that just one GONK per combo, or does each hit meet with its own GONK?

Dragon Ball DS has two GONKing combat modes: hand-to-hand, in which Goku can carry out five-hit combos and activate the Kamehameha wave by rubbing the screen with the stylus; and staff, in which Goku can manage multiple enemies with his magical extending staff. Both combat modes are controlled with the stylus.

Gonk! New Dragon Ball DS screens arrive originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Bandai serves up weird Dragon Ball DS screens

JC Fletcher — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screens, Imports

While it's pretty easy to translate Dragon Ball Z into video games in which nothing happens but spikey-haired glowing dudes fighting and growling at each other in the air, its predecessor, Dragon Ball, featured all kinds of weird stuff. For example, the big noodle-serving/fighting guy here is actually a shape-shifting pig who saves the world later by wishing for panties.

A stylus-controlled adventure in the wacky Dragon Ball universe sounds infinitely more appealing than playing another game about Goku floating in the air and "powering up." Dragon Ball DS will be out in Japan on September 18; no announcements have been made elsewhere.

Namco Bandai serves up weird Dragon Ball DS screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Bandai wished for a good-looking Dragon Ball game

JC Fletcher — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Screens, Imports

Maybe the company completed a journey for the mystical Dragon Balls and summoned the Eternal Dragon, because short of magical intervention, it would be hard to create what Dragon Ball DS has become: a licensed Dragon Ball action-RPG that looks really, really great. It's Goku: Phantom Dragon Ball, basically.

Even in scans, the sharp 3D graphics come through, and the stylus controls seem enjoyable. Shown above: the maneuver for performing the Kamehameha: scratching back and forth quickly across the screen, then slashing forward -- all while brightly colored kana spell out the signature halting "ka-me-ha-me-ha."

If this successfully rips off the Zelda style, players could be in for a good time. We're excited -- if only because we're pretending it's a stylus-controlled Dragon Power remake.

Namco Bandai wished for a good-looking Dragon Ball game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Namco Bandai throws Dragon Ball onto the DS

Candace Savino — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:34:00 EST

Filed under: News

Recent V-Jump scans reveal that a Dragon Ball game is in the works for the DS. While we don't have many details on the game, it's going to be an action/adventure title that delves into the background of the Dragon Ball saga. We also know that the controls will be similar to those in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, as the player will use the stylus to perform actions and lead Goku around the screen.

From what we saw in the tiny scan screens, the game looks to be shaping up pretty nicely. We've never been too into Dragon Ball ourselves, but if we were, we'd be over 9,000 kinds of excited right now.

Namco Bandai throws Dragon Ball onto the DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 May 2008 22:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Virtually Overlooked: Dragon Power

JC Fletcher — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Virtually Overlooked

There is no way Dragon Power could have been good. It's a collection of awful components that amounts to more awfulness than the (negative) sum of its repulsive parts. Bandai (strike one, amirite) created a Dragon Ball game in 1986 (i.e. before third parties were really making decent games), and then, for whatever reason, decided to bring it to the American market. The problem, of course, was that in the mid-'80s, nobody in the U.S. had any idea what the hell Dragon Ball was. We had yet to even enter the "$20 for two episodes on a VHS tape" phase of anime fandom, much less the "Dragon Ball on cable" phase. So Bandai did what must have seemed like the logical thing: they ~~didn't release the game~~ hacked out all the recognizable Dragon Ball parts.

What was left was a licensed anime game with no license -- and, therefore, no reason to exist.

Continue reading Virtually Overlooked: Dragon Power

Virtually Overlooked: Dragon Power originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Finally, a Dragon Ball Z game for 360

Richard Mitchell — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: News

To say that the anime series Dragon Ball Z has remarkably long legs is a bit of an understatement. Considering the series was officially ended over ten years ago and they're still making games based on it ... well, words fail us. This was back when SEGA still had a console in the race. Hell, the N64 and wasn't even available by the time the series was over, and the original Playstation had only been available for a month in Japan. The point is, you see, Dragon Ball Z is old. It is, however, apparently still popular enough to create a 360 game based on it. Entitled Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit, it looks to expand on the fighting formula set by the Budokai series. It uses cel-shaded graphics and it looks pretty damned good. At times, the trailer is nearly indistinguishable from the original series. If you're a Dragon Ball fan, you'll probably want to keep your eye on it.

Finally, a Dragon Ball Z game for 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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