Does Budokai Tenkaichi Two Cover All of Dragon Ball GT? A Deep Dive

Introduction

Dragon Ball GT, the anime series that followed the legendary Dragon Ball Z, has always been a point of contention among fans. While some appreciate its attempt to continue the adventures of Goku and friends, others criticize its departure from the original creator Akira Toriyama’s style and its perceived lower quality compared to its predecessors. Regardless of personal opinions, Dragon Ball GT introduced several iconic characters, transformations, and storylines that have become a part of the larger Dragon Ball universe. A key question for fans of the Budokai Tenkaichi series is: Does Budokai Tenkaichi Two, a widely beloved entry in the franchise, comprehensively adapt Dragon Ball GT?

The answer, simply put, is no. While Budokai Tenkaichi Two features a notable selection of characters and transformations derived from Dragon Ball GT, including the coveted Super Saiyan Four forms, it doesn’t encompass the entire narrative arc of the series. The game picks and chooses specific elements, leaving significant portions of Dragon Ball GT’s storyline and character roster unrepresented. This article delves deep into what aspects of Dragon Ball GT are included in Budokai Tenkaichi Two and, crucially, what’s left out, exploring the reasons behind these choices.

A Look Back at Dragon Ball GT

To understand the scope of Budokai Tenkaichi Two’s adaptation, it’s essential to briefly recap the major story arcs of Dragon Ball GT. The series kicks off with the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga. Pilaf, always scheming, accidentally wishes Goku back into a child using the Black Star Dragon Balls. These Dragon Balls scatter across the universe, and if not retrieved within a year, Earth will be destroyed. This saga sees Goku, Pan, and Trunks venturing into the cosmos, encountering various adversaries and planets.

Following the Black Star Dragon Ball Saga is the Baby Saga. Dr. Myuu, a scientist seeking revenge against the Saiyans, creates Baby, a parasitic being born to eradicate the Saiyan race. Baby travels to Earth, possessing Vegeta and becoming Super Baby Vegeta, presenting a formidable challenge to Goku and the Z Fighters. This arc is considered by many to be the strongest in Dragon Ball GT, featuring compelling character development and intense battles.

The Super Seventeen Saga emerges after the Baby Saga concludes. In this arc, Doctor Gero and Doctor Myuu team up in Hell to create Android Seventeen. This new Android fuses with the original Android Seventeen, resulting in Super Seventeen, a powerful and uncontrollable android that wreaks havoc on Earth. The Z Fighters must unite to defeat this unexpected threat.

Finally, Dragon Ball GT culminates in the Shadow Dragons Saga. This is arguably the most thematically complex arc of the series. The overuse of the Dragon Balls creates an imbalance, resulting in the emergence of seven Shadow Dragons, each born from a negative wish. Goku and friends must confront these formidable dragons, facing the consequences of their reliance on the Dragon Balls. This saga showcases powerful transformations and an epic conclusion where Goku merges with the dragon Shenron and departs from Earth.

Dragon Ball GT Content Found in Budokai Tenkaichi Two

Budokai Tenkaichi Two includes a respectable amount of content from Dragon Ball GT, which undoubtedly pleases fans of the series. A primary draw is the character roster. The game features several key characters from Dragon Ball GT, including Goku in his Super Saiyan Four form, Vegeta also in his Super Saiyan Four transformation, and Super Baby Vegeta in his various forms. Having these iconic characters available to play with is a major selling point for fans of the series. Also, characters like Pan and Uub are playable, expanding the roster to include more of the GT cast.

The inclusion of transformations is another significant aspect. Super Saiyan Four is arguably the most recognizable transformation from Dragon Ball GT, and Budokai Tenkaichi Two delivers this transformation for both Goku and Vegeta. This transformation has become a favorite amongst Dragon Ball fans, and its inclusion solidifies the game’s connection to the controversial anime. Furthermore, the Golden Great Ape form, which is essential for achieving Super Saiyan Four, is also represented in the game.

The game’s Dragon Adventure, the story mode, does incorporate storylines from Dragon Ball GT. Specific missions allow players to play through pivotal battles from the Baby Saga, such as Goku’s confrontations with Super Baby Vegeta. However, it is important to note that the game does not cover every single event in the story arcs. Battles are often truncated, and certain character interactions are omitted. This, however, allows players to experience many of the major battles in the Baby Saga firsthand.

Regarding stages, while not a primary focus, there are a few stages in Budokai Tenkaichi Two that are either directly or indirectly inspired by locations in Dragon Ball GT. For instance, some stages might evoke the desolate landscapes seen during the Black Star Dragon Ball saga or the ravaged environment of Earth during the Super Seventeen Saga.

Dragon Ball GT Content Missing from Budokai Tenkaichi Two

While Budokai Tenkaichi Two includes several characters and plot points from Dragon Ball GT, it does fall short of providing a complete adaptation of the entire series. There are notable narrative gaps that leave portions of the storyline untouched. The Black Star Dragon Ball Saga, while setting the stage for Dragon Ball GT, is sparsely represented in the game’s story mode. Important events and battles from that saga are significantly reduced or outright excluded. Also, the interactions and journeys of Pan and Trunks are not nearly as fleshed out in the game as they are in the series.

A limited character roster further contributes to the incomplete representation of Dragon Ball GT. While the game includes key characters such as Super Saiyan Four Goku and Vegeta, other significant characters from the series are noticeably absent. For example, characters like Nuova Shenron, Eis Shenron, and Omega Shenron who play a vital role in the Shadow Dragon Saga, are not available as playable characters.

The incomplete story arcs also contribute to a disjointed representation of Dragon Ball GT. The Super Seventeen Saga is a prime example of this. While Super Seventeen is a playable character, the build-up to his creation and the intricacies of the story arc are either absent or superficially touched upon. The nuanced conflicts within the Shadow Dragon Saga are also minimized.

Reasons Behind the Scope of Dragon Ball GT Content

Several factors likely influenced the scope of Dragon Ball GT content in Budokai Tenkaichi Two. First, the timing of the game’s release in relation to the anime series likely played a key role. Dragon Ball GT concluded in Japan in nineteen ninety-seven, while Budokai Tenkaichi Two was released in two thousand six. So, the decision to focus more on Dragon Ball Z could have been a more logical decision.

Secondly, the generally mixed reception of Dragon Ball GT amongst fans may have influenced the decision-making process. Knowing that the series was controversial and that some fans didn’t enjoy it, developers may have decided to invest more in Dragon Ball Z, which was largely considered to be universally loved.

Ultimately, the development priorities and time constraints are crucial considerations. Budokai Tenkaichi Two already encompassed the entirety of Dragon Ball Z, which demanded a substantial amount of development effort. Balancing that with Dragon Ball GT meant that certain compromises were inevitable. The development team most likely had to decide where to focus their limited resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Budokai Tenkaichi Two offers a curated selection of elements from Dragon Ball GT but does not provide a comprehensive adaptation of the entire series. The game excels at incorporating iconic characters, like Goku and Vegeta in their Super Saiyan Four forms, and key transformations, providing fans with the opportunity to experience these aspects in a dynamic and interactive way. However, it also falls short of delivering the full narrative depth and character richness found in Dragon Ball GT. It focuses on key battles in arcs like the Baby Saga but misses out on several narrative developments.

Therefore, while Budokai Tenkaichi Two incorporates Dragon Ball GT aspects, the game is not a one-to-one representation of the anime. While lacking in some Dragon Ball GT content, the game is still a great way for fans to enjoy and experience key elements from Dragon Ball GT, like playing as characters like Pan and Super Baby Vegeta.