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> Results: Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure
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Dragon Ball Z is one of the most popular Japanese comic books (manga) and cartoons (anime) ever made. It tells the story of super powered martial artist Goku and friends as they defend Earth from intergalactic warriors and other malevolent beings. On occasion the heroes try and gather the seven mythical Dragon Balls to summon a magical dragon who can grant any wish. Before there was Dragon Ball Z, there was Dragon Ball, which told the story of young Goku as he strove to become a great martial artist and keep bad guys from getting the Dragon Balls for their own evil wishes. The original Dragon Ball manga and anime focused less on fighting and more on adventures and humor.
Now you can enjoy the fun of the original Dragon Ball on your Game Boy Advance. Guide young Goku through 2D sidescrolling platform jumping stages as he punches, kicks, uses his extending power pole, and fires energy waves at bad guys. Sometimes little Goku competes in martial arts tournaments, then the gameplay shifts to a simplified one on one fighting challenge. With entertaining graphics and sound, fluid character animation, and tried and true classic gameplay, Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure should please fans of the anime and action games alike.  
Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure does have violence, but it's so cartoony and over the top in almost Looney Tunes proportions that it's not too bad. Little Goku clobbers all manner of pig monsters, dinosaurs, ferocious wolves, and the occasional evil ninja. There is no blood, and defeated enemies just flash and disappear. There is a witch and a few demon-looking enemies, though.
The punch and kick gameplay gets a little repetitive sometimes, and there are a few sections that a very young gamer might need a little help getting through. Luckily there are three selectable difficulty levels, so gamers of all skill levels should get some enjoyment from the game. Reading proficiency is helpful for the story sections and game hints, but not really necessary to simply get through the game. The game is short but there is replay value to be had with unlockable characters, items, and other goodies through repeated play. Plus you can play the one on one fighting segments with another human player if you have two GBAs, two copies of the game, and a Link Cable. The only major bug I found in the game was in the Red Ribbon army base, I fell down a chasm and couldn't jump back up and had to start the stage over again. While the only major questionable content in the game is violence, the cartoon which Dragon Ball is based on also has crude humor that isn't as culturally acceptable outside of Japan. Parents may need to look out for that if their kids want to learn more about little Goku's adventures outside the game. Even so, young Goku is a very likable and admirable protagonist in both the anime and the game. He is always slow to anger, yet never hesitates to do the right thing, and he never gloats after a victory. Overall, Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure is an entertaining little game for all ages. This review edited by Dave Long Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "dragon ball" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Dragon Ball Advanced Adventure |
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