Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 cover art

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2

Combo execution and mixup guessing against human opponents in anime skin.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION6 /10READS5 /10VARIANCE1 /10OPTIMIZATION4 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    6/10

    Combo strings and guard timing reward practiced hands

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    5/10

    Human versus play hinges on baiting and throw-guess mixups

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    1/10

    Capsule draws add minor randomness to builds

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    4/10

    Capsule loadouts and matchup knowledge are learnable

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 cover art

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

Competitive PvP · anime arena fighter

E
R
V
O
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
Def Jam: Fight for NY cover art

Def Jam: Fight for NY

Competitive PvP · wrestling fighting game

E
R
V
O
Def Jam: Fight for NY
Jump Force cover art

Jump Force

Competitive PvP · anime arena fighter

E
R
V
O
Jump Force
Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout cover art

Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout

Competitive PvP · anime fighting game

E
R
V
O
Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale cover art

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Competitive PvP · platform fighter

E
R
V
O
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
TagPro cover artcross-genre

TagPro

Competitive PvP · online capture-the-flag

E
R
V
O
TagPro

Game details

Released
2003
Developer
Dimps
Franchise
Dragon Ball
Platforms
NGC, PS2
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB critics
74/100
IGDB users
72/100
FightingAction