It’s hard to develop a solid 2D fighting game for a handheld console.  I could count the number of good fighter titles on the GBA on one hand, and they are still below any normal genre fan’s expectations.  Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu isn’t even in the ballpark.  Blaming the limited capabilities of control on the GBA is one thing, but Atari does nothing to compensate for what it seriously lacks.

Here’s the story (there isn’t really one, so just use your imagination as I continue):  Some of the Dragon Ball Z characters we have all come to love and hate are fighting against each other for the first time on the Game Boy Advance.  You can battle as Goku, Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Android 16, Android 18, Cell, Frieza, Vegeta, Broly, Buu, Nappa, Gotenks, Raditz, and Trunks, a fair amount of warriors available to select.  However, there isn’t too much more going for this game.

Taiketsu offers “One Player” and “Multiplayer” Mode, with an interesting Z-store to use your currency of the game to buy images, music, bios, bonus settings, and bonus modes.  I should say that in concept it's interesting, but in practice it's also lacking.  “One Player” Mode has tournament, endurance, time challenge, and sparring modes whereas the “Multiplayer” Mode allows you to link with another GBA system to fight against your friends.  Tournament mode allows you to unlock additional characters, which is probably the only reason to play tournament mode.  But once you get all the characters, endurance challenges get boring and time challenges get pointless.  Sparring allows you to practice moves with an inanimate character, and we all know how fun that is!  Button-mashers unite, as this game has all of it.  The fighting style of each character is exactly the same with the exception of a few special moves of their own.  But you will be spending most of your time with simple hand to hand punches and kicks.  One part that some (and that is being generous) will like is the sky battles you can engage in.  With such a fast paced animation sequence that don’t reflect your own controls, taking down an enemy in the sky can be either too long or too short.  Adding in a replay factor, if you do buy this game, keep it on hand as an emergency for boredom (but only under extreme caution).

The graphics are also weak, with choppy animation and character models that show a complete lack of care and precision.  The backgrounds and maps are simple as the controls.  They are fairly similar to the DBZ locations from the show but look like they were created in MSPaint.  The music does not carry the famed theme of DBZ, and the synthesizer it was created on could probably be found at your local toy store.  The sound effects are also ineffective.

Okay, so what does this mean to the GBA consumer?  Why do I have the sense that this title was developed solely for the purpose of adding another DBZ brand product to an already crowded family of Saiyan-fighting games?  Probably because Taiketsu is a pretty terrible addition that will even upset the biggest fans of this anime phenomenon.  Its fairly clear that this will be the darkest coal in your stocking this holiday season.

Gameplay: 3.5

Simple and downright disappointing.
 

Graphics: 4

This is anime gone wrong.

Sound: 4.5
Unimpressive music and sound effects makes volume control that much more of a necessity.

Difficulty: Easy 

Concept: 3 
A horrible attempt to use the GBA to capture the DBZ's once-hyped existence.

Multiplayer: 5
If you have a link cable to play against your friends, you'll be spared from the problematic AI.  But I guess that means you'll have to buy two copies.

Overall: 4
Taiketsu just doesn't work.  With bad gameplay, graphics, sound, and multiplayer, it leaves this reviewer complaining more than Andy Rooney....he's the guy on 60 minutes, boys and girls.