Richard: Virtual On's dual sticks taught me the wonders of being ambidextrous. EyeToy: Play's Boxing Chump gave me a Tae Bo workout. And now, Tenkaichi 2's Wii Remote setup has turned me into a Kamehameha-acting roleplayer. At first, it was funny - and embarrassing - to mirror the same attack moves performed by Goku, sending my arms through air with the controller as though unleashing a powerful beam attack in real life. But this overzealousness offers a refreshing take on the seldom-deviated fighting formula. And it doesn't seem too ridiculous when you're fighting in memorable environments. Hide behind a rock to avoid fireballs, execute your ultimate superattack to unleash the apocalypse on Earth - these immersive qualities fit the fidelity of the show.

Too bad blocking is a pain. Sure, the motion sounds simple (move the remote upward), but it wasn't reliable. Otherwise, my childhood fantasies of sending a spirit ball from my hands are finally fulfilled. Cosplaying is out of the question, though.

Shane: Tenkaichi 2 isn't one of those immediately instinctive Wii games poised to redefine the genre with its simple, motion-based gameplay. Nope, this 3D fighter forces you to wrap your head (and hands) around a shockingly deep control system utilizing nearly every button on the Wii-mote and Nunchuk. Once you ascend this steep learning curve, the input system works rather well - spastic fireball free-for-alls feel newly visceral and three-dimensional. Plus, dedicated DBZ fans will surely dig the 100-plus unlockable characters.

Michael: Richard is right - this game slaps away your self-esteem as you goofily pantomime devastating fireball attacks with a...uh...plastic remote. But while you'll look like a frazzled fanboy at first, by the time you master the motions, it becomes surprisingly fun in an I-swear-I-won't-ever-do-this-in-public way. Richard didn't mention the robust story mode: Chronicling the entire DBZ saga, it's essentially the however-many-million TV episodes condensed into a bunch of drama-dripping fights.

The Verdicts (Out of 10)

Richard: 7.0
Shane: 6.5
Michael: 7.0

The Good: New fighting-game feel, environments
The Bad: Steep learning curve
Supple Wrists: Long bouts may cause carpal tunnel syndrome Publisher: Atari Developer: Spike Players: 1-2 ESRB: Teen