August 20^th, 2003 (12:00am) - Atari has announced that a thrilling new addition to the Dragon Ball Z series is coming to the PlayStation 2. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 will feature never seen before character fusions, a new single player mode, opponents new to the video game world and "Toriyama shading," a new and unique style of shading coined after the original author of the Dragon Ball series, Akira Toriyama. A sequel to the best-selling Dragon Ball Z: Budokai game, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 is currently in production by developer Dimps, and is scheduled to ship in December 2003.

"The Dragon Ball Z video game franchise has achieved significant success and fan status because they invite fans to ’play the show’," said Nancy MacIntyre, vice president of marketing for Atari’s Beverly studio. "Budokai 2 will once again demonstrate Atari’s ongoing commitment to delivering fresh and compelling interactive entertainment."

"Atari continues to captivate fans by letting them participate in an authentically recreated, Dragon Ball Z® universe, including all of the most compelling story lines and memorable characters, said Gen Fukunaga, president of FUNimation Productions. "With surprising gameplay features and graphics enhancements, Budokai 2 looks to set a new standard of DBZ video game excellence."

With highly detailed Toriyama shaded graphics, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 features 34 of the toughest, most seasoned heroes and villains from throughout the Dragon Ball Z sagas. The World Games through the Kid Buu sagas of the Dragon Ball Z animated series are "all new" in the Budokai 2 experience. Players can battle in eight highly destructive arenas covering four gameplay modes, including Versus, Tournament, Training and the all-new, single-player experience, Dragon Mode, where players join forces with a team of AI-controlled DBZ fighters on a quest to capture all seven Dragon Balls. Fans can perform fusions - the combination of two fighters into one, taken directly from the animated series - and play as the mighty villain Buu, who appears in three forms, Maijin Buu, Super Buu and Kid Buu.