Hi, Andy Aben here!

At this rate, I'm never going to be returning at full capacity like I keep convincing myself I will. haha But hey, just under two weeks since my last journal update! That ain't too shabby!

Anyway, I bought a copy of Dragon Ball Z: Sagas on the PS2 for a dollar at nearby video store that is going under. Their selection was pretty picked-over, so this was the only thing of remote interest. I remember renting it when it was brand new. Time has been quite unkind to this game, which wasn't all that good back then. Basically, the game plays as a really shallow beat-'em-up. The only truly amusing bits are how Piccolo pronounces his name when selecting him, and how when the characters are running, it reminds me of the '60s Batman TV show opening. It's worth a dollar, but not much more.

Conversely, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast on the PS3 is quite good. The controls much smoother than those of the Tenkaichi series, the online is flawless compared to Tenkaichi 3's on the Wii, and the character customization is actually pretty fun, too. My only complaint is that I'm spoiled. I'm too used to Tenkaichi 3's grotesquely massive character roster. This game has 40 characters and transformations boost that to about 70, which is really a lot by anyone's standards, but the Wii's Tenkaichi 3 had about 150 characters. Most of the characters that got cut, granted, were forgettable ones like Cui and Frieza Soldier, but when plot-important, fan-favorite characters like Ultimate Gohan got the axe, what's the excuse? Also, this one just has a lot of generic locations for stages. While this isn't really a problem as you'll usually be more focused on not getting Goku's 60-lbs boot up your ass, the fact that the inside of Super Buu's stomach looks exactly like Dr. Gero's laboratory is a little distracting. Well, this paragraph is getting quite lengthy, I'm not even sure anyone here's going to read it, and if they do I'm not sure my opinion will make or break any deals. But I will say this. It's a good game for fans of the series, and I know that even those who aren't fans can enjoy the chaotic, fast-paced action.

So, play any good games lately, guys an' gals?