Dragon Ball: Origins

Did You Know?

• A sequel, Dragon Ball: Origins 2, was released in 2010.
• The game received a Silver Hall of Fame score from Famitsu.
• IGN gave the game an 8.2, citing repetitive but well-done gameplay.

Gameplay

The player uses the stylus and touchscreen to control Goku. Bulma tags alongside in many levels, armed with a weapon the player gives her, but she remains vulnerable to attacks. Obstacles such as gaps or doors can block Bulma's progress, requiring the player to remedy them. The primary mode, Episode Select, lets players play episodes in chronological order or at random, and revisiting them allows earning higher ranks or finding missed items. Some levels feature racing elements on Nimbus, where the player must reach a point or catch an opponent within a time limit. Players can collect figures throughout the game, which serve as character avatars; these are found in episodes or purchased in a store, each with an animation viewable on the Animation Figure screen. Figures can be traded with other players via wireless multi-card play.

Development

The game was first announced in the May 2008 issue of V Jump magazine, listing a release date later that year and revealing it as a platformer focusing on the Pilaf story arc. Screenshots showed the stylus' combat capabilities and the dual screen gap used to censor Bulma's genitals when she flashes Master Roshi for a Dragon Ball, and indicated Bulma's involvement in gameplay. The June issue added screenshots of stylus-based melee combat with hand-to-hand techniques or the Power pole, and confirmed the Japanese release for September 18. The July issue showed menus, maps, and the Dragon Radar; the August issue revealed the story mode would include the tournament arc and characters Krillin and Launch. Atari's US and European branches later announced the name Dragon Ball: Origins and a December European release. A playable demo appeared on the Everybody's Nintendo Channel for Wii in Japan in early September, then only via DS Station kiosks after September 17. The game was unveiled at the Tokyo Game Show in October, and Atari announced completion and a November 4 North American release.