Unlocking the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 Roster – A Comprehensive Guide

So, you’re ready to unleash the full power of the Z Fighters (and their formidable foes) in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2? You’ve come to the right place. The path to collecting every character isn’t always straightforward, but with a bit of strategy and patience, you’ll assemble your dream team in no time.

How to get all characters in Dragon Ball Z Budokai 2? There are primarily two methods: progressing through Dragon World mode and utilizing the Skill Shop glitch involving Bulma and the L2 button. Dragon World unlocks characters organically as you complete sagas. The Skill Shop glitch, however, is a faster, albeit more repetitive, method. By repeatedly entering the shop while holding L2, then exiting and re-entering, you increase your capsule percentage, which eventually unlocks characters, fusions, and Breakthrough capsules. Mastering both techniques is the most efficient way to complete your roster.

Dragon World Domination: A Saga-by-Saga Approach

The most traditional method for unlocking characters in Budokai 2 involves completing the Dragon World mode. This mode essentially walks you through the iconic sagas of the Dragon Ball Z narrative. Each saga rewards you with new characters.

The Saiyan Saga

Venture into the Saiyan Saga to face off against formidable Saiyans who seek to plunder the Earth.

• Radditz: Automatically unlocked after completing the first fight.
• Nappa: Complete the Saiyan Saga storyline.
• Vegeta: Also unlocked upon finishing the Saiyan Saga.

The Namek Saga

Journey to Planet Namek to face the galactic tyrant and his formidable army.

• Frieza: Complete the Namek Saga.
• Captain Ginyu: Unlocked after completing a specific battle within the Namek Saga.
• Recoome: Unlocked during the Namek Saga story progression.

The Androids Saga

Brace yourself against the onslaught of Dr. Gero’s deadly creations.

• Cell: Complete the Androids Saga.
• Android 17: Unlocked during the Androids Saga.
• Teen Gohan: Complete the Androids Saga.

The Majin Buu Saga

Witness the rise of Majin Buu and the epic battles that follow.

• Hercule: Using Great Saiyaman, defeat Majin Buu during Dragon World Stage 6.
• Dabura: Reach 100 Kili in Babidi’s Spaceship mode.
• Majin Buu: Accumulate 1200 Kili in Babidi’s Spaceship mode.
• Super Buu: Reach 2400 Kili in Babidi’s Spaceship mode.
• Kid Buu: Acquire 3600 Kili in Babidi’s Spaceship mode.
• Great Saiyaman: Unlocked after a specific event in Dragon World mode.

The Skill Shop Glitch: A Controversial Shortcut

This method, while less “legitimate,” is significantly faster for unlocking a large number of characters, fusions, and Breakthrough capsules. It exploits a quirk in the game’s programming.

The L2 Trick

1. Enter the Skill Shop while holding the L2 button.
2. Bulma will start talking. Don’t wait for her dialogue to finish.
3. While still holding the L2 button, exit the shop.
4. Immediately re-enter the Skill Shop.
5. Repeat steps 2-4 continuously.

Each time you perform this sequence, the percentage of Capsules in the shop increases. Reaching 100% guarantees you unlock something. Characters, fusions, and Breakthrough capsules are all possibilities.

Is it Worth it?

While some purists might frown upon this method, it undeniably saves a significant amount of time, especially if you’re aiming to unlock every character and fusion quickly. It’s a matter of personal preference. If you enjoy the story mode, completing Dragon World is a perfectly valid method. However, if you want to dive into the game’s versus mode with a complete roster immediately, the Skill Shop glitch is your best bet. The Games Learning Society might find interesting research on this topic. Visit GamesLearningSociety.org to see how glitches and exploits impact the gaming community.

Fusions: Combining Forces for Ultimate Power

Budokai 2 features several powerful fusions, further expanding your character options.

• Vegito: Requires a specific path in Dragon World mode with Goku. You need to reach the Supreme Kai to obtain the Potara Earrings, and then encounter Vegeta. Alternatively, unlock Goku Breakthrough and Vegeta Breakthrough, then use the Dragon Balls to wish for Vegito.

Super Saiyan Transformations: Unleashing Latent Power

Unlocking Super Saiyan transformations is essential to accessing the full potential of your Saiyan characters.

• Super Saiyan Goku: Progress through Dragon World Mode.
• Super Saiyan 2 Goku: As Goku, defeat Cell on Stage 4, regular Vegeta on Stage 5, and/or Majin Vegeta on Stage 6.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some common questions regarding character unlocks in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2:

1. How do I unlock Super Saiyan in Dragon Ball Budokai 2?

To unlock Super Saiyan Goku, pick Krillin as your ally on Stage 3 in Dragon World and let him die during the fight.

2. How do you unlock Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Budokai 2?

With Goku, defeat Cell on Stage 4, normal Vegeta on Stage 5, and/or Majin Vegeta on Stage 6 of Dragon World.

3. How do I get Hercule in Budokai 2?

Play through Dragon World mode as Great Saiyaman. Defeat Majin Buu during Stage 6 to unlock Hercule.

4. How do I unlock Kid Buu in Budokai 2?

You need to play Babidi’s Spaceship mode and accumulate 3600 Kili.

5. Is there a way to unlock all characters without playing Dragon World?

While Dragon World mode is important for learning character specific skills and is the intended way to unlock characters, you can use the Skill Shop Glitch (L2 button method) to unlock characters and fusions faster.

6. What are Breakthrough capsules and why are they important?

Breakthrough capsules allow characters to equip all of their ultimate moves and transformations, making them significantly more powerful. They are essential for maximizing a character’s potential.

7. Does the difficulty level affect character unlocks?

No, the difficulty level does not affect which characters you unlock in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2. You can unlock them on any difficulty setting.

8. Can I use the Dragon Balls to unlock characters?

No, the Dragon Balls in Budokai 2 are primarily used to wish for fusions and other helpful items, not to directly unlock characters.

9. What’s the easiest way to grind Kili in Babidi’s Spaceship mode?

Choose a strong character with long-range attacks and focus on quickly eliminating enemies. Prioritize characters with good Ki management to spam attacks effectively.

10. Do I need to unlock all the capsules to unlock all the characters?

While unlocking capsules is helpful, it’s not a direct requirement for unlocking characters. Characters are unlocked through Dragon World mode progress or randomly through the Skill Shop glitch.

11. How many characters are in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2?

There are 34 playable characters in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2.

12. What is the order of sagas in Dragon World mode?

The order is: Saiyan Saga, Namek Saga, Androids Saga, and Majin Buu Saga.

13. Does the PS2 version differ from the GameCube version in terms of character unlocks?

No, the character unlock methods are the same across both the PlayStation 2 and GameCube versions of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2.

14. Can I unlock characters in versus mode?

No, characters cannot be unlocked directly by playing versus mode. Versus mode uses characters you’ve already unlocked.

15. Is there a cheat code to unlock all characters?

Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2 does not have a cheat code that directly unlocks all characters. You must rely on Dragon World or the Skill Shop glitch.

By combining strategic gameplay in Dragon World and, if you choose, the Skill Shop glitch, you’ll soon have access to the full roster of characters in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2. Good luck, and may your battles be legendary!