Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dragon Ball Z: Buu’s Fury builds on the solid foundation of its predecessors by delivering a satisfying blend of action RPG mechanics and classic beat-’em-up combat. Players guide fan-favorite characters through a series of interconnected levels, each filled with enemies to defeat, items to collect, and secrets to uncover. The combat system is intuitive yet deep, allowing beginners to perform flashy ki blasts and melee combos, while veterans can string together advanced techniques to dispatch foes with dynamic finishers.

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Leveling up your characters is at the heart of Buu’s Fury’s progression. As you earn experience from defeating enemies and completing missions, you’re free to allocate stat points to boost health, attack power, defense, or speed. This freedom encourages experimentation: will you create a tanky Vegeta who soaks up damage, or a lightning-fast Gohan capable of evading enemy strikes? Swapping characters on the fly also keeps the action fresh, as each fighter boasts unique special moves that feel true to their anime counterparts.

The exploration elements in Buu’s Fury are surprisingly robust for a Game Boy Advance title. You’ll traverse sprawling fields, labyrinthine caves, and even deserts littered with hidden collectibles. Some areas require special items or character abilities to access, rewarding thorough players who revisit old locations after gaining new powers. Sidequests abound, from tracking down lost Dragon Balls to rescuing civilians, offering extra opportunities to grind and uncover lore tidbits.

Multiplayer support via link cable adds another layer of replayability. You can team up with friends for friendly sparring matches or cooperative battles against tougher bosses. While the experience can be more limited than the single-player campaign, it’s a welcome feature that extends the game’s longevity and provides a taste of PvP action.

Graphics

For a handheld game released in the mid-2000s, Buu’s Fury boasts vibrant, colorful visuals that capture the over-the-top aesthetic of the Dragon Ball Z universe. Character sprites are well-animated, with expressive faces and fluid motion during combat sequences. Special attack animations, such as Goku’s Kamehameha or Trunks’ Burning Attack, explode across the screen with bright flashes and particle effects, lending each battle a cinematic flair.

The environmental design is equally impressive, with diverse backdrops ranging from lush forests to scorched wastelands. Parallax scrolling layers add depth to each scene, making the 2D world feel more alive. Seasonal changes and weather effects—like drifting snow in the Lookout or swirling sand in the desert—further immerse players in the game’s universe.

Boss encounters, especially against Majin Buu and his various forms, are the visual highlights of the title. These true-to-scale battles showcase larger-than-life sprites that dominate the screen, creating a palpable sense of scale and danger. The combination of dramatic camera zooms and dynamic color shifts during these fights ensures that each showdown feels like a showdown ripped straight from the anime.

While a handful of weaker enemy sprites can sometimes look repetitive, the overall presentation remains polished. Background details, such as crumbling pillars or flickering torches, rarely go unnoticed, contributing to the game’s richly textured world and underscoring the care put into adapting a blockbuster series onto portable hardware.

Story

Buu’s Fury picks up at a critical juncture in the Dragon Ball Z timeline, thrusting players into the conflict against the monstrous Majin Buu. The narrative delivers an authentic retelling of the saga, complete with key moments and dramatic set pieces. Fans of the series will appreciate the faithful recreation of pivotal events, from the ghastly rampage of Fat Buu to the climactic Spirit Bomb showdown.

Despite the condensed format necessary for a handheld RPG, the story never feels rushed. Dialogue exchanges between Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, and their allies capture each character’s distinct voice and motivations, providing emotional weight to the mission of saving Earth. Occasional cutscenes, presented with sprite-based cinematics and character portraits, punctuate the action and reinforce the stakes at hand.

Side stories and optional character interactions enrich the core plot, revealing new dimensions of familiar faces. Whether uncovering Piccolo’s mentorship of the younger Z-Fighters or witnessing Trunks’ reflections on his future timeline, these moments add depth to what might otherwise be a straightforward “defeat the villain” storyline. The inclusion of Dragon Ball lore tidbits—such as the origins of the Namekian Dragon Balls—further delights franchise enthusiasts.

By weaving together main missions and auxiliary tasks, Buu’s Fury creates a narrative tapestry that balances epic highs with quieter, character-driven episodes. Even players less familiar with every detail of the anime can follow along, thanks to clear storytelling and accessible mission briefs, making the adventure approachable for newcomers.

Overall Experience

Dragon Ball Z: Buu’s Fury stands as a high watermark for action RPGs on the Game Boy Advance. The combination of responsive combat, meaningful character progression, and sprawling levels ensures that players remain engaged throughout the 20+ hour journey. Whether you’re battling hordes of minions or clashing with Majin Buu himself, the gameplay loop consistently delivers satisfying challenges and rewards.

The game’s audiovisual presentation, while limited by the hardware, punches well above its weight class. Lush environments, detailed character models, and explosive attack animations capture the energy of the Dragon Ball Z universe in a portable format. Coupled with a punchy soundtrack and sound effects that bring each ki blast to life, Buu’s Fury offers a sensory experience that belies its age.

Perhaps most importantly, Buu’s Fury appeals to both die-hard Dragon Ball fans and RPG enthusiasts seeking a robust action title. Its faithful adaptation of the series’ lore, combined with solid role-playing mechanics, creates an experience that’s both nostalgic and genuinely fun to play. The game strikes a balance between linear story missions and open-ended exploration, providing variety that keeps the adventure fresh from start to finish.

Even over a decade after its release, Buu’s Fury remains a worthy addition to any GBA collection. Its engaging gameplay, charming visuals, and compelling narrative cement its status as a classic, ensuring that new and returning players alike will find plenty to love as they prepare for the ultimate battle against Majin Buu.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10