Digimon Rumble Arena 2

Double the Trouble

JP release: 29th July 2004
NA release: 6th September 2004
EU release: 15th October 2004
Developer: Black Ship Games
Publisher: Bandai
NGC Magazine Score: N/A
Mods Used: Widescreen Hack

Digimon is a show I watched a lot as a kid although, other than the amazing opening theme (which isn’t in this game) I don’t remember all that much other than a bunch of characters. I definitely remember enjoying it, though. Digimon Rumble Arena 2 is the second game of Digimon’s Super Smash Bros clone series.

It has quite similar controls. The A button for regular attacks, B button and a direction for special attacks. The main mode has you attacking until you reduce your opponent’s HP to zero, although there are a few others like having to be the first to fully evolve and pull off an ultra attack. The main singleplayer mode has you fighting the regular characters (often 2 or 3 opponents, although they’ll happily fight each other and ignore you) until you reach one of the bosses.

As you attack opponents, glowing orbs will fly out. Collect enough of these and you can digivolve. The regular characters have three versions each. They don’t follow the rules established in the show, but I guess that’s to have a more varied assortment of characters. As these do have different movesets, it creates a large amount of characters – it’s just a shame they’re not that fun to play with.

Items are also in this game, although you don’t know what it is until you try picking one up. These can give you bonuses or can be a big hindrance – one turns you into a pinata and you can’t attack for ages and another sets you on fire to harm anyone touching you. The effects tend to outstay their welcome before the end, which kind of describes the whole game.

Fine

Nope, not very good. It would just be average were it not for how painful it is to look at and listen to. There is nothing original to be found within and certainly nothing that even borders on the word ‘fun’. A real shame as the GameCube lacks really good fighters of any mould. Avoid like you would John Prescott at a buffet…
James Temperton, Cubed3

Remake or remaster?

Perhaps in a Digimon collection

Official Ways to get the game

There’s no official way to get Digimon Rumble Arena 2