Conventional wisdom says that any Gundam, Dragon Ball Z or Final Fantasy title will be a surefire hit in Japan. Screw conventional wisdom. While previous DBZ games have been monster sellers, the latest installment is anything but. Cho Dragon Ball Z (Super Drago Ball Z) boasts toonshaded graphics and was developed by ex-Capcom and Street Fighter II producer Noritaka Funamizu. The title dropped last Thursday for around 7,140 yen (US $63), the new DBZ was already hitting the Japanese bargain racks in both Akihabara and Den-Den Town. The game was marked down almost half-price to 3,980 yen (US $34) at some stores. Why? I talked to an insider who has worked on previously DBZ titles in Japan, and he seemed to think it had reached saturation. Comments were also made about the new game's style of play being "heavy" and "sober" for fans of the series. Cue joke about Super Dragon Ball Z not being that super. Brian Ashcraft

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