Dragon Ball: Origins takes DS fans back to basics

Like most long-running Japanese game series, Dragon Ball has evolved a fair bit over the years. Atari though is set to take it back to basics again with Dragon Ball: Origins, a game which transports players back to the original Dragon Ball series all over again.

The single-player part of the game follows Goku and his sidekick Bulma as they travel about fighting enemies and collecting the seven missing Dragon Balls.

Playing as Goku, you need to protect the smart-but-weedy Bulma from enemies using his special skills and fighting moves, all unleashed using the DS touchscreen and a range of drawn lines and taps. As you gain experience, Goku gets stronger and you can also use his power pole and signature kamehameha move (pulled off by tapping the ka-me-ha-me-ha letters on the screen).

Bulma, for her part, can invent machines and weapons necessary for getting through the world. Glad to see she's doing her bit.

For an extra challenge, virtual Dragon Ball figurines are hidden around the world to be collected, which can then be swapped and traded with friends via the DS wireless connection.

Atari promises that visually Origins will feature vibrant 3D graphics – although with no screenshots available yet we'll have to take its word on that. The game is due for release throughout Europe in December this year.