Fans of Dragon Ball Daima was understandably excited when Goku transformed into a Super Saiyan for the first time in the series, as that's always an iconic moment no matter the year or stage of the game. Dragon Ball franchise. For a while, it looked like Super Saiyan would be Goku's ace during his Daima adventure, as none of the enemies he encountered in the Demon Realm so far seemed like a real threat. Furthermore, as the series seeks a simpler, more adventure-focused tone, a change in transformations and power-ups was to be expected.
However, Dragon Ball Daima really surprised fans by showing Goku using another of his forms much sooner than expected. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment during Goku's battle against Tamagami, and it actually serves another purpose as well. As Tamagami was said to be stronger than Dabura, a villain appearing in Dragon Ball Z During the Majin Buu saga, it was surprising that Goku could defeat one of the Demon Realm's dragon ball guardians in just his basic Super Saiyan form. However, this does not happen.
Goku already used Super Saiyan 2 in Dragon Ball Daima
Goku briefly uses this form during the Tamagami battle.
During the final stages of Goku's incredible battle with the Third World Demon Tamagami, just before firing his Kamehameha, the now diminutive Saiyan experiences a subtle change. Blue lightning can be seen mixed with his aura, and his air rises even higher than normal. Both characteristics are what set Super Saiyan 2 apart from previous stages (along with the increase in power). This becomes most clearly visible after Goku delivers the final blow to Tamagami and he stands still for a moment, waiting for an eventual counterattack.
Super Saiyan 2 is a form not usually associated with Goku, who only used it briefly during the Majin Buu saga, in his duel against Majin Vegeta. The reason is that Goku achieved this form while training in the Other World after dying against Cell, and he also surpassed it by achieving Super Saiyan 3, which he uses extensively against Majin Buu. The only reason Goku used Super Saiyan 2, really, is that he didn't want to humiliate Vegeta during their duel (at least according to the Saiyan Prince).
However, since Daima is set after the Buu saga, there is no reason why Goku wouldn't be able to use Super Saiyan 2. Although the third form is much more problematic in his current childish state because it burns a lot of energy and even adult Goku If he couldn't keep it up for long, this shouldn't be a problem with Super Saiyan 2. However, there is a good reason why Goku continues to use his base Super Saiyan state, at least apparently.
Goku never used the classic Super Saiyan form on Daima
While it may seem like the Super Saiyan form goes straight from base form to Super Saiyan 2, that's not the case. There are a few intermediate steps that were explored during the Cell saga, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The last of these stages is commonly referred to as Super Saiyan Full Power (also known as Super Saiyan Stage 4), it is the mastered form of the Super Saiyan state. Goku and Gohan are the first to achieve this while training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber before the Cell Games.
The main feature of this transformation is that it essentially makes Super Saiyan a “base” state for the user. Goku and Gohan actually train by remaining Super Saiyan for as long as possible, even when they are not actually training and carrying out their daily activities. The “classic” Super Saiyan is instead characterized by a constant burst of energy and an overflowing aura, which often accompanies a mental state altered by battle.
The purpose of Super Saiyan Full Power is to reduce the energy consumption associated with this form. This is a recurring problem in the franchise, to the point of returning in Dragon Ball Super when Goku and Vegeta are trying to master their blue forms. It is also the reason why Super Saiyan 3 is considered the worst of the transformations, as its power consumption is too high to make it efficient.
When Goku turns into a Super Saiyan in Daima, he looks dominated. He is calm and natural and his aura does not overflow. This is a great detail for fans of the franchise because it shows that Daima is taking into consideration everything that happened Dragon Ball Zincluding the complexities of a power system that rarely remained consistent. Goku can thus use Super Saiyan almost effortlessly, reserving the change to Super Saiyan 2 only for the most important moments, a strategy similar to the one Vegeta will adopt in Dragon Ball Super with his Super Saiyan Blue form.
Goku Going Super Saiyan 2 Explains a Hole in Daima's Plot
Tamagami are stronger than anyone imagined
When the Demon Realm Dragon Balls were introduced, the concept was a welcome change to one of the franchise's basic premises. Instead of being spread across the three Demon Worlds, the spheres were guarded by three powerful warriors created by the same Namekian who created the dragon balls, Neva. This means that anyone who wants to express a wish must overcome it, and the series explicitly states that no one has achieved this before, including the previous powerful rulers of the Demon Realm.
This statement truly extolled Tamagami's strength. It is said that Dabura, the previous king of the Demon Realm, was as strong as Cell during the Majin Buu saga, and he was unable to collect the dragon balls. Even though Dabura's strength in Dragon Ball Z is increased by Babidi's enhancement magic, it still didn't make much sense that Goku could beat a Tamagami in basic Super Saiyan when Dabura was unable to do so. However, the fact that Goku became Super Saiyan 2 during his fight with Tamagami clarifies this point and explains why Dabura was never able to collect the Dragon Balls.
It will be interesting to see where Dragon Ball Daima will in terms of transformations and power-ups. Super Saiyan 2 is a criminally underrated form, a fan favorite, that was unfortunately surpassed very quickly in the original series. It will be great to see Goku, and perhaps Vegeta, make more extensive use of it in Dragon Ball Daimaor maybe even overcome it again to defeat stronger enemies that are lurking around.
Dragon Ball DAIMA
Dragon Ball DAIMA is the fifth series overall in the action-adventure anime franchise. It features most of the classic cast members as aged versions of themselves, including Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma. The series was announced at NYCC 2023, with creator Akira Toriyama returning to manage DAIMA.