Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 I must say has the most disappointing of the original trilogy when it comes to the story. Do not get me wrong, what it does is not horrible by any means. It is just so streamlined and straight forward compared to other Dragon Ball Z games, especially Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2. Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 I must say has the most disappointing of the original trilogy when it comes to the story. Do not get me wrong, what it does is not horrible by any means. It is just so streamlined and straight forward compared to other Dragon Ball Z games, especially Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2.

Back at the time of release for Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3, there was very little outside of the series that catered to the animefighting genre. The last two iterations of the series were met with mixed reviews and the sequel had failed to live up the success of the first. So many would have been forgiven if they thought that the third instalment would be a last-ditch effort to revive the series. Not only did it revive the series, it launched one of the most successful fighting game series into the stratosphere.

This game plays similarly to any game from the Budokai and Budokai Tenchi series. Though, if comparing to games from outside the series, this one could be compared to the of the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series or more recent titles such as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot or Jump Force, which features a mix of all the popular characters that anime has to offer.

Champions Story

One thing that was missing from the last instalment was the anime storyline. This was replaced rather haphazardly with a board game format that didn’t fit the nature of the title at all. So for the developers to bring back a campaign that followed the plot of the anime was a no brainer.This is accompanied with other touches that make the Dragon Universe mode one of substance. Players will follow the storyline of multiple characters called Z-warriors. Plus you will be treated to RPG elements that allow you to level your character based on winning fights.If we are being critical, the storytelling is hard to follow for casual players due to most of it being told through voiceover and still images. A lot of the action is implied rather than shown. Meaning that if you are coming to this one blind, you may need a DBZ fan alongside to fill in the blanks for you.

New, refined combat

The last iterations were criticised for their lack of depth when it came to combat, so this game aims to remedy that. Although we wouldn’t say they entire succeed, there are a good amount of new additions to spice things up. You have teleportation added to this title for faster traversal, beam struggles that really add a sense of spectacle to the whole matchup.

Then there is the dragon rush manoeuvre which can be a real game-changer for returning players. This allows players to use their hyper mode status to their advantage by launching into a flurry of attacks. It’s a perfect move for when you need to finish an opponent fast. Plus, it looks stunning, giving the player a real sense of inhuman power and strength.

A smooth Polish

This series really stepped up its visuals in the second instalment with cell-shaded effects. However, Dragon Ball Z Budokai 3 manages to improve on this aesthetic. This is achieved through new dynamic camera angles, fresh animations and refined, improved environments. This is coupled with a sound and score that seems like it has been lifted straight from the anime and placed in this phenomenal fighting title. It’s a step from the developers that only scratches the surface of what they would achieve later down the line.

Harder, faster, stronger

This game is a fantastic representation of the anime series and a brilliant fighting game in its own right. The move back to a story-driven campaign was a great decision. The addition of more smooth and complex combat really adds to the experience. The RPG elements fit with the title surprisingly well. Plus the art style and musical score once again are the highlight of the entire series. Making the player feel one with the characters, environments and movements on screen.

The downside to this one is that the story is hard to follow due to the presentation choice of still imagery. Plus the combat although improved, still lacks the complexity and balance of the top games within the fighting genre. Overall though, this is an incredible title for fans of the Dragonball anime and will even offer hours of fun for casual fans if they look past the fact that the story may pass them by at times.

Beat-em-ups have been a staple of the gaming landscape since the 1980s, with wonderful titles such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat paving the way for many more great fighting games. So it was inevitable that over the top, martial art based animes would get involved in this scene. The Dragonball series was a no brainer in this respect, finding instant success with fans and casual gamers alike. So when Dragonball Budokai Tenkaichi 3 rolled around, big things we’re expected and for the most part, it delivers.

In terms of how this title plays, it continues the usual open plan area for battles that the series has built its success on. So if you’ve played any previous instalments, expect more of the same. The closest comparisons outside of the series would be the Naruto Ultimate Ninja series or the more recent title, Jump Force which is a culmination of all the best anime fighters from each respective series.

Give me your power

Much like Goku and company do in the series, this title aims to harness the power of previous titles to deliver another reason for players to invest more money. This is a fun and polite way of saying that little has changed from the last title if you didn’t catch that. The changes include such unmissable additions as a few more playable characters, a day and night mode for each fighting arena and a handful of new skills and tactical considerations that as a whole won’t alter the game for the casual player in the slightest.

The game also aims to up production value by integrating scripted audio seamlessly. Though what this actually does is dilute the overall experience. Only two characters will be shown on screen at once due to performance restrictions, leading to script off-camera. It seems unnatural and pulls you out of the action. Not to mention the skimming that is done in the storytelling department. The game seriously cuts down on the less essential fights which simply lowers the content on offer for the player. These games thrive on the player being able to pin any fighter against each other and not making this fit into the story like in Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is criminal.

Authentic DBZ experience

One thing that has never been questioned for this game series is its attention to detail aesthetically and this continues in Dragonball-Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3. This game has wonderful cell-shaded environments and flawlessly animated depictions of the anime characters. Each model is expertly captured and the subtle additions this time out such as wear and tear on armour and clothing when using fusions or going super Saiyan is phenomenal.

Then the special moves look brilliant too. They aren’t simply thrown together in a flurry of grunts, screams and blasts of colour. They look refined and polished, staying true to the anime in that respect. The sound quality is great too, the music ramps up with the battle, adding to the intensity as you edge closer and closer to a famous victory.

Fight the night away

One thing that has remained in this title from the last outing is the sheer volume of game modes. You have the main campaign jam packed with all the sagas from the anime. Then you have a tag tournament that sees you fight multiple opponents at once. You have the sim dragon mode that acts as a training arena and then you also have to collect all the Dragonballs too.While there is a cavalcade of stuff to keep you entertained, it has to be said that not all the content is riveting and can feel like a chore at times. For avid fans of the series, this will probably not be an issue but for casual player, this may be too much work to take on.

Kamehameha

Overall, it can’t be argued that this series was the benchmark for anime fighters for the time of release. Plus, it has stood the test of time very well due to its authentic presentation and art style. Though, it does fail to hit the heights of previous outings in some respects. The story content has been cut for a more essential and streamlined approach, which is not ever been the DBZ way. It takes at least five episodes to get one spirit bomb off so it all feels a little off brand.

The tight mechanics, new tactics, more characters do just enough to make this one worth purchasing for DBZ fans. Though for the casual player, it may be just as good to stick with the previous instalment.

Pros

• Great sound and visuals
• Tight mechanics
• A myriad of game modes

Dbz Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Ps2

Cons

• Story has been cut down
• Some modes can feel like chores
• Not enough new features

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