Dragon Ball Z: Budokai

"So good you'll go SSJ on your momma!"

First, let me start off by saying one word about this game: WOW! I mean, my god! This game delivers more than what I ever expected out of it and it is definitely more of a power house of a game than non DBZ fans will be able to admit to.

Those of you who have read my other reviews know that I never give out more than an eight, but in this case, I just couldn't help but give it the score I did.

Sound
All your favorite DBZ songs are here! Everything is identicle to the actual show. The English voices used for the dubbed version are here and sound crystal clear, be that a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you feel about them. You'll get goose bumps all over the first time you hear Goku scream, ''Kamehameha!!''.
Also present is the ''Rock the Dragon'' from the introduction, but more on that later. All the characters call out their special attacks with such force and power you'd almost believe they were sitting there next to you.

Control
PERFECT! The controls respond when you press a button, unlike in Dragon Ball Final Bout! Each character is in a true 3d environment enabling you to move toward and away from the screen as well as back and forth.
Now, there is no real jumping in the game. Bad thing? Not really. How many times do the characters in DBZ jump anyway? Not really many. The characters fly most of the time in the anime. What happens is you smack each other into ''higher levels'' on the game field and fly.
Flying...sadly, this is the worst part of the game. Actually, it's not sad because it is the worst part of the game, meaning there's very little else wrong! The problem with the flying mechanics is that it is SO slow when your characters are floating around. Also, you cannot move up and down unless your opponent is up or down from you. The only way to get back to the ground is to either slowly float down or SMACK them down. My choice is always the latter!

Graphics
Yes, I'm finally on the graphics. What can I say other than the graphics are absolutely breath taking? Everything from the ground shaking and pieces of the Earth (or Namek) elevating as you power up, to the ground busting up when a character gets owned to the floor highlight the fights.
The Ki blasts are also a treat to the eyes. Everyone's signature move made the final cuts, as if we had to worry about that, and they offer outstanding visual candy to the senses.
Talk about an opening scene! This game takes the actual beginning, the FULL BEGINNING, of DBZ and makes in 100% full rendered CGI!!!! I thought I was in heaven watching a DBZ episode put on by the angels when I first put the disc in. Ah, the marvels of a DVD rom!
Now, with all the greatness in the graphics, the absolute cream of the crop is when Goku goes Super Saiyan for the first time. I litereally stopped breathing when it happened. I mean, come on, seeing that in full render is breath taking!
Neat little tidbit that they threw in: When fighting next to walls or other objects, the characters can be smashed through them to make way for new areas to fight! Also, it's done through a little in game cut scene to intesify the action.
Oh, and on another note: The lips move in almost perfect sync. with the onscreen action.

Bonuses
You want them, you got them. There's a neat little side ''game'' where you purchase capsules, courtesy of Capsule Corp, from Mr. Popo. It's not much, but it's fun.
All of the fighters that you unlock can be customized to the way you want them. Bascially, you make Tien or Yamcha how you wished they really were, or even make them how they wished they were themselves, hahah.
Every time you play through the story mode, you get to unlock new skills and characters. This adds for great replay. Not to mention the Duel and Tournament modes you get to select.
Also, find all seven dragon balls and you can summon the Eternal Dragon for one wish! This lets you equip a special capsule to your character enabling all capsules at once that the character can use!

Downsides
Not very many. Some people complain about the lack of ability to jump or duck, or the flying. Sure the flying isn't tuned perfect, but what game is 100%?
I'd say the down side to this game is that it's not going to be given the credit it deserves from non DBZ fans.
Also, can we PLEASE get someone to write a DBZ FAQ that speaks English well? It's hard understanding these FAQs when it's very broken English. I'd do it myself, but I don't have the time.

Buy or Rent?
BUY it if you're a fan and rent it if your not to make sure you like it. I am almost certain that you will. Just don't make the mistake of thinking that this is Tekken 4 in the sky. This game is a bit on its own level, but it beats down any day on Street Fighter EX Alpha 3 or Mortal Kombat: Deadly Aliance. I even find it more appealing than Virtue Fighter 4!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 12/07/02, Updated 12/07/02