Dragon Ball Z: Budokai

"DbZ: Budokai, A dragonball fans dream come true!"

OK, now I have to do a review on this game because everyone blasted this game from the very moment there were rumors of a DbZ game coming to the next generation systems. In this games case you have to forget all the past developers attempts on a new and better DbZ game, ESPECIALLY Dragonball GT Final Bout. GT had potential but they ruined it mainly cause of the slow button reaction. For those of you still skeptical I will explain more below, there are some gameplay flaws but nothing big. Also its been since ''97'' since a somewhat decent 3D game based on DbZ has been out so play it before you bash it.

Gameplay - 9/10
Okay Im just gonna get into the games flaws, but don't worry as I said they don't effect the fun this game will bring. Okay for starters this is no jumping, now at first I really thought that is crazy, and though I would still like the versatility of it, there is no need for it in the game. The second flaw would have to be that you cannot fly on will rather you will need to juggle your opponent or your opponent will have to juggle you, but this happens so often its fine just the way it is. Now to the good stuff they really went to work of taking out the flaws of every game and virtually combining all the modes and fun from all of them, you can go through story mode where you will watch cut-scenes form the show which are done beautifully and are very entertaining. Also you will be able to go through story mode through other characters perspectives like Vegeta, Piccolo, Cell, etc., etc., then you have other modes like tournament and the burst zone, the tournament is fun and hard at the same time, playing this mode allows you to win money to purchase capsules that you can use to get abilities and transformations. I wont spoil the burst zone or the hidden modes cause those are too much fun.


STORY - 10/10
The story is flawless they have done virtually every significant scene in 3d and through it in the game so you can watch the story, it is all in tact unlike LoG on the Gameboy Advanced. Like I said before you can play as other characters through story mode so you really get to see the whole Dragonball Z story line from all perspectives. Also you have the chance to collect all the seven Dragonballs to make wishes from the eternal dragon, something that makes this game very unique and fun.

AUDIO - 10/10
The best thing they could have thought about this game was to use the voices of the characters from the show, the sound is really loud and very clear. One flaw I have come across though is that when you fight any form of Cell he talks and grunts using his imperfect voice so while fighting perfect Cell he will sound like the Imperfect one. Again don't get downed by it though cause in the cut scenes he has all his forms voices nice and clear and very very dominant. Anyway besides that little flaw everything is great the beginning of the show has the whole intro song and everything, they did a really good job.

GRAPHICS - 9/10
The Graphics were wonderful they remade every important moment in the game as well as the opening intro for the show all in 3D. While fighting you have the chance to knock your opponent through buildings and mountains and you will love the fact that they provided all the forms of the characters like Gohan to Teen Gohan and even the Great Saiyanman, Now when it comes to transformations everyone has them even if they cant go super saiyan, Gohan will be able to unlock his fighting potential for example, Zarbon will turn into a beast, Trunks can go super saiyan as well as USSJ. All the aspects of the game graphics are vibrant and a joy to look at. The only reason it got a nine was because the stages could have been more detailed and more interactive.

REPLAY VALUE - 10/10
There are so many modes and different stories to go through that it will take you hours to get through it all, also if you wanted you have the opportunity to keep playing tournament in different levels of difficulty and earn money to get the chance to collect all of the Capsules in the game thus getting all the characters abilities, forms, and costumes. So in my opinion the replayability is very high and the game has a lot to offer.

BUY OR RENT - BUY
This is a definite buy even if you are a fan of DbZ or not, every game excells in its own way and this is no different everyone just need to stop thinking of other past DbZ games and stop comparing it to other fighters like Tekkan and Virtua Fighters cause each to its own. Again a Dragonball game getting to the US or anywhere else but Japan has been rare over the years but you will see in this game that they really did a lot of stressful work to provide us with yet another DbZ game and the best one we have seen. Oh yea don't listen to all the crap saying if it weren't for the DbZ license or characters this game would be nothing. That's not true every fighter started off at one point and became better and better if this was just random characters fighting and pulling off great attacks and good looking moves I still play it cause its fun in it own way and has a lot of original ideas. So just don't straight up bash it, people say its only a hit cause of the DbZ in the game but just cause its a DbZ game it gets so much criticism. My recommendation is that you BUY it cause its a great game.

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