Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi

"DBZ Very Fast and Very Furious"

It all started one day when I was waiting for my DBZ to arrive at my door steps. I wouldn't hide the fact that I was more than anxious to try the new fighting system after watching many movies and looking at dozens of pictures. So, the game arrived, I ripped it out of it's plastic womb and promptly inserted it into the gaping mouth of my PS2 and held onto the joypad.

Introduction

After the 3D intro with Hironobu Kageyama singing "We Gotta Power" I pressed start and selected the first option (story mode). Everything of course was in Japanese, however, armed with my measle ability to read katakana characters I wasn't lost in the text. The Saiyans saga, Frieza's Saga, Cell Saga and Buu Saga are unlocked from the start, but you will see many empty gates that you will be able to unlock after beating the different sagas. I won't go in and tell you about the scenarios that could be unlocked since they've very very exciting to experience on your own.

I would just like to say that it covers the movies (not all though), four sagas and GT ( albeit it's short :/)

Controls

Ooookay, when I started playing I found it quite a bit difficult to get used to the new controls scheame (L1 locks on, etc) however, I kept playing for about 30 minutes until I got the hang of boosting around the huuuuuuge stages and teleporting away from death beams. Once you perfect the controls this game becomes extremly enjoyable! For example, you could go into your opponent's face, do a triple combo, press (x) to make him float abit, continue the combo and then keep holding the attack button so that your hand to hand meter gets full and let go! Your opponent will sail through the air in the direction you've pressed. Here comes the beauty of the game. After sending him flying, you could throw a death beam that would knock him out of the air, or just boost follow him and knock him away again, boost follow him one more time knocking him into the ground and shattering what ever mountain/building/ring that is under him. It's truely amazing once you get the hang of the controls.

Graphics

What can I say, when you first see Super Saiyajin Goku in his sparkling blonde hair or Bojack's glowing red hair you will really appreciate the graphics. However, I think they should've made the death moves and ultimate moves even more snazzier but the way it is now is also good. Also note that there are many entities in each stage that could be destroyed. One of the best stages I like to play in is "West City" I think. Nearly everything there is destructable (cars, buildings, etc). One time, I was playing as Goku and my opponent was Yamcha, I knocked him into a building and boosted away. I noticed that he was charging his KI so I flew down to him from the other side while taking cover behind some buildings. Little did I know that he would use his Blast 2 (looks like a dragon rush) he went through a little house and a tall building, turning them into wreckage and pummeled me to hell. The feeling that you get is just like the anime!

Music / voice acting

Wow, Sparking has all the Japanese music which bring back lots of memories. Voice acting is top notch too. Also, they've recorded new voice clips so that for example when you play as Mystic Gohan against Bojack he will mention that he remembers you as the little kid who kicked his ass :) of course, Gohan would say that he is surprised that Bojack is still alive :)
Really great!!

Extra Gameplay modes

There is multiplayer tournament, 2 players (which is extremly smooth), A place where you could combine portara earrings to get more characters, Ranking Mode (where you have to beat 100 opponents like Kid Goku) many many things to do before finishing the game completely :)

Final Verdict

I would say buy buy buy. Each character is not just a pallete swap and all the action is controlled by you and not just cut scenes. Also beam struggles are back as well as teleporting. I just would like to say that everything revolves around the controls. Once you master them you could ascend to a higher level of reaction and action : )

Overall 9 out of 10

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/10/05