Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi

"Kamehame-huh? This isn't like the other Budokai games?"

Good ‘ol Dragonball Z. With all Dragonball series at their storyline completion, the merchandising continues with an all new DBZ fighter for the PS2. Budokai 3, in my opinion, was an incredible fighter. When I originally heard of the next Dragonball Z Budokai game, I was excited to see all the characters finally in the so-called “DBZ game to rule all DBZ games”. I soon learned of how a new developer was taking over its production. Well, Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi is out for the PS2. Does it follow in the excellent path of Budokai 3?

Graphics 7/10

Not bad at all. I would first like to say that the opening cinematic is just plain incredible. The characters shimmer with a metallic gleam and the action in it is excellent. The in-game graphics aren't too shabby either. Characters are animated well and the action is pretty fast-paced. A nice effect is damage. After a powerful attack and taking a lot of damage, a character with low health will appear tattered and beat up. The ki attacks and dashes are smooth and bright and continue the action that past games have used. Cut-scenes are pretty equal to the gameplay graphics. I would have preferred to see a more cel-shaded look, as the game doesn't look nearly as cartoony as past games. Also, there is the occasional pixelation in battle. The camera will show that some of the environmental details aren't as clean as hoped. But overall, the graphics don't disappoint.

Audio 7/10

Once again, the voice actors have all come together to produce another bit of DBZ voice acting. As always, there is a very good amount of voice work throughout the menus, cut-scenes, and gameplay. The cut-scenes are voiced well and do have the classic hits and smacks of the fighting. Energy blasts had the electric sound and as always were appropriate. Music was mostly cut-and-paste from Budokai 3. Audio wise, Tenkaichi does nothing to bring the franchise forward. While the amount of voiced content is quite good, and there is the inclusion of the Japanese audio, everything else is standard and nothing more.

Gameplay 7/10

Budokai 3 improved on everything in the Budokai gameplay, creating one of the most hard-hitting powerhouse fighters ever seen on the PS2. It makes you wonder why Tenkaichi is so much different. Well, I was shocked too. Tenkaichi is not like the other Budokai games at all. The gameplay is no longer a traditional fighter like Soul Calibur or Virtua Fighter. Now, you travel in a dome environment and have more freedom in movement. A lock-on system and scouter allow you to find your opponent for an attack. Flight and dashing is now assigned to the X and R buttons. Square controls hand-to-hand, triangle energy attacks, and circle guard. Special attacks are used with the face and L2 buttons. The controls are horrifically clunky at first, but after a few rounds in the tutorial, they become easier to use. As in Budokai 3, timing is critical in the evasive maneuvers. Pressing the Guard button right before a hit connects on you allows for a quick escape, and combining it with movement allows for sidesteps. One change is the removal of transformation. No longer can Goku go Super Saiyan in battle. Instead, the different forms are separate characters. This is a bit of a disappointment to any player who was used to transforming in the previous Budokai games. These new quirks, incidentally, provide a much less satisfying fighter for one absolutely crucial reason: camera. The camera will be a major enemy, probably more than Majin Buu will ever be. With no direct control, it will get caught behind trees, rocks, and mountains and will jostle a lot. The lock-on system also isn't as reliable as I would have hoped, as you will fly past your target instead of right up to them. As a result of the camera, multiplayer duels are serious letdowns with the split-screen style fighting. I didn't want the Budokai engine to change at all, and this new system is a bit of a disappointment in its consistency. But I must say, that the game is pretty fun after a few hours of tutorials and practice.

The Story Mode has been refixed to “Z Battle Gate” Mode, which allows you to fight in the climactic battles of the Dragonball universe. This is effective because the main mode isn't weighted down by the trivial cut-scenes we've seen in the other Budokai games. It's just fighting. No more pressing through text we've heard over and over again. There is a very nice amount of battles in Z Battle Gate mode, going from the Saiyan Saga all the way to the Buu Saga, stopping with some movie adventures along the way and some fantasy battles to please the fans who have seen the series before. Characters, as always, are plentiful. Finding a character you don't like is very difficult being that there are so many of them. Ultimate Battle is a new ranking style mode where you fight up to the top of the 100-battle rank. This is okay, but feels like a bunch of normal battles tied together. The standard modes of Tournament and Dueling return, along with a new level system called Evolution X. In it, you level up your character in certain areas with earned items from Z Battle Gate Mode. During battles in the Z Battle Gate Mode, you'll quickly realize the completely random learning curve. In the beginning sagas, the battles will be frustratingly difficult. In the middle, they will be ridiculously easy. In the end, they will be mixed. This is a problem, especially when combined with having to reload the battle each time you lose. A nice quirk for fans is profiles on the many DBZ characters, giving their family, history, and fighting styles. Overall, the gameplay of Tenkaichi is a huge departure from the other Budokai games, but it does provide a more over-the-top fighting system. Sadly, the controls and camera keep the idea from being better than the original.

Replay Value 7/10

Huge amount of unlockables as always. Unlocking the many characters from the expansive Dragonball timeline is a very time-consuming experience if you are a fan. Even if you've seen every DBZ episode and movie, if you are a fan, there are plenty of surprises that will please you. Anyone else will find some fun in the Dueling Mode, World Tournament, and lengthy Z Battle Gate Mode. If you're a fan, you'll flip. If not, you'll find something to like.

Final Verdict 7/10

I do feel upset that they changed the excellent formula of Budokai 3 into a less exciting fighter, but Tenkaichi is a fun DBZ game. Featuring a huge cast of characters to play as, an expansive story mode, and a nice amount of unlockables, Tenkaichi is a decent DBZ game. In my opinion, I think that Budokai 3 is still the better game out of all the Budokai games, but DBZ fans already have or plan to own this game. Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi takes many risks, but in the end is a must-buy for the fans of all things Dragonball. If you don't care for Dragonball, the shaky camera and clumsy controls will definitely break the deal. As a gamer, I cannot recommend a purchase of this game to anyone but the hard-core DBZ fans. Anyone else should best rent it.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 10/31/05