The Dragon Ball Z series of games is a surprisingly long one given the length of the source story by Akira Toriyama. Thus, by the time publisher Atari released Budokai Tenkaichi 3, there's very little that hadn't been done.

The game's roster of fighters numbers over 150, and though the comprehensive nature is nice, it seems a bit much to handle, and most control similarly. There are multiple versions of major characters, so fans of the series should be pleased.

The actual gameplay is nice too. It definitely isn't a standard fighter; the aerial controls feel more like a flight combat game than a 2-D brawler. Though the two main attack buttons are fairly bland, the fun comes in the ability to outmaneuver the opponent, hide, charge up and execute flashy special moves. It feels much like the battles on the show, and for that Atari should be commended.

The control schemes are not the most Wii-intensive, but the special moves at least provide some sort of motion control for immersion's sake. However, purists can play with the Classic Controller or a GameCube pad.

The story itself has been played out in the previous games, as well as the anime. It's not the best writing in the world, so normal gamers won't find it captivating, but the fans the game is marketed towards will enjoy the immersion in the story. The graphics are fairly average, but the cel-shaded style and effects are enough to make the game feel polished.

The single player modes vary from a straight event-by-event recreation of the series to special scenarios and tournaments. The multiplayer allows for one-on-one fights and team battles, as well as an intriguing point-buy team mode that makes players pay a premium for stronger fighters. This edition also features online play. It feels fairly barebones, but it works, and playing against a person on-demand helps with those who have mastered fighting the somewhat predictable AI.

All in all, this is a competent fighter with a unique combat style and a large amount of replay value. There might not be enough to entice the general public, but fans can't help but love it. It may not have too much more than its predecessor, but if you skipped out on that one, this one is worth it.

Dec 26, 2007 | 0 comments
Graham Russell