Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
Developer(s)	Spike
Publisher(s)	JP/EU Namco Bandai NA Atari
Series	Budokai Tenkaichi series
Release date(s)	PlayStation 2 JP October 4, 2007 EU November 9, 2007 NA November 13, 2007 Wii JP October 4, 2007 NA December 3, 2007 EU February 15, 2008
Genre(s)	Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T PEGI: 12+ CERO: A
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2, Wii
Media	DVD, Wii Optical Disc
Input	DualShock 2, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Classic Controller, GameCube Controller
Video games Listing - Category

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, originally published in Japan as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! METEOR (ドラゴンボールZ Sparking! METEOR) in Japan, is the third installment of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. The game was released for the PlayStation 2 and Wii on October 4, 2007 in Japan (in some regions, the Wii port saw a delay). The PlayStation 2 version was released on November 13, 2007 in North America and on November 9, 2007 in Europe. The Wii version was later released on December 3, 2007 in North America and on February 15, 2008 in Europe.^[1]

OverviewEdit

Like its predecessor, despite being released under the Dragon Ball Z label, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 essentially touches upon all series installments of the Dragon Ball franchise, featuring numerous characters and stages set in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT and numerous film adaptations of Z. The game also features one of Akira Toriyama's original characters, related to Dragon Ball through crossovers, Arale Norimaki from Dr. Slump.

GameplayEdit

Budokai Tenkaichi 3 features 161 characters, the largest character roster in any Dragon Ball Z game, as well as almost the largest in any fighting game; being topped by Tobal 2, for which Akira Toriyama was a designer. Ryo Mito stated that the game would feature never-before-seen characters made exclusively for the game, refering to the Saiyans' Great Ape forms.^[2] Gamestop offered an exclusive version with a bonus DVD containing the top 10 television series battles as voted by fans on the release date.

Several new notable features include: Battle Replay, night and day stages, the Wii's online capability, and Disc Fusion. Battle Replay allows players to capture their favorite fights and save them to an SD card to view later on. Night and day stages allow for more accurate battles in Dragon History, as well as the ability to transform into a Great Ape by using the moon. There are also several other time differences, such as dawn and afternoon. Not all stages provide different times. You can also change the aura of your character. The Wii version features online multiplayer capability, the first game in the series to have such a feature. Players can fight against anyone from around the globe with a ranking system showing the player's current standing compared to anyone else who has played online. As compensation for the lack of online, Spike has added a new "Disc Fusion" system to the PlayStation 2 version. Inserting a Budokai Tenkaichi 1 or 2 disc during play unlocks Ultimate Battle or Ultimate Battle Z, modes featured in the respective games needed to unlock them. The game also supports 480p for both the Wii and the PlayStation 2 versions.

Other features in the game include more combo attacks or character specific combos, the Blast Combos, and the Z Burst Dash. The additional combo attacks will be able to help chain in more attacks for more damage and longer combos. The Blast Combos are normal combos used in the game, however by inputting the another button into the attack will allow you to use a blast attack for extra damage. Depending on the moves of the character you might not be able to use this feat such as Videl or Hercule. The Z Burst Dash is much faster and more evasive version of the Dragon Dash. It allows the user to get behind the opponent at high speeds for either a strike or to avoid a Blast 2 attack. The drawback to this technique is that it will rapidly drain the user of energy unless equipped with certain Z-items.

Game modesEdit

• Dragon History
  • Saiyan Saga
  • Frieza Saga
  • Android Saga
  • Majin Buu Saga
  • Special Saga (Movies)
  • Dragon Ball GT Saga
  • Dragon Ball Saga
  • What If Saga
• Ultimate Battle
  • Sim Dragon
  • Mission 100
  • Survival
  • Disc Fusion (exclusively on the PlayStation 2 version)
• Dragon World Tour
  • World Tournament
  • World Martial Arts Big Tournament
  • Cell Games
  • Otherworld Tournament
  • Yamcha Game
• Duel
  • Single Battle
  • Team Battle
  • DP Battle
  • Battle Options
• Dragon Net Battle (exclusively on the Wii version)
  • Custom Battle
  • Normal Battle
  • Friend Battle
  • Ranking Battle
  • View Ranking
  • Battle Record
• Evolution Z
  • Character Customize
  • Item Shop
    • Item Exchange
    • Item List
  • Evolution Z Explanation
• Ultimate Training
  • Training
  • Battle Training
• Data Center
  • Password Input Screen
  • Fighter Catalog
  • Replay
• Character Reference
• Options
• Shenron

New gameplay elementsEdit

Several new features have been added to Budokai Tenkaichi 3. These include:

• Sonic Sway – This technique allows the player to evade the opponent's attacks. Since it takes longer for the attacker to get back into their fighting stance than it does the player dodging the attacks, the attacker is left with an open defense. The one evading can then quickly counter-attack their opponent. However, this feature only applies to physical attacks aimed for the upper part of the body; if the opponent aims for the player's legs, for example, they cannot evade the attacks.
• Rush Ki Wave – A brand new combo finisher exclusive to some characters that allows them to send their opponent flying away with a charged one-handed beam.
• Z-Counter – The ability to counter attacks by teleporting behind the enemy. This is a technique seen in the series many times.
• Z Burst Dash – An enhanced version of the dash attack from the previous games, this technique allows players to zig and zag behind the opponent as they move at high speed.

• The addition of a new day and night system allows certain characters to harness the power of the moon to transform into a Great Ape.
• With the addition of the Battle Replay mode, players can now capture up to seven of their favorite fights and watch them again later on. There are also several camera angles you can use to swap views of the battle.
• The Wii version does not make use of the Wii's sensor bar. The game instead uses the Wii Remote's accelerometer which provides animations demonstrating how to perform techniques (much like previous games provide the button combinations that are required to execute a technique).^[3]
• The game's story mode, called Dragon History, has been completely changed from the previous installments. Some cutscenes take place during the middle of a battle, interrupting the fight for a short time while the two characters talk, while others take place during the battle themselves. During in-game cutscenes, dialogue appears at the bottom of the screen as the player fights, and what each character says depends on how the match is going. The player can also issue one-hit KOs in story mode by dealing the blow used to kill their opponent in the source material. The story mode is also significantly shorter than previous installments (missing battles such as Piccolo vs. Cell, and Gohan vs. Super Buu).
• A new Z-Point system replaces the leveling system from Budokai Tenkaichi 2. The more Z-Points a character has, the more Z-Items can be equipped.
• The Wii port of Budokai Tenkaichi 3 can be played using several different control setups, and is not restricted to the console's Wii Remote and Nunchuk alone. Instead, the player can choose to use the Classic Controller or the GameCube controller, as well. The Classic Controller set up has been best received by critics, whom cite the Wii Remote as a fun method of play for casual gamers, but one that does not always maintain the responsiveness for hardcore gameplay.

Playable charactersEdit

Each character in the game is based on their anime counterparts, their voice actors also partaking in the development of the game whenever possible. Each character has attacks and fighting styles more-or-less derived from the source material, for example Goku's Kamehameha and Vegeta's Galick Gun. Certain fighters also have abilities, or the lack thereof, exclusive only to a small group of characters. Also, certain characters cannot fly in the series, and thus slowly descend back to the ground after taking flight in Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (however, a Flight Z-Item is available for use by these characters, removing this restriction).

The following represents the characters as they are ordered in the Character Select menu. Additional transformations appear in small text directly below the character to which they belong. Some characters are only playable in unabridged transformations, meaning they cannot revert to any preceding forms and are only able to progress in the transformation cycle. For example, Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta, is a character separate from all other incarnations of Vegeta in the game, thus none of these other Vegeta characters can assume the transformation, nor can Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta return to his base form. The character's only transformation option is to progress to Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. Characters who are only playable in unabridged forms have the title of their transformation listed in parenthesized small text beside their name.

Voice actorsEdit

English version

• Andy Chandler – Cooler, Spopovich
• Bill Townsley – Guldo, Cui, Babidi
• Bob Carter – Bojack, Syn Shenron
• Brad Jackson – King Cold
• Brandon Potter – Appule, Alien Announcer, Earthling 2
• Brice Armstrong – Captain Ginyu, Lord Slug, Senbi Norimaki
• Brina Palencia – Bulla, Chiaotzu, Puar, Arale Norimaki
• Chris Cason – Shu
• Chris Forbis – Dodoria
• Chris Patton – Turles, Earthling 4
• Chris Rager – Hercule, Frieza Soldier 2
• Christopher R. Sabat – Burter, Gogeta, Grandpa Gohan, Jeice, King Piccolo, King Vegeta, Korin, Majin Vegeta, Piccolo, Recoome, Salza, Omega Shenron, Vegito, Vegeta, Yamcha, Zarbon, Porunga, Shenron, Mr. Popo
• Chuck Huber – Android 13, Android 17, Garlic Jr., Super 17, Pilaf
• Colleen Clinkenbeard – Zangya, Mai
• Cynthia Cranz – Chi-Chi
• Dameon Clarke – Cell, Tambourine
• Elise Baughman – Pan
• Eric Vale – Trunks, World Tournament Announcer
• James T. Field – Play-by-Play Announcer
• Jason Liebrecht – Tapion
• Jeremy Inman – Android 16
• Jerry Jewell – Nam
• Jim Foronda – Fat Janemba
• John Burgmeier – Tien Shinhan, Saibamen, Frieza Soldier, Nuova Shenron
• Josh Martin – Majin Buu, Kid Buu, Earthling 1
• Justin Cook – Devilman, Raditz, Super Buu, Super Buu (Gotenks Absorbed), Super Buu (Ultimate Gohan Absorbed)
• Kara Edwards – Goten, Gotenks, Videl, Great Saiyaman 2, Upa
• Kent Williams – Dr. Gero, Kibito Kai, Supreme Kai, Tao, Super Janemba, Elder Kai
• Kyle Hebert – Great Saiyaman, Pikkon, Gohan, Narrator
• Laura Bailey – Dende, Kid Trunks, Gotenks, Kid Chi-Chi
• Linda Young – Baba, Frieza, Fasha
• Meredith McCoy – Android 18, Launch
• Mike McFarland – Baby, Master Roshi, Yajirobe, Android 8, Pui Pui
• Phil Parsons – Nappa
• Phillip Wilburn – Android 19
• R. Bruce Elliot – Dr. Wheelo, Earthling 3
• Rick Robertson – Dabura
• Robert McCollum – Hirudegarn
• Sean Schemmel – Goku, Nail, Gogeta, King Kai, Vegito
• Sean Michael Teague – Uub, Majuub
• Sonny Strait – Bardock, Krillin, Giru, General Blue
• Stephanie Nadolny – Kid Gohan, Teen Gohan, Kid Goku
• Tiffany Vollmer – Bulma
• Vic Mignogna – Broly

MusicEdit

The opening to the game is "Super Survivor" by Hironobu Kageyama in the Japanese and European versions. The American version uses an instrumental version.

Dragon Ball Z: Sparking Meteor features remixed music from the anime, while Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has original music from Atari.

List of Background MusicEdit

1. The Meteor
2. Vital Burner
3. Innocent World - Used in the Shop
4. After The Fire - Used in the World Tournament selection screen
5. Sweet Vibration
6. Survive
7. Heat Capacity
8. Overture
9. Shine
10. Power Scale
11. Edge of Spirit
12. Caution!
13. Menace
14. Hot Soul
15. High and Scream
16. Shootout in Meteor
17. Dynamite Battle
18. Burnin' Up
19. Wild Rush
20. Evolution

Reception and SalesEdit

The PlayStation 2 port of the game received a 32 out of 40 from the game magazine Famitsu, while The Magic Box ranked the Wii version 33 out of 40.^[4] IGN awarded both versions of the game an 8 out of 10, their only complaints being the comparatively underwhelming story mode (in comparison to Budokai Tenkaichi 2), gimmicky Disc Fusion function and the lag experienced while playing online through the Wii's Wi-Fi connection.

The game has sold 3,940,000 units on the PS2 and Wii combined, with the PS2 version selling 3,000,000 units, and the Wii version selling 940,000 units, as of July 7, 2012.^[5]

TriviaEdit

• If Piccolo enters a tournament, his screen name will be MaJunior, as it originally was in the series. In a similar fashion, the screen name will be Shin if one enters the tournament as Supreme Kai.
• If one waits a while at the menu screen of the story mode, various characters will occasionally show up and engage in a conversation with Goku, such as Piccolo and Krillin.
• When Super Saiyan 4 Goku powers up against Baby Vegeta in story mode, he will sound like Kid Goku (GT).
• If you wait for a while in Duel Mode, Nappa will ask Vegeta: "Hey uh... Think if I went Super Saiyan, my goatee would grow?"
• Saiyan characters that can become Great Apes by creating a Power Ball do so even in stages that have a full moon.
  • Bardock is one of the characters that has to use a full moon to turn into a Great Ape, which goes against the Ocean dub of DBZ in which Vegeta says that Bardock invented the Power Ball technique, this was however a major dub mistake that has long since been abandoned.
  • Vegeta (Scouter)'s second and third attires have no tail, but he can still transform into a Great Ape.
• Like in Budokai Tenkaichi 1 and 2, Cell in any form uses his "Imperfect form" pain sounds when hit.
• If one fires Android 18's Destructo Disk at Krillin and he uses his as soon as 18's disks are about to make contact, Krillin will summon pink disks instead of his yellow ones.
• Goku's profile says that he fought Pikkon in his Super Saiyan 2 transformation, which did not appear to be the case in the anime.
• In the Majin Buu Saga, the Destined Battle: Goku vs. Vegeta, the description says "puroposely" instead of "purposely", even when the voice says "purposely" correctly.
• Majin Buu's Character Introduction says "In Dragon Ball GT, Buu fights against" and ends there, leaving that info missing.
• Gogeta (Super Saiyan 4) Character Introduction reads "He is a warrior without peer, and demonstrates this by performing this by performing his ultimate move the "Big Bang Kamehameha", repeating the "this by performing".
• When on the character selection, Vegito is spelled with an "I", but on the transformation options for Vegeta (Second Form) and Goku (End), it is spelled "Vegeto".
• Sometimes when Shenron or Ultimate Shenron is about to grant a wish, he will say "That is a wish I cannot grant." Yet, he still grants it.
• In the Wii version of the game, Giru is referred to as both Gill and Giru.
• When Goku (GT) uses the Solar Flare, he says it as it is said in Japanese: "Taiyoken".
• When Goku (GT) uses the Spirit Bomb, it is mistakenly called Spirit Ball, possibly mistranslated due to its original name in Japanese, Genkidama, whose translation is the latter.
• When Baby Vegeta (Super Baby 2) uses the Final Flash, he yells "Big Bang Attack", just like he does in the anime.
• Nuova Shenron is spelled two ways. On the character selection it is spelled Nuova Shenron, but in the GT saga, the subtitles for Goku spell it Nova Shenron.
• When GT Kid Goku turns Super Saiyan 4 against Nuova Shenron in Story Mode, Goku's voice will still be a kid in the in-game cutscene.
• In Dragon History, during the fight with Nam, Mr. Satan is shown on the signs and blimps even though he was not the champion yet.
• In information about characters, Chi-Chi says about Grandpa Gohan that she would like to have met him. However, she indeed met him in the last episodes of Dragon Ball.
• Frieza's move "You Might Die This Time" is mistakenly called "I Might Die This Time".
• Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta's 2nd "color" turns his hair silver, which looks similar to the fan-made Super Saiyan 5. This color is also an option for SS4 Gogeta in Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi.
• Whenever a Great Ape throws a rock, it is spelled "Gigant" instead of "Gigantic".
• When Goku (Mid) uses the 20x Kaio-ken Kamehameha, the technique's name appears spelled "20x Kaiken Kamehameha" on the screen.
• In the Italian translation of the game, during the intro of the "Dragon Fist Explosion! If Goku doesn't, who will?", the game states that "Goku explodes with a new attack special attack to stop Majin Buu", when it should say Hirudegarn.

GalleryEdit

ScansEdit

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ScreenshotsEdit

Vegeta facing Broly and Janemba LSS Broly in the opening LSS Broly fighting Gogeta in the opening Fasha kicking Bardock Fasha fighting Bardock Great Ape Bardock Bardock slamming Dodoria into the ground Yamcha and Chi-Chi Chi-Chi attacks Yamcha Goku looks at the moon Devilman Tien Shinhan vs. Kid Goku Goku uses the Spirit Bomb Great Ape King Vegeta vs. Super Saiyan Goku Goku punching Recoome in the gut Nail fires a Full Power Energy Wave at Frieza Piccolo kicking Frieza Frieza charges a Death Beam Frieza uses an Imprisonment Ball on Goku Frieza dodges Goku's attacks Frieza charges a Death Ball Frieza fires a Death Ball The androids attack Future Gohan The androids kick Future Gohan The androids fire the Photon Strike at Future Gohan Future Gohan kicking Android 17 in the back Master Roshi and Dr. Wheelo face off Dr. Wheelo punching Master Roshi Dr. Wheelo fires the Photon Strike Salza charges a Full Power Energy Wave Cell transforms Cell fires the Big Bang Crash Cell absorbing Android 18 Perfect Cell vs. Gohan The Father-Son Kamehameha Future Trunks kicking Cell in the air Bojack kicking Goku Broly uses his Omega Blaster Gohan blocks the Omega Blaster Broly's Omega Blaster Pui Pui with Babidi Pui Pui fires his Nice Shot Yakon Gohan fires Full Power Energy Blast Volley Great Saiyaman kicking Dabura Goku vs. Majin Vegeta Goku kicking Majin Vegeta away Super Saiyan 2 Goku uses Z-burst dash against Majin Vegeta Goku firing a Kamehameha at Majin Vegeta Kibito Kai Super Vegito charges the Final Kamehameha Super Vegito fires the Final Kamehameha Super Vegito kicks Super Buu Super Vegito uses the Spirit Sword Kid Buu attacks Kid Buu kicking Vegeta Nuova Shenron attacks GT Goku uses the Dragon Fist Gogeta Omega Shenron Omega Shenron charges a Minus Energy Power Ball Omega Shenron fires a Minus Energy Power Ball Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

CharactersEdit

The whole cast of the game Kid Goku Goku Super Saiyan Goku Super Saiyan 2 Goku Super Saiyan 3 Goku Goku (GT) Super Saiyan Goku (GT) Super Saiyan 3 Goku (GT) Super Saiyan 4 Goku Vegeta (Scouter) Vegeta Majin Vegeta Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta Gogeta Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta Gohan Future Gohan Super Saiyan Future Gohan Piccolo Krillin Yamcha Tien Shinhan Chiaotzu Nail Supreme Kai Videl Great Saiyawoman King Cold King Vegeta Raditz Great Ape Raditz Nappa Great Ape Nappa Fasha Great Ape Fasha Dr. Wheelo Android 13 Super Android 13 Broly Super Saiyan Broly Legendary Super Saiyan Broly Bojack Babidi Spopovich Evil Buu Hirudegarn Baby Vegeta Super Baby Vegeta Super Baby Vegeta 2 Golden Great Ape Baby Super 17 Nuova Shenron Syn Shenron Chi-Chi Nam Android 8 Devilman Tambourine Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

See alsoEdit

• List of items in Budokai Tenkaichi 3
• List of playable characters in the Budokai Tenkaichi series
• List of stages in Budokai Tenkaichi 3

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 official website (Japanese)
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GameSpot
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GameSpy
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GamersHell
• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at Gamestop