Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
From Dragon Ball
| Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developer(s) | Spike |
| Publisher(s) | JPN Namco Bandai NA Atari |
| Release date(s) | JPN October 4, 2007 EU November 9, 2007 NA November 13, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Versus fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T PEGI: 12+ |
| 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 as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! METEOR (ドラゴンボールZ Sparking! METEOR Doragon Bōru Zetto Supākingu! Meteo?) 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,[1] although in other regions the game was released, its Wii port saw a delay. The PlayStation 2 version was released on November 13, 2007 in North America[2] 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.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Gameplay
Budokai Tenkaichi 3 features over 162 characters, the largest character roster in any Dragon Ball Z game, as well as one of the largest in any fighting game. Ryo Mito once stated that the game would feature never-before-seen characters made exclusively for the game, although the only exclusive characters were the Saiyans' alternate Great Ape forms.[4] 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 includes 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 you of energy.
[edit] New gameplay elements
Several new features have been added to Budokai Tenkaichi 3. These include:
- Blast Combo - Players can now kick their opponent into the air and attack them again by quickly teleporting or flying behind them.
- Sonic Sway - This technique simply allows the player to evade the opponents 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.[5]
- Z-Counter - The ability to counter attacks by teleporting behind the enemy.[5] 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 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 all 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 Remotes accelerometer provides animations demonstrating how to perform techniques (much like previous games provide the button combinations that are required to execute a technique).[6]
- 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. Who wins and loses causes a change in the story line, essentially making the game a what-if scenario all the way through. 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.
- 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 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.
[edit] Playable characters
Each character in the game is based off of their anime counterparts, their seiyū and 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, Dragon Ball 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).
Indentations represent the additional transformations of a particular character:
[edit] Reception
The PlayStation 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.[7] IGN awarded both versions of the game an 8 out of 10, their only complaints being the 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 W-Fi connection.
[edit] Voice actors
English version
- Andy Chandler – Cooler, Spopovich
- Bill Townsley – Guldo, Cui, Babidi
- Bob Carter – Bojack
- Brad Jackson – King Cold
- Brandon Potter – Appule, Alien Announcer, Earthling 2
- Brice Armstrong – Captain Ginyu, Lord Slug, Senbi Norimaki
- Brina Palencia – Bulla, Chaotzu, Puar, Arale Norimaki
- Chris Cason – Shu
- Chris Patton – Turles, Earthling 4
- Chris Rager – Hercule, Frieza Soldier 2
- Christopher Sabat – Burter, Gogeta, Grandpa Gohan, Jeice, Korin, Majin Vegeta, Piccolo, Recoome, Salza, Omega Shenron, Vegito, Vegita, 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
- Elise Baughman – Pan
- Eric Vale – Trunks, World Tournament Announcer
- James T. Field – Play by Play Announcer
- Jason Liebrecht – Tapion
- Jeremy Inman – Android 16
- Jerry Jewel – Nam
- John Burgmeier – Tien, Saibamen, Nuova Shenron
- Josh Martin – Majin Buu, Earthling 1
- Justin Cook – Devilman, Majin Buu (Gotenks Absorbed), Majin Buu (Ultimate Gohan Absorbed), Raditz, Super Buu
- Kara Edwards – Goten, Gotenks, Videl, Great Saiyaman 2, Upa
- Kent Williams – Dr. Gero, Kibitio Kai, Supreme Kai, Tao, 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 – Hildegarn
- Sean Schemmel – Goku, Nail, Gogeta, King Kai, Vegito
- Sean Michael Teague – Uub, Majuub
- Sonny Strait – Bardock, Krillin, Giru, General Blue
- Stephanie Nadolny – Kid Gohan, Kid Goku
- Tiffany Vollmer – Bulma
- Vic Mignogna – Broly
[edit] References
- ↑ Official Japanese Budokai Tenkaichi 4 trailer (Windows Media Player required).
- ↑ Who's Making Games For Nintendo Systems? Everyone!. Nintendo (2007-10-11). Retrieved on 2007-10-11.
- ↑ IGN: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3
- ↑ Detwiler, Ray (2007-08-27). Exclusive Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Interview. Wii-volution. Retrieved on 2007-10-07.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 LaBrie, Michael & Grybowski, Julian (2007-06-23). Sparking! Meteor gameplay elements. Daizenshuu EX. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ↑ GameSpot's Tenkaichi 3 E3 interview.. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
- ↑ http://www.the-magicbox.com/game20070927.shtml
[edit] External links
- Official Japanese site (Japanese)
- Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GameSpot
- Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at Wii-volution.com
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GameSpy
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 at GamersHell
