Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi
Developer(s)	Spike
Publisher(s)	Namco Bandai
Series	Budokai Tenkaichi/Raging Blast series
Release date(s)	October 25, 2011USA October 28, 2011EU December 8, 2011JPN
Genre(s)	Versus fighting
Mode(s)	Single-player Multiplayer
Rating(s)	ESRB: T PEGI: 12+ CERO: A
Platform(s)	Xbox 360 PlayStation 3
Media	DVD Blu-Ray Disc
Input	Xbox 360 Controller DualShock 3 SIXAXIS
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Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, known as Dragon Ball: Ultimate Blast (ドラゴンボール アルティメットブラスト) in Japan, is a fighting video game based on the Dragon Ball series. The game was released by Namco Bandai for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles on October 25, 2011, in North America,^[1] on October 28, 2011, in European countries, and on December 8, 2011, in Japan.^[2] It was re-released in Japan on the Sony PlayStation 3's The Best line on February 21, 2013.

OverviewEdit

DevelopmentEdit

Development team Spike Co. Ltd. in Japan have taken a new approach with the aim of creating a new landmark in the Dragon Ball video game series. The game was announced by Weekly Shōnen Jump under the code name Dragon Ball Game Project: Age 2011. Internauts could vote for the name of the game, having the choice between: Dragon Ball Z: Tenkaichi Z, Dragon Ball Z: Saiyan Rising, Dragon Ball Z: Awakening Saiyans, Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi, and Dragon Ball Z: Saiyan Warriors in Europe and North America. The title Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi was eventually chosen and officially revealed on June 30, 2011.

The first trailer for this video game, still under the name Game Project: Age 2011, was released on May 10, 2011. The European trailer was released on June 30, 2011, at Japan Expo 2011. The name Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi was officially revealed primarily and the trailer showcased certain characters of the Saiyan Saga and their attacks, as well as confirmed a release date of October 28. The demo at the Japan Expo convention included Goku (Base and Super Saiyan), Android 18, Future Trunks, Frieza, Vegeta (Base), Cell (Perfect Form), Broly (Legendary Super Saiyan), and Saibaman. A second trailer was released on June 30, confirming a release date of October 25 for North America, and displayed several Namek Saga scenes, along with Super Saiyan 3 Goku, and Janemba (First Form). The development team of Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi confirmed in an interview that Dragon Ball GT characters will be appearing in this new game, with Super Saiyan 4 returning as well.^[3]

GameplayEdit

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi dives into the Dragon Ball universe with brand new content and gameplay, and a comprehensive character line up. It has faithful manga-style graphics, totally destructible battle fields, and refined controls designed to bring the experience closer to the highly acclaimed Budokai Tenkaichi series.

The character and environment graphics are upgraded since the previous games; characters are drawn straight from the original series and to match the anime and makes it a true Dragon Ball experience. The game features the original Japanese voices and music, such as Cha-La Head-Cha-La.

“Impact Break” system allows large scale environment destruction. This includes realistic craters and Kamehameha tracers cutting across the sky, delivering a heightened sensation of realism and dynamic immediacy.

The controls are designed to bring the experience closer to the previous Budokai Tenkaichi series, making the play accessible to all, but retaining all the tactical depth in battle. Improved mechanics allow for faster long-to-short range fights. The gameplay also includes elements from the Budokai series, such as Quick Time Events during certain combos. There is also an added health recovery system and a vast collection of more cinematic camera angles. When a character has low health, their taunt will become one of the Blast 1 they used in the Tenkaichi games; for example, when at low health, base form Goku will have his taunt become Give Me Energy!

ModesEdit

Story ModeEdit

The enhanced Story Mode immerses players in the Dragon Ball universe, and included bonus levels from the Dragon Ball Z movies and even one level from the Dragon Ball GT series. It includes Free-Roam style gameplay similar to the Story Mode of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2. Fifteen animated scenes with bosses are included. Great Apes and other giant characters, such as Janemba (First Form) and Hirudegarn, up to 15x the size of playable characters are featured in boss fights and/or cinematics. The story mode also features digitally remastered scenes from the anime, making it more true to the Dragon Ball series.

The Story Mode begins with a battle between Bardock and Frieza, then the battle against Raditz and ends with the final fight between Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta and Omega Shenron. During Free Roam (if playing as Goku), you can ride the Nimbus Cloud or have another character such as Piccolo follow you. There are also Chase Sequences found in such instances as a battle between Vegeta and Zarbon. This includes a chase where you must escape Zarbon without getting too close or risk being defeated, as most villains will not hesitate to fire Ki Blasts if you fall behind.

After finishing the battle between Bardock and Frieza, and getting hit by Frieza's Supernova technique, a cutscene ensues showing the destruction of Planet Vegeta and Goku's arrival on Earth. After the cutscene, it shows flashbacks of Goku and Gohan at the Kame House, Goku taking the powerful blow to the stomach by Raditz, as well as Goku atop the Nimbus Cloud flying alongside Piccolo. The Free Roam screen includes a Dragon Radar used for finding such places as the Story Objectives or the World Tournament, however, if visiting the World Tournament during Story Mode, you will be forced to use the character you are currently playing as in Story Mode. The screen also includes use of capsules, a recharge button and a full screen Dragon Radar. Also, certain characters equipped with scouters may use them as well. This interface is almost no different aside from giving the screen a red tint and including arrows that appear to guide you towards your next Story Objective. You also have the option to locate the Story Objectives or rather, you can hide it and attempt to find it on your own. Although this sounds difficult, Story Objectives have a large beam of light that shoot sup from the ground, making them easy to spot at close range. When you reach the Story Objectives and begin a battle, you will find that the Fight Sequences are far more accurate than those found the previous installments. For example, rather than you having to do a Team Super Attack to kill Raditz with a Special Beam Cannon, Goku automatically holds Raditz while Piccolo launches it and destroys them both. This same effect can be seen when defeating Vegeta (Scouter) and executing the Spirit Bomb (or Fusion Spirit Bomb, as it was called in Dragon Ball: Raging Blast 2) when used as a Team Super Attack.

After a battle, a cutscene will ensue, followed by a narration telling the events that have taken place since that battle has taken place. After this, you will return to the Free Roam screen and be free to travel to the next Story Objective. Also, several Story Objectives contain Boss Battles, which often take place after defeating certain enemies to a point, such as Vegeta (Scouter). After his apparent defeat, he transforms into a Great Ape. Most bosses can be defeated easily by either punching them or firing Ki Blasts at them. After this they can be taken down easily, often with only a few button combinations.

Hero ModeEdit

Ultimate Tenkaichi includes a special mode, called "Hero Mode", which allows the player to experience a whole different story of Dragon Ball Z. A "Complete Character Creation & Customization"^[4] feature was confirmed on July 2011 by Namco Bandai Games. Appearance and attributes can be customized such as model body, face, hair, attire, type of voice your character will have, and fighting style. Additionally fighting style and special moves can be selected. The created characters can roam the world, battle various enemies from the series and share their characters online. Only male characters can be made.

The Hero Mode includes its own story with missions similar to that of the story mode, but without anime cutscenes. While training around the world, the hero meets and fights Captain Ginyu, who gives him a Dragon Ball. Later, the hero hears of Android 17 and Android 18, he fights them in a city and learns that they possess two Dragon Balls and the Dragon Radar. He spares them after the battle and obtains the Dragon Radar and their two Dragon Balls. During his journey, the signals on the radar disappear. The hero hears of Piccolo, the reincarnation of King Piccolo, and tries to find out if he is behind the recent disasters on Earth. He fights Piccolo on the glacier, and transforms into a Super Saiyan during the battle. He then learns that Piccolo was looking for the one responsible for the chaos too. Piccolo tells him that someone gathered the seven Dragon Balls a year ago and wished Ultimate Shenron to make Earth a living Hell. When he was about to confront this person, Piccolo was attacked and injured by a Great Ape. Then, Piccolo offers to train the young hero. After this, the hero finds the Great Ape who injured Piccolo, Golden Great Ape Baby, in a city. He defeats him and learns that the person he is looking for is Omega Shenron. He goes where the Dragon Radar displays the location of three Dragon Balls, and finds Omega Shenron. After being defeated by Omega Shenron, and having his Dragon Balls stolen and scattered, the hero must gather six Dragon Balls by battling various characters, and then he must defeat Omega Shenron for the seventh Dragon Ball. On Kami's Lookout, the hero finds Ultimate Shenron controlled by Omega Shenron's negative energy. The eternal dragon attacks the hero while he was trying to make a wish. Once defeated, Ultimate Shenron grants the hero's wish to bring back all those who were killed by the chaos Omega Shenron created. The world is still in darkness, but the ray of light has not been defeated as the young hero sets out to save the world with his own hands.

Tournament ModeEdit

Like many games before it, Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi features a World Martial Arts Tournament mode where up to 16 characters can be registered in a tournament. The difficulty can be changed.

It is almost identical to previous installments aside from the fact that you can use custom characters to compete. This mode also includes the Stage Destruction, however it is not as in-depth and realistic as the Story, Hero, or Battle Modes.

CharactersEdit

Playable charactersEdit

1. Goku (Base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3)
2. Kid Gohan
3. Teen Gohan (Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2)
4. Ultimate Gohan
5. Piccolo
6. Vegeta (Base, Super Saiyan, Ascended Super Saiyan)
7. Krillin
8. Yamcha
9. Tien Shinhan
10. Future Trunks (Base, Super Saiyan)
11. Gotenks (Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3)
12. Super Vegito
13. Super Gogeta

    

14. Gogeta (Super Saiyan 4)
15. Bardock
16. Raditz
17. Saibamen
18. Nappa
19. Vegeta (Scouter)
20. Zarbon (Base, Transformed)
21. Dodoria
22. Cui
23. Captain Ginyu (Base, Goku's body)
24. Recoome
25. Burter
26. Jeice
27. Frieza (1st Form, 2nd Form, 3rd Form, Final Form, 100% Power)
28. Android 16
29. Android 17
30. Android 18
31. Android 19
32. Dr. Gero
33. Cell (Imperfect Form, Semi-Perfect Form, Perfect Form, Super Perfect Form)
34. Cell Jr.
35. Majin Vegeta
36. Majin Buu
37. Super Buu (Base, Gohan absorbed)
38. Kid Buu
39. Broly (Legendary Super Saiyan)
40. Super Janemba
41. Omega Shenron
42. Custom character [Light, Standard, or Heavy] (Base, Super Saiyan)

Giant bossesEdit

Story ModeEdit

1. Great Ape Vegeta
2. Metal Cooler (nucleus)
3. Janemba (First Form)
4. Hirudegarn (Final Form)^[5]

Hero ModeEdit

1. Great Ape
2. Golden Great Ape Baby Vegeta
3. Ultimate Shenron

Story characters (Non-Playable)Edit

1. Grandpa Gohan
2. Dende
3. Mr. Satan
4. Videl
5. Goten
6. Trunks
7. Supreme Kai
8. Kibito
9. Old Kai

Battle StagesEdit

• Plain
• Rocky Area
• Planet Namek
• Ruined Planet Namek
• Ruined City
• Islands
• Glacier
• Cell Games Arena
• Hell
• Supreme Kai's World
• Cave
• World Martial Arts Tournament
• Temple
• Dark Planet
• Big Gete Star (Story mode only)

Achievements and TrophiesEdit

Main article: List of Achievements and Trophies in Ultimate Tenkaichi

Reception and SalesEdit

The game sold 44,593 copies on the PlayStation 3 its first week. The Xbox 360 version sold 400,000 units^[6] while the PS3 version sold 470,000 copies^[7] thus selling a combined 870,000 units^[8] on the two platforms as of December 29, 2012. The game has received mixed responses. Gaming website IGN rates the game a 7.5 out of 10, with other popular gaming website GameSpot gave the game a 4 out of 10, stating the game is far too simplistic, with the game having no substance, calling the gameplay shallow. Metacritic rates the game 55 for the Xbox-360 version, while the PS3 version received a 58.

MusicEdit

The opening to the game is Cha-La Head-Cha-La performed by Hironobu Kageyama.

List of Background MusicEdit

1. Adventurous Spirit
2. Aftermath
3. Anything Is Possible
4. Burning Soul
5. Dangerous Mind
6. Deep Wild
7. Dragon Crisis
8. Dragons Gate
9. Edge of Spirit
10. Evil Desires
11. Final Disturbance
12. Fist of Justice
13. Gallantry
14. Goku
15. Hot Passion
16. Joker
17. Just a Hero
18. Over the Limit
19. Power Evolution
20. Rainbow in the Universe
21. Rising Force
22. The Warrior
23. Welcome to the Budokai Tenkaichi

TriviaEdit

• Some of the in-game cutscenes were recycled from Dragon Ball: Raging Blast, making it a mix between the original Dragon Ball Z dub and the Dragon Ball Z Kai dub, with the new voices and old voices of certain characters swapping around once in a while.
• Character models from Ultimate Tenkaichi are recycled in Dragon Ball Z For Kinect.
• Kid Gohan's 1st and 2nd costumes have his waist stripe colored blue like in the manga.
• Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta's second "color" turns his hair gray which looks similar to the fan-made Super Saiyan 5.
• Two of the background music tracks in the game are called Heat Capacity and Edge of Spirit, both names were already used for earlier background music in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.
• Many super attacks available for a custom character to use are attacks from characters who do not even appear as playable characters in the game, such as Nail's Mystic Flasher, Android 13's Full Power S.S. Deadly Bomber and Cooler's Death Chaser.
• Teen Gohan's English voice actress is not listed in the credits sequence.
• Like in other video games, Semi Perfect Cell's voice is the same as his Perfect Form's when he charges up.
• In battle mode if you pair up Super Vegeta with Cui, Cui will say "Impossible! Vegeta transformed!" as if he already knew about the Super Saiyan transformation.

GalleryEdit

Promotional materialEdit

Ultimate Tenkaichi PS3 cover (PEGI) Ultimate Tenkaichi PS3 cover (ESRB) Ultimate Tenkaichi Xbox 360 cover Game Project: Age 2011 logo Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi logo Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi logo Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Blast logo Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi/Blast logo Images from the official website of Game Project: Age 2011 Images of Game Project: Age 2011 in a European scan Images of Game Project: Age 2011 in V-Jump A magazine article featuring multiple pictures of Bardock fighting Frieza Images of Ultimate Tenkaichi in a European scan Android 17 vs. Future Trunks Perfect Cell vs. Gohan Ultimate Tenkaichi battle system 01 Ultimate Tenkaichi battle system 02 A magazine scan about Ultimate Tenkaichi Ultimate Tenkaichi Disc A Goku card for Dragon Ball Heroes included in Ultimate Tenkaichi Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

ScreenshotsEdit

Goku with two custom characters Krillin in the introduction movie Yamcha in the introduction movie Piccolo in the introduction movie Future Trunks faces Jeice Vegeta defeats Burter with a Double Axe Handle Vegeta charges an energy blast Vegeta prepares to kill Ginyu Vegeta defeats Ginyu in the intro Frieza battles Goku Frieza charges Destroy The Planet! Frieza fires his attack Goku charges a Kamehameha Goku fires his Kamehameha Goku's and Frieza's clashing beams Gohan attacks Cell Vegeta vs. Kid Buu Vegeta attacks Kid Buu Vegeta smashes Kid Buu SS3 Gotenks Goku powers up to Super Saiyan 3 Goku's Dragon Fist kills Hirudegarn Z Fighters and custom characters Loading Screen Character selection Vegeta (Scouter) firing the Galick Gun Goku firing the Kamehameha Goku watches Vegeta transforming into a Great Ape (cutscene) Great Ape Vegeta Great Ape Vegeta firing a Chou Makohou Great Ape Vegeta Vegeta after his tail is cut off by Yajirobe Goku in front of Great Ape Gohan Zarbon Zarbon Zarbon in his monster form Zarbon prepares the Monster's Impact Goku arrives on Namek One of the animated cutscenes in the game One of the animated cutscenes in the game Frieza attacking Vegeta Frieza charging a Death Ball Vegeta is blasted by Frieza's Death Ball Frieza attacking Krillin A gameplay cutscene of Vegeta's death Frieza fighting with Goku One of the animated cutscenes in the game Frieza attacks Krillin Krillin about to be blown up by Frieza Goku watching Frieza murdering Krillin Frieza vs. SS Goku Bardock Bardock in a cutscene Android 18 Android 18 attacking Vegeta Android 18 kicking Vegeta Cell Cell punching Piccolo Super Vegeta Vegeta crushing Cell Teen Gohan's Super Masenko One of the animated cutscenes in the game Teen Gohan Teen Gohan shocked Teen Gohan about to transform Super Saiyan 2 Gohan Cell perpares an Earth-Destroying Kamehameha The Z Fighters while Goku was going to sacrifice himself Cell fires the Time to Die finishing Finger Beam Metal Cooler boss fight Super Gogeta vs. Majin Buu Majin Buu charging the Chocolat Beam Majin Buu fires his Chocolat Beam Janemba boss fight Gohan says goodbye to Kibito SS3 Goku vs. Kid Buu Kid Buu Goku after defeating Kid Buu Vegeta and Goku Piccolo and Ultimate Gohan in a cutscene Goku after the battle Krillin and the others happy to hear that Buu is gone Bulma and the others in the last cut scene Boss fight against Great Ape Baby Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta Omega Shenron in the final story battle Omega Shenron performs the Dragonic Rage Omega Shenron's Demon Death Ball Ultimate Shenron Custom character creation A custom character A custom character vs Goku A Custom Character charging a Dodon Ray Yamcha A custom character vs Yamcha A custom character vs Krillin Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

CharactersEdit

A custom character The custom character as a Super Saiyan A custom character A custom character The custom character as a Super Saiyan Goku Super Saiyan Goku Battle-damaged Super Saiyan Goku Kid Gohan Super Saiyan 2 Gohan Piccolo Krillin Vegeta Battle-damaged Vegeta Super Saiyan Vegeta Future Trunks Super Saiyan Future Trunks Nappa Recoome Burter Jeice Captain Ginyu Frieza (Final Form) Dr. Gero/Android 20 Android 18 Android 17 Android 16 Imperfect Cell Semi-Perfect Cell Perfect Cell Super Perfect Cell Golden Great Ape Baby Add a photo to this galleryAdd a photo to this gallery

ReferencesEdit

External linksEdit

• Dragon Ball: Ultimate Blast official website (Japanese)
• Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Official Website (English)
• Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi overview at namcobandaigames.com (English)
• Gamespot review of Ultimate Tenkaichi