• Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Nov 13, 2007
  • Also On: Wii
Metascore
73 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 24
  2. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. The PS2 may have thrown out its last classic titles with Okami and God of War II, but for those waiting to make the next gen leap then you could do a lot worse for yourself in the mean time than picking this up.
  2. The ride has been fun, and many great battles have been fought in living rooms and rec halls across the nation. If Tenkaichi 3 turns out to be the swan song, the capstone to the house that Atari and DBZ built, it will be a noble end.
  3. With its peculiar fighting system, it's the best recreation of the fights that we saw on TV, that really come alive with the great cel shading visuals. More than 150 characters, the campaign and tournament modes and the encyclopedias make it just perfect for DB fans. [Dec 2007]
  4. For 50 bucks, Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is a surprisingly good game. The colorful landscapes, differently played characters, and multiple settings and choices make the title enjoyable.
  5. 80
    When looking at the core gameplay, and ignoring the titles before it, BT3 is a fast, fun, and amazingly deep experience for fans of the award-winning anime.
  6. Undeniably the best DBZ game to date. The fighting engine has been considerably deepened, the Dragon History mode is flawed but great, and the graphics far surpass the anime.
  7. If there's one word to describe this game it's frenzy. You'll find plenty of fast action and the gameplay never really takes a break.
  8. Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is a "more of the same" sequel, but its still-addictive gameplay presents a problem: if you buy it, you're out $40. But if you choose to rent it, you'll likely spend more in the long run since the game is hard to give up.
  9. Mixes superb visuals, a solid fighting system and some heart breaking drama. [Jan 2008, p.78]
  10. The game isn't great, but it delivers the goods for the fans, and that's all it really needs to do.
  11. Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is a good game for a DBZ title, but average if you ignore the property holding it up. For fans of DBZ this is a must-own; for normal gamers, this is likely onyl a rental.
  12. The large variety of fighters, the deep fighting model, and the compelling story that unfolds throughout the game play modes makes this one worth a look.
  13. When it comes down to it, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 continues the series' tradition of creating true-to-the-anime experiences.
  14. It still looks great on the aging hardware and accurately represents the popular anime/manga series, but the statute of limitations for similar last-gen sequels expires now - it's time for Atari to take this franchise to next-gen consoles and put some real force behind these extraordinary characters and settings.
  15. It's the ultimate package for DBZ fans. For everyone else it's one of the most technical and rewarding fighters out there. [Christmas 2007, p.90]
  16. 70
    Spike, through their years of crafting this intricate milieu, has given the fans what they wanted: a fun, exciting portrayal mirroring the spirit and ferociousness of Dragon Ball Z.
  17. 70
    Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 may not be that unique, or that good, but it certainly takes a familiar theme and then moves off at strange angles, pushing ideas far more then you might initially expect, taking something familiar and, for good or bad, making it true to its own rules.
  18. 70
    If you've played any of the previous Tenkaichi titles, you know exactly what to expect here -- a relatively shallow button-masher that does a darn fine job of letting you relive the Dragon Ball experience. Those looking for anything else will be disappointed, but if you just want another excuse to beat up Frieza, this game will suit you perfectly.
  19. After three games, you should know by now that this series is primarily for longtime fans, and they have plenty to like. [Holiday 2007, p.82]
  20. 70
    If you own a Wii, I recommend you hold out and wait for that version, which features an interesting alternate control scheme and full online play.
  21. A horrible mess of a fighting system scuppers it, but fans will love it anyway. [Jan 2007, p.68]
  22. For everyone else, it's a tough and not entirely rewarding slog that you may tire of before you see the fruits of your labour. If you're not prepared to wallow in the minutiae of Dragon Ball Z, there are far more competent fighters out there.
  23. It's unbalanced, oddly paced and blocky...but there's no denying that a certain charm persists beneath it all, and I found myself playing long after I had enough to review it.
  24. I can respect Funimation's attempt to change many staid fighting game conventions throughout their Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi series, but in the process, the controls have become almost impossible to learn.
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 29 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. A game that needs an award. Why the gaming rating webs rated this game so low. It's fun and addictive. It is flash, and visually stunning for a PS2 game. This is a perfect game for a PS2, and one of the best fighting games ever. But, still I'm surprisingly mad by the bad rating from the gaming rating webs. (9.7) Full Review »
  2. It's Dragon Ball Z is the best, the battle that are successful is the ultimate battle mode and the scenario are the best but it's the graphic that I was disappointed but despite the ca game is very playable and 'are over 70 playable characters, what good game Full Review »
  3. I'm actually writing this review is a response to another review I just saw about this game the annoyed me a great deal. This game is great. It's as simple as that. The Tenkaichi series is quite possibly the great of all DBZ games and Tenkaichi 3 is the best of the series. Although Tenkaichi 2 comes in as the a close second but the third comes out ahead due to balance. First and foremost I want to say that none of the Tenkaichi games are very well balanced, NONE! However, in Tenkaichi 2 some characters had attacks that were mind-numbingly powerful(Great Ape Baby's Throw), rushing attacks took ZERO ki if they didn't connect and the customization setup was a true game-breaker(Halo for starters cut down energy needed for all attacks in half with no real consequences). Also, everyone has been given their own unique combo set this time around instead of having the generic setup as the other games did and some character have had their move-set changed to avoid having redundant attacks and to keep their techniques more in line to the attacks they actually performed in the anime. So anyone who played Tenkaichi 2 before laying their hands on this will realize that its a bit more difficult to play since you can no longer mash your opponents into oblivion. It actually takes some skill this time around and any DBZ fan should at least have the patience to play this game and realize it's not worth giving a "0" rating. Full Review »