Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Image
Metascore

Mixed or average reviews - based on 27 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

  • Summary: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme 3D fighting experience, improving upon last year's game with over 150 playable characters, enhanced fighting techniques, beautifully refined effects and shading techniques, making each character's effects more realistic, and over 20 battle stages. In addition, an improved control system for the Wii will allow players to easily mimic signature moves and execute devastating energy attacks as they are performed in the Dragon Ball Z animated series. In addition to the unprecedented number of characters and improved Wii control system, the environments have also been enhanced to feature day and night stages. The power of the moon in the night stages gives players additional ways to transform their characters and lets fans recreate some of their favorite memories from the show. [Atari] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 27
  2. Negative: 0 out of 27
  1. Despite a couple of problems, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is definitely a must for Dragon Ball fans and 3D fighting enthusiasts.
  2. But despite what this game has to offer it remains hard to recommend a purchase simply because of all the déjà-vu this will give you. There is almost nothing new here from the previous Tenkaichi titles, besides a ramped up character list and a couple shifts in the story mode.
  3. It still looks great on the 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.
  4. In the end, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for the Nintendo Wii is a good solid fighter that's not going to necessarily change anyone's mind on the series.

See all 27 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. JeromeG.
    10
    Yes the game needs improvements a couple of things that I can just list off the top of my head....but the game is real fun and the best yet and I wish I could tell em everything that need to be improved I got a lot of good ideas. Expand
  2. this is the best dbz game, much better than ps3 xbox360 games, although a bit accurate lacking, the motion controls work well and feels great making final flash and kamehameha, this game is a dream come true for dbz fans, dont pay attention to bad reviews, this is the best dbz game ever alongside super butoden 2 for snes, of course its not perfect this game deserves 8/10 always. Expand
  3. It's good responsive and entertaining, kind of tired with the awkward and weird fighting formula. Giving the addition to use the GC controller to it feels even more weird , is a mess and uncool. Expand
  4. MattP.
    4
    I really liked the last installment of this game (I've only played it on the Wii), in fact, i play it quite a lot. After hearing so much about the improved controls in Tenkaichi 3, I went out and spent a little XMas money on this game after stalling until the end of finals. So far, I'm hugely disappointed, and eve that sounds like an understatement. I really liked the story mode in Tenkaichi 2 but heard that "History" had been altered a bit in the latest outing. "Altered" doesn't even begin to describe how horribly the story mode is implemented. The fights are heavily scripted... scripted fights in a fighting game-- am I the only one who feels that this is a crime against gamers? Odds are stacked against you, the first fights are nearly impossible (and I have an easy time with Tenkaichi 2) (Raditz, for example, can't be knocked back or phased by normal attacks so he can grab and throw you whenever he wants). Once Vegeta returned to full energy after turning into a monkey, I just put the controller down and turned off the Wii. This is *not fun.* It's like they tried to find ways to sap all of the fun out of the game by jacking with the control scheme (am I the only one who doesn't enjoy flying around the arena out of control and unable to stop? Yeah, that's fun). In brief, they've taken a tip from modern RPGs and have replaced gameplay with sitting and watching pointless dialog and scripted scenes. It's boring, it's frustrating, and, most importantly, it's not fun. I haven't enjoyed this game for a second. Expand

See all 11 User Reviews