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Luke
28 Aug, 2004

Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 Preview

PS2 Preview | We take an extended look at the next entry in the Dragonball Z series.
It's telling that one of the most popular articles in PALGN's short history was our Dragonball Z: Budokai 2 review. And whilst the game received a modest 7.0 on our site, (and 7.0 is a respectable score), it does leave for improvement. But never fear Dragonball Z fans - Atari have listened to your calls for more Dragonball and are hard at work on Dragonball Z: Budokai 3.

We all know sequels - broadly speaking - tend to contain the same basic formula with 'more' of everything. In this respect, Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 will be no different, but fans of the series will realise that the game has been given a complete overhaul. Whereas Dragonball Z: Budokai 2 was good, it wasn’t much of a revolution of it's predecessor.



Atari have been very private with releasing information and are releasing it extremely slowly, and whilst this technique helps to generate hype, it can be hard to separate fact from fiction. One concrete fact we can rely on is that in Dragonball Z: Budokai 3, for the first time in a Dragonball game, the player will be able to fly, which should hopefully allow for more freedom for the player which always results in a better gameplay experience.

One of the central criticisms of the two Budokai titles was the linear structure. Daisuke Uchiyama, Dragonball Z: Budokai 3's producer, has stated that they have taken these criticisms on board, and we can probably expect a better storyline and more open-ended gameplay as the flying addition tends to suggest. New modes will also be included in the title, but unfortunately no other information has been unveiled - could the series be receiving an online mode? A “create-a-character” mode? We will have to wait and see.

New characters will also be introduced into the game including Broly and Cooler. More characters will be introduced later, as well as some stranger characters from the animated series.



The control system has also been considerably overhauled to encourage aggressive and fluent gameplay, and to ensure this happens, controls will be more refined and the controls will also respond more quickly than before. All of which means that Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 is shaping up to be a promising game. Fans of the series are bound to pick the title up regardless of it's eventual quality, but Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 might yet tempt a wider audience. It'll have some serious competition in the Christmas rush however - the title is due for release in December for the Playstation 2.

Until then, stay tuned to PALGN for more information regarding the game as soon as it becomes available.
Overall:
Let's hope the game turns out as well as it is sounding. We hope a few surprises are unveiled in the next few months - for now, Atari could have another Dragonball hit on their hands.

Related Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 Content

Win one of three copies of Dragonball Z: Budokai 3
14 Dec, 2004 Only three days left to enter!
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 Review
26 Nov, 2004 We know you've been waiting for our verdict on this one, so here it is.
Dragonball Z: Budokai 3 Screenshots released
23 Oct, 2004 We have the latest shots showcasing some of the new modes.
150 Comments
7 years ago
From what I read so far they sound like they got it right this time
7 years ago
do you know any of the new characters in Budokai 3? And I heard that the atari company are planing a Budokai 4?

Ray
7 years ago
They are skipping 4 and making 5. Makes Sense.
7 years ago
Hey, that was Winamp's idea! icon_razz.gif
7 years ago
SteveoDBGT wrote
Kakarot wrote
From reading the magnize on budokai 3 it looks to be the best out of all the series. Also from watching all the media that I could find on the game. Like with gamepro. The only thing that I could see that wasn't in there is like on the series where goku powers up to super saiyan 3 against buu. I think that it could use the cut scenes when they power up beyond super saiyan 2. It might be on the game don't really know from the media players. the flying will be outstanding. But I would really like to see more information on the characters and a little bit more info. on VEGETA.
Well thats stupid, it would take too long if you have to do it everytime. Cause I don't think the game would know if you have already done it once. (Everytime you win or lose a fight or restart)

Well there isn't much on Vegeta but pics are starting to come out of him.

Thunder, what country are you in?
I don't know they can make games do alot of different stuff now. So I would not be surprised if they can make him do all of that. I am from the US
7 years ago
BROLLIIIIII!!!!! GOGETA SSJ4 GOKU SSJF VEGETA SSJ4 BARDOCK KING VEGETA!!! this games gonna kick
7 years ago
Ray, read the other posts. I answered that question.
7 years ago
this game will have all the characters from dragonball to dragonball gt there will be more fusions and there is custom story mode where you design your own character and play with it at story mode along with other cool new modes... if you want more info then ask questions on this site address me as the atari manger
7 years ago
Well we would do both if a) we didn't have enough info already, and b) you really were the manager of Atari.
7 years ago
GTPod wrote
Well we would do both if a) we didn't have enough info already, and b) you really were the manager of Atari.
In his defense, he never said he was a manager, he said he was a manger. I assume it's lower on the scale, but nevertheless, it is different. icon_lol.gif
7 years ago
Maybe its a typo. If it was then at least he isn't the manager of Atari.
7 years ago
can u give me all the info i need like can you do the ten fold kamehameha like on the GT series?????
7 years ago
Don't know. Nothing told yet. And since it wasn't called a 10x Kamehameha (it was called nothing) in the english DBGT I don't know if they would put it in.
7 years ago
when dos buderkiu 3 come out
7 years ago
blayer wrote
when dos buderkiu 3 come out
Never heard of that particular game.
7 years ago
Well, i have dragonballzbudokai 1and 2. Everything about 1 was okay. The fighting sequences and variety of moves were very limited. That got a lot better in 2, But i thought the story mode just made the whole game go downhill. It did't stick to the story line and it was like playing monopoly with goku, vegeta, gohan, etc.What I am hoping for in Budokai 3 is to be able to fly at will, other fighting options like the longer you hold your blast, the more energy you will conjure, the more ki it takes down, and the more damage that is done to your opponent. Special attacks are great and enhancements would be nice but aren't really needed. It will also be better if you could play out more of the story mode. Like, in Budokai 1, the only time you got to control the character is when they confronted someone or got confronted by someone. It should be more open to where you can fly to your opponent and then fight them. You should also be able to play story mode from the bad guy's side.Graphics and surroundings were great and don't need improvement, even though i'm sure they were.Transformations. Transformations should be a lot more dramatic. Instead of a simple ha, and a bright light, they should like bring up rocks and send out waves that won't hurt the opponent, But definetly knock them back by at least half of the screen. For dragonballz budokai 4, if one is made, I think that customizing your character should go much further. You should be able the build the player's speed so everything that you do is faster(Blast, flying, punching, kicking).Even if the controls have to be made more difficult, these enhancements are almost like a neccesity to make a great dbz game in my opinion.
7 years ago
Bloody hell, all I got from all that was.. blah blah blah.
7 years ago
Ok, but it'll cost ya.
7 years ago
Guest, piss off. Can someone please delete those posts.
7 years ago
ray wrote
do you know any of the new characters in Budokai 3? And I heard that the atari company are planing a Budokai 4?

Ray
no this is the last budokai game for the ps2, although they are making a game called dbz sagas:evolution, there isnt any info on it but most people are hoping its a rpg, i know i am.
7 years ago
SteveoDBGT wrote
Guest, piss off. Can someone please delete those posts.
Done ^^
7 years ago
For heavens sake, how much longer must this topic exist?? LOCK IT ALREADY! icon_razz.gif
7 years ago
Until the game is out.
7 years ago
Thank you so much Atari, thank you!!!
7 years ago
Shut up!!!
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Australian Release Date:
  Out Now
European Release Date:
  Out Now
Publisher:
  Atari
Developer:
  Dimps
Players:
  1-2

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