Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi
Developer(s)	Spike
Publisher(s)	Bandai (JP) Atari (US)
Series	Budokai Tenkaichi series
Release date(s)	JPN October 6, 2005 US October 18, 2005 EU October 21, 2005
Genre(s)	Fighting
Mode(s)	Singleplayer, Multiplayer
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, originally published in Japan as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! (ドラゴンボールＺ Ｓｐａｒｋｉｎｇ！スパーキング！, Doragon Bōru Zetto Supākingu!), is a fighting video game released for the PlayStation 2. The game was developed by Spike and published by Atari and Bandai in the U.S. and Japan, respectively.

The game features 58 playable characters with a total of 90 playable forms from the various TV series and movies. In addition, this game has fully destructible environments. In October/November 2006, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 was released as the game's first sequel.

Overview

Name

The "Sparking!" in the Japanese title references both the first and last word in the first opening theme to the Dragon Ball Z TV series, "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" (performed by Hironobu Kageyama). However, the opening theme to the game is the TV series' second opening theme, "We Gotta Power" (featured in the Japanese version; the American and European versions includes a different, non-vocal song), which is also sung by Hironobu Kageyama.

The "Budokai Tenkaichi" title of the North American version is a rearranged version of Tenkaichi Budōkai (天下一武道会, lit. "Number One Under the Heavens Martial Arts Tournament"). In the series, the Tenka-ichi Budôkai is a gathering of fighters in a competition for glory, fame, and prize money.

The game is not considered a part of the Budokai series, despite its misleading title. In addition to a completely different game engine, the game was developed by an entirely different company (Spike as opposed to Dimps). The game is also titled differently from the rest of the Budokai series in Japan. Were it a true Budokai game, it would have been Dragon Ball Z 4 in Japan. Speculation on the English re-title is that Atari chose to market the game as part of the Budokai series in order to capitalize on a pre-existing market of fans already familiar with said game series. The English version also uses a great deal of sound effects and background music made for the Budokai series.

Soundtrack differences

Further confusing fans in North America, Atari's domestic release of the game does not feature the same music found in the original Japanese version. While Sparking! features actual music from Dragon Ball Z (and two other pieces from the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT where appropriate) as composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi, the American release of the game features recycled music from the Budokai series (composed in Japan by Kenji Yamamoto).

Gameplay

The game is quite different from the often-compared Budokai series; it uses a "behind-the-back" camera perspective. Many say that the game feels like a combination of the Budokai series and the game engine from Dragon Ball Z: The Legend for Sega Saturn and PlayStation. Although the engine is more like a typical third-person shooter, it is difficult to master.

Unlike the Budokai series, there are no in-game transformations, but characters can also be selected from the get go in their initial transformation (for example, starting a battle in Super Saiyan, instead of base form).

In the game, a base character can have multiple "forms" to choose from on the character select screen (for example, Perfect Cell is a different "form" from 1st-form Cell, but they are both selected from the base Cell character).

There are various classes of characters with special abilities that alter the battle:

• Artificial Humans (Jinzôningen) - Will not show on radar unless locked on to. Cannot charge Ki (unless ki gauge is full, then may charge as normal to enter Max Power mode). Energy absorption models gain ki by absorbing incoming energy dan attacks. Unlimited energy models constantly replenish ki at a consistent rate. The gauge can also be filled as normal by landing successful melee attacks, just like any other character. The characters that have this effect are Android 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 and Super 17.
• Large Characters (ex: Broly) - Do not flinch from smaller characters' melee attacks. The characters that have this "Brick wall" effect are Broly, Bojack, Super Trunks, Great Ape, Great Ape Vegeta and Android 16.
• Great Ape - Do not flinch from smaller characters' melee attacks, and cannot be thrown or hit with a Dragon Dash-type finishing move.
• Scouter (ex: Bardock) - Can lock onto an opponent from anywhere using the scouter, however it takes a few moments for them to turn the scouter on and then begin looking around, but the scouter is broken when the character takes a certain amount of damage. The characters that have scouters include: Raditz, Nappa, Scouter Vegeta, Dodoria, Zarbon, Recoome, Burter, Jeice, Captain Ginyu and Bardock.
• Mr. Satan - None of the other characters "flinch" when hit by his melee attacks (not even when fighting another Mr. Satan).
• Majin Buu - All of Buu's forms recover health slowly over time.

Game modes

Z Battle Gate

The story mode of the game, Z Battle Gate, progresses similar to the story modes in previous games. Players can select battles from different sagas and proceed through the story of Dragon Ball Z. The battles are bookended, with players given an objective to accomplish such as finishing the battle with a certain special move or within a certain amount of time. The story mode branches out, allowing for a few battles that were not originally in the story. Dragon Balls can be found inside the destructible environment. After clearing some gates, an extra fight may or may not be unlocked. It also shows two new stories when the movie and Dragon Ball GT villains fight the Dragon Team and a tournament which involves Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z characters.

Ultimate Battle

This new mode pits whichever fighter the player chooses against 100 characters. There are winning points and ranks in this mode. Depending on how the battle went, players get positive or negative winning points. However, if the player ends up with no winning points, the game is over and the player must start back at Rank 100 (the game starts off at Rank 100). Occasionally, a different fighter (always secret characters) will "break in" (interrupt the fight before it begins). Players get more winning points for defeating them, but lose more than usual if they do not defeat them. Also, if the player wins five straight normal fights, someone five ranks ahead will offer a challenge. Completion of this challenge moves the player five ranks up.

World Tournament

Similar to the same mode in the Budokai series, the player can enter a world tournament and try to win their way to the top. There are three levels of the basic tournament and a Cell Games mode (which is hosted by Cell). Since characters can fly, characters can leave the perimeter of the arena, but will be called for ring-out if they touch the ground. There are no restrictions to the Cell Games mode, but the last match of the Cell Games mode is always against Perfect Cell. Since there is no money awarded in this game, the prize for winning a World Tournament is a Z-item. The World Tournament mode can be played with several entrants, but if there is more than one human player, then no prize will be awarded.

Evolution Z

7 slots for Z-items, but the stronger characters can have as little as 3 slots. There are Z-items that will increase a players Z-item slots, but the number of slots cannot exceed 7. Some Z-Items can be fused together to make new abilities and even characters.

Character Illustrations

A unique feature not featured in any of the other Budokai games is Character Illustrations. They list English and Japanese voice actors as well as detailed profiles for all currently unlocked characters. The Character Illustrations reveals the Great Ape featured in Budokai Tenkaichi without armor to be a generic Saiyan warrior, and not any characters in the series (Goku or Gohan).

Playable characters

Name	Playable Transformations	Available at Start
Android #16		No
Android #17		No
Android #18		No
Android #20		No
Baby Vegeta	Super Baby 2	No
Bardock		No
Bojack	Transformed	No
Broly	Legendary Super Saiyan	No
Burter		No
Captain Ginyu		No
Cell	Imperfect Form Semi-perfect Form Perfect Form Super Perfect Form	Yes
Cell Jr.		No
Chiaotzu		Yes
Cooler	Final Form	No
Dabura		No
Dodoria		Yes
Frieza	First form Second form Third form Final form 100% final form Mecha Frieza	Yes
Gogeta	Super Saiyan Super Saiyan 4	No
Gohan	Base Super Saiyan Super Saiyan 2 Elder Kai Unlock Ability	Yes
Goku	Base Kaio-ken Super Saiyan Super Saiyan 2 Super Saiyan 3 Super Saiyan 4	Yes
Goten	Base Super Saiyan	No
Gotenks	Base Super Saiyan Super Saiyan 3	No
Great Ape		Yes
Great Saiyaman		No
Guldo		No
Hercule		No
Janemba		No
Jeice		No
Kid Buu		No
Kid Gohan		Yes
Kid Goku		No
Kid Trunks	Base Super Saiyan	No
Krillin		Yes
Majin Buu		No
Majin Buu (Pure Evil)		No
Master Roshi		No
Mercenary Tao		No
Nappa		No
Piccolo		Yes
Raditz		No
Recoome		No
Saibaman		Yes
Super 17		Yes
Super Buu	Base Gotenks absorbed Gohan absorbed	No
Teen Gohan	Base Super Saiyan Super Saiyan 2	Yes
Tien		Yes
Trunks (Sword)	Base Super Saiyan	Yes
Trunks	Base Super Saiyan Super Trunks	Yes
Vegeta	Base Super Saiyan Super Vegeta Majin Vegeta Super Saiyan 2 Super Saiyan 4	Yes
Vegeta (Scouter)	Base Great Ape	No
Vegito	Base Super Saiyan	No
Videl		No
Yamcha		Yes
Zarbon	Base Monster	Yes

Battle Stages

Opening menu

• Earth Wastelands
• Earth Rocky Area
• Namek
• World Tournament Stage
• City (Ruins)
• Mountain Road
• Islands
• Cell Games Arena
• Kami's Lookout
• Hyperbolic Time Chamber
• Supreme Kai's World

Voice cast

Character Name	Voice Actor (Japanese)	V.A. (U.S. English)
Goku	Masako Nozawa	Sean Schemmel
Vegeta	Ryō Horikawa	Christopher Sabat
Piccolo	Toshio Furukawa	Christopher Sabat
Krillin	Mayumi Tanaka	Sonny Strait
Yamcha	Toru Furuya	Christopher Sabat
Tien	Hirotaka Suzuoki	John Burgmeier
Chiaotzu	Hiroko Emori	Monika Antonelli
Kid Gohan	Masako Nozawa	Stephanie Nadolny
Teen Gohan
Adult Gohan		Kyle Hebert
Great Saiyaman
Future Trunks	Takeshi Kusao	Eric Vale
Kid Trunks		Laura Bailey
Goten	Masako Nozawa	Kara Edwards
Gotenks	Masako Nozawa Takeshi Kusao	Laura Bailey
Vegito	Masako Nozawa Ryō Horikawa	Sean Schemmel Christopher Sabat
Gogeta
Raditz	Shigeru Chiba	Justin Cook
Nappa	Shōzō Iizuka	Phil Parsons
Majin Vegeta	Ryō Horikawa	Christopher Sabat
Saibaimen	Toru Furuya	John Burgmeier
Zarbon	Shō Hayami	Christopher Sabat
Dodoria	Yukitoshi Hori	Chris Forbis
Captain Ginyu	Hideyuki Hori	Brice Armstrong
Recoome	Kenji Utsumi	Christopher Sabat
Burter	Yukimasa Kishino
Jeice	Kazumi Tanaka
Guldo	Kōzō Shioya	Bill Townsley
Frieza	Ryūsei Nakao	Linda Young
Android 16	Hikaru Midorikawa	Jeremy Inman
Android 17	Shigeru Nakahara	Chuck Huber
Android 18	Miki Itō	Meredith McCoy
Android 19	Yukitoshi Hori	Phillip Wilburn
Dr. Gero	Kōji Yada	Kent Williams
Cell	Norio Wakamoto	Dameon Clarke
Cell Jr.	Hirotaka Suzuoki	Justin Cook
Dabura	Ryūzaburō Ōtomo	Rick Robertson
Majin Buu	Kōzō Shioya	Josh Martin
Majin Buu (Pure Evil)
Super Buu		Justin Cook
Kid Buu		Josh Martin
Hercule	Daisuke Gōri	Chris Rager
Videl	Yūko Minaguchi	Kara Edwards
Bardock	Masako Nozawa	Sonny Strait
Cooler	Ryūsei Nakao	Andrew Chandler
Broly	Bin Shimada	Vic Mignogna
Bojack	Tesshō Genda	Bob Carter
Janemba	Tesshō Genda	Kent Williams
Baby Vegeta	Yusuke Numata	Mike McFarland
Super 17	Shigeru Nakahara	Chuck Huber
Great Ape	Yasuhiko Kawazu	Shane Ray
Kid Goku	Masako Nozawa	Stephanie Nadolny
Master Roshi	Hiroshi Masuoka	Mike McFarland
General Tao	Chikao Ōtsuka	Kent Williams
Bulma	Hiromi Tsuru	Tiffany Vollmer
Mr. Popo	Toku Nishio	Cristopher Sabat
Old Kai	Reizō Nomoto	Kent Williams
Shenron	Kenji Utsumi	Christopher Sabat
King Kai/Narrator	Jōji Yanami	Sean Schemmel

Reception

Publication	Score
IGN	8.2 of 10
Gamezone	8.3 of 10
GameSpot	7.0 of 10
Review compilations
Game Rankings	71.8% (based on 32 reviews)
Metacritic	72% (based on 29 reviews)

The Budokai Tenkaichi series has been met with average reviews. Numerous reviews praised the games' high fighter count and detailed cel-shaded graphics, as well as the high amount of fan service to Dragon Ball Z fans. However, general players have taken issue with the games' complex controls.

The game sold over 1 million copies in North America and Europe by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006. In Japan the game sold 532,000 copies by the end of 2005.

Trivia

• Evil Buu is referred to as "Majin Buu (Pure Evil)". Also, unlike in the anime (and also unlike the game's sequels) his voice is unusually high-pitched when he says "Buu!" (he doesn't talk at all in the sequels, but his voice is clearly more accurate to the anime)
• If you are Frieza (2nd Form) and you use Pleasurable Frieza Time, Frieza will say "I'll show you HELL!"
• If he is the second player before a battle, Jeice says "Don't play stupid with me, wanker!" In both sequels, this is adjusted so the word "wanker" is cut out. However, you can clearly tell he was cut off when he says "Don't play stupid with me!"
• Though uncut versions of movies and anime refer to him as Mr. Satan, this game, and all others after it, refer to him as Hercule.
• This is the only one of the Tenkaichi games to use just one life bar, though it has a much more considerable amount of health.
• This is the first Budokai-style game to include all the members of the Ginyu Force.
• The voices of Vegeta and Zarbon follow those of the remastered FUNimation episodes rather than the original FUNimation episodes, which differ considerably (and ironically they are both voiced by Christopher Sabat)
• In the character selection screen, Broly's name is misspelled "Brolli".
• If a player plays any tournament in the game with Master Roshi, the host (or Cell if one plays the Cell Games) will refer to him as "Turtle Hermit"
• When Super Saiyan 4 Goku defeats Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta, he will speak in Japanese.
• When Super Saiyan Trunks (armor) uses a Finish Buster (English voices), he will say it with his Japanese voice.
• This is the only game in the Budokai Tenkaichi series where Captain Ginyu can switch bodies with his featured opponent.
• When you use an afterimage-based attack and the other persons uses a high speed rush, if you charge at them to dragon clash, you will afterimage out of the way and the other person will keep hitting you until you press X. They will eventually get a 999 hit combo, and then it will restart from zero.
• This is the only game where you can touch the ground in the World Tournament Stage, as well as touching the roof of the building and going behind the walls near the entrance. In the later two sequels, you float above the grass (except for non-flying characters in Tenkaichi 2) and the wall/roof section is blocked off, but you can still be hit to the ground. In Raging Blast 2, however, you never hit the ground unless you specify Ring-Out in the rules option.
• This game was released in the US in 2005 and featured Janemba, even though Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn was not translated into English until 2006.
• King Kai serves as the narrator for this game.
• Christopher Sabat is erroneously credited for voicing Cell in the game's ending credits.

Gallery

PlayStation 2 PAL box cover for Budokai Tenkaichi PlayStation 2 PAL back box cover for Budokai Tenkaichi PlayStation 2 NTCS back box cover for Budokai Tenkaichi PlayStation 2 disk for Budokai Tenkaichi Super Saiyan 2 Goku in the opening Kid Buu in the opening Cell Juniors in the opening Cell in the opening Gohan standing behind Piccolo Gohan and Piccolo surrounded by Cell Jrs in the opening Super Saiyan 2 Vegeta in the opening Full Power Frieza constricts Vegeta in the opening Kid Buu flying in the opening Kid Buu charging an energy sphere in the opening Goku, shortly before he uses Instant Transmission in the opening Goku using his Kamehameha in the opening Goku fighting Vegeta Super Saiyan Goku Shenron in the opening Opening menu Main Menu Character Select screen Super Warrior 100 Ranking screen Master Roshi using the original Kamehameha Great Ape Goku sleeps Great Ape Goku uses Gigantic Rock Throw Great Ape Goku prepares a Super Explosive Wave Great Ape Goku's Super Explosive Wave Great Ape Goku charges a Mouth Energy Wave Great Ape Goku's Mouth Energy Wave Goku uses his Counterattack! Kid Goku powers up Kid Goku fires a Super Kamehameha Chiaotzu using the Dodon Ray Chiaotzu firing a Dodon Ray at Piccolo Raditz charges his Full Power Energy Wave Chiaotzu attacking Nappa from behind Goku uses his Kaio-ken Finish Goku about to use the Solar Flare Goku getting blasted through a rock Goku Goku charging a Kamehameha Goku fires his Kamehameha Goku uses his Kaio-ken Finish Vegeta charges a Galick Gun Vegeta's Super Explosive Wave Great Ape Vegeta charges a Full Power Energy Ball Great Ape Vegeta vs. Great Ape Gohan Great Ape Vegeta vs. Great Ape Gohan Gohan fires a Full Power Energy Ball Gohan charges a Masenko Gohan fires his Masenko Recoome being knocked down Recoome Dodoria standing over Recoome Recoome being knocked down Recoome firing an energy blast Burter attacking Goku Jeice uses his ultimate Ginyu about to trade bodies with Goku Frieza and Vegeta under water Frieza vs. Gohan Frieza faces Gohan Kaio-ken Goku Goku charging a Spirit Bomb Goku prepares his Spirit Bomb Goku fires the Spirit Bomb Goku uses a Power Up Goku uses an Explosive Wave Goku uses Super Energy Wave Volley Goku's Super Energy Wave Volley Goku uses his rush attack on Frieza The Instant Kamehameha rush Goku fires his Instant Kamehameha at Frieza Future Trunks charges the Burning Attack Goku kicking Cooler Cooler flying towards Goku Goku getting slammed underwater Vegeta charges a Full Power Energy Wave Vegeta's Full Power Energy Wave Vegeta uses his High Power Rush Vegeta's High Power Rush Vegeta uses his Big Bang Attack Vegeta charges a Final Flash Vegeta fires his Final Flash Cell charges a Kamehameha Cell vs. Goku Goku blasting Cell Piccolo prepares his Hellzone Grenade Tien Shinhan Tien blasting Cell Tien Shinhan punching Cell Tien Shinhan wins Cell about to attack Future Trunks Cell punching Future Trunks away Future Trunks attacking Piccolo Goku uses Instant Transmission Goku uses his rush attack on Cell Teen Gohan's Gekiretsu Madan Cell firing a Super Kamehameha at a Saibaman Cell faces Majin Vegeta Future Trunks vs. Krillin Bojack about to punch Gohan Bojack firing some energy blasts Bojack prepares a Galactic Buster Bojack fires his attack Broly uses his Throwing Blaster Gohan and Goten fighting Goten flying towards Gohan Goten punching Gohan Great Saiyaman uses his Burst Rush on Dabura Super Saiyan Gohan fires a Super Kamehameha Dabura Dabura fighting Frieza Goku and Vegeta about to fight Goku punching Vegeta Goku vs. Vegeta Goku uses his High Power Rush on Majin Vegeta Goku kicking Vegeta away Majin Vegeta uses an Explosive Wave Majin Vegeta uses his Final Explosion Super Saiyan 3 Goku vs. Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks Super Saiyan 3 Goku vs. Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks Zarbon Gohan and Zarbon underwater Zarbon kicking Gohan Zarbon Zarbon defeats Gohan Goku and Super Janemba in battle Goku about to kick Super Janemba Goku kicking Super Janemba Goku and Super Janemba locked in combat Super Janemba kicking Goku away Goku flying at Super Janemba Goku and Super Janemba rushing at each other Goku about to attack Super Janemba Goku punching Super Janemba Super Saiyan 3 Goku fighting Super Janemba Super Gogeta Super Gogeta vs. Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta Gotenks and Super Buu in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber Charging Ultra Buu Buu Volleyball Vegeta firing some ebergy blasts at Kid Buu Super Saiyan 3 Goku uses Power Up Baby Vegeta attacks Baby Vegeta uses his Big Bang Attack Baby Vegeta fires an attack 10x Kamehameha 061005200945 1big.jpg SS4 Goku flying at Super 17 Super Saiyan 4 Goku vs. Super 17 Super 17 kicking Goku SS4 Gogeta Super Saiyan Goku Super Saiyan Vegeta Tien Shinhan Goten Frieza Perfect Cell Super Janemba

External links

• Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi Official page from PlayStation website
• "Sparking!" Official Website
• IGN coverage
• Gamespot DBZ:BT Website
• Daizenshuu EX - List of playable characters (with images)
• GameWinners.com- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi Cheat Codes
• GameFAQ.com- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi Cheat Codes