Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, originally published in Japan as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! (ドラゴンボールZ Sparking!, Doragon Bōru Zetto Supākingu!), is a fighting video game released for the PlayStation 2 in Japan on October 6, 2005, and in North America on October 18, 2005. 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, roughly "Strongest 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 of games, 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.
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).
Playable characters
Despite not being a part of the series, the vast majority of characters from the Budokai series once again make an appearance. Additional villains such as Zarbon and Dodoria from the first Budokai game (but not present in the two sequels) appear in the game's roster (though not present from the Budokai series are Supreme Kai, Uub, and Omega Shenron). Some of the characters making their first-ever playable appearances are Janemba, the Great Ape, Baby Vegeta, and Super 17.
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 (Hercule in the edited FUNimation dub, and in the games) - 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.
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). In total, there are 56 different "characters," with 90 different "forms" in total. The game had the largest roster of playable characters in the franchise's history until Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2:
| Returning Characters of the Budokai series | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| New Characters introduced in Budokai Tenkaichi | |||||
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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 Z Fighters 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).
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 | |
| 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 |
| Narrator | Jōji Yanami | Kyle Hebert |
Localization differences
"DBZ: Sparking!" cover
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).
While no official explanation was ever given for the musical differences, as FUNimation Productions did not use the original Japanese score in their "reversioning" of the TV series for an English dub (though they did indeed use it for their English dub of the original Dragon Ball TV series), many fans speculate that contractual issues came into play.
Despite not featuring the original Japanese music, the American release of the game allows for selectable English (FUNimation Productions cast) and Japanese voices, while retaining the English-language written dialogue (as adapted from Steven J. Simmons' translation from the original Japanese version's script). However, there are known (un-fixed) bugs in the American version that cause pieces of English and Japanese spoken dialogue to cross over into whichever selection the player is using at times. (Super Saiyan Trunks in his battle suit (Fighting) speaks Japanese during the Finish Buster, and Super Saiyan 4 Goku also speaks Japanese when he defeats Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta). A second language related bug causes the game to start with the English voice track upon every boot-up, regardless of the user's preferences towards the matter. Although if the user previously selected Japanese before saving their game data, the Japanese track will indeed be highlighted as active during the next play session, despite being very much inactive. As a result, users favoring the Japanese voice work are forced to unselect and then reselect the Japanese language option every time they turn on the game.
Other bugs include textual mistakes such as the Character Illustrations, with one example being the misplacement of the word "how" where the word "who" should have been in one of the profiles. Instead of saying it was Bibidi who made Buu, they said Babidi, who was Bibidi's son. And strangely, even though the game uses the U.S. English anime names (For example, Launch as opposed to Lunch), Bulma's daughter is referred to as Bra rather than Bulla. It also states that Fat Buu is killed for good when he absorbs Baby's Revenge Death Ball in GT, instead of stating that he fuses with Uub and forms Majuub/Ubuu. Also, there is a mistake which refers to a U.S. English dub voice actor, under "Kid Goku's" profile it states that the American voice is played by Sean Schemmel, when he is actually played by Stephanie Nadolny.
Also, in addition to the obvious language translation, the game's cover art and logos are different in each country (apart from the Japanese and European versions, in which the only difference is the Sparking/Budokai Tenkaichi name labels).
Reception
The game sold over 1 million copies in North America and Europe by the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006.[1] In Japan the game sold 532,000 copies by the end of 2005.[2]
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.
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 .png "Frieza defeats Vegeta (BT).png (411 KB)") Full Power Frieza constricts Vegeta in the opening  Kid Buu flying in the opening .png "Buu orb technique 4 (BT).png (416 KB)") 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 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 |
References
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