THE GOOD:Improved cinematics for transformations and special attacks
Newer, better combos to crush your opponent
An interactive story mode that draws you in to the action
Cell shading improved
Plenty of replay value
THE BAD:
Story mode is short
Limited character customization
Could've added a few more characters which are significant
SUMMARY:
The third installment in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, and possibly the last one. IMO, this game looks better and plays better than the first two Tenkaichi games. At first, the game really doesn't look that much different than the first two, except for the new characters that are making a debut. So lets see just how this game is set apart from the other two.
The Story:
Most gamers complain that the story mode for this game is rather short. I'm inclined to agree, the story mode is pretty short. Although, to go through the ENTIRE Dragonball series INCLUDING all the movies and specials, I think isn't something that should be overlooked so much. Although the story is missing a few significant battles, it is quite accurate and gives you a feeling that you are watching the entire series all over again. It is very interactive, and while you are fighting, you can still hear the voices like in the show, which also vary according to how you do (for example, if you aren't doing so well, your opponent might taunt you).
The Characters:
150+ of them, pretty big selection. Of course, that also includes all of the transformations and alternate forms of the same characters. However, there are a number of new faces, such as King Cold, King Vegeta, Nail, Nouva Shenron, Kid Goku(GT), Future Gohan(Trunks Special), and several others.
The Gameplay:
The controls are very much the same as the ones in Tenkaichi 2, but there are some differences. A good thing is that at the beginning of a battle, you are automatically locked on to your opponent. For the most part, the controls do vary from character to character, so everyone won't play exactly the same. However, it is easy to get accustomed to, and eventually you'll get a feel for each of the characters' moveset and combos. The game is much more fast-paced than the second one, especially with the Z counter, where you can teleport and dodge your opponents attack, delivering a killer counter blow, or the Sonic Sway, where you can briefly dodge a rush attack.
The Special Attacks and Transformations:
All the moves have been remastered--they look much better and some of them function a little differently than from Tenkaichi 2. All the characters still have a Blast 1, Blast 2, and Ultimate Blast moveset, along with two special techniques. Some old characters have new techniques. The cutscenes have been changed from Tenkaichi 2, but only for the better. Transformations are very cool looking, especially for those Saiyans who can transform into Great Apes or Super Saiyans. Very realistic to the actual show.
The Battle Stages:
20+ stages, looking better than ever. It's hard to tell if they are any bigger than the ones in Tenkaichi 2; it really doesn't seem that way to me. However, Hell, Space, and Pilaf's Castle have been added, which also add to the accuracy of the story.
The Graphics:
They aren't much different from Tenkaichi 2, except that the cell shading has been improved. When you power-up or do a Dragon Dash, you'll notice that the shading looks different. Anyway, not a big change, but still good.
The Conclusion:
Overall, this game is a step up from the previous two. More characters, more moves, more stages, more ways to play. If you've been a fan of the first two Tenkaichi games, you will like this one even better. There are several game modes and a character list that will give you an overview of all the characters in the game, in case you don't know much about some of them. A must buy if you are a DBZ fan, and even if you're not a big fan, it's a great game with plenty of replay value.
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