"Budokai 3" vs "Sparking!" (Preference?)

[The S]

Actually, I should take that back. Budokai Tenkaichi, overall, isn't that tough. It's just a few fights, like Son Gokuu vs. Oozaru Vegeta, that are taxing. That, and the fact that the computer seems to spam their Rush moves like no tomorrow... which is just like Budokai 3's CPU spamming Dragon Rush.

That being said, the Alternate Storylines of BT are second to none. I only wish they'd set them up more like Budokai 3's Dragon Universe.

[Akira]

I guess it all boils down to two player re-playablity factor to me. I play the games most with my younger cousins. They aren't that fun to play alone.

Budokai Tenkaichi boils down to who can spam ki attacks at each other fastest, and no character is really any different than the rest. Once the fun factor of free roaming destructible environments wears off, there isn't much more to play around with in that game.

Budokai 3 is always fun, as we always find new ways to make that game fun. I just got home from a family get together where my cousins and I played Budokai 3 for days besting each other in versus mode, and taking turns running through World Tournament mode to get money for the rest of the obscure capsules we don't yet have. Whoever didn't win was mooching off the others' "Paychecks" (Especially those of us who sacrificed techniques for Sparking!!! caspules). We'd raz each other for not bringing in paychecks when someone failed at the tournament.

We found out so many neat new tricks when playing the game this time. My cousin kept sidestepping any ki attacks I'd do and immediately do one back at me. So I'd fire off one small blast and time a Kamehameha right afterwards to catch him whil he recovered from the first smaller blast. That little combo really got him worked up. He's 10 years younger than me, so it is pretty fun to get him worked up.

I also recall my other cousin calling out his button presses during Dragon rush mode, half the time he was lying and half the time he was telling the truth. It added yet another 50-50% guess on a lot of those tense battles, and got us all worked up a time or two.


We had a blast (Pun intended) and Budokai 3 never fails to deliver the fun where so many other DBZ games lose thier luster after only and hour or two of multiplayer gaming. DBZ B3 is just a well balenced game.

[Xyex]

Indeed. BT just flops in all reguards, IMO. It was fun for a while, sure, but then the "New DBZ game!" rush died off and that was it. I played it again a little earlier today, just to play around with Oozaru, Roshi, and Tao for a bit, but after five fights I switched over to B3 and spent the next two hours engrossed in the DA mode leveling up my characters and trying to get my hands on Saibamen, the last character I still need.

[Leotaku]

Only SSJ4 Gogeta and SSJ3 Gotenks have time issues, but that's understandable, and more 'realistic' to the show than being able to pick them and let the game sit for 2 hours and never de-fusing.

It would've been funny if, as a cheat, you leave a match running for half an hour with Gogeta or Gotenks, then they defuse and you get to use 2 characters at once (perhaps one as an AI partner, or use the other if the first guy is defeated).
I should submit that as a cheat and see if anyone tries it...

Actually, I should take that back. Budokai Tenkaichi, overall, isn't that tough.

It certainly wasn't as hard to me as everyone was making it out to be, but it can still be challenging in some places. At least initially, until you learn some strategies. A Cell Games Tournament isn't too bad, I can usually win that without much trouble. It keeps me on my toes though.

Some of the higher level Ultimate Battle matches are still giving me trouble, but fighting them over and over trying to win has gotten me to learn new strategies. The AI there blocks an awful lot of physical attacks (I usually can't even get a single stun attack in), teleports out of the way of pretty much any Finishing Move, etc.

But I've found ways around that, and am having more fun with it, now that I know what I can do about those. And I finally learned the timing on the Teleport. [/quote]

[The S]

I find a lot of fighting games have cheap AI, especially nowadays (although they had it back in the good ol' days, what with Guile and Kintaro, it's more prominent now). The DBZ are no exception.

[Chaos Saiyajin]

At first, I would have definatley liked B3 a lot more, but now, I really can't say...

I've only owned Tenkaichi for three weeks and I'm happy to say that I've only gotta unlock four more characters! (Tao Pai Pai, Oozaru, Vegeta Oozaru)

This is gonna be the first DBZ PS2 game I've ever beaten without cheating! (I got all capsules from a OPM disc extra feature and I found a nifty B2 code in Tips and Tricks. All I need for B3 is Cell Jr, Kaioshin, and #16.

[Conan the SSJ]

Indeed. BT just flops in all reguards, IMO. It was fun for a while, sure, but then the "New DBZ game!" rush died off and that was it. I played it again a little earlier today, just to play around with Oozaru, Roshi, and Tao for a bit, but after five fights I switched over to B3 and spent the next two hours engrossed in the DA mode leveling up my characters and trying to get my hands on Saibamen, the last character I still need.

Heh, you're not the only one who's had trouble getting Saibaman, he's the last character I needed before getting 100%, and he was such a bitch. He and the avoiding Cell Games rule were the reason it took me so long to get 100% in Budokai 3. After finally getting the Cell Games rule and defeating Nappa in DA, all I needed then was to purchase the breakthroughs for Cell Jr., Saibaman, and Saibaman's support and move capsules. But without a shadow of a doubt, Saibaman was the hardest thing for me to get in Budokai 3, but now I'm proud to say I have 100% in Budokai 3.. Here's my suggestion on how to get him. Play Cooler at at least level 10, spaceship capsule included with no Sparking! capsule, and just keep fighting guys at least levels 20 - 40, that's how I eventually got Nappa to break-in. Good luck on getting it nailed.

[Xyex]

It's worth a shot. You know, first time through I didn't have this trouble. I got the Capsules from DA without really trying, aside from Sparking!!!, I believe, which took a bit. Still need Cell Games too, now that I think about it. I hate corupted saves. >_< I really need to watch when I'm turning off my games. >_>

[Leotaku]

I find a lot of fighting games have cheap AI, especially nowadays (although they had it back in the good ol' days, what with Guile and Kintaro, it's more prominent now). The DBZ are no exception.

Ooh, I remember Kintaro.
And I find that Capcom games (in reference to Guile) are usually fairly difficult, but I don't know if I'd call them cheap. At least not all of them.

Budokai Tenkaichi has some cheap AI, but I've worked out strategies that can pummel them. I played through all of Ultimate Battle, and learned a lot of new things. I beat the last few top rank characters without losing to them a single time. I had a lot of trouble getting there though, and it took some time to adapt to a different strategy that would work on tougher opponents.
It was fun though. I felt I actually accomplished something and got much better at the game.

I've only owned Tenkaichi for three weeks and I'm happy to say that I've only gotta unlock four more characters! (Tao Pai Pai, Oozaru, Vegeta Oozaru)

Hey...that's only three characters.

This is gonna be the first DBZ PS2 game I've ever beaten without cheating! (I got all capsules from a OPM disc extra feature and I found a nifty B2 code in Tips and Tricks. All I need for B3 is Cell Jr, Kaioshin, and #16.

I'm only missing a few Potaras in Tenkaichi. I have 238/241.

As for Budokai 3, I'm at 99%.
I think I'm still missing the Cell Games Tournament. I gave up on that..

[Chaos Saiyajin]

Hey...that's only three characters.

SON OF A MOTHERLESS GOAT! I forgot I unlocked Chibi Goku the other night, that's probably what threw me off...

[Xyex]

Budokai Tenkaichi has some cheap AI, but I've worked out strategies that can pummel them. I played through all of Ultimate Battle, and learned a lot of new things. I beat the last few top rank characters without losing to them a single time. I had a lot of trouble getting there though, and it took some time to adapt to a different strategy that would work on tougher opponents.

On ranks 10 through 1 fighting normally worked like crap. Spamming the Kaio Ken rush attack, however, kicked the crap out of the computer. I lost once or twice, because I couldn't get the initial Favorite Move balls fast enough. But there were several opponents who just stood there spamming Ki blasts at me making it easier to charge them.

Seriously, the Rush attacks are all you need to beat ANY character in BT. Just spam those and you're set. And if you're doing them while going up or down, the chances of an energy blast hitting you are slim to none. I went under/over several Kamehamehas, Gallick Guns, and such due to how the Rush moves arc when they go up or down.

[Leotaku]

On ranks 10 through 1 fighting normally worked like crap. Spamming the Kaio Ken rush attack, however, kicked the crap out of the computer. I lost once or twice, because I couldn't get the initial Favorite Move balls fast enough. But there were several opponents who just stood there spamming Ki blasts at me making it easier to charge them.

Seriously, the Rush attacks are all you need to beat ANY character in BT. Just spam those and you're set. And if you're doing them while going up or down, the chances of an energy blast hitting you are slim to none. I went under/over several Kamehamehas, Gallick Guns, and such due to how the Rush moves arc when they go up or down.

Physical attacks in higher difficulties are tricky. They'll block a lot, and it's pretty hard to get out of their attacks, unless you have Explosive Wave.
The way to use physical attacks on them in higher difficulties is to NOT bother using the stun attack. Just attack short and sweet, and always knock them away at the end of the series of hits. If you're trying to build up the meter for a Full Power Smash, you can always chase them after you knock them away, instead of continuing the meter by using a stun attack.

Even on higher difficulties, yes, the computer still isn't that good at defending against Rush-type attacks. Though it has stopped me a few times using Explosive Wave-type moves, or firing a Finishing Move. It's not nearly as good with it as with other attacks though.

But, I was using Super Vegito for Ultimate Battle, so that didn't matter anyway.
Just my luck too, I happen to choose a character with a short range Super Finishing Move, making that "Win with Super Finishing Move" harder to get.

I actually used their love of Ki blasts as part of my strategy. They often teleport away from my Finishing Moves, but they usually don't dodge the deflected, bigger Ki blast that I send back at them. So I use my Finishing Move right after I deflect, and it usully gets 'em because they're being hit already, and can't teleport.

About Tenkaichi, has anyone read the Character Profiles? I read some yesterday. They called Tien an alien, and said Goten changed his hair in GT because he kept getting mistaken for Goku. Did they ever mention this??

I did find it funny how they went into detail how Roshi has sexually harassed Bulma a lot, and dangerously hit on 18. And how Krillin later grew hair, but never grew a nose.

[B-kun]

The alien part is from the Daizenshuu. I've heard that Goten cut his hair because he was looking too close to his dad, but I can't remember where.

[Dayspring]

I've heard that Goten cut his hair because he was looking too close to his dad, but I can't remember where.

The cover of the second-to-last manga chapter had headshots and names of all the characters. For some people they had captions. Ex: Kamesennin (he finally got a different pair/style of sunglasses), Pan (the daugter of Videl and Gohan), Goten (he cut his hair because he was tired of looking like his father), etc.

[Leotaku]

B-kun: Really? I never knew he was considered an alien.
Thanks. I'm really only familiar with the dub anime and a very small amount of the manga. So I don't know much.

Dayspring: And thanks for confirmation on Goten.

[mictaliano]

i actually prefer transforming mid battle and turning the fight around. well at least that what it feals to me after going super saiyen. i also like Z3 difficulty in B3, i may have lost several hundred times before beating it, but that's what made me feal like a saiyen, the more i trained the stronger i felt. in my opinion BT was just too easy, ibeat it in three days whereas B3 tookme far longer. i also prefer the traditional side view of B1,2 @ 3, cause i can see everything going on.

[NECPS]

I prefer budokai 3.. it has much more charm.. more adventure..
the camera angle is not stuck on the butt of goku.

fusions are counted as power and not as characters.
remember.. it is good to fight till the end fused but.. fusion WILL NOT
REMAIN FOREVER.. that is just the way the story was made....

Kid Gohan has such a nice hair on B3.. And Goku SSJ3's face looks
like a pastry on Sparking! Auch Sparking is a ugly glitchy game!

[VegettoEX]

There is no need to add your own line breaks. Please just keep typing. Only put spaces between actual paragraphs. It clashes far too much with the way that every single other person posts.

[DBZ MAN]

I admire the fact that the Dragonball Z Franchise has taken a fresh new look at the game play.
Budokai 3 was a great game. I think it's the only dbz game that looks closest to the animie/manga. I loved the fact that you can transform mid battle and that it had amazing in-battle cut scenes. It was also challenging when against a friend as there are so many new variables to take in, such as teleporting. I did not like hyper mode much as it was annoying when looking at the characters glowing red and if you where playing 2-player with a mate, you could hardly ever perform a super move. I also did not like the fact that you had to perform fusion to play the characters and fusion time was relatively quick. I think Budokai 3 has the better graphics. Story Mode was repetitive as with all the db games on the ps2 after playing it once. The only thing I enjoyed from it was travelling round the map in third person. If BT was laid out in exactly the same style of the B3 story mode, then that would have been perfect.

Budokai Tenkaichi was a fresh new twist. I myself loved the fact that they changed the camera angle to 3rd person (which is what I always wanted) instead of keeping it to the 'Tekkan' angle, which was being used again and again. In My Opinion Dragonball Z is a too bigger experience to be left as a side angle and that 3rd person is the only way to express it otherwise Bigger Characters (such as Ozaruu) cannot really be playable. 2-player is obviously less fun as the screen has to be split in the middle (for obvious reasons). There should be an online mode as well to use once you find the A.I's pattern of play. The graphics are good as well and they actually have the correct auras (well most do) and electricity (blue). I do not like the fact that there are no in-game transformations as it has taken a level of depth from it. To me, I enjoyed in-game transformations as they give a more db feel to it. Otherwise the characters feel hollow. It's like going back in time to the snes and ps1 games. Overall I enjoy BT more and hope that they continue the 3rd person camera angle, just give it 2 more updates to be a much better experiance but both these games are great in there own respect.