Dragon Ball Z 3/Budokai 3 Turns 10

[DragonBoxZTheMovies]

So, on this month, 10 years ago, Budokai 3 came out. Can you believe that it's already been that long? I still feel that the game holds up pretty well and it is, hands down, my most played DB game. The fights are just so fast-paced and fun. Even if I kept losing, I'd never stop playing because it was so addictive and it always felt like every fight was competitive. To this day, I still put it in from time and time and go through one of the Dragon Universes- easily one of the game's strongest points. While it may not convey the story that well to newcomers, I always enjoyed the format with the over-world map and the ability to stop by random locations and have random interactions with other characters or even discover whole news paths for the story. It just gave the game so much replay value. The fact that finding someone on the map could change the course of events so significantly really appealed to me- I always loved the build-up to the Coola and Broli fights in Goku's DU, particularly the latter. There was something so eerie about it. And the music! What is there to say that hasn't already been said? Oh, Yamamoto.

I know I'm off by a few days, but I wanted to make this now after being reminded by DarkPrince_92's latest thread. So, what are your memories of, what is widely regarded as, one of the best video games the franchise has produced? What did you like about this game that made it so memorable? Why do you think the fandom holds it in such high regard? Do you think its position is justified?

[90sDBZ]

Yeah I'm planning on giving my original PS2 copy an anniversary playthrough on a new file

10 years and it still hasn't been topped (although Xenoverse may be a contender). I remember the UK getting it a month later than the US and feeling really jealous. Rarely have I been as hyped for a game as I was for Dragonball Z Budokai 3. Here's to another 10 years of it.

[donkeyjack]

Was outdated since 10/18/05 but at that time it's great DB game.

[sangofe]

Was outdated since 10/18/05 but at that time it's great DB game.

What game came out on that date?

[90sDBZ]

BT1 I think. Can't say I agree with that opinion.

[Hellspawn28]

Hard to believe it been 10 years. I remember when this game was coming out, I was so hype for it. I remember when the game was first leak out in early 2004 with the scans of Broli and people were like "OMG Broly!!!". I remember Gamestop had a listing for a GT game for the PS2 in January 2004 which made people believe that Budokai 3 would be a GT theme game before Budokai 3 was announced. I also remember I was hype up for Budokai 3 then any other game in 2004. 2004 was the biggest gaming year in my opinion with so many awesome games coming out that year.

I remember I had make grade better in my Music class in order for my parents to agree to help pay off my pre-order for the game. I also remember when the game was coming out that the rumor that the game will have 70 characters like Tapion, King Vegeta, Legic and so many more. I also remember that fake scan of Golden Oozaru was posted online and the picture got posted like wild fire on the web until the creator admit it was fake. There was the rumor of Tullece being a alt for Bardock in the game. Budokai 3 was a pretty important game to me during the 8th grade for me and I played the game until the first Tenkachi game came out.

Was outdated since 10/18/05 but at that time it's great DB game.

People still played Budokai 3 even after a year it came out. Budokai Tenkachi/Sparking got a lot of very mixed reviews, so most people skip out on it. I remember when people were like "Buy Budokai 3 instead" back in 2005. Not to mention people at my local video game club still play Budokai 3. Budokai 3 is still awesome even after 10 years old.

[InfernalVegito]

A great storymode, vanishing in gameplay, amazing ultimate cutscenes for the most part and a fantastic OST with timeless melodies. I remember addicting over it for weeks, if not months, when it came out. It just felt like the logical epitome of the game series.

[DBZAOTA482]

I first got it on christmas of 2004 as a gift from my oldest brother. It was to only gift I remember getting but I didn't care. That automatically made it the best christmas ever especially since I was wanting it like mad for a few months. Even better as that it lived up to expectations. I though it was the best DBZ game to date (still do even to this day), and quite possibly one of the best fighters available on ps2. Fighting machinics were a huge step up from the first two, the story mode was great and had a lot replay value, and the visual were sexy as hell.

I've actually been playing it recently via HD Collection and I'm just as hooked on the game as I was back at 2004-2005. In fact, I think it's may be even better than I remember it being now that I'm older and more experienced.

No other DBZ game has yet to enticed me as much (though BT2 came pretty close).

[Cold Skin]

Everytime I think about that game, I think about a line from Goku I was never sure to understand properly.
He's charging his spirit bomb and when he's about to absorb it, he says something that sounds like:
"Aaaargh -- this Spirit Bomb's meany!!"

Every single word of all other dialogues was easy to understand without the slightest effort.
But this line of Goku... I still don't know what it really must be.

[90sDBZ]

Everytime I think about that game, I think about a line from Goku I was never sure to understand properly.
He's charging his spirit bomb and when he's about to absorb it, he says something that sounds like:
"Aaaargh -- this Spirit Bomb's meany!!"

Every single word of all other dialogues was easy to understand without the slightest effort.
But this line of Goku... I still don't know what it really must be.

I'm pretty sure the line is "The Spirit Bomb's fading!".

[DarkPrince_92]

Fuck I'm old...

[MCDaveG]

This is what I saw 10 years ago and was hyped a lot!!!!
Damn, I was 16 at that time.... now I'm 26 and damn - I am old and still like and play DB

Oh no, sorry, I thought this was the weird one..... This trailer I actually saw!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85NOKMt1Fao

[Videlphia76ers]

The crazy thing about that game was as a USED PS2 tile it was still pulling in like 30 bucks on eBay when it wasn't all that rare of a game. Then the HD collection came out and it plummeted.

[Hellspawn28]

That because it was a popular game. Before the HD collection came out, playing it on the PS2 was the only way to play it. The PS2 and Xbox versions of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 used to be super high on the after market until they re-release it on Xbox Live and PSN. Same with Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne when it used to be very hard to fine until around 2009 or 2010 when the game got reissued.

[donkeyjack]

Hard to believe it been 10 years. I remember when this game was coming out, I was so hype for it. I remember when the game was first leak out in early 2004 with the scans of Broli and people were like "OMG Broly!!!". I remember Gamestop had a listing for a GT game for the PS2 in January 2004 which made people believe that Budokai 3 would be a GT theme game before Budokai 3 was announced. I also remember I was hype up for Budokai 3 then any other game in 2004. 2004 was the biggest gaming year in my opinion with so many awesome games coming out that year.

I remember I had make grade better in my Music class in order for my parents to agree to help pay off my pre-order for the game. I also remember when the game was coming out that the rumor that the game will have 70 characters like Tapion, King Vegeta, Legic and so many more. I also remember that fake scan of Golden Oozaru was posted online and the picture got posted like wild fire on the web until the creator admit it was fake. There was the rumor of Tullece being a alt for Bardock in the game. Budokai 3 was a pretty important game to me during the 8th grade for me and I played the game until the first Tenkachi game came out.

Was outdated since 10/18/05 but at that time it's great DB game.

People still played Budokai 3 even after a year it came out. Budokai Tenkachi/Sparking got a lot of very mixed reviews, so most people skip out on it. I remember when people were like "Buy Budokai 3 instead" back in 2005. Not to mention people at my local video game club still play Budokai 3. Budokai 3 is still awesome even after 10 years old.

Budokai 3 wasn't that nice if you compared to other traditional fighters. At least Tenkaichi did something new.

[Hellspawn28]

Even so, Budokai 3 is still a good fighting game on it's own right. Budokai 3 was so good that I seen people who never seen DBZ or even like it enjoy Budokai 3 because it was a good game. 2004 had a lot of fun fighting games that year like Budokai 3, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Godzilla: Save the Earth, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact and Def Jam: Fight for NY. I remember Deception won best fighting game of 2004 beating Budokai 3, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact and Def Jam: Fight for NY.

[DBZAOTA482]

Even so, Budokai 3 is still a good fighting game on it's own right. Budokai 3 was so good that I seen people who never seen DBZ or even like it enjoy Budokai 3 because it was a good game. 2004 had a lot of fun fighting games that year like Budokai 3, Mortal Kombat: Deception, Godzilla: Save the Earth, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact and Def Jam: Fight for NY. I remember Deception won best fighting game of 2004 beating Budokai 3, King of Fighters: Maximum Impact and Def Jam: Fight for NY.

This man knows his shit, right here.

I personally feel Budokai 3 never quite got the credit it deserves from critics and some fans. I mean, the game set the bar high for future dbz games.

[donkeyjack]

Nah, I disagree terribly with that. Budokai 3 didn't set the high bar for DBZ games period. Which is why it gets laughed by FGC.

[Flopro18]

Nah, I disagree terribly with that. Budokai 3 didn't set the high bar for DBZ games period. Which is why it gets laughed by FGC.

The FGC laughs at every DBZ game, maybe other than Infinite World and Burst Limit. B3 wasn't really appealing those audiences but rather for true DBZ fans. For DBZ fans, the bar was set extremely high, because they could appreciate it as a DBZ fighting game, not a Street Fighter or Blaze Blue. B3 wasn't for the FGC, it was for us competitive DBZ lovers.

[DBZAOTA482]

Nah, I disagree terribly with that. Budokai 3 didn't set the high bar for DBZ games period. Which is why it gets laughed by FGC.

How not, may I ask? Which fighting game engine was recreated the most? Budokai 3. We've got the Shin Budokai series, Burst Limit, Infinite World (which is basically Budokai 3.5), and that Dragon Ball: Evolution game. Most of which were received generally favorely (only Evolution is generally disliked for certain reasons) whereas every three recreation of Tenkaichi 3 wasn't. Also, which game's story mode was recreated the most? Budokai 3's. Even Spike caught on and added it into three of their games (BT2, TTT, UT).Als

BTW all the Spike games are laughed at as well.

The FGC laughs at every DBZ game, maybe other than Infinite World and Burst Limit. B3 wasn't really appealing those audiences but rather for true DBZ fans. For DBZ fans, the bar was set extremely high, because they could appreciate it as a DBZ fighting game, not a Street Fighter or Blaze Blue. B3 wasn't for the FGC, it was for us competitive DBZ lovers.

I doubt Infinite World gets that much acclaim by the FGC. The game's a budget title that people who've never played Budokai 3 have most likely never heard of much less played, most critics disliked it (it's every clear almost all of them know nothing about Budokai though), and even fans who've played it don't like it as much as B3. It's kinda like what Kai is to Z (except B3 was already fast paced). Don't know about Burst Limit. I'm surprised you didn't mention Hyper Dimensions.

Most of the FGC who don't respect Budokai 3, as far as I'm concerned, are those who didn't take the time to learn how it works (the games don't explain that thoroughly).