Will there ever be a Budokai 4?

goku 333 · Post by **goku 333** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 3:46 pm

I was thinking since the first Budokai in 2002 Atari (or whoever the company responsible for the release of these games is) have been releasing Budokai titles annually. But that all seemed to stop after the release of DBZ games like Sparking and Super DBZ. Dose that mean the end for the Budokai games…?

Slickmasterfunk · Post by **Slickmasterfunk** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 4:07 pm

Well Atari onlys releases the game in some regions, the company that actually made the games was Japanese developer, Dimps. After DBZ3 or Budokai 3 Dimps spent their time making Shin Budokai for the PSP which was released just a little over year after 3. So will there be a Budokai 4? Maybe, but I wouldn't count on it being for PS2. A next-gen system would make more sense to me. I think it's more likely that we'll see a Shin Budokai 2 or maybe even a Nintendo DS Budokai game before we see a true Budokai 4.

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:22 pm

It probably all depends on wether or not they still have the license and/or wether or not the mood strikes Bandai to issue them to make another "Budokai". Although I do think I remember them saying in interviews that Budokai/DBZ 3 was intended to be the last of the series. But that might just be me.

chibi_goten · Post by **chibi_goten** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 5:45 pm

Let's hope they do, I prefer the series. But with Sparking out, I have to say it seems doubtfull.

Taku128 · Post by **Taku128** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:45 pm

chibi_goten wrote:Let's hope they do, I prefer the series. But with Sparking out, I have to say it seems doubtfull.

God damn Sparking, taking away our Budokai games. I bet if it hadn't been for Sparking Budokai 3 would have come out on Game Cube. WE WANT BUDOKAI 4!

Sebastian (SB) · Post by **Sebastian (SB)** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:12 pm

Yeah, I like the "Dragon Ball Z" PS2/GC games by Dimps more than the "Sparking" series by Spike. I think Dimps has proved they have what it takes to make the superior Dragon Ball game. I didn't like Bandai-Namco's decision to switch developers for the next series of DBZ games. Just when Dimps have proved themselves worthy...BAM!....Which makes me wonder what would happen if Dimps developed Sparking! as apposed to Spike.

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:21 pm

I would love to see a Budokai 4. However, if it is being developed it'll be hard beat Budoaki 3. Maybe they're waiting for PS3 to come out before they do it so that they'll have a better chance at beating out Buodkai 3.

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:47 pm

What is it with the sudden Sparking hating? >.>;; And besides, the PSP Budokai came out after Sparking, and so did Super DBZ, so obviously there is room for more than one DBZ fighting game being developed at the same time, don't blame Sparking, which in my opinion is the better DBZ game, for the lack of updates in the Budokai franchise.

Taku128 · Post by **Taku128** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 7:54 pm

Pedro The Hutt wrote:What is it with the sudden Sparking hating? >.>;; And besides, the PSP Budokai came out after Sparking, and so did Super DBZ, so obviously there is room for more than one DBZ fighting game being developed at the same time, don't blame Sparking, which in my opinion is the better DBZ game, for the lack of updates in the Budokai franchise.

Sparking may have added ton of characters, but they never had one of the most important things: Fun Gameplay. Just because a game had five million characters (four million of which are just diffrent transformation) doesn't make it good. Budokai had great gameplay and it was always adding and subtracting things form that gameplay to make it better. NEO added virtually nothing new to the gameplay. And since Atari's in charge of the Budokai franchise, it's their call when a new Budokai game will be developed, but with other DBZ games coming out at the sime time on the same console, they don't want them to subtract sales from each other, and since both the Sparking and Budokai franchises have new games released in the October-December range, they won't be releasing any new Budokai games as long as Spike is cranking out new Sparking games with a bunch of new playable characters that had minor parts in the Dragon Ball series.

Conan the SSJ · Post by **Conan the SSJ** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 8:38 pm

Taku128 wrote:And since Atari's in charge of the Budokai franchise, it's their call when a new Budokai game will be developed, but with other DBZ games coming out at the sime time on the same console, they don't want them to subtract sales from each other, and since both the Sparking and Budokai franchises have new games released in the October-December range, they won't be releasing any new Budokai games as long as Spike is cranking out new Sparking games with a bunch of new playable characters that had minor parts in the Dragon Ball series.

Atari isn't in charge of the Budokai franchise, they just handle the conversion to the North American adaptation, with some minor say in the European/Austrailan version treatment as well. Bandai are the ones mainly in charge, they decide which specific company to develop the game and hire them to do so. Honestly, all Atari have been in charge has been Sagas and all the other American-made games (GBA Collectible Card Game, LoG series, Taiketsu, etc.)

Regarding if there's ever gonna be a true Budokai 4, my guess is it sadly will never happen. I mean Bandai and Atari seem focused with the Sparking! series being the next-gen style for games, so really Shin Budokai may be the last spurt of work we'll get out of Dimps. It's sad, but hey in my honest opinion, Budokai 3 Greatest Hits is the definitive DragonBall Z fighting game and I doubt even Sparking NEO/Budokai Tenkaichi 2 will surpass it from my point of view. Heck, as much as I love Super DBZ (and I really do), it still just comes in second to B3 GH.

Even if there is a new Dimps game for the next-gen console, really the only way to surpass B3 GH is if they have the story mode go from DB - GT, include just a few new necessary characters (to the already established character roster) and possibly a couple original ones so that the game-play doesn't suffer in any repetitiveness, and include effective cut-scene treatment on par to that of Budokai 1. Oh, and some destructive elements in the arenas similar to Super DBZ and superior RPG elements in the story mode wouldn't hurt. All this, my opinion.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Sun Oct 29, 2006 9:55 pm

Well, from the diehard fans of B3 see it has a complete game. Mabye the creators of the game saw this too. I really don't think that there is more B3 can expand on. More characters? More Stages? Making another Budokai game would be almost as stupid as the Madden line of games. (I mean there should be one Madden and updates every year. Don't pay 50 or 60 dollars on basically the same thing.) Hey 500 posts! Regular status..!

Anonymous Friend · Post by **Anonymous Friend** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 12:32 am

There's always room to improve. Add a few more characters, tweak the gameplay to make it a little deaper, more interactivity in the level design, flesh out the story mode, and most of all: a character creation mode.

I'm currently playing Tony Hawk American Wasteland, and OH ... MY ... GOD there is just so stuff much to do. I noticed the progression from the first one the playstation till this point and they're still adding things with Project 8. I like to compare the two series because they're so similar. All the characters handle pretty much the same, you can adjust movesets and stats, and a few other things.

And although I favor the Super Dragonball Z gameplay, I would absolutely love some more Budokai. It's the fighting game fan in me that craves it. I'm not trying to down Sparking! but it is what it is, but it isn't an actual fighting game per se.

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 1:37 am

I'm glad that the Budokai series, the Sparking series, and Super all exist. It's a nice amount of variation on the same story and characters.

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:23 am

Kendamu is a wise man.

Furthermore

Taku128 wrote:Sparking may have added ton of characters, but they never had one of the most important things: Fun Gameplay. Just because a game had five million characters (four million of which are just diffrent transformation) doesn't make it good. Budokai had great gameplay and it was always adding and subtracting things form that gameplay to make it better.

I don't know about you. >.>;; But when I tried Sparking I had lots of fun. Imagine the joy when I discovered by accident that I could hit my friend through a building using the Kamehameha. And well, being a Virtual On veteran (and having played Zone of the Enders a few times) I was right at home with the type of gameplay it offered. And I dunno, I generally had no complaints about how it played for the hour or so that we played it. It was fast, furious and much closer to an actual Dragonball Z fight than Budokai would ever hope to be.

As to Budokai, having been raised on Street Fighter, KoF, Street Fighter and more recently Soul Calibur, I found the controls to the Budokai games to be rather... clunky. Dial-a-combo, or even worse, Dial-a-special type of situations really aren't of this age anymore. Then there is the oddity of having to do guard + up or down to dodge when up or down doesn't do anything on it's own anyway. >.>;; So those and other issues make it so that, while the Budokai games certainly are fun, the stiff controls keep it well away from living up to the previously mentioned fighting games.

Now what Dimps could do however is smoothen the whole way the game plays, and then make a Dragonball "Budokai", since regular DB was much more about in your face and close quarters fighting than Z, by comparison.

Xyex · Post by **Xyex** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:32 am

and most of all: a character creation mode.

CaC is *the* reason I want SC3 and MK:Armageddon. It's the biggest draw for me. A DBZ game with a well designed CaC would be godly. Especially with an unlimited number of slots for CaC creations. I'd set to work turning all of my Fanfic originals into actual fighters. I can't figure out why BT (and now BT2) lacks a CaC. As simplistic as the game is it wouldn't even be a challange to do.

Well, from the diehard fans of B3 see it has a complete game. Mabye the creators of the game saw this too. I really don't think that there is more B3 can expand on. More characters? More Stages? Making another Budokai game would be almost as stupid as the Madden line of games. (I mean there should be one Madden and updates every year. Don't pay 50 or 60 dollars on basically the same thing.)

First, new sports titles are only $20.

But I don't play sports games anyway so....

Things B4 could have:
* Improved Arenas: Maybe it's just me, but the hyper 3D arenas and Cel-shadded graphics do not mesh. Give me Cel-shadded arenas, damnit! *ehem* Anyway, also added in (and back in) would e more destructable things (ala SDBZ/BT) as well as arena changes (like B1 and B2 had). And, of course, more arenas.
* Improved DR: I liked Dragon Rush. It has potential. Add in some varitions to the animations, put a little more skill involved in its execution, and it would be superb.
* Improved DU: The idea for Dragon Universe was great but a few things would have made it better. Cut-scenes instead of cut-outs for one. A larger RPG system (more levels, more difference between add pionts, etc) for another.
* More characters: This is always a good thing so long as enough difference exists between them to make them feel distinct. The additions of Pikkon, Pan, GT Trunks and Goten, and some new what-ifs would be welcome.
* CaC: Create a Character! The epitome of character roster enhancement.
* Moves: Add some more moves to the characters, bring back the physical move lists (why did they drop those anyway?), more ultimates (at least one per character!), and some more tweaking to the combo system.

I don't know about you. >.>;; But when I tried Sparking I had lots of fun. Imagine the joy when I discovered by accident that I could hit my friend through a building using the Kamehameha. And well, being a Virtual On veteran (and having played Zone of the Enders a few times) I was right at home with the type of gameplay it offered. And I dunno, I generally had no complaints about how it played for the hour or so that we played it. It was fast, furious and much closer to an actual Dragonball Z fight than Budokai would ever hope to be.

After two hours I was pretty much bored with it. It was the same thing. The characters had the same moves, the characters fought the same (far more than in the Budokai games), and the matches devolved into nothing more than energy spamming. I've played ZoE (and love it) but Sparking! fails to be even half as good at the combat as ZoE.

You can knock the person through the buildings, and other things, rather easily, and it is fun at first. But it doesn't really last the length of the game. The game is also slow, the fighters move and attack slower than in the Budokai games plus the controls aren't as responsive or streamlined. The fights in the series are more about hand-to-hand combat. Sparking! is about who can use the most energy attacks and specials.

As to Budokai, having been raised on Street Fighter, KoF, Street Fighter and more recently Soul Calibur, I found the controls to the Budokai games to be rather... clunky. Dial-a-combo, or even worse, Dial-a-special type of situations really aren't of this age anymore.

Budokai is not an SF clone. Nor should it be. The system is uses is perfect for what it is.

Then there is the oddity of having to do guard + up or down to dodge when up or down doesn't do anything on it's own anyway. >.>;;

Never thought of that... just seems natural to me.

So those and other issues make it so that, while the Budokai games certainly are fun, the stiff controls keep it well away from living up to the previously mentioned fighting games.

Have you played since the first game? The first one was somewhat stiff but 2 and 3 are smoother than most other games on the market. Especially Spaking!/BT.

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:38 am

The least the could do is make it online and remove the dragonrush. Also, I think all of the CaC ideas are fine, but how much memory could the games how to have the ability to support the elements it had before and the elements people can input in the game..?

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:34 pm

I've said it before and I'll say it again. In my opinion character creation in a DBZ game is a terrible idea. Most people buy a Dragonball game to play as Goku or Kuririn or Vegeta or who-ever their fave is. And since Dragonball is also very character centered. Introducing any other faces to it would pretty much make for a character-insert Mary-Sue fic sort of deal.

And besides, how would it work sound wise? Get four or so seiyuu that previously haven't done any DB work into a sound booth and have them shout every Dragonball Z attack out loud so that you can have a complete move list to choose from for your own character's moves?

(And Xyex, I've played Budokai 2 most extensively. >.>;; Yamhan owns your soul)

Mr.Piccolo · Post by **Mr.Piccolo** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:44 pm

And besides, how would it work sound wise? Get four or so seiyuu that previously haven't done any DB work into a sound booth and have them shout every Dragonball Z attack out loud so that you can have a complete move list to choose from for your own character's moves?

I don't know about the Japanese version, but I'm sure Chris Sabat wouldn't mind his paycheck in the would-be American release..

Pedro The Hutt · Post by **Pedro The Hutt** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 2:53 pm

Ah, but what if anyone wants to make a female character? (Although I guess he could use his falcetto voice. >.>;; )

Hmmm... at any rate Pan should have a what-if SSJ form. XD They owe us that much at least. (And then we wouldn't have to make our own female SSJ characters)

Kendamu · Post by **Kendamu** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 4:57 pm

If not a character creation mode then maybe some sort of "create your own fusion" mode.