Bandai Namco recently hosted the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023, a showcase and celebration of games based on theDragon Ballfranchise that included aDragon Ball FighterZtournament, a card game tournament, and a concert. The studio interrupted its proceedings for a special announcement, revealing that the long-dormantDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichiseries is making a comeback.Dragon Ball FighterZis still very popular, so it’s worth considering howDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4hopes to compete with the juggernaut fighting game. Luckily, some major differences ensure that both titles can independently flourish.
Dragon Ball Zhas a storied history of video game adaptations, with titles appearing on nearly every console since the Famicom. In the west, many players were introduced toDragon Ball Zgames through the release ofDragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichiin 2002. AfterBudokaireceived two sequels, it was replaced byXenoversebeforeDragon Ball FighterZtook the fighting game community by storm. Now, 15 years after its last mainline release,BudokaiTenkaichiis making a return that will hopefully take lessons from Bandai Namco’s other titles.
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Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi is Very Different from FighterZ
TheDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichiseries included three main entries across the PS2 and Nintendo Wii, all known for their impressive rosters.Budokai Tenkaichi 3featured 42 unique characters across theDragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, andDragon Ball GTseries, many with additional transformations. The titles played like other 3D arena fighters of the era such asTekkenorVirtual Fighter,with structured and methodical combat.Budokai Tenkaichialso featured a full story mode, covering the basic plot of the anime.
Dragon Ball FighterZwas released in 2018, and has since become one of the biggest fighting games in the world. It brought a very different type of gameplay toDragon Ball Zfans, abandoning the 3D arena fighting introduced byBudokai Tenkaichito instead opt for the rapid tag-team approach of 2D fighters likeMarvel vs. Capcom.Dragon Ball FighterZset a new sales record for the franchiseand has received steady support for the last five years. UnlikeBudokai Tenkaichi,Dragon Ball FighterZalso featured a unique new story that introduced a fresh antagonist to the series in Android 21.
Budokai Tenkaichi 4 and FighterZ Make DBZ Games More Appealing Than Ever
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai TenkaichiandFighterZoffer players two vastly different options for play, making the franchise accessible to a wider audience. Despite its success, the fast pace and flurried visuals ofDragon Ball FighterZmight not be for everyone. Likewise, the slower and more complex strategy ofBudokai Tenkaichimay leave fans of 2D fighters unimpressed. However, both3D and 2D fighting games continue to thrivein 2023 asTekken,Street Fighter, andFighterZall retain die-hard fans.
By bridging the realms of 2D and 3D fighters,Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4andDragon Ball FighterZcan coexist in a way that ensures the success of both titles. They appeal to different groups of the fighting game community, but offer a unified victory for fans ofDragon Ball Zfighting gamesoverall. There will be some crossover between the two groups, asDragon Ball Z’s popularity brings fans to the newestBudokai Tenkaichiwho may have been too young to play prior entries, but this week’s announcement shows just how significant the franchise continues to be across the modern fighting game landscape.
WhenDragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi 4releases, it will have a lot of pressure on its shoulders, as later series have surpassed it in terms of gameplay.Budokai Tenkaichiwill need to evolve to keep up with modern fighting games' mix of complexity and accessibility, a balance often difficult for3D arena fighting games. Regardless, fans ofDragon Ball Zare in for a treat with the series' return, and many are hopeful that more news surroundingBudokai Tenkaichiwill arrive soon.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4is currently in development.
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