Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2004
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
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  1. My Gamer
    74
    After all is said and done this is the best Budokai to date however there are still two or three major flaws preventing Budokai 3 from being a truly great game.
  2. TotalGames.net
    70
    Combat is a fluid, nippy affair more in keeping with 2D fighters like Guilty Gear than Tekken and includes a fine array of attacks that can be learnt and built on.
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  3. GMR Magazine
    70
    It's the closest any DBZ game has ever come to replicating the insane airborne fights from the show. [Jan 2005, p.114]
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  5. PSM Magazine
    60
    Little more than fight after fight of stilted controls, repeated animations, and frustrating difficulty. [Jan 2005, p.70]
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  6. Game Informer
    50
    It's simplistic, clumsy, unresponsive, and boring, even with the improvements over last year's entry. [Jan 2005, p.122]
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  7. Play Magazine
    50
    Far and away the best game in the series, but unfortunately, the creators have still neglected to address the lackluster fighting at the core. [Jan 2005, p.68]
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best PS2 Game of 2004
18
#18 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2004
9
#9 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004

User Reviews

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User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 242 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 212 out of 242
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 242
  3. Negative: 11 out of 242
  1. LinkingFatez
    Jul 5, 2012
    10
    This game was the best game for fighting ever! I love it and i've played it so much that the disk is too scratched up now lol so now I gottaThis game was the best game for fighting ever! I love it and i've played it so much that the disk is too scratched up now lol so now I gotta buy another one! =D… Full Review »
  2. CurtisS.
    Sep 13, 2005
    10
    The game was the sh.t and is the coolest.
  3. SaiyanZ
    May 10, 2012
    10
    Let me start off by saying that Dragon Ball is my favorite anime/manga, and for that matter fictitious series of all time. So when a new DBZLet me start off by saying that Dragon Ball is my favorite anime/manga, and for that matter fictitious series of all time. So when a new DBZ game is announced you can be sure I would check it out. And as expected, this doesn't disappoint. The improved setups into juggles (the main meat of the combos) coupled with canceling charged attacks (non-Capsule and Capsule alike) unlocks a myriad of ways to keep you opponent of the ground. The ability to sway and teleport for defensive purposes is also a nice introduction and keeps the battle fast-paced and entertaining. The new abilities of Dragon Rush and Hyper Mode are easy to use and very pleasing to the eye and awesome. The visuals when doling out an Ultimate or a Dragon Rush is nothing short of amazing. All in all, gameplay is vastly improved. Story Mode this time, known as Dragon Universe, is different from the previous 2 entries, in that you follow a character's "life" so to speak throughout their entire journey in Dragon Ball Z. You choose a character from the start and fight all the battles he fought during Z while traversing the Dragon Ball world (looking for Zeni, Capsules, and POI's). The burst flying during world travel is especially cool (in particular, when you do Vegeta's DU and are in control of Majin Vegeta). However, the fights are not sequential since you only control one character. If I choose Goku, and win my fight with Captain Ginyu, I am jumping straight to Goku's next fight against Frieza. I wouldn't have the opportunity to fight Frieza as either Vegeta, Piccolo, Krillin or Gohan. Their fights are accessible in their respective DU's though. As you play through the DU, you gain EXP points to spend on attributes like health, ki, special arts etc. all which increase. For each EXP, you go one level up; this continues until Lvl 99. Other than that, the standard World Tournament and Vs. modes return to occupy one. All in all, one of my favorite games ever.… Full Review »
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