Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Nov 16, 2004
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
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  1. Victorlobo
    Jun 5, 2023
    8
    The history mode os top short. But I love this game. Classic for ps2 That o played at childhood.
  2. TyeBuster
    Apr 6, 2023
    9
    Almost perfect DBZ game imho. At least because a lot of bulls%*t from previous games was removed and added a couple of cool features.
  3. ThePvzGuy
    Mar 28, 2023
    0
    i now have stage ten scolioso mitosis and aids on the same hand. 11/10 unga bunga
  4. LeonardoRox
    Mar 6, 2023
    10
    Melhor jogo feito série dragon ball,pena que a história acaba na parte Majin Boo
  5. ReviewsAreBS
    Feb 16, 2023
    9
    The best 2D budokai. The story mode is crazy fun and full of secrets, and is less RNG-based than Budokai 2’s campaign.
  6. M_MIXER
    Sep 29, 2022
    7
    GOOD《7/10》⭐⭐

    《STORY》
  7. Greenboi042
    Jun 23, 2022
    10
    Definitely the best game I’ve ever played the story is amazing, so many unlockables, there’s more than one story mode to play, once you finish the story mode there’s tornoments you can do, the graphics are amazing for its time, the game just never gets old
  8. Kk-
    May 4, 2022
    10
    The best Dragon Ball game ever made. I keep coming back to it year after year. What a great series.
  9. SSJRhandy
    Sep 25, 2021
    9
    My favorite DBZ game in the Budokai trilogy :) a must buy for fans like myself
  10. VanCan72
    Apr 6, 2021
    10
    Easily my favourite DBZ game ever and it is packed to the gills with content and a great roster.
  11. frederik1478
    Mar 1, 2021
    4
    Impressive how much they put into game Gameplay they're putting the fighting system just makes it all all break down,
    .The game is fun at first then you realise that you gonna have a tedious grind ahead of you and fight first game where you have to press buttons Have to press the same button as the enemy
  12. David_Breaker
    Sep 7, 2020
    7
    Jogo muito legal, muita coisa para se fazer, muito golpes, etc. Porém, ele tem um sistema de batalha confuso, além de ter um sistema de sorte ou azar, o que eu detesto.
  13. neojotic
    Aug 28, 2020
    8
    Fun decent game! Great fighter and unique game!

    Cool graphics and stages as well!
  14. ChesterField
    May 6, 2020
    9
    My favourite fighting game for ps2 next to tekken 5 and definitely better than his predecesors budokai.
  15. iKen
    Apr 12, 2020
    7
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: GOOD.
    Story: OKAY.
    Graphic: GOOD.
    Music/Sound: OKAY.
    Dialogue: OKAY
  16. Jagox2000
    Mar 15, 2020
    10
    Melhor dragon ball ja feito ate hj, muito bom, combate frenetico com muita variedade
  17. BADGAMEGAMER
    Sep 8, 2019
    8
    I played this game at school and it became the game we played the most on the console. While I am **** at it and it's kinda just a button masher that feels like luck, it still is legit fun.
  18. FreedomFighters
    Mar 4, 2018
    7
    "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai" was a fighter that I, unlike the general public, wasn't all that fond of. However, after playing it on the HD Collection, I realized that I hadn't played "Budokai 3" on the collection, and I've heard a number of solid things about it, so I figured that I should give it a shot. I was initially skeptical of this one, but I actually walked away pleasantly surprised at"Dragon Ball Z: Budokai" was a fighter that I, unlike the general public, wasn't all that fond of. However, after playing it on the HD Collection, I realized that I hadn't played "Budokai 3" on the collection, and I've heard a number of solid things about it, so I figured that I should give it a shot. I was initially skeptical of this one, but I actually walked away pleasantly surprised at how solid the game was.
    "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3," off the bat, improved on one of my biggest issues with the first game: the controls. Where the original "Budokai" suffered greatly from very bulky controls, this game feels a lot better. It was a little awkward at first for me, but after a few matches, it was smooth-sailing, and the game was a lot of fun. The cel-shaded visuals are quite nice (and the HD facelift from the collection definitely helps), the game is fast-paced, and it definitely feels faithful to Dragon Ball Z in regards to the voice-acting and the sounds. It was very clear, right from the jump, that this game was made with a lot of heart and effort, especially in comparison to the first game, and with plenty of storylines to go through and characters to play with, there's tons of replayability with this one.
    I do want to point out a few problems I had with the game: for starters, while the game's battle system and controls are far better than before, it does start to feel extremely repetitive after a while. And while the story "cutscenes" feel faithful to the source material, I do wish there were a few CGI-recreated scenes, like there were in the first game. Sure, they were awkward then, but at least it was a sign that they were trying. With how solid the game's visuals were, I would've liked to see them try again this time around.
    Even so, "Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3" definitely improves on what the original "Budokai" did, and it earns a wholehearted recommendation to huge "Dragon Ball Z" fans. That said, I do also think there's plenty here to please gamers that aren't really all that into "Dragon Ball Z." I don't really care much for the series, but I definitely had fun with it, and I think you guys will, too.
    Final rating: 7 out of 10 "Good"    … Expand
  19. FeerFrikazus
    Sep 10, 2017
    8
    Es un juego original, eso de jugar los combates que cada personaje hizo no lo había visto antes, tiene una buena cantidad de personajes que ademas son complicados de conseguir algunos, la dificultad del juego es normal y el sistema de combate es común.
    En fin, un buen juego de dragon ball.
  20. DrYellowJacket
    Dec 3, 2016
    4
    As a huge DBZ fan, I am very disappointed, before I played it recently I was told it was the best DBZ game out there, but upon playing it I was left sadly mistaken. The fighting mechanics are terrible with it relying on luck a lot of the time. Whilst playing through the story I was constantly appalled at just how ridiculously cheap the AI was, making some fights almost impossible whilstAs a huge DBZ fan, I am very disappointed, before I played it recently I was told it was the best DBZ game out there, but upon playing it I was left sadly mistaken. The fighting mechanics are terrible with it relying on luck a lot of the time. Whilst playing through the story I was constantly appalled at just how ridiculously cheap the AI was, making some fights almost impossible whilst others were extremely easy.… Expand
  21. linvail
    Oct 7, 2015
    4
    How fan of dragon ball z i think the game is ok, but as a fan of fighting games i think It's very mediocre, the characters feel the same and the skill system allows you to create unbeatable characters, the worst of all is the dragon rush system that depends entirely on luck.
  22. Androu
    Jan 29, 2014
    10
    The budokai and the tenkaichi series made my childhood alongside with the anime they are based one. One of the greatest fighting games, if you really are a dbz fan. Go get it!
  23. TheOnlineGamer
    Sep 15, 2013
    10
    If you're a Dragon Ball Z fan, you need to do two things:

    1. Watch the new DBZ Anime movie Battle of Gods (Cause it's freaking amazing!) 2. PLAY THIS EPIC BEAST OF A GAME! Seriously, I've never had more fun playing a fighting game than I've had with Budokai 3. Everything's perfect, there's not a single thing that doesn't resemble the legendary DBZ. All we need now is a Ultimate    If you're a Dragon Ball Z fan, you need to do two things:

    1. Watch the new DBZ Anime movie Battle of Gods (Cause it's freaking amazing!)
    2. PLAY THIS EPIC BEAST OF A GAME!

    Seriously, I've never had more fun playing a fighting game than I've had with Budokai 3. Everything's perfect, there's not a single thing that doesn't resemble the legendary DBZ. All we need now is a Ultimate Budokai game with Battle of Gods Kami to Kami Characters!    … Expand
  24. MrSonicFan
    Aug 6, 2013
    9
    DBZ Budokai 3 was the first Dragon Ball fighting game I ever played, and it is amazing, Great controls, a good cast of characters, a amazing soundtrack, a story mode that recreates the original series very well (though Budokai 1 had a better story mode), And its just so much fun to play. I recommend it to fans of DBZ and fighting games
  25. lope25
    Sep 24, 2012
    8
    This game is amazing! It had good fighting, and dodging mechanics! It is one of the best dragon ball z game!
  26. 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 gotta buy another one! =D
  27. 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 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 ofLet 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.… Expand
  28. Watermelon789
    Jul 11, 2011
    8
    Few, at least they got rid of that board mess, anyway, this is creative and fully entertaining. The flying section ( similar to the GBA adaptations) really didn't expected . The story is more accessible ( they narrated better this time) and the new enemies was exciting.
  29. VickN.
    Jul 17, 2006
    9
    better then the begining but at da same time its too complicated (have to push 2 manybuttons just for a finish move) but worth it.
  30. MaganY.
    Dec 14, 2005
    9
    Let put this in 1 word: brilliant After 2 underwhelming but fun games in the Budokai franchise, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 is arguably the best game yet in the DBZ license The fights recreate the energetic action of the show and it's awesome, go play it.
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
  1. 1UP
    80
    It's hard to find any major faults with Budokai 3. With 40 characters from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT, the Saiyan Overdrive System, and an ambitious new story mode, I'm absolutely blown away by this game. If you're a DBZ fan like me, there's no reason to think you won't be too.
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  2. GamerFeed
    40
    You can only ride on the license for so long before things get stale, and that's exactly what's happened here. If you loved the first two, you'll still probably love this one, but when do fighting game fans get to have fun with a DBZ game?
    Read full review
  3. PALGN
    80
    The game is extremely fast.
    Read full review
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