Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Oct 18, 2005
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 97 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 97
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 97
  3. Negative: 5 out of 97
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  1. iKen
    Apr 12, 2020
    7
    Played on PlayStation 2.
    Gameplay: GOOD.
    Story: OKAY.
    Graphic: GOOD.
    Music/Sound: OKAY.
    Dialogue: OKAY
  2. Alex
    Dec 7, 2005
    6
    When i first played this game i was very pleased at its attempt to recreate the fast paced action. But after a while I noticed that the characters moves were not very well thought out. For instance Bardok has lost his spirit of the sayins for a awful energy ball. Another flaw is the lack of dediacated action, they have taken out the ingame fusions and trasformations.This is very When i first played this game i was very pleased at its attempt to recreate the fast paced action. But after a while I noticed that the characters moves were not very well thought out. For instance Bardok has lost his spirit of the sayins for a awful energy ball. Another flaw is the lack of dediacated action, they have taken out the ingame fusions and trasformations.This is very dissapointing sequel, my advice buy dbzb 3 platinum.… Expand
  3. RonD.
    Aug 19, 2006
    7
    its not the best game but its only the first one, it'll get better just like how budokai 1 did. and all those people complaining about the fighting being to fast pace just put down the remote and dont ruin it for the people who like the game, your just to weak to keep up. things they should have kept were in game transformations and put better cut scenes for story mode and more its not the best game but its only the first one, it'll get better just like how budokai 1 did. and all those people complaining about the fighting being to fast pace just put down the remote and dont ruin it for the people who like the game, your just to weak to keep up. things they should have kept were in game transformations and put better cut scenes for story mode and more dramatic death moves. the story mode should be like db3 where you could fly around just without the diolouge and cut scenes to take the place. the player should be able to interact with people and there should be two on one battles, then right after a battle they shouldnt go to a load screen, they should go striagt into a cutscene with the wide screen black things that come from the top and bottom of the screen, that would make a pretty good sequal.… Expand
  4. ChrisE.
    Dec 22, 2005
    5
    does anybody else think that there have been one to many of these games?
  5. WilliamW.
    Sep 29, 2006
    7
    This is a fairly solid DBZ game. You could make a fair argument for this or Budokai 3 being the best DBZ game out. What makes Budokai Tenkaichi better than Budokai 3 are slightly better graphics, 3D environment and more characters. Budokai Tenkaichi does lack a couple of features that were missed, like in-battle transformation and fusion. I will admit that this game is somewhat too simple This is a fairly solid DBZ game. You could make a fair argument for this or Budokai 3 being the best DBZ game out. What makes Budokai Tenkaichi better than Budokai 3 are slightly better graphics, 3D environment and more characters. Budokai Tenkaichi does lack a couple of features that were missed, like in-battle transformation and fusion. I will admit that this game is somewhat too simple and basic, when it comes to gameplay, but it's not something that I'll lose any sleep over. Budokai Tenkaichi 2 will more than likely bring back some of the elements from Budokai 3...making it definitely the best DBZ game ever.… Expand
  6. Watermelon789
    Jul 29, 2011
    6
    In my first day (years ago), DBZ got what it needed ,improved in the way we always wanted to, destructibility , the clothing messed up , etc. Replaying then, i don't see the logic of the sense, the wacky fighting, weird structure , unnecessary new entry whatever. Spending 50 bucks wasn't reasonable.
  7. Diegochocho
    Jul 5, 2018
    6
    Es el principio de una gran saga que fueron lanzando, pero el pongo un 6 por lo tosco que son los controles.
  8. MajinCCB
    Aug 9, 2021
    7
    Has a large number of characters which is fun, however that hardly matters when besides animation differences there are only 3 types of moves that all behave the same
  9. TyeBuster
    Apr 6, 2023
    7
    Not bad start for this series, DBZ Budokai had much worse first game, much worse...

Awards & Rankings

94
#94 Best PS2 Game of 2005
39
#39 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
64
#64 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
72

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 29
  3. Negative: 2 out of 29
  1. IGN
    82
    Throw in a massively deep list of modes and features, more than 50 playable characters, and customizable goodies for your fighters and you have everything necessary to please both Dragon Ball diehards and fighting game curiosos alike.
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  2. GamePro
    60
    Tenkaichi succeeds in all the areas that DBZ fans love: brilliant, innovative graphics, a gajillion (more than 60, actually) playable characters from the beloved anime series, and (everyone together) Saiyans!
    Read full review
  3. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    80
    It’s novel, it’s a good fighting game and it’s extremely well presented, but Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi is still one for the fans.
    Read full review
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