If you grew up with a PlayStation 2 and a copy of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3, you probably have a calloused thumb and some very specific core memories. Maybe it was the first time you successfully pulled off a Z-Counter. Or perhaps it was the sheer frustration of trying to hit a tiny, evasive Kid Goku while playing as a lumbering Great Ape. It’s been nearly two decades since Spike and Atari dropped this masterpiece in 2007, and honestly, the gaming world hasn't quite been the same since.
It was peak PS2.
The game didn't just feel like a Dragon Ball simulator; it felt like you were actually directing an episode of the anime. While other fighters of that era were obsessed with 2D planes and frame-perfect links, Tenkaichi 3 went in the opposite direction. It gave us 3D flight, massive destructible environments, and a roster so bloated it felt like a fever dream. And yet, it worked. It worked so well that even with the release of Sparking! ZERO in late 2024, fans are still looking back at the original PS2/Wii trilogy to see how it all started.
The Ridiculous Roster That Defined an Era
Let’s talk about the 161 characters. That number is still staggering. Most modern fighting games launch with 20 or 30 characters and then drip-feed you the rest via $10 DLC packs. In 2007, you got everyone. And I mean everyone.
You didn't just get Goku. You got Goku (Early), Goku (Mid), and Goku (End), each with their own distinct move sets and transformations. You got the heavy hitters like Broly and Gogeta, but you also got the weird stuff. Remember Fasha? Or King Vegeta? How about Devilman? Most people forget that Spike included characters from the original Dragon Ball and even Dragon Ball GT long before "canon" was something fans argued about on Twitter every morning.
The brilliance of Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 wasn't that every character was balanced. Honestly, they weren't. Putting Spopovich against Super Vegito was basically a suicide mission. But that was the point. The game prioritized "Power Level" accuracy over tournament-style fairness. If you played as a God-tier character, you felt like a God. If you picked Hercule, you were basically playing a joke character who couldn't even fly properly. It was authentic.
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Mechanics That Ruined My Controllers
If you think modern combat systems are complex, go back and try to master the Sonic Sway or the Z-Counter II. Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was deceptively deep. On the surface, it’s a button masher. You fly around, you shoot ki blasts, you charge your aura. Simple.
But then you learn about the vanish chains.
You’re mid-combo, your opponent disappears, reappears behind you, and before you can blink, you’ve countered their counter. The screen shakes. The camera struggles to keep up with the speed. This wasn't just about pressing buttons; it was about rhythm and prediction. The "Blast Stock" system added a layer of strategy that most people ignored until they got beaten by someone who actually knew how to use "Wild Sense" or "Afterimage."
There was also the environmental destruction. Nowadays, we take it for granted when a wall breaks. In Tenkaichi 3, slamming an opponent through a mountain and watching it crumble felt revolutionary. It changed the tactical landscape. You could hide behind a rock to charge your Ki, or use the underwater physics of the Island stage to slow down a faster opponent.
The Wii vs. PS2 Debate
Kinda weird to think about now, but the Wii version was a whole different beast. While the PS2 version used the DualShock 2—which felt perfect—the Wii version forced you to point the remote at the screen to aim your Kamehameha. It was gimmicky as hell. Most "pro" players stuck to the PS2 or used a GameCube controller on the Wii. But you have to admit, there was something undeniably cool about actually doing the motion for a Final Flash in your living room, even if it meant accidentally hitting your ceiling fan.
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Why the Story Mode Was Different
The "Dragon History" mode in Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was a bit shorter than its predecessor, Budokai Tenkaichi 2, but it was way more cinematic. Instead of a long, grinding map, you got "What If" scenarios and curated battles that changed mid-fight.
If you were playing the Frieza Saga, the game would prompt you to press R3 at a specific moment. Suddenly, Goku would transform into a Super Saiyan right in the middle of the gameplay, and the music would shift. It wasn't a cutscene you watched; it was a cutscene you played. This integration of narrative and mechanics is something even modern AAA titles struggle to get right. It felt organic. It felt like you were honoring the source material.
Beyond the Main Story
The game offered so much more than just the Z-Fighters' greatest hits.
- Ultimate Training: A surprisingly deep tutorial that actually taught you the frame data and timing for high-level vanishes.
- Sim Dragon: A weird, almost RPG-like mode where you trained a character over several "days" to boost their stats.
- Disc Fusion: If you had the previous two games, you could pop the discs in to unlock specialized tournament modes. It was a clever way to reward loyal fans before the era of digital save-file syncing.
The Legacy and Why It Still Matters
Most games from 2007 look like mud today. But because of the cel-shaded art style, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 actually holds up. If you run it on an emulator at 4K resolution, it looks better than some PS4 games. The colors pop, the line work is sharp, and the animations are incredibly faithful to Akira Toriyama’s style.
But the real reason it matters is the community. Even now, there are modders creating "Budokai Tenkaichi 4" patches for the PS2 ISO. They’ve added characters from Dragon Ball Super, like Ultra Instinct Goku and Jiren, into the original engine. That doesn't happen unless a game has a "soul." People aren't just nostalgic for the game; they are obsessed with the specific "feel" of the combat that hasn't quite been replicated since.
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There's a specific weight to the characters. When you play as Broly, you feel heavy. Your dashes take longer to start, but your hits have massive knockback. When you play as Burter, you’re a blur. This nuance is why people still organize tournaments for a game that is technically three console generations old.
Setting Up Your Own Nostalgia Trip
If you're looking to revisit this classic, you've basically got three options. You can hunt down an original PS2 disc, though be warned: prices on the secondary market are insane right now. A "Greatest Hits" copy can easily run you over $100. The Wii version is usually a bit cheaper, but then you have to deal with the motion controls.
The most popular route today is emulation via PCSX2.
It’s honestly the best way to experience it. You can map a modern Xbox or PS5 controller, bump the resolution to 1080p or 4K, and use widescreen hacks to make it fit a modern monitor. Just make sure you have a decent CPU, as PS2 emulation can be surprisingly taxing on older hardware.
Pro-Tips for Returning Players
- Relearn the Z-Counter: Don't just mash square. Practice the timing of the up + triangle counter. It’s the difference between being a "button masher" and a "fighter."
- Customized Potara: Don't ignore the Red and Yellow Potara earnings. Equipping things like "Attitude!" or "Master Roshi's Training" can completely change how a character handles in the harder difficulty modes.
- Watch the Ki Gauge: Too many players burn their Ki on big blasts immediately. Learn to "Ki Dash" efficiently. Movement is more important than firepower in high-level BT3 play.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 isn't just a licensed anime game. It's a landmark in the fighting genre. It proved that you could have a massive roster without sacrificing personality, and that 3D arena fighters could have real mechanical depth. Whether you're a die-hard fan of the series or just a fighting game enthusiast, it's a title that deserves its spot in the Hall of Fame.
Next time you have a few friends over, fire up the World Tournament mode. Set the difficulty to "Strong," pick some random characters, and remember why we all fell in love with this chaotic, beautiful mess in the first place. You’ll find that the muscle memory comes back faster than you think.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your local retro gaming stores for a copy, but don't pay more than the current market average on PriceCharting.
- If you're using an emulator, look for the "BT3 Widescreen Patch" to prevent the image from stretching on 16:9 displays.
- Practice the "Z-Counter" in the training room for 15 minutes; it’s the single most important skill to survive the late-game AI.