It’s easy to forget about the 3DS. We live in a world of 4K textures and frame rates that make your head spin, yet there is something about the crunchiness of a handheld fighter that just sticks. Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden is that specific kind of weird, beautiful relic. Released back in 2015 by Arc System Works—the same geniuses who eventually gave us FighterZ—it feels like a fever dream. It’s a 2D pixel-art brawler that tried to fit the entire scope of the Z-Universe into a device that fits in your pocket.
You’ve probably played Budokai. You’ve definitely played Xenoverse. But this one? It’s different. It’s faster.
Honestly, the first thing you notice isn't the combat. It’s the sprites. They are gorgeous. While the rest of the industry was chasing polygons, Arc System Works doubled down on the "Extreme" part of the title with hand-drawn animations that look like they jumped straight out of a 1990s Shonen Jump spread. It doesn't look like a mobile game. It looks like a love letter.
The Arc System Works DNA in Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden
If you recognize the name Arc System Works, you know they don't do "button mashers." They do systems. Deep, punishing, rewarding systems. Even on the limited hardware of the Nintendo 3DS, Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden manages to sneak in some surprisingly complex mechanics. It’s not just about hitting 'A' until someone flies through a mountain.
The game uses a "Z-Assist" system. Think of it like a precursor to the assist mechanics in FighterZ. You pick your main fighter, but then you fill out your roster with Z-Assists. These aren't just minor cameos. You can call in Bulma to drop a capsule, or have Chichi show up to scream at the opponent, effectively stunning them. It turns a 1v1 fight into a chaotic management sim where you’re constantly checking cooldowns.
There is a weight to it. When Goku lands a heavy punch, the screen shakes. The sound design is crisp—that classic DBZ "thwack" that sounds like a wet towel hitting a brick wall.
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Why the Roster is a Bit of a Troll
Okay, let's talk about the roster. This is where people get heated. There are over 100 characters in the game. That sounds insane, right? Well, there's a catch. Only about 20 of them are actually playable. The rest? They are those Z-Assists I mentioned.
It’s a polarizing choice. On one hand, you get to see obscure characters like Devilman or the Great Leeche. On the other hand, if you’re a huge fan of, say, Tien or Yamcha, you might be annoyed that they’re relegated to a "press button to appear" role rather than being fully controllable. It’s a trade-off. By limiting the playable cast, the developers ensured that every actual fighter feels unique. SSGSS Goku feels vastly different from Raditz. They aren't just reskins of the same character model.
- Goku (Base, Super Saiyan, SSGSS)
- Vegeta (Base, Super Saiyan, Majin)
- Gohan (Teen, Adult/Ultimate)
- Frieza (Final Form)
- Cell (Perfect)
- Majin Buu (Fat and Kid versions)
The game even throws in some Dragon Ball Super content, which was brand new at the time. Seeing Golden Frieza rendered in high-quality 2D sprites is a treat that we haven't really seen since.
Combat Mechanics: More Than Just Ki Blasts
The "Butoden" series has a history. It dates back to the Super Famicom era. This 3DS entry honors that by keeping the combat on a 2D plane. No flying around in 3D space like Kakarot. This is a "footsies" game. You have to manage your Ki gauge carefully. If you spam special moves, you’re going to end up in a "tired" state, leaving you wide open for a Meteor Combo.
The Meteor Combo is the soul of Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden. It’s a cinematic sequence triggered by a specific button string that ends in a massive, screen-filling blast. It’s flashy. It’s loud. It’s exactly what you want from a Dragon Ball game.
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But here’s the nuance: the game uses a rock-paper-scissors mechanic for its defense. You can block, you can dodge, or you can counter. If you read your opponent's move correctly, you can teleport behind them (the classic vanish move) and start a counter-offensive. It requires actual timing. You can't just mash the triggers and hope for the best.
The story mode is... fine. It's called "Z-Story." It follows the standard arcs we all know by heart. Raditz arrives, Nappa dies, Frieza gets cut in half, Cell explodes, Buu turns people into chocolate. We’ve played it a thousand times. However, the "Adventure Mode" is where the real meat is. This mode lets you travel across a map, completing specific challenges to unlock those elusive Z-Assists. It adds a layer of progression that keeps you coming back to the 3DS.
The Problem With Local Multiplayer
We have to be honest here. The biggest hurdle for Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden was always the hardware. To play multiplayer, both people needed a 3DS and a copy of the game. In an era where online play was becoming the standard, the local-centric focus felt a bit dated even in 2015. There was a patch later on that added online play, but by then, the community had largely moved on.
If you find a copy today, you’re mostly playing for the single-player experience or the "Extreme Survival" mode. And that’s okay. The AI is surprisingly competent on higher difficulty levels. It will punish your misses. It will juggle you. It will make you regret trying to use Krillin against a Super Saiyan God.
A Legacy of Pixels
Is it better than FighterZ? No. Of course not. FighterZ is a masterpiece of modern fighting games. But Dragon Ball Z Extreme Butoden is the bridge that got us there. You can see the DNA. You can see how Arc System Works was testing the waters, seeing how the Dragon Ball license handled high-intensity 2D combat.
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There is a charm to the 3DS version that the big console games lack. It feels personal. It’s a game you play on a bus or while waiting for a flight. It doesn't demand 60 hours of your life. It just wants you to enjoy the spectacle of a 2D Kamehameha.
The game also features a "Cross-over" mode if you had the One Piece: Great Pirate Colosseum game (which was also a 3DS exclusive from the same developer). This allowed for literal Dragon Ball vs. One Piece battles. It was a legendary move that sadly didn't get much traction outside of Japan, but for the fans who managed to set it up, it was the ultimate crossover.
How to Get the Most Out of the Game Today
If you’re dusting off your 3DS to give this a spin, don't just rush through the story. The real joy is in the team composition. Experiment with the Z-Assists. Some of them have incredible synergy. For instance, using a character that traps the opponent in place combined with a slow, high-damage ultimate from your main fighter is the key to S-ranking the harder missions.
Don't ignore the "Edit Deck" feature. You can customize your team’s power levels to fit under a certain cap, which is how the game balances its competitive play. It forces you to choose: do you want one "God-tier" character and no assists, or a balanced team of mid-tier fighters with a full support squad?
Actionable Steps for New Players
- Focus on the Adventure Mode first. This is the only way to unlock the best Z-Assists and power-ups.
- Master the "Vanish" move. It consumes Ki, but it is the only way to escape a corner pressure trap.
- Watch the Ki Gauge. Unlike other games where you can charge Ki manually whenever you want, in Butoden, you have to find "safe" windows, or your Ki will regen slowly through combat.
- Check the patches. Make sure your game is updated to the latest version to access the expanded roster and balance tweaks that were released post-launch.
There is no "Ultimate Edition" or a modern port for the Switch. If you want to experience this, you have to go back to the original hardware. It is a snapshot of a specific time in gaming history when 2D sprites were still fighting for their right to exist in a 3D world. It’s fast, it’s vibrant, and it’s unapologetically Dragon Ball. For a handheld game, that's more than enough.