Good luck making a sequal to this! There's simply no way to improve on perfection!

User Rating: 9.1 | Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi PS2
There's no other way to say it - this is the game that all true DB-trilogy fans have been waiting for, for so very long, might I add. Sure, Budokai 3 broke the mold in a lack-luster string of DBZ fighting games, allowing players to not only battle at top speeds, but also become airborne on command, and make use of the anime series' ever-popular "teleport" ability. Still, that game pales in comparison to it's so-called sequel.

Budokai Tenkaichi first catches your eye with it's stunning use of character graphics. Sure, the scenery is great in every way, seeing as almost anything is destructable in all the arenas, and it really captures that "anime" feeling, but the character models are where the game's graphics really shine. Almost perfection in correspondence with the anime show's character models, this game made use of nice mix of cel-shading, and classic shading, to create that near-exact look to the show.

Ever wish you could dodge out of the way of those nasty ultimate attacks? Well, now it's quite possible, since the attacks are now a combination of a mini cut-scene at the beginning, followed up by a real-time blast of energy that you won't soon forget, if it happens to make contact with you. Nonetheless, it's still near impossible to dodge a Death Ball that's launched right in front of your face!

Now, we all remember the true DBZ-battle feeling that the Dragon Rush gave us (found in Budokai 3). Well, compared to what B-T has to offer, Dragon Rush is nothing more than a monotomous, automative bore. This game makes use of the kick-butt fighting, persuing, and fighting again that the Dragon Rush offered us (in sort of a controlled cut-scene way), and puts this in total control of the player. If you're an advanced B-T player, pulling off a mock-dragon rush (which is executed by holding the SQUARE button down to knock your opponent flying, then holding the X button to begin the persuit) is simple as can be, if you're skilled enough and fast enough to do it. It's always more fun manually smashing your opponents from hillside to river, and back up to another hillside in a matter of seconds, rather than just simply witnessing it through a cut-scene. Plus, unless your opponent is completely in control of his fighter, he'll have trouble breaking the chain of hits that await him, if this move is done correctly.

B3, your character roster has met it's superior. With just around 90 warriors to choose from, including such fighters as SSJ4 Gogeta, Bojack, Master Roshi, the Great Ape, General Tao, and Janemba, how could you ask for more? Each character is fitted with 5 attacks - one of them being their ultimate attack, which is unique to almost every character.

In closing, if you're a DB fanatic, and you've been praying for a game that finally captures the look, feel, and essence of the show, Budokai Tenkaichi is the game for you!