Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4: What to Expect

A new main game of the Budokai Tenkaichi series was announced during the recent DBFZ World Tour Global Finals. In fact, that was just a teaser — we’ve seen really cool visuals and felt the internal excitement of the upcoming fights. It’s hard to say that we know a lot about the game.

But still, we can get the general picture of what to expect from Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 thanks to a little time travel machine. Let’s take it and jump back to the past — to check out what the previous installments of the series are all about.

But first… Why not stay in the present for a little longer and enjoy the fresh trailer?

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 | Teaser Trailer

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi

This original version of the game was released in 2005 for PlayStation 2. The Japanese title was named Dragon Ball Z: Sparking!, and it has some soundtrack differences.

The main distinguishing feature of the game is its 3D nature. It kind of mixes experiences from other 3D fighting titles, such as Tekken, Soulcalibur, and Dead or Alive — but Budokai Tenkaichi still feels unique and authentic. 

You observe the fighting from behind the back of your character, and that boosts the presence effect. The free movement around the stages is natural. The attacks and lots of spectacular moves excellently recreate the anime atmosphere. 

The PS2 visuals (and especially some camera angles) are obvious downsides (looking from the current point of the industry development). And having no online matches? Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi is a product of its time.

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 2

The sequel was released in 2006 for PS2 and Wii.

The first thing to notice is that the Wii version uses motion control. For example, you have to make a physical movement with your hands to shoot Kamehameha. It sounds fun but rather impractical for competitive matches. The game looks a bit better on Wii, but in regard to control, many players prefer PS2.

Budokai Tenkaichi 2 had more characters and stages. But its biggest improvement was better-elaborated movests and general balance.

Another substantial difference is the possibility of bringing up to 10 characters to a fight — in Tag and Free Battles. The characters can transform into their more powerful forms (including fusions) during a match.

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3

“Everyone is here” — this totally can be said about Budokai Tenkaichi 3. The game has 98 characters or 161 form variations. It’s like the whole Dragon Ball multiverse gathered here for a Tenkaichi tournament.

The biggest excitement of this game is online multiplayer unlocked. It’s a must-have thing nowadays, but imagine getting it for your favorite fighting game back in the day.

Alas, as fun as it sounds, the online play is available only on Wii, which is lame. The developers tried to compensate for that with a Disc Fusion feature on PS2, but it’s obviously not of the same level.

Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was released in 2007 for PS2 and Wii.

The game features some fresh aspects, such as extra combo possibilities and night/day differences.

Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 | What to expect

It’s safe to expect a mind-blowing level of improvement in the visual department. The previous games were released two console generations ago, and the technical capabilities of PS5 and Xbox Series allow the developers to implement something astonishing. The trailer is obviously hinting at that.

Regarding everything else… Let’s wait and see. Budokai Tenkaichi 4 will certainly be a continuation of the series’ traditions: 

• 3D fights
• tag team elements
• in-match transformations and fusions
• an impressive roster
• great fighting mechanics.

We at DashFight would love to see an original story, not another reflection of the anime events. Perhaps, the fans will be blessed with a unique character (like Android 21 in DBFZ).

The information on Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is rather scarce, but the community is so excited about the title. And all the news on the game will be here, on DashFight — so, stay tuned.