Dragon Ball Z returns for yet another round with Budokai Tenkaichi 3, the latest in Atari's line-up of anime-licensed fighting games. While not original, it packs enough content to keep you satisfied.

In the game, you choose from one of dozens of characters (over a hundred and fifty in all, including super transformations) and go to work against opponents. You can launch into combo attacks, super attacks and other moves that knock your foe into the other side of the galaxy. While the fighting action is pretty much the same as before, there is a slightly better balance here. A point system prevents one fighter from being incredibly stronger than the other. They may still have a slight advantage at certain points in the match, but overall, the fights operate more smoothly and last longer.

Like last year's Tenkaichi 2, multiple control options are available. You can play through the game using a Nunchuk and Wii remote, executing motion attacks and dodges with ease. This system shows improvement as well, as no on-screen cursor gets in your way. However, some super moves are still incredibly hard to pull off. For those who prefer a retro style of play, however, you can use the Classic or GameCube controller. Best of all, tutorials are available, in case you have no idea how to pull off a Dragon Dash Combo or the Kamehameha.

In terms of presentation, very little has changed from last year's game. The character animation is fluid and the environments resemble those from the show, with lots of wide-open spaces to fight. The sound effects are typical but satisfactory; the background music is pure anime "cheese" rock; and the voicework is acceptable. It's worth mentioning that Atari included an option to listen to the original Japanese dialogue – an awesome bonus for the show's loyalists.

What is sure to grab your attention with Tenkaichi 3, however, are the numerous modes. Dragon History is a wonderful new addition. It follows classic DBZ storylines, but then throws in the option to let you choose your own path. If you want to finish a fight as previously told, that's your choice. However, you can press a button and open up an entirely new story arc, ending it with a different character or trying something new. You can also save a variety of your fights in Battle Replay Mode, in case you feel like reliving your greatest DBZ moments.

Other modes include the tournament-themed Dragon World Tour; the survival-based Ultimate Battle scenarios to test your skills; and Duel mode. The cool aspect about Duel is that you can get online via the Wi-Fi Connection and challenge other players. Unfortunately, Duel is best off-line for the time being, as the online play is currently suffering from heavy lag. Hopefully, Atari and Nintendo will have this fixed soon. Otherwise, this edition of Budokai will lose out on one of its primary features.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 involves the same old tap-tap gameplay that's been in anime fighting games for years. However, the options surrounding it, including a huge cast of characters, a variety of modes and the power to plow someone through a mountain wall make it a solid choice for Wii owners.

Our Final ScoreMediocre

What did you think of this game? Post Your Own Review