Dragon Ball: Kachinuke! Tenkaichi Budokai

About

Dragon Ball: Kachinuke! Tenkaichi Budokai is a simple arcade fighter that brings the King Piccolo Saga to a tiny LCD screen. Players take on the role of Goku or other fighters from the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, trading quick punches and kicks in real time. Basic controls let you slash buttons to dodge, attack, or throw opponents. The game’s rigid structure mirrors the anime’s straightforward battles, with no special moves or power scaling. Matches end with a single devastating blow, matching the show’s instant-win drama. All action plays out in pixelated silhouettes, with minimal animations and no voice acting. Despite its primitive tech, this 1989 release holds cult appeal for Dragon Ball collectors. As one of the earliest licensed games tied to the series, it predates more complex fighters by nearly a decade. The King Piccolo story is condensed into a handful of matches, but the core clash between good and evil is intact. Its handheld portability and battery-powered simplicity make it a relic of early gaming. Players expecting deep mechanics or modern polish won’t find it here. But for a nostalgic, bite-sized taste of 80s anime battle tropes, this tiny game packs a surprisingly nostalgic punch.

Storyline

The game follows the King Piccolo Saga and the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament.