OpenCritic
Fair
IGDB
Loading critic reviews...
Finding live streams...
About Dragon Ball Z: Budokai
Dimps released this fighting game in November 2002 for the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo GameCube. It adapts the anime timeline starting after Goku defeats Piccolo and moves through the Saiyan and Cell Games sagas. You control Z fighters like Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan to battle enemies in a series of scripted arcs. The story mode follows the original plot points where Raditz kidnaps Gohan and sends Goku to train with King Kai. Bandai published the title as one of the first major console entries for this franchise. It focuses on recreating the show's power scaling and iconic transformations without modern quality-of-life features or complex story branches.
Gameplay
Matches happen in 3D arenas where you dodge, block, and chain attacks to build up ki. You fill a meter by landing combos then unleash super moves that can wipe out half a health bar instantly. The single player campaign forces you to win specific battles in order while completing side objectives like buying new techniques at the World Tournament. Practice mode lets you test combos against a dummy without time limits. You can also find all seven Dragonballs to summon Shenron for extra rewards. Controls feel tight but the camera occasionally struggles during aerial exchanges. Multiplayer supports local versus matches where friends compete in standard battle or tournament formats.
What Players Think
Critics gave this title mixed reviews with an OpenCritic score of 73 out of 100 and only 54% recommending it. The IGDB dataset shows a 75.6 average from 94 user ratings. Players on our platform spend about 8 hours finishing the story mode if they focus strictly on objectives. Many users complain about the stiff animations and repetitive enemy patterns after the first few sagas. Community moods range from nostalgic appreciation for the voice acting to frustration with the lack of online features. Achievement data suggests only 30% of players unlock every Dragonball summoning Shenron because the grind feels tedious. Most reviews mention the game holds up as a fun local party title despite its age.
PlayPile's Take
This game works well for fans who want to relive specific anime moments on classic hardware. The price is low on secondary markets since it is over twenty years old. You should buy it if you value story accuracy over polished combat mechanics. The achievement system offers some replayability but the path to Shenron requires patience. It lacks modern fighting game depth and online play makes it less relevant today. Stick to local multiplayer sessions with friends rather than expecting a deep competitive scene.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
75.6
Deals
Finding deals...
Videos
1Screenshots
4Achievements
Loading achievements...
Similar Games
Finding similar games...
Buzzing on Bluesky
Checking Bluesky...