Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3

Hear Paul's roar...

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Although we have known for some while that Dragon Ball Z Tenkaichi is seen as an annual series by the big bosses, its only in this release that we find that churn of new delivery start to affect the game itself. And yes, as is true of many an EA Sports title, this means that sometimes they get the iteration right and a classic version is born, while with others a bastard child of committee development is foisted upon unsuspecting fans.

This year seems to be of the latter variety for Dragon Ball Z. The first cracks start to appear as the returning player notices the absence of the play-extending open world aspect of the Dragon History (story mode). Previously this kept players entertained for hours whilst they explored the world RPG-style locating encounters and collecting power ups to level their Dragon Ball characters of choice. This dumbing down was no doubt a great idea in the board room, where the opportunity arose of making the game kinder to newcomers, and tying the action a lot closer to the TV series. However (just knew there was a "however" didn't you!), this fits to alienate the hardcore following who have invested their hard earned' to make the franchise what it is today.

Its not all cuts and revisions though. The Dragon World Tour and Ultimate Battle modes return along with some reasonable variations on the more conventional Survivor mode with its energy bars and man-on-man action. The team also tip a wink at the fan-favourite River City Ransom - the Sim Dragon mode giving you just 10 days to ready your character for a big show down. Through various training rounds and point applications you craft your fighter to suit both your style and preferred aesthetic.

Some have said that this is a good looking Wii game. And perhaps it is true, if you have come fresh from the TV series that one can be won over by the similarities in presentation. However, those of us who aren't fans of the aforementioned programme (maybe one should ask why we are playing the game then?), it isn't all that impressive. The cel-shading does its job, but my friend, we've seen this so many times before, and I would say executed much more impressively. Even at 480p the action still seems flat and jaded to this reviewer.

Spike has certainly thrown everything in their arsenal at this game, and much has stuck to the proverbial wall - albeit pasta-style in strange and contorted shapes. Whilst much of the bonus content could be seen as padding, the inclusion of both Japanese and English voice work adds some gravitas to proceedings. Hearing the characters spout-off in Japanese makes you realise that this is not simply a westernised derivative product, rather it is one with its roots authentically in the land of the rising sun. Things never get quite as ridiculous as that but the similarities are clear.

After some play, we suspect the majority of gamers will be eying last year's box on the shelf and wondering if the upgrade had really been worth it. What have they got for that hard earned (or saved up) cash? In those moments of nervous indecision they should probably try and console themselves with the inclusion of the online multiplayer mode - something surprisingly unusual on the Wii. But even this struggles to compensate for the changes (read: dumbifications) that have been made in the main campaign. Although this opens the possibility of more scripted and filmic-like encounters, it really is a hard payoff to swallow (apart for the most loving and devoted of followers, perhaps).

Overall then, this is a game (famed for its capturing of a hardcore following) that has been made much less palatable for its key demographic. What's worse is that the changes are entirely unsuccessful in convincing anyone but fans of the show that any of this really matters. This may sound like it is turning into a review about a bad game, but rather it is a review of the mismanagement of a great game. Let's join the ranks of EA Sports fans who, when they have been forced to swallow a dirgeable release, sit back on their heels and wait for next years release in the hope that it will be a return to form.

65%

By Paul Govan