DBZ Ultimate Tenkaichi: Review (Written By Andrew Donahue)

Well I haven’t beaten DBZ Ultimate Tenkaichi yet…I think it’s safe to say how I feel about it as a game...

The main story is regrettably shitty in comparison to other DBZ games. It skips a lot and leaves the details to be filled in by a slow scroll reading that’s supposed to tell you what’s not said in episode shorts or in fights…which pushes your patience. Story Mode gets right to the important fights and ignores the petty battles (ex. Everything before the Goku vs Majin Vageta fight in Buu Saga...which is like a quarter of the whole show). They will keep the show fresh on your mind with cut scenes of battle dialogue like Vegeta's assualt on Earth during the Saiyan Saga or during the Cell Games when Teen Gohan threatens Cell not to awaken his hidden power. Overall, Story Mode may appear a bit disappointing.

That said though the "Hero Story" is actually quite impressive. Unlike in the other games, this mode throws you in as the Saiyan Warrior to save the earth, but in a parallel universe. The Earth has been thrown into chaos by the use of the Dragon Balls (a shocker, right?) and it’s up to you to return the world into order. Giving you: epic battles to fight, training by your favorite DBZ fighters, and actual fighting statistics as you progress...by the end you’re wanting more.

Like other recent DBZ games, personal customization comes into consideration. As you train you learn moves from your Master as well as skill increases, which come in handy for skill sets in regular battle mode. Also, keep an eye out for finding character editing items (like clothing/hairstyles) and Dragon Balls lying around as you scout the planet going to fight location to fight location.

Let’s face it, DBZ isn’t designed as an RPG…it’s simply a fighting game as the makers have always intended it to be. At first I was thrown off on the idea of two separate gauges, Spirit gauge for specials, and the usual Ki gauge for everything else...but as you play you grasp the concept when they throw in last minute options on countering opponents’ special attacks. Mostly the Full Ki gauge is used to intercept (ex. Energy blast vs. Energy blast) Half for Evade and partial for a Block. Now before you ask "Why does any of that matter when I can just out run the attack or stay out of range of the rush?”…well unlike the other games you can’t outrun the special moves anymore. As crazy as that may seem, think about it for a second...

How often has Goku misfired a Kamehameha or has he not faced an attack head on? These fighters are pro's, give them credit they deserve and face the challenge. Word of advice, soon as you understand how to play DO NOT jump into a World Tournament and set the CPU to the hardest setting like I did...CPU AI has jumped a notch and they will crush you given any opportunity. If you don’t act before they do you may find yourself in a constant struggle to take control of what may inevitably be a lost battle.







This DBZ leaves me questioning whether it’s a Good or just Okay, the lack of fighters (good or bad however you see it *cough* no Hercule *cough*) the straight forward story lines or the Custom Character and unique game play makes it a tough decision, however (in my opinion) I’m glad to have a DBZ game that can kick my ass, or a least make me break a sweat trying.