Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi (released in Japan as ) is a series of fighting games developed by Spike based on the Dragon Ball manga series by Akira Toriyama. The series was published by Namco Bandai Games under the Bandai brand name in Japan and Europe, and as Atari in North America and Australia from 2005 to 2007. Atari's PAL distribution network was absorbed into Bandai Namco Partners and Bandai Namco has also handled publishing in North America for future Dragon Ball Z games since 2010, effectively ending Atari's involvement.
The original game was released as a PlayStation 2 exclusive in 2005, with the second and third installments also released for the Wii in 2006 and 2007 respectively, and Tenkaichi Tag Team released on PlayStation Portable in 2010. In March 2023, the next main entry in the series was announced by Bandai Namco and Toei Animation during the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023 event.
Origin of name
The "Sparking!" in the Japanese title references the last lyric found in the chorus of the first opening theme to the Dragon Ball Z anime series, "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" ) though the opening theme to the first game is the TV series' second opening, "We Gotta Power"). The North American title is a rearranged version of (also known as the Tenka-ichi Budōkai), a reoccurring tournament featured in the manga and anime series. Despite the localized title, the series is not a continuation of the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series. Its been speculated that Atari chose to market the games as part of the Budokai series in order to capitalize on its success.
While Sparking! features actual music from the Dragon Ball Z anime series (as well as the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT anime) as composed by Shunsuke Kikuchi, the American release of the first game features recycled music from the Budokai series (composed in Japan by Kenji Yamamoto).
Gameplay
The games use a "behind-the-back" third-person camera perspective. Similar to the Super Famicom-released Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors, special forms are treated as their own character, with varying stats, movesets and fighting styles.
In battle, players can build up their Ki gauge to execute various techniques such as the Power Guard, which reduces the damage characters take by 1/4. The Ki gauge can also be used to use moves referred to as Blast 2 skills. Every character has a unique set of Blast 2 skills that allow the character to use special moves such as Ki blasts and physical attacks. Characters also have a self-recharging numeric gauge called Blast Stock that allows players to use techniques called Blast 1 skills. Blast 1 skills usually have a supportive effect such as allowing characters to regain health or immobilize the enemy. Players can also power up into a mode called Max Power Mode normally by building up their Ki beyond full at the cost of Blast Stock bars. Max Power Mode makes the character that initiated it faster, stronger, and able to use moves that are exclusive to the mode. One of these moves is the Ultimate Blast which is usually the most powerful move a character has, though use of any Blast 2 skill or the Ultimate Blast immediately ends Max Power Mode.
Game modes
In the series' story mode, (called "Z Battle Gate", "Dragon Adventure", and "Dragon History" in each console installment, respectively), the objective is to complete in battles based on moments from the original manga series, as well as anime-exclusive storylines (as seen in Dragon Ball GT, and several Dragon Ball Z films). The Dragon Balls can be acquired through story mode by destroying the environment in battle; however, the player can only keep the Dragon Ball they find if the battle is won. Each installment features several "what-if" battles and scenarios; for example, the Tenkaichi 1 story mode features modes where the player takes control of a villain and uses the character to defeat the hero, while the Tenkaichi 2 story mode has modes where Raditz and Zarbon essentially team up with the Z Fighters for one reason or another. Several levels of the Tenkaichi 2 story mode also feature cutscenes shown either before or after the fight of the level takes place. The Tenkaichi 3 story mode has cutscenes integrated into the battles themselves that are activated by hitting a certain button. These can be transformations, character changes, automatic attack use, or something as simple as a conversation.