Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi
Developer(s)Spike
Publisher(s)Namco Bandai Games [lower-alpha 1]
Director(s)Satoshi Sumiya
Designer(s)Tatsuya Marutani
Artist(s)Akira Toriyama
Composer(s)Takao Nagatani [lower-alpha 2]
SeriesDragon Ball
EngineRaging Blast 1 & 2
Platform(s)PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: October 25, 2011 (2011-10-25)
  • EU: October 28, 2011 (2011-10-28)
  • JP: December 8, 2011 (2011-12-08)
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Single-player, local & online multiplayer

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi[lower-alpha 3] is a game based on the manga and anime franchise Dragon Ball Z. It was developed by Spike and published by Namco Bandai Games under the Bandai label in late October 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

The game is a 3D fighter that allows players to take control of various characters from the Dragon Ball Z franchise or created by the player to either fight against the AI, or with another player locally or online.

Development

The game was first announced under the working title Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011 in the early May issue of Weekly Shonen Jump magazine. The announcement featured several screenshots with Goku and Vegeta, in both normal and Super Saiyan forms, highlighting the game's mechanics. The announcement stated that the game would feature superb visuals and would be released in Japan sometime in autumn of 2011 for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming consoles.[1] A few days later the North American branch of Namco Bandai released a press statement announcing that they would be releasing the game throughout North America. They also confirmed that Spike would return to work on the game.[2] The June issue of V Jump magazine showcased several screenshots of Goku and Vegeta, in his Oozaru form, demonstrating a type of timed button action mechanic. It also confirmed the return of the destructible environments mechanics from previous Budokai Tenkaichi and Raging Blast games.[3]

Hero Mode allows players to create a new character using new and existing attributes for hair, complexion, clothing, voice, and attack moves.

In the following Namco Bandai press release, it was announced that the game's official English title would be Ultimate Tenkaichi and that its release date would be October 25,[4] while its European release date was revealed to be October 28.[5] The title was chosen by fans through a survey conducted by Namco Bandai along with four other possible choices.[6] In response, Namco Bandai marketing president Carlson Choi stated their reasoning for the outreach by describing the fans as "the most passionate gamers and anime experts in the world."[4] Later in July, it was announced that the game would not only include the return of GT characters to the roster, but also include a type of character creation and customization mode.[7][8] The August 8 issue of Shonen Jump featured screenshots of the story mode, showcasing a type of free-roam mechanic similar to that found in Budokai 3 and the later Budokai Tenkaichi games, where the player could explore the entire planet from the sky and land in certain areas.[9] The following issue of V Jump revealed that the game will be released under the title of Ultimate Blast in Japan, with the release date for December 8.[10]

In early September, more details were divulged on the character creator mode referred to as "Hero Mode". The mode gives players the option of customizing a character of their choosing with a variety of existing and original outfits and hairstyles, in addition to the ability to change and adjust their color schemes.[11] The following issue of Shonen Jump revealed that the game would include a new opening introduction in traditional 2D animation set to the song "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" by Hironobu Kageyama (Dragon Ball Z's 1st Opening Song in Japan).[12]

Promotions

Preorders for the Japanese release came with a life-sized replica of the Sūshinchū (四星球, Four Star Ball).[10] While in Europe, preorders came with a free capsule pen with their purchase.[5] The European version also had a special collectors edition that came boxed with a Son Gohan figure in Super Saiyan form dressed in his Great Saiyaman costume.[13]

Characters

Name Playable Transformations Available at Start
Android #16 Yes
Android #17 Yes
Android #18 Yes
Android #19 Yes
Android #20 Yes
Bardock No
Broly
  • Legendary Super Saiyan
 No
Burter Yes
Captain Ginyu
  • Base
  • Goku's Body
 No
Cell
  • Imperfect Form
  • Semi-Perfect Form
  • Perfect Form
  • Super Perfect Form
 Yes
Cell Jr Yes
Cui Yes
Dodoria Yes
Frieza
  • First Form
  • Second Form
  • Third Form
  • Final Form
  • 100% Full Power
 No
Gogeta
  • Super Saiyan
 Yes
Gogeta (GT)
  • Super Saiyan 4
 No
Gohan (Kid) Yes
Gohan (Teen)
  • Super Saiyan
  • Super Saiyan 2
 Yes
Gohan (Adult)
  • Potential Unleashed
 Yes
Goku
  • Base
  • Super Saiyan
  • Super Saiyan 2
  • Super Saiyan 3
 Yes
Gotenks
  • Super Saiyan
  • Super Saiyan 3
 Yes
Janemba
  • Super Janemba
 No
Jeice No
Kid Buu Yes
Krillin Yes
Majin Buu Yes
Nappa Yes
Omega Shenron No
Piccolo Yes
Raditz No
Recoome Yes
Saibaman Yes
Super Buu
  • Base
  • Gohan Absorbed
 Yes
Tien Yes
Trunks (Future)
  • Base
  • Super Saiyan
 No
Vegeta
  • Base
  • Super Saiyan
  • Super Saiyan Second Grade
 Yes
Vegeta (Scouter) super saiyan No
Vegeta (Majin)
  • Super Saiyan 2
 No
Vegito
  • Super Saiyan
 No
Yamcha Yes
Zarbon
  • Base
  • Transformed
 Yes
Custom Hero
  • Base
  • Super Saiyan
 Yes

Reception

Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi received mixed reviews. IGN gave the game a 7.5 out of 10, praising the graphics and combat, but criticized the storytelling and the repetitive nature of the battles.[21][22] GameSpot gave the game a 4.0 out of 10, praising the graphics, but detested the game's combat system as there is no sense of originality; the boss fights due to the frustrating Quick Time Event stages; and the character creation system due to the limited amount of items given.[19][20] Destructoid gave the game a 7.5 saying "While combat can be a bit on the repetitive side, there's still that hint of satisfaction when you decimate your foe with a canyon-creating power move. There's a lot here for fans to enjoy, and while the story may be streamlined for new fans of the franchise, I can't really recommend it to anyone but the hardcore."[23]

Notes

  1. ↑ Released under the Bandai brand name.
  2. ↑ Uncredited, but the music of this game is featured in other Dragon Ball games under his Name.
  3. ↑ Known in Japan as Dragon Ball: Ultimate Blast (ドラゴンボールアルティメットブラスト, Doragon Bōru Arutimetto Burasuto)

References

  1. ↑ "Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011動レ!!!" [Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011 Dynamic Level!!!]. Shonen Jump (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shueisha: 19. May 8, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Namco Bandai Games Announces New Dragon Ball Game Project For North America, Dragon Ball Game Project Age 2011 scheduled for release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for Fall 2011". San Francisco, California: IGN. May 11, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  3. ↑ 極大インパクト!!! [Maximum impact!!!]. V Jump (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shueisha: 81. June 2011.
  4. 1 2 Rojas (June 30, 2011). "NAMCO BANDAI GAMES LAUNCHES DRAGON BALL Z® ULTIMATE TENKAICHI THIS OCTOBER". Fort Worth, Texas: Funimation. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "The fans have decided! Namco Bandai Games launches DRAGON BALL Z ULTIMATE TENKAICHI on October 28th 2011". Namco Bandai EU. June 30, 2011. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Dragon Ball Games Survey". Palo Alto, California: SurveyMonkey. May 11, 2011. Archived from the original on August 29, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  7. ↑ Amanda L. Kondolojy. "Goku Comes Back for Another Round". Cheat Code Central. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  8. ↑ Sutton, Kye (July 14, 2011). "DragonBall Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi to feature create-a-character mode!". MCM Buzz. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  9. ↑ "待望のストーリーモード開放‼「DB」Age ひとっ飛び!!!" [Story mode's long-awaited release!! "DB" AGE Giant Jump!!!]. Shonen Jump (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shueisha: 19. August 8, 2011.
  10. 1 2 "『DB』の物語をバクレッ体感!! 超時空フライアウェイ!!!" ["DB" Experience the story of Bardock!! The Super Dimension Fly Away!!!]. V Jump (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shueisha: 135 & 136. August 2011.
  11. ↑ Sutton, Kye (September 2, 2011). "Bandai Sama comes to the rescue in Ultimate Tenkaichi's Hero Mode!". MCM Buzz. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  12. ↑ キミがバトルの人公!! 超戦土アバター!!! [Kimi public who battle!! Avatar thousand times over!!!]. Shonen Jump (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shueisha: 135. September 12, 2011.
  13. ↑ Sutton, Kye (September 2, 2011). "DragonBall Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi limited collector's edition detailed". MCM Buzz. Archived from the original on April 17, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi for PlayStation 3 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  15. ↑ "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
  16. ↑ Bonds, Ian (16 November 2011). "Review: Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi". Destructoid. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  17. ↑ McKinley, Noble (2011-10-26). "Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi Review from GamePro". GamePro. Archived from the original on 2011-12-01. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  18. ↑ Tan, Nicholas (26 October 2011). "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Review". GameRevolution. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  19. 1 2 Petit, Carolyn (2011-10-28). "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Review, Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Xbox 360 Review - GameSpot.com". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2011-10-23.
  20. 1 2 Petit, Carolyn (2011-10-28). "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Review, Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi PS3 Review - GameSpot.com". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2011-10-30. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  21. 1 2 George, Richard (2011-10-25). "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Review - PlayStation 3 Review at IGN". IGN.com. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  22. 1 2 George, Richard (2011-10-25). "Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi Review - Xbox 360 Review at IGN". IGN.com. Retrieved 2011-10-29.
  23. ↑ "Review: Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi". Retrieved 30 December 2016.
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