Budokai

Budokai is a series of fighting video games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The franchise is based on the popular Dragon Ball manga and anime series created by Akira Toriyama. The games are known for their 3D cel-shaded graphics, which aim to replicate the visual style of the anime.

The core gameplay in Budokai titles involves one-on-one combat between characters from the Dragon Ball universe. Players can perform a variety of attacks, including basic punches and kicks, energy blasts, and special signature moves unique to each character. A key mechanic is the Ki gauge, which powers special abilities and transformations. The games often feature a story mode that loosely follows the major arcs of the Dragon Ball Z narrative, allowing players to relive iconic battles and unlock new characters and abilities.

Several titles were released under the Budokai name. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai was the first game in the series, released for the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. It was followed by Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, which introduced new gameplay elements like a board game-style adventure mode and capsule customization. The final main entry, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3, refined the combat system, expanded the character roster, and introduced a "Dragon Rush" combo system. A notable compilation is Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi, which branched off into its own sub-series but shared a similar development philosophy in its early stages, focusing on large-scale battles and extensive character lists. The Budokai series is credited with popularizing the Dragon Ball fighting game genre for a new generation of consoles.