Genre: Fighting
Publisher: Atari
Doveloper: Dimps
Release Date: Nov.17 (US)

Info:
"DBZ Budokai 3 is the next video game of Dragon Ball combat, which will leave on PS2 one year after Budokai 2's release. The two titles having had much Atari success, indeed DBZ games appear among the best sales for the company. We know very few things for the moment, but more info will be released soon enough. Budokai 2 was slightly disappointing for its lack of innovations compared to the first episode put at by graphics. What this third installment hold for us?
This time the developers will try to evolve/move their play on the side of the gameplay, and apparently evolve the graphics too. First a choice which can be a good one, the jouability was the weak point of preceding the softwares. One notes the first images that Budokai 3 resembles the second Budokai extremely. There however remains still several months before the end of the development. Hopefully this will be enough to make some big changes.
In any case what is the primary importance is above all the game play. From now on Budokai 3 wants to be nearer to the combat in the action packed anime. For example the phases of flight should be freer. More so telaporting between the ground and air should be more natural. It will be possible to move instantaneously to go behind your enemy to surprise attack him/her. This technique will also be useful for leaving ground combat in a critical situation. Another interesting point, pressing the button at a specific moment lets the player dodge the blow of his/her enemy. Reappearing will then give a blow/blast to the enemy. It will also be possible from now on to do an attack on your own (Warp kamehameha) if you realized. Finally remember some times in the anime a character knocked his enemy to the air by a blow and then caught up with him/her while teleporting for example to give another blow to him. This sequence will be possible to carry out several times as long as the ki guage has energy left.
Concerning the characters more then forty will be playable. Like the new video shows the presence of Broly, Cooler, Gogeta, and SS4 Goku. As you can see movie characters and DBGT characters will make their appearance. Which brings joy of being able to control Broly, one of the characters preferred to some fans. Also a new mode is being added for the first time being able to customize characters to your style, the new mode is called "Dragon Road". It will be necessary to choose a character and to customise 6 of these points such as attack, and defense. Your enemy will not be informed of this information and will have to discover them during the combat for their selves. With him/her then having to adapt to the situation and to discover the weak points. A mode which can be interesting at first sight. Let us hope that the history mode will make its return, but for the moment no information on this subject is available.

Other Info:
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 runs on the same engine as the past two Budokai's. Intense hand to hand combat and explosive Ki Energy attacks. Players fight in destructable 3D enviroments, testing their combat skills to the highest level.

Background: Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 is the third installment in ATARI's highly successful Budokai Series. Take control of the strongest fighters in the Dragon Ball Z Universe and fight to the death against your greatest foes.

DBZ Budokai:3 Collectors Edition
Source: EBgames.com
"Includes the exclusive Broly Chibi toy, behind-the-scenes bonus DVD featuring Catching the Ki: The Making of Budokai 3, the Budokai 3 "Super Trailer" video, a sneak peek at the first ever DBZ action game - DBZ Sagas: Evolution and more!"
"DragonBall Z Budokai 3 is even bigger, better and more intense than the first Budokai and Budokai 2, making Budokai 3 the most exciting, most coveted DBZ video game of all time!"

Images
To see all the screen shots of B3, go to DBZonPS2.com

Game Pro Magizine Information:
"We wanted to focus a bit more on the narrative," says Collins. That was one area where players felt a little detached from the story line in the way it was presented. "After the immersive story mode that stayed true to the cartoon series in Budokai 1, fans didn't appreciate the switch to the cinematically challenged Dargon World mode in Budokai 2 - and for the hardcore fans, it didn't help that the mode only loosely followed the plot. That's changing for Budokai 3 with the new Dragon Universe mode. Promising to bring a stronger connection between the character and the player. "Players can freely fly around the world as any character and experience the scenarios they found in the original story," says Tujimoto. "Because evrything progresses in the gameplay, there won't be any cut-scenes."
Althought character customization still involves capsules, a new "Z Point" system will be introduced. "We have implemented a 'Z Point' growth system that allows characters to increase in power and defense," says Fujimoto. "Also, there will be an 'item skill' that players can use only once during battles."
Survival modes also make a return. "Dragon Arena will be like 'Babidi's Spaceship' in Budokai 2 with a set of challenges like a survival mode," Said Collins. In addition, the mode also enables players to fight against other customized characters worldwide. "Dragon Arena mode will allow players from around the worldto fight against each other's own customized character using a password system on a dedicated site," says Fujimoto. Budokai 3 remains strictly offline, however. Dimps reports that the game won't have any online functionality.
The main draw of Budokai 2 was its beautiful cel-shaded graphics, and this sequel's visuals will continue to draw upon that anime quality. "I don't think Dragon Ball Z could be presented any better, at least with respect to its character modelling," says Collins. And while the character models do retain that same feel, everything else has been touched up. Particle effects like auras, dust clouds, and explosions have been given a noticeably satisfying shine, and stages are visually more exciting than the rather scenically drab settings of the past titles. Stage traps will also be in - Fujimoto promises "powered-up traps that will startle and surprise you."
With the added gameplay, complexibility, and depth, Budokai 3 brings the series closer than ever in authenticity to the animated series. "It wouldn't even be too much to say that Budokai 3 is the final Dragon Ball Z game for the PlayStation 2," says Fujimoto. Whether or not the game fully lives up to its expectations, fans will undoubtedly be clamoring for more.
It also says that pursuit attacks consume ki, multiple energy blasts can now be fired at once, and prolonged blocking can cause your character to become fatigued, leaving him vulnerable.

Game Pro Exclusive Interview:
Gamepro recently had a chance to sit down and talk with Daisuke Uchiyama, the pro Daisuke Uchiyama, the producer for Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 at Bandai. While Budokai 2 was known for its dramatically upgraded visuals that brought the look closer to the animated series, Budokai 3 will attempt to bring to life the feel of the fight in the comics and anime to the latest installment.
Gamepro.com: What is the biggest change from Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2?

Daisuke Uchiyama: The transition from Budokai 1 to 2 was mainly a visual one, where we brought the graphics closer to the anime. However, with the change from 2 to 3 you'll immediately notice the difference the moment you get your hands on the controls. You'll be surprised how different the feel is.

Gamepro.com: Budokai 2 didn't have the same story mode as in Budokai 1--what can we expect for the next installment?

Daisuke Uchiyama: Budokai 3 won't have the type of story mode you saw in Budokai 1, with a cut scene-driven plot. Nor will it have something like Dragon World in Budokai 2, with a plot line that slightly differs from the anime. We received a lot of feedback for Budokai 2's Dragon World--fans noticed that it didn't progress exactly like the manga or anime series did. There won't be any CG, or real-time 3D cut scenes either.

Gamepro.com: Will there be new modes? Online play?

Daisuke Uchiyama: There will be a mode that you'll find very surprising, though we don't want to reveal any details. With the main mode in the game you will find that you can give your characters more of a sense of indiviDaisuke Uchiyamaality to them--it will really feel like you have your personal Goku.

Gamepro.com: Where will the story mode start off from, in terms of the manga/animated series plot?

Daisuke Uchiyama: Well, the Dragon Ball Z series name was created from the emergence of Raditz, so you can expect it to start off from there. You'll be able to play the game from many different points of views.

Gamepro.com: Will there be any new characters?

Daisuke Uchiyama: You can expect more movie characters, such as Broly and Cooler. Also, there will be some more strange characters from the animated series, and also characters that you thought, "why didn't they put this character in?"

Gamepro.com: How has the fighting system changed? Can you fly or jump? Also, how have special moves changed?

Daisuke Uchiyama: Budokai 1 & 2 could be thought of as the first phase of the fighting system we wanted to achieve, and Budokai 3 as phase two. There will be a heavy emphasis on air battles, and a significant part of this game will be to "take the backside" of the opponent. The system will encourage very aggressive gameplay, and the controls will be simpler, with a better response.

Gamepro.com: How far in development is the game? What about the release date?

Daisuke Uchiyama: We are hard at work on the game, and expect the game to be released in the same timeframe as previous installments.

Gamepro.com: Do you have any plans to develop Dragon Ball games on the PSP or Nintendo DS?

Daisuke Uchiyama: We have a lot of interest in those consoles--the PSP is very beautiful, and the DS would allow for interesting opportunities, such as ground and air battles [with the split screen]. The question we're pondering is, "how to use the DBZ franchise in a handheld format?"

Gamepro.com: What's your favorite Dragon Ball game of all time?

Daisuke Uchiyama: I would have to say the very first game that was released on the Famicom, Dragon Ball: The Mystery of Shenron. When I was a kid, it had a big impact on me.

Gamepro.com: Do you have any final comments for fans?

Daisuke Uchiyama: Being a part of the development process for the series, I can say that Budokai 2 was the evolution of the series, and Budokai 3 is the fulfillment or completion of the series. The issues that fans felt will be addressed, and I can say with confidence that it will be a very high quality title. You'll be shocked and amazed of the level of polish that will be in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3.