Highlights
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is highly anticipated and fans are excited for its release due to its continuation of the beloved video game series and its solid presentation.
- The roster of characters is a key factor in the success of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, and fans are hoping that Budokai Tenkaichi 4 will include a diverse range of characters, such as more recent additions from Dragon Ball Super.
- While a potential roster of over 130 characters sounds exciting, it raises concerns about the game's ability to maintain diverse fighting styles and live up to its legacy, possibly diluting the quality of the gameplay.
News on Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is taking a while, but that hasn't diminished the hype for it. This title is the long-awaited continuation of one of Dragon Ball's most beloved video game series, that being Budokai Tenkaichi. Often regarded as one of the most successful Dragon Ball Z fight simulators, the numbered Budokai Tenkaichi trilogy is fondly remembered for its solid presentation, fun "what if?" scenarios, and BT3's colossal roster. While Dragon Ball games like them eventually dropped the name and went in other directions, a true Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is what many fans have always wanted.
If there's a particular reason for this, it's the roster. Budokai Tenkaichi 1 actually had a comparable roster to most other DBZ fighting games, leaving Budokai Tenkaichi 2 and 3 to reach deep into Dragon Ball's universe for more characters. Minor backstory Saiyans, fighters from original Dragon Ball and GT, movie villains, a couple of popular filler characters, and even Arale from Dragon Ball author Akira Toriyama's other manga Dr. Slump all showed up to fight. Carrying this tradition forward is one of the most important things a Budokai Tenkaichi 4 can do, and a recent rumor indicates that it will—for better and for worse.
Budokai Tenkaichi 4 Could Outdo Prior DBZ Rosters Yet Again
A Dragon Ball content creator and somewhat reputable leaker called Geekdom101 recently posted some videos detailing what he heard from his sources about Budokai Tenkaichi 4. Supposedly, there will be a strong focus on representing more recent characters who have never been playable in Dragon Ball Z fighting games before, such as the extended Pride Troopers, the Gods of Destruction, and the other Universe's representatives from the Tournament of Power. Geekdom101 also states that, while he can't say for sure, characters who have not appeared in Dragon Ball Super or any fighting games like Moro and Vegeta's Ultra Ego form are likely not going to be in the base roster.
All of this makes sense for a game calling itself Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4. The Budokai Tenkaichi line is known for its comprehensive list of fighters, and it would feel strange for a new entry to be smaller than Budokai Tenkaichi 3. Besides, over a decade has passed since the last Budokai Tenkaichi, and it's been even longer since BT3. The entire first Dragon Ball Super anime and multiple movies have aired in that time, and that means BT4 has plenty of catching up on characters to do.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 Risks Becoming Quantity Over Quality
Hearing that Budokai Tenkaichi 4's roster will probably be, as Geekdom101 put it, larger than Xenoverse 2 and all of its DLC combined, is very exciting. Many characters will even reference their canon interactions through taunts or intros. With all of that being said, it isn't necessarily a good thing for the game's health. Dragon Ball fighting games struggled to build diverse rosters of characters since their inception. Coming into a brand-new title with over 130 characters doesn't leave much room for designing diverse fighting styles.
In addition, having that many characters may not be as exciting as fans hope. A lot of fighters in the Tournament of Power arc were criticized for their filler fights with the extended cast of heroes, rivals, and villains in between major fights involving Goku. Not to mention, there's no telling what characters will be cut from the Budokai Tenkaichi 3 roster, as it's unlikely some of the most obscure picks are coming back. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 has a lot of potential to surprise fans, but this rumor casts doubt on the game's ability to live up to its legacy.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is in development.