Highlights
- Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 may exclude some fan-favorite characters due to the introduction of new characters from Dragon Ball Super.
- Manga-only characters like Moro, Sangabo, and Granolah may not appear in Budokai Tenkaichi 4 due to the game's focus on characters and forms from the animated series.
- Video game-specific characters like Gamelan and Android 21 might not make the cut, either.
With news emerging from Bandai Namco at the Dragon Ball Fighter Z World Championship Tournament about a new installment in the Budokai Tenkaichi series, fans are waiting to see what new characters would grace Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 after the last edition stacked its roster with about 98 characters and 161 forms. However, with the dawn of a new era in Budokai Tenkaichi, there's always a risk of some fan-favorite characters missing out on the action, and rumors are flying about regarding possible exclusions from Dragon Ball Z:Budokai Tenkaichi 4. If some of the franchise's best characters are eventually omitted, it might be because the series is trying a new direction.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is under pressure to bring a bevy of graphical improvements to the franchise, since the previous titles were released two console generations ago, and new games like Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1 are taking full advantage of new-gen consoles. With the anticipated increase in graphical power comes new possibilities for characters, and with Budokai Tenkaichi 3 laying down the marker with a large roster of fighters, it can be expected for Budokai Tenkaichi 4 to follow the same route. However, some staple characters might not make the final cut due to the inclusion of Dragon Ball Super and some noteworthy franchise trends.
Dragon Ball Pattern Could Omit Some Characters in Budokai Tenkaichi 4
Among those that might be missing from Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is the interesting character Moro from the 7th Universe. He made his debut in chapter 43 of the Dragon Ball Super manga and is the main antagonist in the Galactic Patrol Prisoner Arc. He is quite the adversary, living for over 10 million years and being dubbed Planet-Eater Moro, powerful enough to absorb energy and even grant other characters powers with his magic. Saganbo is another exciting character likely to be excluded. Given super strength by Moro, he's the Planet-Eater's underling and leader of the Galactic Bandit Brigade, first featured in chapter 50 of the manga. With his strength and telekinetic powers, he could rival the strength of a Super Saiyan 3.
Another fascinating character, Granolah, first seen in chapter 67 of the Dragon Ball Super manga, is a bounty hunter on a quest for vengeance against Frieza and the Saiyans Army who destroyed his people. Now the last Cerealian, Granolah wishes on the Dragon Balls to become the strongest warrior in the Universe, gaining abilities like telekinesis and unlocking powers in his left eye after pushing his limits. This power comes at a price, and he begins to underestimate his opponents, which is his Achilles heel. While the skill of these characters merits an appearance in Budokai Tenkaichi 4, one small detail about them might be behind their exclusion in the upcoming installment.
Granolah, Sangabo, and Moro are exclusive to the Dragon Ball Super manga and conspicuously have no appearances in the anime or movies. Dragon Ball video games have traditionally prioritized characters and forms featured in the animated series, making the absence of manga-only characters in Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 somewhat expected. Additionally, video game-only characters such as Gamelan, Android 21, and Chronoa are equally unlikely to be featured because, aside from the fact they have yet to appear in a Dragon Ball movie or series, the sheer volume of unique fusions and transformations introduced in games like Dragon Ball Heroes would pose a challenge to developers.
While Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is poised to be a visually stunning and exciting addition to the franchise, the question of its roster content is yet to be answered. The exclusion of manga-only characters and past omissions from the roster casts a shadow of uncertainty on the contents of Budokai Tenkaichi 4's cast, but as the release date draws nearer, a clear picture should be made available.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 is currently in development.