It’s a great time to be aDragon Ball Zfan. In addition to persistent DLC releases for bothDragon Ball Z: KakarotandDragon Ball Xenoverse 2, developer Bandai Namco announced last month that the legendaryDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichiseries is making a comeback. The series' next installment, currently referred to asDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4, is in a position to evolve the franchise’s arena-fighter for a whole new generation. With over 15 years worth of installments to build upon,Budokai Tenkaichi 4can learn from past fighting titles' strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, the title can carry forward the legacy of 2020’sDragon Ball Z: Kakarot, the series' best single-player installment to date.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4is the legacy sequel to one of the franchise’s most successful series. Popular in the 2000s, theDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichiseries was many international fans' first experience playing aDBZvideo game. The titles were best known for their incredibly deep rosters, featuring even the most obscure characters acrossDragon Ball,Dragon Ball Z, andDragon Ball GT. The titles also featured a solid story mode, taking players through the major events of both theDragon Ball ZandDragon Ball GTanime and allowing them to reenact their biggest 1v1 battles.
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Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Modernized The Game Series' Storytelling
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotattempted something that the series had not done in quite some time - release a fully single-playerDragon Ballgame.Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s story modecovered the 4 major sagas of theDragon Ball Zanime, later receiving DLC that addedDragon Ball Superand some original scenarios. Anticipation for the title was high, but no one could have predicted just how big of an impactDragon Ball Z: Kakarotwould make.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotwasn’t just a solid adaptation of the anime, it was one ofthe 10 best RPGs of 2020. Its approachable RPG elements made the age-old tale of Goku feel fresh and exciting. Players could do various side quests and explore an open world, while still closely following the classic story beats featured in mostDragon Ball Zgames.
In defying the odds,Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotraised the bar for both the franchise’s video game storytelling and single-player mechanics, creating a legacy that will likely stretch far into the future. Moving forward,Dragon Balltitles have the best foundation in the series' history on which to build their own single-player modes, withBudokai Tenkaichi 4likely to be the first to do so.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4 Needs to Continue Kakarot
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4needs elements from previous Dragon Ballgamesas it attemptsto deliver a next-gen combination of multiplayer and single-player gameplay. The title can practically pick and choose pieces to adapt from its fighting game predecessors, butBudokai Tenkaichi 4needs only to carry forward the strengths ofDragon Ball Z: Kakarotto build a solid single-player experience. Were the title to combine its legacy of extensive representation with that ofDragon Ball Z: Kakarot, fans could be presented with the most thorough exploration of the anime from start to finish.
News of the game’s development is still fresh, having only been announced last month. However, some fans are already theorizing aboutwhat changesDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4can make. With the popularity of bothDragon Ball Z: Kakarotand the series' current fighting game offering,Dragon Ball FighterZ,the next entry in theBudokai Tenkaichiseries, seems primed for success. Fans awaiting more news onDragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4likely have to wait a while. IfBudokai Tenkaichi 4follows in the footsteps ofDragon Ball Z’s current game offerings, however, fans can rest assured that it will be more than worth the wait.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 4is now in development.
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