• Every major Z-Fighter (Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Krillin) across all transformations (Base, Kaioken, SSJ, SSJ2, SSJ3, etc.).
• Every major villain from Dragon Ball, Z, and GT (Frieza, Cell, Buu, Baby, Omega Shenron).
• Deep cuts and movie characters (Janemba, Tapion, Cooler’s Final Form, Hirudegarn, Garlic Jr., and even the obscure Pikkon from the Other World Tournament filler arc).
• Dragon Ball characters (King Piccolo, Devilman, General Blue, Kid Krillin, Master Mutaito).
• What-if fusions (Gokule, Tiencha).

Cel-Shaded Mastery: The character models looked ripped directly from Akira Toriyama’s sketches. dragon ball z budokai tenkaichi 3 playstation 2 exclusive

Because the game is no longer in production, it is primarily available through retro retailers and secondary markets: Contrary to the prompt's suggestion, Dragon Ball Z:

Modes That Guarantee Hundreds of Hours

Modern games often fail in single-player content. Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is an embarrassment of riches. teleporting (Z-Counter) to dodge a Supernova

3. Advanced Combat Essentials (PS2)

Vanishing (Teleport)

• Press Guard (L1) just before an attack lands.
• Uses ki, but breaks pressure.

Ultimate Battle Z

A multi-tiered tournament mode where you build a team of five characters and fight through gauntlets of enemies. This mode alone is worth the price of an old PS2 memory card.

It captured the speed of the anime perfectly. Zipping behind an opponent to land a crushing combo, teleporting (Z-Counter) to dodge a Supernova, and taking the fight from the ground to the sky in seconds felt fluid and intuitive. The game utilized a "behind-the-back" camera angle that made you feel like you were piloting the anime, rather than just pressing buttons in a fighter.

The Last Hurrah of a Legend: Why Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 Remains a PS2 Exclusive Masterpiece

In the pantheon of anime fighting games, few titles are held in as high regard as Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. Released in late 2007 (and early 2008 in North America and Europe), the game arrived at a fascinating crossroads in gaming history. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were already on shelves, yet the PlayStation 2 was still a dominant force. While many multiplatform titles were making the jump to the next generation, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 stood firm as a PlayStation 2 exclusive, and that exclusivity is a key reason for its legendary status today.