Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai is a 2D fighting game developed by Dimps and published by Atari (in North America) and Bandai Namco Entertainment (in Japan and Europe). Released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2006, it is the first Dragon Ball Z game for the PSP and is part of the Budokai series of fighting games. Shin Budokai offers fast-paced combat, a deep roster of characters, and faithfully captures the high-energy action from the Dragon Ball Z anime. The game is loosely based on the events of the movie Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn, focusing on Goku and his friends battling Janemba and other enemies.


Story Mode ("Another Road")

The story mode in Shin Budokai closely follows the plot of the Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn movie, while introducing new twists to make it more engaging for the player.

  • Main Plot: The story revolves around Janemba, a villain who manipulates reality and opens a portal to the afterlife, allowing the dead to come back to life. Goku and Vegeta must stop Janemba and other resurrected foes from wreaking havoc on Earth.
  • Character Focus: The story primarily focuses on Goku and Vegeta, but players can also take control of several other characters throughout the story. This includes characters like Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, and others, each participating in battles to stop Janemba’s army.
  • Branching Story Paths: Some battles feature branching paths where player performance affects how the story unfolds. This feature adds some replayability, as different outcomes can be experienced depending on the player's choices during key battles.

The story mode is divided into a series of battles, each advancing the narrative with cutscenes and dialogue between characters.


Gameplay Mechanics

Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai maintains the fast-paced 2D fighting mechanics of the Budokai series but adapted to the PSP’s capabilities. The game emphasizes accessible yet deep combat, with simple controls for special moves and more advanced mechanics for veteran players.

  • 2D Fighting in 3D Environments: While the combat takes place on a 2D plane, the characters are rendered in 3D, and the stages have some depth, allowing for movement across multiple layers of the battlefield. The player can dash and move around the opponent freely, creating fluid combat experiences.

  • Combat System:

    • Basic Attacks: Players can perform melee combos with light and heavy attacks, as well as guard against enemy attacks. Combos are easy to execute, and chaining them together builds towards special moves.
    • Ki-Based Attacks: Each character has a unique set of Ki-based moves, including energy blasts like Goku’s Kamehameha or Vegeta’s Big Bang Attack. Players can charge their Ki meter during battle to unleash more powerful techniques.
    • Ultimate Attacks: Characters also have powerful ultimate attacks that deal massive damage but consume large amounts of Ki. These are the most iconic moves in the series, such as Goku’s Spirit Bomb or Vegeta’s Final Flash.
    • Transformation: Characters with transformations (like Goku's Super Saiyan) can transform during battle, which boosts their stats and grants access to more powerful attacks. The transformations, such as Super Saiyan and Super Saiyan 3, increase speed, strength, and Ki regeneration.
  • Aura Burst Mode: This mode allows players to enter a temporary heightened state where their attacks are faster, stronger, and harder to block. It consumes a Ki gauge, and managing when to activate this mode adds a layer of strategy to the fights.

  • Z Burst Dash: A high-speed movement technique that lets players instantly dash toward or away from an opponent, recreating the fast-paced chases seen in the anime. This move can be used offensively or defensively, making battles more dynamic.


Game Modes

Shin Budokai includes multiple game modes that cater to both solo play and competitive multiplayer:

  1. Story Mode: As mentioned earlier, this mode focuses on the Fusion Reborn storyline with branching paths, battles, and cutscenes that drive the narrative forward.

  2. Arcade Mode: In this mode, players fight through a series of opponents to reach a final battle. The player selects a character, and the goal is to defeat a set number of opponents in one run.

  3. Z Trial Mode: This is split into two different sub-modes:

    • Survival Mode: Players try to defeat as many opponents as possible with a single health bar. The goal is to last as long as possible, with increasing difficulty.
    • Time Attack Mode: In this mode, players aim to defeat all opponents as quickly as possible. It's a test of speed and efficiency.
  4. Network Battle Mode: Using the PSP's ad-hoc network, players can challenge friends in 1v1 battles. This mode adds a competitive aspect to the game, allowing players to see who is the best fighter among their friends.

  5. Training Mode: This mode lets players practice moves and combos in a controlled environment. Players can learn how to use each character’s moveset effectively before diving into competitive or story modes.

  6. Profile Card: This feature allows players to customize their in-game profile, which is visible in network matches. It tracks stats like win/loss ratio and allows for some customization options like setting favorite characters.


Character Roster

The game boasts a decent-sized character roster, pulling from the Dragon Ball Z universe and offering different transformations. Each character has unique moves and abilities that reflect their powers in the anime. The roster includes:

  • Goku (Base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2, Super Saiyan 3)
  • Vegeta (Base, Super Saiyan, Majin Vegeta)
  • Gohan (Teen, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 2)
  • Trunks (Base, Super Saiyan)
  • Piccolo
  • Krillin
  • Tien
  • Yamcha
  • Janemba (Final Form)
  • Frieza (Final Form)
  • Cell (Perfect Form)
  • Majin Buu (Fat Buu, Kid Buu)
  • Broly (Legendary Super Saiyan)

Each character has their own set of unique moves, and many characters can transform into more powerful forms during battles. The transformations drastically alter their appearance, stats, and abilities.


Graphics and Sound

  • Graphics: For a PSP game, Shin Budokai features detailed 3D character models and colorful, vibrant stages. The animations are smooth, especially during special attacks and transformations, and the game does a good job of replicating the high-speed action from the anime. The stages are inspired by locations from Dragon Ball Z, including Planet Namek, the World Tournament stage, and Hell (from the Fusion Reborn movie).

  • Sound: The game includes music tracks that match the high energy of the battles, with original compositions similar to the soundtrack of the Dragon Ball Z anime. Characters are voiced in both English and Japanese, and the sound effects for attacks, explosions, and transformations are recreated from the anime, enhancing the immersive experience.


Reception

Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai was well-received for its smooth fighting mechanics, fast gameplay, and faithful adaptation of the Dragon Ball Z universe. The combat was praised for being accessible to casual players while offering enough depth for more competitive players. However, the game was criticized for its relatively short story mode and lack of variety in game modes compared to the Budokai Tenkaichi series on home consoles. Despite these drawbacks, it remains one of the more popular Dragon Ball Z titles on handheld systems.


Key Features:

  • Fast-paced, 2D fighting with a variety of characters and transformations
  • Branching storylines that follow the Fusion Reborn movie
  • Intuitive controls that balance accessibility and depth
  • Multiple game modes, including story, arcade, survival, and network battles
  • Playable roster featuring popular characters like Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Frieza, and more
  • Signature moves and transformations from the Dragon Ball Z series
  • Multiplayer via ad-hoc network for competitive play

In summary, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai is a dynamic and action-packed fighting game that delivers the signature Dragon Ball Z experience on a portable console. With a blend of accessible combat, story-driven gameplay, and a strong roster, it remains a favorite among fans of the franchise.

DOWNLOAD HERE :

https://global.app.mi.com/details?lo=ID&la=en_US&id=com.adragonz.shinbudo