Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection

About

The game is an HD collection that features both Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 1 and Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 enhanced and re-mastered in HD, alongside full Trophy and Achievements support. The graphics of Budokai 3 HD are similar to those of Dragon Ball Z: W Bakuretsu Impact. Since Kenji Yamamoto's original soundtracks have been accused of plagiarism, both included games have entirely new soundtracks mix…

Genres & Tags

Fighting

Play Modes

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai HD Collection screenshot

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

music7 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The HD remastering enhances the graphics, making the game visually appealing and nostalgic for fans.
The gameplay remains true to the original, providing a fun and engaging experience for both new players and returning fans.
The collection offers a significant amount of content with two full games, Budokai 1 and Budokai 3, which are both well-loved by the community.

The original soundtracks have been replaced, which disappointed many fans who cherished the music from the PS2 versions.
There is no online multiplayer option, limiting the gameplay experience to local couch co-op only.
Budokai 2 is not included in the collection, leaving some fans feeling that the package is incomplete.

music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
77%
7%
The music in the Budokai series has faced significant criticism due to the replacement of the original soundtracks with new compositions, often perceived as mediocre and lacking the emotional impact of the originals. Many players express disappointment over the loss of iconic tracks, attributing the changes to copyright issues, and feel that the new music does not fit the game's atmosphere. While some players have adjusted to the new soundtracks, the consensus is that the absence of the beloved original music detracts from the overall experience.
- “The original music was spectacular, especially the opening.”
- “I wish they had the original soundtrack for the games and actually took the time to recreate the entire game in HD rather than take shortcuts, but it is great to be able to go and play one of my all-time favorite games.”
- “This is a really great game just as I remembered, but the only thing that's different is the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack, due to plagiarism issues, has been swapped out and the new one, while not bad, is just mediocre at best.”
- “As a person who played the original Budokai 3, the substitution of the soundtrack is too underwhelming for me; it doesn’t give the same experience.”
- “The only downside is the soundtrack; they changed it for another OST. If you're like me (a fan of the originals), you'll be expecting the amazing soundtrack the PS2/GameCube versions had. These versions don't have bad soundtracks, it's just that I'm probably missing the original OSTs.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay in the Budokai series is characterized by enhanced 3D fighting mechanics that closely mirror the anime, particularly in Budokai 3, which introduces simplified special moves and a unique timing battle for super attacks. While the controls can feel stiff and mechanical to some, the overall combat experience is praised for its intensity and depth, despite some frustrations with the dragon rush mechanic and the absence of online play. Fans appreciate the nostalgic gameplay, though many express disappointment over the reused music and lack of HD quality in menus and cutscenes.
- “The fighting mechanics have also been enhanced from the preceding two games, making the game closer to its anime counterpart in terms of combat, which was well received by fans of the series and gamers alike.”
- “The gameplay starts off a bit slow, but as you get the hang of the controls, you'll eventually feel the intensity the series is known for; nothing like lightning-fast combos, with a Kamehameha to finish!”
- “For what it is, though, Budokai 3 looks great on the PS3 and the gameplay is still top-notch.”
- “The gameplay starts off a bit slow, but as you get a hang of the controls, you'll eventually feel the intensity the series is known for; nothing like lightning fast combos, with a kamehameha to finish!”
- “My most despised part of this game is the dragon rush/hyper mode mechanic where if they hit with a combo or just send you flying, it triggers a mini battle revolving around trying to guess the same button as the attacker to stop the attack.”
- “The controls feel too mechanical and stiff for my preference.”
story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The game's story mode effectively covers the Dragon Ball Z timeline, incorporating characters and events from various series, including Dragon Ball GT and the original Dragon Ball. While Budokai 1 is praised for its engaging cutscenes and traditional storytelling, Budokai 3 offers a more dynamic Dragon Universe mode that enhances replayability, though some players feel it lacks the depth of the first game's narrative. Overall, the story modes are enjoyable, with each installment providing a unique experience, though gameplay mechanics can become repetitive.
- “Budokai 3: the game's story mode yet again plays through the events of the Dragon Ball Z timeline, and the game includes several characters and events from the Dragon Ball Z movies (like Cooler, Broly, and Bardock), Dragon Ball GT (like Super Saiyan 4 and Omega Shenron), and the original Dragon Ball series itself (Kid Goku).”
- “The dragon universe mode that goes through the story of Dragon Ball Z is very fun, and has great replayability.”
- “Some may prefer the more modern versions of DBZ games; but for me this is the last good one of its generation; with a decent size roster, and a story mode that keeps you busy for quite a while, going from the beginning of Z to the GT series.”
- “Budokai 3 was a blast to play for the first time, but the story/adventure mode is a step down from Budokai 1.”
- “The only downside is that every character plays basically the same (aside from transformations), and the story mode can be beaten by spamming the same combo over and over.”
- “Some may prefer the more modern versions of DBZ games, but for me this is the last good one of its generation; with a decent size roster, and a story mode that keeps you busy for quite a while, going from the beginning of Z to the GT series.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
The graphics in this game have received significant praise, with many users noting that they are among the best in the series, rivaling even recent titles. The visuals are crisp and modernized for HD, running smoothly without glitches, and effectively enhancing the classic gameplay experience. Overall, the updated graphics contribute positively to the nostalgic feel while appealing to new players.
- “The graphics are as great as they possibly could be.”
- “It has to be the best looking one yet, and it runs flawlessly without any graphical glitches.”
- “The visuals are crisp; the resolution has been bumped up for HD and looks nice.”
- “The game's graphics do not feel too enhanced for an 'HD' release.”
- “The graphics were given a boost, but they don't feel significantly improved over previous versions.”
- “The visuals are crisp, but they don't stand out as much as expected for a remastered title.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report a high level of stability in the game, noting the absence of game-breaking glitches or significant flaws. The game runs smoothly and is praised for its impressive graphics without any noticeable issues.
- “I did not run into any game-breaking glitches or flaws.”
- “I've also progressed deeper into Budokai 3, and it doesn't seem like there are any significant glitches in this game, either.”
- “The game has no flaws or glitches, meaning I'm keeping it.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users find the humor in the game particularly enjoyable, highlighting the comedic elements present in the story and the "what-if" levels, which are noted for their funny scenarios.
- “I've completed Budokai's story, including the what-if levels, which are very funny.”
- “The humor in this game is top-notch and keeps you entertained throughout.”
- “I love how the game incorporates witty dialogue and hilarious scenarios that make me laugh out loud.”