Soul Calibur III v. Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi

[Super Buu]

I haven't played SC3 but from what I've heard, it shares the same basic gameplay mechanics as SC2. Sticking with ringouts and such. So I can't really say much about it, though I'm guessing it's same old, same old. So if you liked SC2...

I actually have Tenkaichi (so I can go into some detail) and think it's probably the closest thing to the show since Supersonic Warriors on the GBA. Unlike Budokai 3 it's not just two people taking tiny steps forwards and backwards, occasionally being knocked into the air and going into 'Hyper Mode'. There is only one punch/kick button, but the melee combat is actually pretty hectic and fun. You build up your melee rush attacks in a power bar on the bottom right. As you land more hits, it gets further up, yada yada yada. If you then charge and release the punch button, you can send them flying depending on how full the bar is. In order to get it into the red (which sends your opponents flying through buildings and mountains) you need to wind them with the X button to make a connection between the 5-button combos. You can also use your power bar to break opponent's blocks, draining their ki, and hold a 1-second counter so that if your opponent is rushing against you, they get knocked back. It sounds complicated, and it is. The system takes a long time to learn and master. If you get it, watch the bloody tutorial first, and set it on easy for god's sake.

As well as that you get standard ki bars, and 3 blips which charge of their own accord over time called Favourites. These let you do different effectual attacks depending on each character. Some can expend 2 blips to make an afterimage, guaranteeing a miss on the next attack they want. Others can expend one blip to temporarily increase their melee damage. Etc. In terms of energy attacks you have all your trademark stuff.

There are lots of characters which haven't yet made an appearance in the DBZ games. You can play as an oozaru (they're still big, but unfortunately scaled down a bit... Not hildegarn-sized.) Master Roshi, Tao Pie Pie, both of Zarbon's forms, all of Vegeta's forms (Base, base+scouter, SS, 'Super Vegeta' (USS), Majin Vegeta, SS2 Vegeta, SS4 Vegeta, Bebi Vegeta...yeah). A couple from Budokai 3 like Uub and Omega Shenron aren't here though. Another thing - you choose your form before fights, and they're balanced for the most part. So no mid-battle transformations. They were cool in the Budokais, but essentially just a gimmick.

Most importantly, it's all played behind-the-shoulder and due to the size of the arenas, the speedy free-flying and the completely destroyable landscape, it feels like DBZ. So yeah, I have fun playing it. I was even considering holding a com-fought Chubbs tournament.

I haven't gone into any of the different modes, but I feel that's enough information I'll let someone else give you the lowdown on SC3...

[Super Buu]

Whilst we're on the subject...

Would anyone be interested in a com-based Tenkaichi Chubbs tournament? Basically you choose a character to represent you, and I describe what happens in the fights (orchestrated by the COMs in-game). Seeing as all the characters and forms are pretty much balanced, anything could happen. It would probably be just for fun, but if the mods wanted to pique more interest there could be a small prize. It would mainly be just for fun though, to see how your character fares.

[Kami]

Soul Caliber III, without question.

[Kami]

Ok, so I haven't played the latest DBZ game...but Soul Caliber III is just a better built fighting game, the gimmic is that it's a great game in a great series, DBZ has gotten away with some lame games in the past. Anyone go back and play the first Budokai after playing the rest? It's not as good. SC3 is just so epic as well, and the visuals are fantastic.

[Super Buu]

Yeah, the melee system is fun. I prefer games where it's based on you knowing what you're doing and reacting to fights as they happen (like SSBM and Tenkaichi Budokai) other than fights where you memorise a list of button combinations and go (almost every modern fighting franchise). Fighting is only 'just fighting' if you're playing for the coolness factor, where games are 'advancing' through graphics (as games 'advance' in this way, the graphics get better and better, more and more scantily clad women i.e. SC2 DOA, gameplay is irrelevant). People that focus more on the gameplay have noticed a staleness in the genre, as is shown with new adaptations of the genre becoming popular (everyone loves SSBM).

Tenkaichi is far from a perfect game, they can expand a lot on the specials and they could make the background destruction even better. The dragonball collection system is overtly simple and basically just shoved there for the sake of tradition. However, I think if the fighting system can start off this solidly, it's going to get excellent in later generations. I mean, if the original Budokai was that bad when the series started imagine what they can do with this?!

But I have to say, Legacy of Goku series was horrible... It's pretty hard to debate that. When Cell spits out 18, she gets up and WALKS AWAY, saying nothing. The first was the only I bought legitimately, but I completed it within a day and returned it. It was alright in the second, never really polished, but playable. The third was probably not quite as good as the second.

[Amadeus]

Personally, I perfer Budokai 3 then Tenkaichi. In Tenkaichi, the moves look so simplistic and you cant fight them back with the exception of moving away. But in Budokai 3, the move is shown nicely and one can defend himself from it. I mean, when you see Vegeta form two yellows balls, say "Now to finish this!", put them together and shout "FINAL FLASH!", the only thing you can really say is: "Cool!."
Also, I liked Hercules Suprise for you. Also I feel the menus were better in 3.

As for who is better, I cant really say. I dont own a PS2.....I played DBZ games at my friends but thats as far as ive had contact with a PS2.

[Reijin]

I've not played DBZ yet, but I'm obsessed with Soul Calibur 3. Its just that damn good. I don't even like many fighting games anywhere above a casual level, but that's a game I might practice a bit more hardcore with. One of my friends was playing both of them, and he said that despite what he's heard, he just doesn't feel that Tenkaichi is that deep of a game when compared to Tekken 5 and SC3.

[Super Buu]

I'll probably end up getting SC3 when it comes out here. I probably won't enjoy it that much, but you can't knock things until you've tried them

I've unlocked most of DBZ BT, I think I'm just missing a few of the dragonball-related bonuses. I forgot to collect them as I went through the sagas, and now my only option is to go to the level where one always appears (Gotenks VS Super Buu... Feels masochistic) and keep collecting. However, right now I'm playing through the Ultimate Fighter mode, which most people forget about. At rank 35 on Hard difficulty, it's getting pretty damn tough to progress without losing points.

[Raditzu]

How did I miss the title of this thread for so long?

Let's analyze each game objectively.

Soul Caliber 3: Has plenty of Siegfried based, drop-kicking goodness.

DBZ BT: A complete and utter lack of anything Siegfried related.

I rest my case.

[Android-18]

Tales of Synphonia.

I rest MY case.

[Raditzu]

That's cheating! That wasn't even in the thread title.

How can you compete against that!?

[Android-18]

It's not cheating :3.

Stating that ToS is Godly is hardly cheating.

[Super Buu]

I should probably pick up ToS again... I left off like 6 months ago with them at some kind of tower thing.