Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3 retains the lightning-fast, combo-heavy fighting that fans of the SNES era love, while introducing a host of new mechanics to shake up the formula. The iconic split-screen system returns, allowing you to battle across vast distances, but now you can freely fly up or down without warping out of view. This verticality adds new layers of strategy, as zoning tactics and aerial duels become just as important as ground exchanges.

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The roster of nine selectable warriors is one of the largest in the series, featuring Goku, Goten, Kid Trunks, Majin Vegeta, Gohan Jr., Kaiohshin, Majin Buu, Darbura, and Android 18, with Future Trunks unlockable via a secret code. Each character boasts unique Meteor Combos—devastating multi-hit super moves that can turn the tide of battle in an instant. Executing these specials requires precise timing and meter management, rewarding players who learn each fighter’s nuances.

Aside from standard one-on-one bouts, the game’s highlight is its eight-man eliminatory tournament mode. This bracket system keeps tension high, since any loss sends you packing. For those who prefer immediate action, single matches against the CPU or a friend are also available, making local multiplayer feel like an arcade showdown in your living room. Although there’s no traditional story campaign, the variety of rule sets and the high-octane combat ensure battling remains endlessly rewarding.

Graphics

Visually, Super Butōden 3 is a showcase of what the SNES hardware could achieve at its peak. Character sprites are bold and expressive, with vibrant colors that pop on screen. Majin Buu’s amorphous movements, Vegeta’s intense glare, and Goku’s iconic Kamehameha charge all translate beautifully into pixel art form, capturing the spirit of the anime.

The backgrounds draw heavily from the Majin Buu saga, featuring locales such as the mystical Kaioshin’s realm, the chaotic corridors of Babidi’s castle, and the otherworldly environments of Supreme Kai’s planet. Day-night cycles and alternative time-of-day palettes lend extra variety, ensuring that matches never feel visually stale. Transitions between split-screen sections are smooth, avoiding the jarring flashes that plague lesser fighters of the era.

Special effects—energy blasts, aura flares, and explosion animations—are handled with impressive flair. When a Meteor Combo connects, the screen shakes slightly and bright flashes fill the arena, delivering satisfying feedback. While modern eyes might spot pixel edges and fewer frames of animation compared to current consoles, the game’s artistic direction more than compensates, offering a nostalgic feast for longtime Dragon Ball Z aficionados.

Story

Unlike its predecessors, Super Butōden 3 does not include a dedicated story mode, a decision likely driven by its release during the early days of the Majin Buu arc on Japanese television. Instead, the narrative context comes from the character selection and stage design. Each battlefield and fighter choice subtly nods to pivotal moments in the Buu saga, letting you reenact famous clashes in arcade style.

Fans seeking a plot-driven experience may miss cutscenes or dialogue sequences, but the absence of a linear campaign does free the game from constraining scripts. You’re encouraged to craft your own Dragon Ball Z moments, whether that’s Vegeta facing off against the Supreme Kai, or Gohan Jr. attempting to contain the rampaging Buu. In a way, the open-ended structure fits the source material’s emphasis on spontaneous showdowns and last-second reversals.

Moreover, the secret inclusion of Future Trunks adds a playful “what if” element. Bringing him into a Majin Buu stage evokes alternate timeline battles, inviting imaginative scenarios. Though the storytelling is minimalist, dedicated fans will appreciate the subtle world-building through character art, stage music, and the freedom to pit any hero against any villain in the Buu arc.

Overall Experience

Dragon Ball Z: Super Butōden 3 stands as a fitting swan song for the series on the SNES. While it may lack a formal story mode, its deep roster, refined mechanics, and dramatic stage designs more than compensate. The split-screen enhancements and new Meteor Combo system ensure that even seasoned fighting game veterans will find fresh challenges.

Local multiplayer remains the game’s strongest draw: whether you’re duking it out in a best-of-three match against a friend or battling through the eight-fighter tournament, the adrenaline never lets up. Casual players will delight in simple button mashing and flashy super moves, while competitive fans can master spacing, combo chains, and aerial tactics to dominate the arena.

In sum, Super Butōden 3 captures the high-energy excitement of the Majin Buu saga in a compact, arcade-style package. For collectors and retro enthusiasts, it represents the pinnacle of 16-bit Dragon Ball Z brawlers. Even without the bells and whistles of modern fighting games, its fast-paced action and fan-service roster make it a must-own for those craving pure, unfiltered DBZ combat.

Retro Replay Score

7.3/10