Dragon Ball Z Budokai
↘ 18%
Player's Choice (Gamecube - US, Fighting)
Other Editions:
Base Game
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US
🇪🇺
PAL
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![Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice] box art for Gamecube](https://media.retro.gold/Nintendo_-_GameCube/Named_Boxarts/dragon_ball_z_budokai_players_choice.png)
![Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice] screenshot 3 for Gamecube](https://media.retro.gold/Nintendo_-_GameCube/Named_Snaps/Dragon Ball Z - Budokai (USA).png)
![Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice] screenshot 4 for Gamecube](https://media.retro.gold/moby_img/Nintendo_-_GameCube/Named_Snaps/Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice]_(Europe)_2.jpg)
![Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice] screenshot 5 for Gamecube](https://media.retro.gold/moby_img/Nintendo_-_GameCube/Named_Snaps/Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice]_(Europe)_3.jpg)
![Dragon Ball Z Budokai [Player's Choice] title screen for Gamecube](https://media.retro.gold/Nintendo_-_GameCube/Named_Titles/dragon_ball_z_budokai_players_choice.png)
Complete
$16.14
Manage Collection
Developed_By:
Pyramid
Published_By:
Atari
Released On:
18 Mar 2005
Embark on an epic journey through the Dragon Ball Z universe in Dragon Ball Z Budokai , a fighting game that takes you from the Saiyan to the Kid Buu Saga. With new cel-shaded characters and exciting features like absorptions and fusions, this game is a must-play for any fan of the series.
The gameplay in Dragon Ball Z Budokai is fast-paced and action-packed, with intense battles between some of the most iconic characters in the Dragon Ball Z universe. With its unique blend of fighting mechanics and exploration, you'll be able to experience the thrill of being a part of the Z Warriors team like never before.
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Prices as of 11 Jul 2026
Typical $16.42–$17.06 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a fighting game where players relive the Dragon Ball Z story, participating in iconic battles from the Saiyan Saga to the Cell Games. Players must win fights to progress through chapters, unlock new skills and characters, and ultimately save Earth from various threats. The game also features a Duel Mode for head-to-head combat against friends or AI.
Story
Story Mode
When you select Story from the Main Menu, the game will begin. You will become a participant as the Dragon Ball Z story unfolds, from the arrival of Raditz on Earth through the infamous and brutal Cell™ Games.
As the story progresses, you must win battles to unlock new chapters, skills, and characters.
Hercule™ Strategy Tip
Be prepared! An event occurs in each chapter. These events include battles where you must defeat enemies or perform a difficult task.
Be sure to read the advice that appears before entering each battle!
Story Sagas
The story is broken into three main sagas:
Saiyan Saga
Goku has finally defeated Piccolo at the World Match. After this hard-fought battle, he returns to the Kame House to be reunited with his friends and to introduce them to his son Gohan.
Just as Goku thinks that he can settle down with his family and live in peace, a mysterious alien calling himself Raditz appears, claiming to be Goku's elder brother. Raditz defeats Goku with his incredible power and then kidnaps Gohan. Goku vows to find the alien and set things straight.
Namekian Saga
Goku and his friends have managed to stop Vegeta's invasion. Krillin heads off to Planet Namek in place of the injured Goku, in order to use the Namek Dragon Balls to bring back his friends.
In the meantime, Goku eats a Senzu Bean and recovers from his injuries. He then boards a spaceship that Bulma's father built for him and heads for Planet Namek, where Krillin and Gohan await. Can you stop the invasion of Namek and prevent Frieza from taking over the universe?
Android Saga
Trunks claims to have come from the future, and states, "Goku will die of heart disease one year from now, and in three years, androids will appear and destroy the earth." He gives Goku some heart medicine and returns to the future.
Three years later, the androids appear just as Trunks predicted, and proceed to destroy everything in sight. But the worst is yet to come.
Saving Progress
Your progress is saved after each chapter. After you complete a saga, you may return to the Load Game / New Game screen.
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Select New Game to start a new game.
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Select Load Game to load a saved game from a Memory Card in Slot A.
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Select Continue to return to the Main Menu.
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At the Main Menu you can select Story again to continue with the next chapter.
Master Roshi® Says
There are (at least) two sides to every story... I really shouldn't need to tell you this, but just because it seems to end, doesn't mean it's over. With persistence you can uncover hidden secrets and elements and become the ultimate warrior.
Duel Mode
Select your favorite character and go head-to-head against your rival on any battle stage. The best part about Duel mode is that you can face off against your friends! (It's also fun to watch two computer opponents battle).
Select Duel mode from the Main Menu, then choose one of the following:
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1P vs. 2P - Human vs. Human: Each player must use a separate Controller.
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1P vs. Com - Human vs. Computer: Human player must use the Controller plugged into Controller Socket 1.
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Com vs. 2P - Human vs. Computer: Human player must use the Controller plugged into Controller Socket 2.
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Com vs. Com - Computer vs. Computer: Select two fighters and watch them battle it out.
How to Play
WELCOME TO DRAGON BALL Z® BUDOKAI!
Prepare to face the most powerful Dragon Ball Z heroes and villains. Unleash jaw-dropping combo moves and experience DBZ like never before!
With vivid 3D graphics specially enhanced for the Nintendo GameCube system, the most intense DBZ battles await you. Are you up to the challenge?
Enter Dragon Ball Z Budokai, a spectacular 3D world filled with the fiercest fighters the universe has ever known. Test your skills against the most powerful Dragon Ball Z heroes and the most sinister villains. Every battle is more intense, more dangerous, and more epic than the one before. Will you be the last warrior standing?
MAIN MENU
After you press START/PAUSE at the Title Screen, you can start a new game or load a previously saved game. You must have a Memory Card in Slot A to save your progress.
Warning: If you start a new game using a Memory Card that contains a previously saved game, that game data will be erased.
Use the +Control Pad or Control Stick to highlight an option, then press the A Button to select it.
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STORY: Play out the story of Dragon Ball Z.
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DUEL: Choose a fighter (standard or customized) and battle against your friends or a computer (Com) opponent.
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WORLD TOURNAMENT: Select a warrior (standard or customized) and battle to become the champion. Win prize money to spend on new skill capsules.
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PRACTICE: Use a character (standard or customized) to practice your fighting moves against a customizable computer opponent.
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EDIT SKILLS: After unlocking skills in Story mode, use them to customize characters. You can also buy skill capsules with cash won in World Tournament mode.
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OPTIONS: Change game settings, including opponent strength and controller configuration.
HERCULE™ STRATEGY TIP
Once you win the World Tournament in Adept level, bring your prize winnings to Mr. Popo's Skill Shop and check out his Recommended capsule offerings. There should be a few new things for sale, including a seventh Dragon Ball for the Main Menu.
OPTIONS
Choose Options from the Main Menu to adjust various game settings. Press the +Control Pad or Control Stick Up or Down to select an option. Press the A Button to go to that option sub-menu.
GAME OPTIONS
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Game Difficulty: Set the game difficulty, from Very Easy to Very Hard. This determines the difficulty in Story mode.
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Com Level: Set the strength of your computer opponents, from Very Weak to Very Strong. This determines how well computer-controlled characters attack and block in Duel Mode.
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Duel Time: Set the length of duels, from 30 seconds to no time limit.
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Quick Start: Turn ON to shorten the World Tournament introductions.
SAVE/LOAD
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Save Game Data: Save your current game progress to a Memory Card in Slot A.
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Load Game Data: Load a previously saved game from a Memory Card in Slot A.
CHARACTER SELECTION
Use the +Control Pad or Control Stick to highlight a character portrait and then press the A Button to choose that character. Choose Random to let the game choose a character for you.
After you select a character, press the +Control Pad or Control Stick Up or Down to toggle between Normal and Custom. Choose Normal to use the standard character. Choose Custom to use a character you created using the Edit Skills feature. Press the A Button to confirm your character selection.
Note: If you select a character by pressing the Y Button, that character will wear an alternate costume in battle.
If you are dueling against a computer opponent, choose the computer-controlled character you wish to fight and press the A Button to proceed to the Stage Selection screen. If you are dueling against a human opponent, you will proceed to the Stage Selection screen after each player has chosen a character.
At the Stage Selection screen, press the +Control Pad Left or Right to highlight a stage. Press the A Button to select the stage you wish to fight on and proceed to the Battle screen. You can press the +Control Pad Up or Down to select Random, and the game will choose a stage for you.
DUEL PAUSE MENU
Press START/PAUSE while in Duel mode to display the Pause Menu.
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Continue Battle: Close the Pause Menu and return to the duel in progress. Pressing START/PAUSE or the B Button will also Continue Battle.
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Refer to Skills: Display a list of your character's attack and transformation skills, and the button combinations required to perform these skills.
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Character Select: Return to the Character Selection screen.
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Main Menu: Return to the Main Menu.
Note: You cannot Refer to Skills during a Com vs. Com duel.
WORLD TOURNAMENT
Select World Tournament from the Main Menu to enter a 3-, 4- or 5-round competition against the finest collection of Dragon Ball Z® warriors. Winning a World Tournament, or coming in second place, will earn you money (Zenie), which you can use to buy capsules in Mr. Popo's™ Skill Shop.
HERCULE™ STRATEGY TIP
Want to see what you're up against before you enter the ring at the World Tournament? Go to Options > Game Options and turn Com Level up to Very Strong. Then go to Duel mode and select Com vs. Com. Pick two opponents and watch how they deal with each other.
You can even choose one of your custom characters as a Com competitor, and see how well it performs at high levels.
Tips & Maps
Com Level
Sets the opponent's fighting level to Very Weak, Weak, Average, Strong or Very Strong when 'Match' is chosen in Com Action.
Defend Ki Blast Wave
Sets whether the computer opponent will Do Nothing, Deflect, or Deflect Back any Ki Blast Waves thrown at it when 'Do Nothing', 'Guard 1' or 'Guard 2' is chosen in Com Action.
Counterattack
Turns Counterattack ON or OFF. When ON, an on-screen indicator displays 'Counter' when you break through defenses, allowing combination moves or special attacks.
Break-fall
Turns Break-fall ON or OFF. When ON, your opponent cannot be knocked down.
Display
Changes the on-screen display to Nothing (no extra info), Status (attack data), Command (button combinations), or Status and Command (both).
HERCULE™ STRATEGY TIP
Go to Practice Mode and watch the Commands on-screen to learn and remember skill commands.
Reset Position
Starts the practice session over from the initial position and Ki levels.
Skill List
Displays a list of skills requiring button combinations. Select a skill to practice it, showing the combination on screen and confirming success with 'O.K.'.
Character Select
Returns to the Practice mode Character Selection screen.
Return to Main Menu
Exits Practice mode and returns to the Main Menu.
EDIT SKILLS
Customize characters, buy skills, view acquired skills and Dragon Balls, and trade skills between Memory Cards. A Memory Card in Slot A is required for purchasing or organizing skills.
MASTER ROSHI SAYS
Read the 'About Skills' section in Edit Skills to understand the Exciting Skills System (E.S.S.) and learn how to use skills effectively.
SKILLS LIST
View unlocked or purchased skills sorted into six categories: Saiyan, Human, Alien, Android, Dragon Ball, and System.
Saiyan
Category for warriors with Saiyan blood, such as Goku, Gohan, and Vegeta.
Human
Category for human characters powerful enough to fight in Dragon Ball Z battlefields.
Alien
Category for characters like Piccolo, Frieza, and Dodoria, who are from other planets.
Android
Category for characters created by the evil science genius Dr. Gero.
Dragon Ball
Collect all seven Dragon Balls to return here and claim your prize.
System
Category for capsules that include all unlocked characters and tournament levels.
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