Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai

Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai is a fighting game developed by Dimps for the PlayStation Portable, released worldwide in spring 2006 as the first Dragon Ball Z title on that platform. The game is built on a streamlined version of the Saiyan Overdrive fighting system from the Budokai series, with simplifications designed to suit the PSP's button layout and the on-the-go play style of portable gaming. Most interactive button prompts such as Dragon Rushes are removed in favor of more direct mechanics, and ultimate attacks can be performed freely without requiring elaborate input sequences.

A new technique called the Aura Burst allows characters to dash across the screen at high speed toward the opponent. Connecting an attack immediately after a Burst deals fast combos or stunning blows, enabling chain combos that reward players who master the timing. Special attacks chargeable by holding a directional input alongside the energy blast button add an extra layer of depth, letting players trade ki consumption for increased damage and duration.

Seven game modes are available: Dragon Road story mode, Arcade mode, Z Trial mode with Survival and Time Attack sub-types, Versus mode, Training mode, and Profile Card mode. Profile Card mode allows players to build and customize an in-game character card displaying their name and power level, which can be personalized with items purchased from the in-game store.

Dragon Road, the story mode of Shin Budokai, is set two years after the defeat of Kid Buu and adapts the events of the film Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn. The story begins with Goku and his friends on a camping trip that is interrupted when a portal from Hell opens on Earth, releasing the dead back into the world of the living. Goku and his allies must fight their way through a series of battles from the Earth's surface down into the ruins of Hell to close the portal. The narrative branches based on the player's choices at key decision points, leading to different story developments depending on the path taken.

Dragon Road is divided into five chapters with branching routes, offering players meaningful decisions that affect how the story unfolds. Friendly battles such as a sparring match between Goku and Krillin appear alongside major confrontations, giving the story mode variety in tone. The mode reimagines events from Fusion Reborn in ways that differ from the film, treating the game's version as its own interpretation of the source material rather than a straightforward adaptation.

Shin Budokai launched alongside the PlayStation Portable itself in many Western markets, positioning it as a flagship title for the new handheld. It is a direct follow-up to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3 within the Budokai game line, taking the series from home consoles to portable hardware. Dimps, the Japanese developer responsible for the Budokai series, brought their deep familiarity with Dragon Ball Z's fighting mechanics to the PSP version, ensuring that the portable entry felt connected to its console predecessors.

The game received generally positive reviews for its polished presentation and accessible fighting system. Critics who found the removal of Dragon Rushes and cinematic ultimate attacks to be a regression still acknowledged that Shin Budokai's mechanics had more nuance than they initially appeared. The game sold well enough to prompt a direct sequel, Shin Budokai - Another Road, released the following year on the same platform.