Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden 3 [Model SHVC-AZ4J-JPN]

32 Years old Nintendo Super Famicom cart. Bandai Co., Ltd. [Japan]
Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden 3 [Model SHVC-AZ4J-JPN] screenshot

Dragon Ball Z - Super Butouden 3 © 1994 Bandai

Dragon Ball Z: Super Butouden 3 is the third installment in the popular fighting series. While it stripped away the traditional Story Mode found in its predecessor to focus entirely on competitive combat, it refined the core mechanics and expanded the roster to feature iconic characters from the Majin Buu saga, offering a faster and more focused competitive experience.

TECHNICAL

GAME ID: SHVC-AZ4J-JPN

TRIVIA

Released on September 29, 1994 (Thursday) in Japan.

Competitive Focus: By removing the branching story mode, Bandai pivoted this title toward pure competitive play. The game engine was optimized for tighter frame data and more responsive inputs, making it a favorite among players who preferred the series as a dedicated fighting game rather than an anime simulation.

Roster Evolution: This title introduced characters from the later stages of the Z anime, such as Future Trunks, Goten, and Majin Buu, providing a different tactical feel compared to the previous entries. The character balance was adjusted to emphasize these new special move sets, encouraging players to master the unique timing of the newer fighters.

Aesthetic Polish: Despite the lack of a story mode, the game features some of the most vibrant sprite work in the Butouden trilogy. The stage designs, particularly those representing the later, more destructive battles of the anime, are highly detailed and visually striking, pushing the Super Famicom’s color palette to its limits.

TIPS AND TRICKS
Extra Character
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At the intro screen, immediately after you hear a voice talking, press Up, X, Down, B, L, Y, R, A.

Turbo Mode
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Hold A + B + X + Y + L + R on controller two and power on the SNES system. Release the button after Goku's Kamekameha.

Power Ups
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Before a fight, while the characters talk to each other, enter these codes to power-up your character and strengthen your attacks. If done correctly, your character should charge up.

Effect Code
1 Up, L, Down, Y
2 Left, R, L, Right
3 Down, X, Up, R
4 L, R, Up, Down, Y, X, Left, Right
5 Up, L, Up, R, Up, Y, Up, X
6 Left, R, Up, X, Right, Y, Down, L
STAFF
👥
Executive Producer: Eisaku Maniwa, Takashi Shoji, Yasuo Miyakawa
Producer: Takeo Isogai
Assistant Producer: Toshihiro Suzuki
Coordinator: Kabao Isojin (Kaba3), De Yasu
Programmer: TNK, Motor-OM, Maruko Papa
Graphic Designer: Soba Chan (Soba), Noopy, J Designs, Pochitto Inujiro, Nakanokun, Hide San
Toei Animation: Kozo Morishita, Seiichi Hiruta, Hiroshi Takeda
Character Voice
Son Gokou/Son Gohan/Son Goten: Masako Nozawa
Vegeta: Ryo Horikawa
Trunks: Takeshi Kusao
Android No. 18: Miki Ito
Kaiohshin: Yuji Mitsuya
Babidi: Jōji Yanami
Darbura: Ryuzaburo Otomo
Majin-Boo: Kozo Shioya
Sound Work: Kenji Yamamoto, Shinji Amagishi (Amayang), Chatrasch, Akihito Suita (Switch. E)
Battle Character Design
Son Gokou/Darbura/Babidi: Yukihiro Yokota
Son Gohan: Shinichiro Fukushima
Son Goten/Trunks: Naotoshi Shida
Trunks: Takayuki Manaka
Vegeta: Hitoshi Inaba
Android No. 18: Yuji Hakamada
Kaiohshin/Majin-Boo: Tetsuya Saeki
Producer: Yūichi Suenaga
Assist Work: Hirotaka Watanabe, Yasuomi Shimizu, Tsuyoshi Sato, Daisuke Uchiyama
Special Thanks
Weekly Shonen Jump Staff: Nobuhiko Horie, Fuyuto Takeda, Muneharu Machida
V Jump Staff: Kazuhiko Torishima, Toshimasa Takahashi, Kenji Okamoto, Tsuneo Matsumoto, Naoto Akamatsu, Yoshitaka Kiyono, Makoto Iwahara
V Jump Monitor: Koichi Watanabe, Kouta Suzuki, Atsushi Fujii, Yusuke Fukuizumi, Yuusuke Hirohata, Youko Tomita, Yuuko Onodera, Mio Fujii, Sawako Itoda, Ryouko Furukawa, Akifumi Kondou, Kaoru Tomiki, Takashi Okada, Shinya Saitou, Sachiyo Fukushima, Ryouko Tange, Taeko Hirao, Tomoko Hirao, Kaori Umeda, Noriko Wakamatsu, Geelun, Project DBZ
Presented by: Bandai
SOURCES
🔗
ROM dump (MAME).