After much anticipation, one of the most awaited games in the Dragon Ball franchise has arrived: DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO. This title has been designed to bring back the classic style of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, which left a deep impression on fans. Expectations were high since the announcement, as the game promised an experience true to the series’ roots, with significant improvements in graphics and gameplay. Additionally, its main attraction is a roster of 182 characters, making it one of the most ambitious Dragon Ball games to date. The big question is, does it truly live up to being the best Dragon Ball game?
Reimagined Story
One of the highlights of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is its focus on storytelling, covering each of the series’ most iconic sagas. Players can relive the Saiyan saga, the Frieza saga, the Cell saga, and many more. However, the game offers a new feature that appeals to the most loyal followers: the possibility to alter certain moments of the original story. These changes don’t alter the final outcome but do change how the battles unfold.
For example, in the Saiyan saga, Goku faces Raditz, who has kidnapped Gohan. In the original story, Piccolo suggests a truce to join forces and rescue the boy. However, in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, players can choose to reject Piccolo’s help and instead team up with Krillin. This changes the dynamic of the battle, pitting Goku and Krillin against Raditz, though the final result remains unchanged.
Another great addition is the ability to experience the story from the perspective of various characters, not just Goku. This includes characters like Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, and even some of the most iconic villains like Frieza or Goku Black. This approach allows players to relive the plot from different angles, enriching the gaming experience and offering a new way to explore the story that has captivated millions of fans over the years.
Gameplay: The Heart of the Game
While the story is an important aspect, the true core of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is its gameplay, which captures the essence of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Veteran players will find a combat system that feels familiar, yet improved in many ways. Classic attacks like the Kamehameha, Galick Gun, and Spirit Bomb are executed similarly to previous titles, making the transition easier for long-time players.
The combat mechanics remain centered around quick combos, ki blasts, and devastating moves that can be unleashed once enough energy is charged. Ki charging, essential in the series, remains a critical element, and mastering it can be the difference between victory and defeat. Moreover, each character has special abilities that enrich the combat and add strategic variety. Goku can use teleportation to confuse the enemy, Hit manipulates time to his advantage, and Kid Buu regenerates as he heals.
To use these abilities, players need to accumulate skill points earned during battles. This allows them to perform transformations, one of the most characteristic aspects of the Dragon Ball franchise. Transformations range from the Saiyan evolutions, through Frieza’s forms, to Cell’s perfect form. The variety of transformations offers multiple options to customize play styles and adapt strategies depending on the opponent.
The Extensive Character Roster
From its announcement, one of the most intriguing aspects was the character list in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO. With 182 playable characters from day one, the game ensures fan favorites like Goku, Vegeta, and Piccolo are included, but it also introduces lesser-known characters like Frieza’s Soldier and Ribrianne. This diversity allows players to explore different combat styles and find the character that best suits their play style.
The power difference between characters is something to consider. If a player pits Jiren against a Saibaman, the disparity in strength will quickly become evident. This could present certain challenges in online battles, as players tend to choose the more powerful characters. However, the wide variety of fighters ensures that there are always options for every play style, and even the most mismatched battles can be entertaining.
Various Game Modes
The variety of game modes is another attractive feature of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO. In addition to the story mode, training modes are available to learn basic controls or practice advanced techniques. The classic battle mode allows players to face off against the CPU or other players online, with the option to create 5 vs. 5, 3 vs. 3, 1 vs. 1, or even challenges like 1 vs. 5 for more experienced players.
The World Tournament mode brings back iconic battles from the series, such as the Cell Games and the Tournament of Power, each with its own rules. It’s also possible to create custom tournaments with tailored rules to challenge friends or online players. The player community can share their battles through the World Library, a platform that allows players to download and play scenarios created by others, adding an extra layer of content to the game.
Technical Aspects
The graphics of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, developed with Unreal Engine 5, are impressive right from the start. The environments are fully destructible, adding a level of dynamism to the battles, and every corner of the battlefields is filled with detail. The character animations, especially during transformations, capture the essence of the anime masterfully, and the visual effects of the attacks are as impactful as in the original series.
The sound is also a strong point, offering the option to enjoy the original Japanese voices or English dubbing, allowing players to choose how they want to relive the experience. The soundtrack perfectly matches the action, enhancing the intensity of each battle and creating memorable moments.
Is This the Best Dragon Ball Game?
After months of waiting, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO more than meets expectations. It not only recaptures the essence of Budokai Tenkaichi but improves upon it, offering a technically outstanding fighting game packed with content. The combination of solid gameplay, an engaging story, and a vast character roster makes it a title that any Dragon Ball fan will enjoy.
Its official release will be on October 11th for Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 5, and PC, although players who opted for special editions can enjoy it from October 7th. If you’re a Dragon Ball fan or just looking for a complete and entertaining fighting game, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a safe bet that won’t disappoint.
You’ve probably already made up your mind, or maybe you decided earlier and are already enjoying it, but just in case, you can access the official game by clicking on THIS LINK. And whether you’ve been playing for a few days or you’re waiting until the 11th of this month to start your adventure, why not drop by the comments and let us know your opinion about this game? Come on, we’re sure you have your favorite characters from the franchise, care to share them with us? You know, gamer, we’ll be reading your thoughts! 🙂
Images Source: DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Official Website, Bandai Namco Entertainment America Official YouTube Channel
