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The Dragon Ball fighting game legacy continues its explosive journey with Spike Chunsoft’s ambitious revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi series in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. This review explores how the latest installment bridges the gap between nostalgia and innovation, bringing the dynamic energy of the anime to current-generation hardware. While longtime fans will find familiar elements to love, newcomers are welcomed with open arms into this reimagined take on the franchise’s signature combat style.
Combat System: Power Unleashed
The beating heart of Sparking! Zero lies in its refined combat mechanics, which build upon the foundation of its predecessors while charting new territory. Spike Chunsoft has crafted a fast-paced 3D arena fighter that maintains the series’ iconic feel while introducing fresh elements for modern audiences. The dual control scheme approach proves particularly thoughtful, with the “Standard” option providing an accessible entry point for newcomers, while the “Classic” scheme satisfies veterans seeking that nostalgic Budokai Tenkaichi feel.
The introduction of new mechanics like “Skill Count,” “Short Dash,” and “Revenge Counter” demonstrates the developer’s commitment to evolution without revolution. These additions create faster, more fluid battles that maintain strategic depth without overwhelming players. Though it may not reach the technical heights of Dragon Ball FighterZ, the combat system offers enough complexity to reward dedicated players who invest time in mastering its intricacies.
The training mode becomes an essential tool for players looking to perfect their technique, offering opportunities to master everything from basic vanish attacks to complex transformation timing and super move counters. Once players grasp these fundamentals, battles transform into epic confrontations worthy of the source material. The ability to outmaneuver opponents through dashes, execute surprise teleport attacks, and chain Ki blasts into devastating combos creates a combat experience that feels both strategic and spectacularly faithful to the anime.
Roster and Visuals: A Visual Feast
Sparking! Zero’s massive roster of 182 fighters stands as a testament to the game’s comprehensive approach to the Dragon Ball universe. What truly impresses isn’t just the quantity but the quality of attention each character receives. From major players like Goku and Vegeta to more obscure fighters, every character has been crafted with meticulous care, ensuring that each battle feels authentic to the source material.
The game leverages Unreal Engine 5 to deliver visually stunning representations of these beloved characters. Every fighter possesses unique movesets and signature attacks that remain true to their canonical abilities. The attention to detail extends to transformations, with characters like Goku fighting differently across various Super Saiyan forms. Even the Ki aura remains consistent throughout battles, adding another layer of authenticity to the experience.
Perhaps most impressively, the game embraces the natural power disparities between characters rather than forcing artificial balance. This decision leads to matches that feel true to the source material, where characters like Mr. Satan genuinely struggle against powerhouses like Broly. The original voice actors’ return further enhances this authenticity, bringing familiar personalities to life through both combat and dialogue.
Episode Battle: Reliving the Saga
The Episode Battle mode serves as the cornerstone of the single-player experience, offering players a chance to relive iconic moments from both Dragon Ball Z and Super. From the intense Saiyan Saga to the high-stakes Tournament of Power, players can experience these pivotal moments through a new lens. The mode’s greatest innovation comes in the form of “What-If” scenarios, which allow players to explore alternate outcomes to familiar stories.
These branching narratives range from intriguing to revolutionary. Players can experience scenarios like Goku defeating Raditz without sacrificing himself, leading to an early Super Saiyan transformation during the Vegeta fight. Another compelling alternate path sees Gohan defeating Golden Frieza, resulting in the creation of Gohan Black instead of Goku Black in the future timeline.
The addition of first-person perspective during key cutscenes adds a new dimension to storytelling, particularly effective during intense battles like Goku’s confrontation with Jiren. However, this feature sometimes feels overused in more mundane scenes, where the perspective shift adds little to the narrative impact.
Additional Features: Beyond the Battle
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero extends its content beyond traditional combat with several engaging supplementary features. The introduction of Zen-Oh’s Orders adds a light RPG element to the experience, presenting players with various challenges that reward them with items and Zeni currency. This system provides a meaningful progression path, allowing players to purchase new characters, outfits, and stat-boosting items that enhance their fighting experience. The ability to summon legendary dragons like Shenron, Porunga, or Super Shenron adds another layer of excitement, offering wishes that can unlock new characters or provide additional Zeni.
Whis’s Stamp Book serves as an excellent motivation for continued play, presenting players with various objectives to complete while offering substantial rewards. This feature encourages thorough exploration of the game’s content while providing a sense of achievement beyond standard combat victories. The comprehensive in-game encyclopedia demonstrates impressive attention to detail, tracking extensive statistics for all 182 characters, from basic play time to specific ultimate move usage.
Adding a touch of personality to the experience, the unique “Girl Talk” feature allows characters like Chi-Chi, Bulma, and Videl to provide commentary on various fighters. While not essential to gameplay, these charming interactions add depth to the character relationships and demonstrate Spike Chunsoft’s commitment to creating a complete celebration of the Dragon Ball universe.
Challenges and Limitations: Room for Improvement
Despite its numerous strengths, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero faces several notable challenges that impact the overall experience. The most significant hurdle lies in its steep learning curve, particularly challenging for newcomers to the series. While the training mode provides basic guidance, it falls short in explaining the nuanced mechanics that make up the game’s deeper combat system. Players must often learn through trial and error how to effectively manage attack combos, counters, Ki gauge, and Skill Count mechanics, creating a potentially frustrating experience for those new to the genre.
The game’s power level balancing presents another significant challenge. While the decision to maintain canonical power differences adds authenticity, it can lead to frustrating matchups where victory feels nearly impossible against significantly stronger opponents. The AI’s proficient use of counters and defensive moves, while impressive, can make certain battles feel particularly demanding, especially when attempting to execute complex techniques like vanish combos or timing-critical special moves.
The user interface and menu navigation system represent another area where the game stumbles. Scrolling through 182 characters in a list format proves cumbersome, and the requirement to watch Goku fly between menu areas feels unnecessary and time-consuming. These interface issues, while not game-breaking, create unnecessary friction in what should be simple navigation tasks.
Verdict
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero ultimately succeeds in its ambitious goal of modernizing the Budokai Tenkaichi formula while maintaining the core elements that made the series beloved. Despite its imperfections, the game delivers a comprehensive Dragon Ball experience that will satisfy both newcomers and veterans alike. The combination of deep combat mechanics, an extensive roster, and stunning visual presentation creates a package that truly celebrates the Dragon Ball universe.
The attention to detail in character representation, from unique movesets to authentic voice acting, demonstrates a clear respect for the source material. While the steep learning curve and some interface issues may initially deter some players, those who persist will find a rewarding fighting game that captures the essence of Dragon Ball’s epic battles.
The game particularly shines in its commitment to content variety, offering everything from traditional fights to creative “What-If” scenarios and extensive customization options. Though certain aspects of the story mode may disappoint, and some mechanical elements could be more refined, these shortcomings don’t significantly diminish the overall experience. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero stands as a testament to what can be achieved when developers balance nostalgia with innovation, creating a fighting game that not only honors its predecessors but also charts its own course forward in the genre.
Reviewed on PlayStation 5, Code provided by Bandai Namco Entertainment
The Review
PROS
- Large character roster with over 182 fighters, each designed with unique movesets and transformations.
- Dynamic fast-paced 3D arena fighting gameplay that retains the spirit of the Budokai Tenkaichi series with new engaging mechanics.
- Episode Battle Mode allows players to relive key moments from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super with added “What-If” scenarios, enhancing replay value.
- Custom Battle Mode provides freedom to create dream matchups and share them online.
- Attention to detail where characters, animations, and dialogues are well-crafted.
CONS
- Steep learning curve where new players may find the combat system overwhelming, with inadequate tutorials for advanced mechanics.
- Power balancing issues! Significant power differences among characters can lead to frustrating battles, particularly for less powerful fighters.
- Annoying menu navigation because the interface can feel clunky, making it difficult to navigate through the game modes.
