Many people’s connection to art—including film, books, music, television, and video games—is shaped by the timing of their discovery. For a lot of fans, like myself, that right moment can leave a lasting impact. My relationship with Dragon Ball began when I was just seven years old, igniting an obsession that has lasted for decades. I scheduled my homework around Dragon Ball Z air times on Toonami and stayed up late for uncut viewings on Adult Swim. I devoured all the direct-to-video movies, with a special mention for Bojack Unbound.
Gaming was a huge part of this love. From playing Legacy of Goku on Game Boy Advance to Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi on PS2, Dragon Ball was pivotal in my life. During a two-week bout with the flu, my dad brought home one of the Budokai games to cheer me up. As a fighting game enthusiast raised in arcades, Dragon Ball felt like an ideal match.
A New Era Begins
I’ve eagerly awaited a game like Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero for years. The last installment in this series, previously known as Budokai Tenkaichi, was released in 2007. Now, at 34 with a Master’s Degree and a different life, Sparking! Zero feels like a nostalgic return, albeit with several improvements.
Sparking! Zero is a comprehensive fighting game, boasting 182 characters from across Dragon Ball’s history, including from Dragon Ball Super, GT, and even past films. Each character is unique with their own Skill and Blast attacks, requiring players to master different combinations. Character transformations are also included, ensuring a diverse gameplay experience.
Notably, Sparking! Zero embraces the concept of power disparities over balance. Legendary characters like Broly, Frieza, and Beerus dominate the battlefield, while others may find themselves easily defeated. This disparity creates thrilling matches, especially when the odds are against you.
Depth and Mechanics
While it may first seem intimidating, Sparking! Zero offers surprising depth in its combat system. Players need to master numerous combos, Skills, Blasts, and transformations for each character, making successful play both challenging and rewarding. The game implements various mechanics that enhance strategic gameplay, such as managing ki, dodging attacks, and executing counters.
Visually, Sparking! Zero captures the essence of Dragon Ball seamlessly. The game’s animations and character interactions are polished, providing an immersive experience during gameplay and in menu navigation. Each menu transports players to familiar Dragon Ball locations while characters interact in engaging ways.
Robust Modes to Explore
Sparking! Zero offers an array of modes, starting with a comprehensive tutorial to ease players into the mechanics. Episode Mode takes players through the Dragon Ball narrative from various character perspectives, offering branching paths and unique combat scenarios that encourage multiple playthroughs.
Additionally, players can participate in tournaments with varied rules or enjoy Bonus and Custom Battles, where creativity shines as they build unique scenarios. All completed challenges contribute to progression systems involving rewards and unlockable content.
The game does feature online play, but it wasn’t available for testing prior to release. However, players can rest easy with a point system that ensures various team compositions, making the competitive scene engaging and balanced.
After diving deep into Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, my excitement continues to grow. There’s expansive content waiting to be explored—from alternate paths to customizable elements. The joy I felt as a child discovering Dragon Ball is rekindled, and maybe this game will resonate just as strongly with them. Sparking! Zero is undoubtedly worth the extended wait, and it has a lot to offer.