Many people’s connections with art forms, including films, books, music, television, and video games, are often shaped by when they first encounter them. For instance, I discovered Dragon Ball at the age of seven, a pivotal time in my life when I quickly became captivated. I organized my homework around Dragon Ball Z’s airtime on Toonami, stayed up late on weekends to watch unedited versions on Adult Swim, and eagerly watched all the direct-to-video films, particularly favoring Bojack Unbound.
Video games also played a significant role in my admiration for the franchise. I played titles like Legacy of Goku on the Game Boy Advance and the Budokai series on the PS2 extensively. During a two-week battle with the flu, my dad, who worked on submarines and was frequently away, gifted me a Budokai game to help pass the time. Growing up in arcades, I have always had a love for fighting games, making the combination of Dragon Ball and the fighting genre an ideal match.
After 17 years since the last game in the series, known as Budokai Tenkaichi, I am excited for Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero. It feels like returning home after a long absence, with new features that enhance the experience. Sparking! Zero boasts a lineup of 182 characters from across the entire Dragon Ball universe, spanning from the original series to Dragon Ball Super, GT, movies, and even the upcoming DAIMA. Each character has distinct abilities and transformations that reflect their timeline, adding depth and variety to gameplay.
Sparking! Zero embraces its characters’ power levels authentically, allowing iconic figures like Broly, Frieza, and Beerus to dominate. This design creates a fun dynamic, especially when players manage to win against stronger foes. Despite being a fighting game, Sparking! Zero introduces substantial depth with its character mechanics and requires players to master various skills to succeed effectively.
The game’s visuals and interface resonate well with the Dragon Ball aesthetic, featuring animations that reflect the source material faithfully. Navigating through the menus offers an engaging experience as players enjoy the interactions between beloved characters. The menu designs feature iconic settings like Bulma’s house, the World Martial Arts tournament, and Mr. Satan’s home, contributing to the game’s charm.
Sparking! Zero also includes various game modes, with Super Training serving as a great entry point for newcomers. The tutorial excels at teaching the necessary skills, making it easier for players to adapt. Once familiar with the fundamentals, players can explore Episode Mode, which revisits the Dragon Ball storyline through different character perspectives, including Goku and Vegeta. This mode includes branching paths and “What if?” scenarios, encouraging multiple playthroughs.
The game ensures players have ample opportunities for engagement, offering tournaments and various custom battle scenarios. Players can even design their own battles, adding a creative dimension to the gameplay. Challenges also provide rewards that enhance the game’s appeal.
While I could not test the online features prior to the game’s early access release, the single-player experience is rich enough to keep players involved for hours. The character balance in multiplayer is also ensured by a point system that controls team compositions.
With my time in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero far from over, I find myself eager to delve deeper into its many offerings. The nostalgia for a game I have long awaited is palpable, and I am excited to keep playing. Sparking! Zero, set for release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on October 10th, 2024, has indeed lived up to the anticipation, making the young fan in me immensely happy.