I recently had the opportunity to immerse myself in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, where I played as around 180 incredible characters across a variety of game modes. We had access to nearly the entire game, with several surprises saved for later. From Episode Battles to fiercely competing in intense tournaments, there was an abundance of content to explore. As a passionate lifelong fan of Dragon Ball, and a former player of the original Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi series, I was eagerly anticipating my time with this latest title.
Whether you cherish Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, or the newer Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is filled with characters that are easy to pick up and play. With engaging story modes, fierce battles, and ample love for the anime and manga, here’s what I discovered.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Revives the Classic Budokai Series in a Fresh Style
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is an essential experience for enthusiasts of Akira Toriyama’s timeless manga and anime. Featuring approximately 180 characters from the series’ extensive roster, there are countless modes, options, and playstyles to engage with. Players wanting to compete can challenge others online, or tackle pre-built tournament arenas, or even create their own. The Episode Battles allow players to embody various classic Dragon Ball characters, reimagining their renowned stories. Yet, you can opt to make choices that slightly alter these narratives.
During my preview, I had the chance to explore stories for Goku, Frieza, and Goku Black, albeit for a limited timeframe. I only wish I’d had more time to delve deeper into them, which left me craving more content.
The challenges were appropriately taxing, offering a degree of freedom—Frieza could switch through most of his forms from the start of his battle with the Z-Fighters, as an example. Some may view the character selection as somewhat misleading, particularly with the abundance of variations on characters like Goku and Vegeta.
Nonetheless, I appreciate this design choice. Each narrative version of Goku has different abilities and transformation limits. I enjoy being able to experience the distinct forms of Goku, Frieza, Vegeta, Trunks, and numerous other characters.
Combat is Quick and Engaging in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
Indeed, some characters are more powerful than others. After all, it’s Dragon Ball! Expecting Krillin to hold his own against SSJ4 Gogeta would lead to disappointment. That said, those “weaker”characters can still clinch victories—you just need to be strategic and hardworking. Speaking of combat, I genuinely enjoyed the experience.
The combat system felt reminiscent of previous games, featuring regular attacks, heavy hits, and ki blasts. Players can power up, transform, and unleash various special moves. Additionally, you have passive buffs that can trigger useful perks. To activate these buffs, you need to build your Skill Count (shown beneath your health bar) by executing attacks and abilities during battle.
The combat is undoubtedly fast-paced and pleasurable, featuring numerous evasion techniques, teleportation maneuvers, and counterattacks. You can even unleash finishing moves that impact the environment around you. One of my favorite moments occurred during the World Martial Arts tournament when I executed a powerful attack. The announcer and crowd scattered, and I began demolishing the arena, extending into the parking lot and beyond.
The Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Roster is Jam-Packed with Beloved Characters
In our preview of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, we had the chance to play as a plethora of characters—virtually the entire roster was available. This included film antagonists, the GT cast, and many more. Are you fond of controlling colossal villains such as Lord Slug, Oozaru Baby, or even Hirudegarn? Go for it!
You can even play as Fat Janemba! The attention to detail in this game is incredible. From the weakest fighters to outright gods, almost everyone is within your grasp. Frieza Soldier? Check. Yajirobe? Check. Whis? Yes, indeed! However, I do feel some characters are noticeably absent.
I was disheartened to see that several female characters from Super didn’t make the cut. Nevertheless, the character roster remains stellar, and I believe there’s potential for future expansions. My biggest disappointment is one of my all-time favorite antagonists—Tao Pai Pai—not being included.
Tournament Modes are Exceptionally Entertaining in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero
While experiencing nearly the entirety of the game, the mode I spent the most time in was the tournament options in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero. The Cell Games, Budokai Tenkaichi, and even the Tournament of Power battlefields are all playable, each offering unique rules. This was my absolute favorite aspect. Even when I occasionally knocked myself out by mistake, I was still having an amazing time.
Additionally, there’s a unique tournament mode in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero called the Yamcha Games. Anyone familiar with me knows I adore a twist of randomness. The Yamcha Games take place in traditional World Martial Arts tournament settings, but with an exciting twist: All participants are assigned a random character, often leading to Yamcha being the final contender. I didn’t witness him lose a match until he reached my character!
Custom Battle Lets Players Craft Their Own Fantasy Scenarios
One of the standout features I loved in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is the Custom Battles! A variety of these scenarios are already pre-built into the game for players to unlock. Each one centers around a specific scenario or unique twist related to the franchise. For instance, you can take DB Super Trunks to a training session with Piccolo before heading back to the future to challenge Goku Black.
Moreover, you can also design your own scenarios using countless word options. Although I didn’t create any scenarios personally, I enjoyed exploring the possibilities. I can envision these being highly popular online, similar to how Mario Maker stages have become.
The Game is Visually Stunning and Sonically Pleasing, Yet Lacks a Few Elements
If there’s one area where I can’t praise Dragon Ball Sparking Zero enough, it’s its visual and auditory presentation. This game not only looks stunning, but it sounds amazing as well. The character designs are picture-perfect, with notable updates in certain places that I truly appreciated. For example, Frieza’s transformations have been accelerated, lending a grotesque but fascinating quality to observe—accurately capturing the unsettling essence of the Galactic Emperor’s forms.
The musical score is solid, but this is where noticeable gaps emerge. There are not too many familiar tunes present. While many background tracks are recognizable, I’m specifically referring to the iconic insert songs, openings, and endings.
After the event, I had a conversation with the producer, and I learned that a DLC pack with additional tracks is on the horizon. Given the wealth of content already in the game, I hold no resentment toward this absence. Still, there were certain songs I felt should have been included, and I hope this changes in the future. Aside from that, the overall presentation of this game is almost perfect.
Final Thoughts – The Hype for Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is Real
I can’t wait to dive back into Dragon Ball Sparking Zero! However, I must express that despite my enthusiasm for the game, it does miss some features I had hoped to see. The absence of What-If stories and overworld exploration, which I loved in previous installments, stands out. Nonetheless, I believe these omissions do not diminish the game’s quality or entertainment value.
I had a blast playing and hope that Bandai Namco expands this already rich content in the future. Perhaps we’ll see more Episode Battles or reintroducing the aforementioned modes. The character roster is impressive, the gameplay is exhilarating, and it’s visually fantastic. While some characters are significantly stronger than others, players can set power-level restrictions in online battles, so there’s no need to worry about Hercule Satan battling Ultra Instinct Goku unless you opt for it.
For any Dragon Ball fan, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is not to be missed.
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