As a die-hard Dragon Ball fan who’s grown up with Goku and his pals, I’ve been on cloud nine since the announcement of Sparking Zero. The game feels like stepping into an alternate universe from the anime, thanks to its fully voiced animations and cutscenes.
Without a doubt, Spike Chunsoft felt the heat when it came to Sparking Zero’s release. Instead of shying away from the task, they stepped up to the plate and produced what many consider the finest Dragon Ball game in years.
Dragon Ball stands out as one of the longest-running and dearly cherished anime series of all time. Beyond its extensive history in animation, the franchise boasts a rich library of video game adaptations and collaborations that offer fans an exciting chance to embody their favorite characters and devise their own Dragon Ball battles.
Approximately twenty years later, the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series makes its triumphant comeback, with Dragon Ball Sparking Zero serving as its fourth iteration. This game has been a resounding success everywhere it’s been released.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Key Details
- Price (Standard Edition): $69.99 USD | £69.99 GBP | $109.95 AUD
- Developer: Spike Chunsoft
- Release Date: October 11, 2024
- Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X | S, & PC
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero launch trailer
Familiar combat with fresh improvements
Playing Sparking Zero offers a delightful blend of the comfortingly familiar with an exciting touch of novelty, thanks to clever adjustments made to the combat system.
The game offers two distinct control configurations: Classic and Standard. Being a long-time fan of this series, I opted for the classic controls and jumped right into combat. For novice players unfamiliar with the franchise, the Standard setup could be an ideal choice to help navigate the game’s Dragon Ball-style action more easily.
In simpler terms, you can activate, strike with punches and kicks, and fire intense beams, even some that could shatter worlds. While previous Budokai Tenkaichi games mainly focused on causing damage rapidly, Sparking Zero significantly expands the defensive aspects of the game as well.
Nowadays, there are numerous strategies to retaliate and safeguard oneself against assaults, leading to thrilling counteractions and close calls that will leave you feeling as exhilarated as when you deliver a powerful attack.
The new Sparking Mode is also a fantastic inclusion and is a complete game changer. When at least one skill gauge has been earned during battle, you can charge up your Ki further and enter Sparking Mode.
Besides boosting your standard attack potency for more impactful blows, you’ll also gain control over an exclusive Ki technique, usable exclusively during Sparking Mode. These skills are incredibly powerful and, in critical situations, have the ability to drastically alter the course of any conflict.
Polish that shines across every facet of the game
As a passionate gamer, I wholeheartedly appreciate the exceptionally well-rounded experience offered by Sparking Zero – a game that underscores the significance of thorough development and rigorous pre-release testing in today’s gaming landscape where quality isn’t always ensured at launch.
What stood out to me the most while playing Dragon Ball Sparking Zero was how seamless and swift the transitions were. Regardless of whether I was embarking on an Epic Journey or participating in a World Tournament, there was barely any delay before I was thrust right into the heart of the action.
In Sparking Zero, you’ll find numerous game modes meticulously designed, demonstrating not only versatility but also providing an exceptional gaming journey from start to finish.
Although the game experiences occasional performance hiccups, there are instances of dropped frames and delayed rendering during intense combat scenes involving explosions, these issues generally don’t disrupt or affect battle sequences.
In such exhilarating moments when formidable opponents like Frieza unleash a Death Ball, sending the entire battlefield into oblivion, it’s only natural for Sparking Zero to pause and gather my thoughts amidst the pandemonium.
A feast for the eyes and ears
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but credit the stunning animation style and ingenious design decisions behind Dragon Ball Sparking Zero for creating an unforgettable gaming adventure that truly captivates me!
This seamlessly blends cinematic aspects, interactive gameplay, and destructive sequences, all within a vivid and verdant ambiance. Above all, it effectively embodies the spirit that defines an exceptional Dragon Ball game.
In line with a typical Budokai title, destruction is significantly prominent in the fighting, and the level of detail is simply astonishing.
Starting a fight in pristine attire as Goku, not a single blemish on his physical form, you’d initially think he’s invincible. However, after receiving some heavy blows from Vegeta and a devastating Final Flash to the face, Goku’s garment gets ripped off, leaving him hunched over with clear signs of pain etched across his expression.
Furthermore, I’d like to bring up the impressive audio design in Sparking Zero. From the echo of your character zooming across the battlefield, the zipping sound of a Ki-blast, to the solid impact of a punch, every element of Sparking Zero’s audio is nothing short of brilliant.
An episodic story mode to keep you hooked
In contrast to many other Dragon Ball games, which let players revisit beloved scenes from the anime and share in the ups and downs of Goku and Gohan’s adventure, Sparking Zero pushes the boundaries even more, making its Episode game mode particularly noteworthy.
In Sparking Zero’s story mode, various characters such as Goku, Piccolo, Gohan, Vegeta, and others all have their own unique storylines. Although they share a common structure, these stories unfold differently depending on the character you choose. They progress from Saga to Saga, similar to the anime, but each character experiences distinct battles and focal points.
Have you ever pondered how the Dragon Ball tale might unfold if some key instances were changed or subtly varied? That’s exactly what Sparking Zero offers!
In certain instances within the game, players encounter decisions that can either follow the narrative path of the anime or branch off into an entirely new direction. Additionally, the game offers opportunities for revisiting these distinct storylines, which we refer to as “Sparking Zero Episodes.
In addition to providing distinct battle encounters, the creators have incorporated fully-voiced animations and cinematics, making it seem as though you’ve stepped into a separate animated universe.
The most epic Dragon Ball roster of all time
In a delightfully engaging manner, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero boasts an extensive array of characters to select from, each with their own distinct attributes, customizable wardrobes, voice clips, and numerous other features. The sheer creativity and effort invested in crafting this game’s roster is nothing short of enchanting.
After 17 years since the previous Budokai game, it wasn’t strictly necessary for them to put in so much effort to make this new version feel like a suitable follow-up. Even though familiar faces such as Goku, Gohan, Vegeta, Trunks, Piccolo, Cell, and Frieza are among the playable characters, they’ve also added characters from the GT and Super Sagas to expand the roster.
Sparking Zero has over 180 characters, each with a completely different set of skills, fighting techniques, and animations.
Occasionally, sorting through multiple iterations of Goku and Vegeta can feel monotonous, especially when you’re seeking unique characters. Yet, it’s exciting to play with vintage characters from GT and engage in intense fights against powerful figures from more recent story arcs.
Cosmetics that can be unlocked simply by playing the game
Upon diving into Sparking Zero, among my initial actions was exploring the customization and cosmetic options. I had been concerned that developers might restrict outfit choices and heavily emphasize microtransactions, but fortunately, this isn’t true in this game.
You don’t necessarily have to spend actual cash to obtain some fresh, trendy equipment; instead, simply complete the Episode mode, join some World Tournaments, or engage in online matches to accumulate Zeni, which you can then use to buy anything you desire.
In this game, the well-developed in-game marketplace offers a variety of items for purchase, including costumes, dialogue options, character tokens, skill enhancements, and more aesthetic elements. This makes personalizing your characters effortless and enjoyable.
Budokai Tenkaichi is back and better than ever
Under the weight of expectations, Bandai Namco has managed to deliver yet again with Sparking Zero. It’s a brilliant blend that honors the classic aspects of the series that have endeared it to fans over the years.
Furthermore, Sparking Zero offers a plethora of fresh features, mechanisms, gameplay modes, and beyond, leaving even die-hard Bukoai Tenkaichi enthusiasts in a state of excitement and astonishment.
During our review, the game’s online multiplayer features weren’t accessible due to server downtime most of the time. Therefore, we can’t give a definitive rating just yet as we haven’t tested this essential aspect personally and verified its quality.
We’ll be sure to update you here in the coming days with a final score for Sparking Zero.
This review is a work in progress and will be updated with more information in the coming days.
Reviewed on PS5
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2024-10-07 17:26