As a gamer with a heart full of nostalgia for the golden days of Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi, I must say that my enthusiasm for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has been rekindled like never before. The roster alone is enough to make any DBZ fan drool, from Yajirobe to Broly and everyone in between.
I have very fond memories of the early days of Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi, which Sparking! Zero is said to be part of, but I also haven’t played many arena fighters that felt as good as Tenkaichi. I’ve had cautious optimism for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, but Bandai Namco went pretty far in convincing me I have little to be worried about. Not only is it shaping up to be a game no one will just be able to mash through, but it’s feeling like a very well put-together gallery of Dragon Ball characters and moments, as well as a stage for all sorts of dream battles.
A regular Tournament of Power
With great joy, I found that Bandai Namco’s latest version of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero showcased almost all the characters the game will offer, ranging from Yajirobe and Frieza’s minion Cui to Syn Shenron and Broly, with everyone in between. Similar to other Dragon Ball arena fighting games, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero features characters soaring over a battlefield, exchanging various martial arts and energy attacks. Each character possesses several auto-combos, ordinary skills and attacks that draw from a limited Ki gauge, and a super attack which can be unleashed when fully charged and in the special Sparking state. I’ll share more details about that later on.
The action unfolded swiftly yet beautifully, as I matched rivals head-to-head. I enjoyed reenacting iconic battles such as Goku versus Frieza on Namek, Future Trunks against Vegeta in their Cell Games preparation, and even the initial encounter between Kid Goku and Yajirobe. I also staged some amusingly one-sided skirmishes like Beerus versus Babidi, Fused Zamasu versus Mr. Satan, and Cui versus Super Broly. Though these were merely simulations, the dialogue, potential final blows with specific characters and moves, and additional features made them feel authentic and engaging. Clothing damage during fights even occurred, so by the end of the Goku/Frieza battle, Goku was as battered as he was at the conclusion of the anime. It was thrilling to observe such meticulous attention to detail throughout.
I had the opportunity to experiment with some unique character scenarios for Goku in the Saiyan saga and Frieza during the Namek saga. This is known as Sparking! Zero’s story mode, but there’s a fascinating twist – you can deviate from the traditional canon storyline. In Goku’s scenario, you could decide whether to include Piccolo in the fight against Raditz or let him battle alone. Frieza’s tale presents an alternative outcome if he had managed to defeat Goku on Namek. These variations add excitement and promise a thrilling exploration of these characters.
Previously, I noted that this isn’t a fight you can rush through without thought. This is particularly challenging with the CPU set on hard mode. The game offers dodge and block mechanics where you can evade your opponent’s attacks and retaliate with counters, as well as specific combo sequences that are effective against different enemies based on their size. A significant aspect of these battles is also timing your power-ups to unleash your character’s strongest moves. Frequently, opponents would knock me down, then try to power up quickly to deliver powerful attacks like Goku’s Spirit Bomb or Vegeta’s Final Flash. When you fully power up, you enter the Sparking State and can use these devastating moves to overpower your enemy, making each fight a struggle of landing blows and charging up for those crucial moments.
Additionally, I found great enjoyment in testing the CPU on challenging modes, as it performed better than expected. Watching it function was intriguing, too. In one matchup, I pitted Gohan, Krillin, Piccolo, Vegeta, and Goku against the Ginyu Force in a team battle. Notably, the Ginyu Force has a unique team introduction, which I appreciate. However, it was also thrilling to see them engage in intense combat at the game’s highest difficulty level. This experience really highlighted the game’s visual beauty and the vast array of possibilities they’ve included, ensuring that creating your ideal Dragon Ball matches in Sparking! Zero will provide hours of enjoyable gameplay.
The spark of something magnificent
As a die-hard Dragon Ball enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement over Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. This isn’t just any anime arena battler; it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. The battles are tactically challenging yet satisfying, the characters and stages are visually stunning, and the diverse battle modes and systems promise an engaging experience that could easily consume fans for countless hours. With the game set to launch on October 10, 2024, we’re edging closer to the action. Keep a lookout for more updates and coverage as we countdown to the game’s release!
These observations stem from an early PlayStation 5 demo provided by the publisher. It’s been announced that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will be available for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and personal computers.
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2024-09-19 17:27