As a lifelong Dragon Ball fan who’s been through countless battles and transformations since Goku was just a Raditz-sized scrapper, I can confidently say that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has taken my breath away. It’s like stepping into a time machine back to the days of Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but with all the graphical prowess and polish of modern gaming.
The long-awaited Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series, famously called “Sparking!” in Japan, has returned after a 14-year break. Developer Spike Chunsoft brings a contemporary revamp while staying faithful to the original spirit of the games. With an astoundingly vast roster of characters and content, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a delightful tribute and dream come true for Dragon Ball enthusiasts, honoring the world crafted by Akira Toriyama.
In terms of gameplay, players who have enjoyed previous installments in the series will find this game quite familiar. To perform special attacks, you’ll need to accumulate ki, and for an even more powerful “Sparking” mode, you’ll need to fill your gauge. Mastering the teleport dodge is crucial for victory in combat. The main change lies in the presentation; the action is visually stunning, particularly on OLED screens, where special attacks showcase their might with energy beams that cover the entire screen. I was consistently impressed by the gameplay’s grandeur, and it stands out as the most visually impressive 3D Dragon Ball fighting game yet.
Refining its core fighting mechanics for an enjoyable experience, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s vast content becomes all the more enticing. With over 180 playable characters, each character’s distinct form (like Super Saiyan 2 Goku or Super Saiyan 3 Goku) can be chosen individually. Fans of the movies and Dragon Ball Super will appreciate the inclusion of deep-cut characters too. Furthermore, customization is plentiful, with numerous skins to unlock for your preferred characters, adding even more fun to the gameplay experience.
In this game, the primary single-player option is titled ‘Episodes,’ where you follow a character’s entire tale, albeit from Z and onwards, as the original Dragon Ball series has limited representation. There are eight distinct characters, some predictable and several intriguing selections, that enable you to reenact 21 different storylines. It’s an engaging mode, with numerous subtle details, such as the option to view cutscenes from a first-person perspective, which significantly enhances the emotional impact of Goku’s sacrifice when viewing Piccolo fire the Special Beam Cannon from that angle.
While exploring different game modes, you’ll encounter numerous tasks and objectives to accomplish, which could earn you diverse dragon balls. Summoning Shenron with these balls can result in exciting rewards like new characters or shop currency. These rewards vary from long-term achievements, such as winning 200 battles or using each character a certain number of times. Consequently, whether you’re battling online or playing casual matches, you’ll always feel like you’re moving forward towards a goal. This thoughtful feature encourages players to engage with the game more extensively and use a wider range of characters instead of sticking solely to their favorites.
It’s important to mention that there are several game modes in this series that mimic the rules of competitions, such as the Tournament of Power from Dragon Ball Super where you form a team and battle against others, or the World Tournament which incorporates ring-outs, so be cautious while fighting. Additionally, there are other modes available, and you can even design your own tournament with custom rule sets, giving you an opportunity to express your creativity.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Review: Final Verdict
Without skipping a beat, developer Spike Chunsoft has outdone themselves and crafted the finest installment yet in the Sparking! series – Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Packed with an abundance of characters, intricate nods to pop culture, and a rewarding single-player experience, this game is a treasure trove of content that’s made even more enjoyable by its engaging combat system. For longtime Dragon Ball enthusiasts, this 3D fighting game has been eagerly anticipated.
SCORE: 9/10
According to ComingSoon’s review guidelines, a score of 9 means “Exceptional” or “Outstanding”. Such entertainment stands as the cream of the crop in its category, representing the pinnacle that every artist strives to achieve.
Note: We received a PlayStation 5 code from the publisher for our Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero review. This review was conducted using version 1.003.003.
Read More
- Who Is Returning on Days of Our Lives This Week?
- When Is the Nintendo Switch 2 Announcement Date? Reports Explained
- Black Panther 3 Producer Gives Clarity on Denzel Washington’s Marvel Role
- Dead Man’s Wire Cast Adds Colman Domingo to Gus Van Sant’s Hostage Thriller
- Solana Leaves Competition In The Dust: Blazing Speed To Fuel Price Surge?
- ‘As long as audience believes they’re husband and wife’: Pragya Jaiswal on working with Nandamuri Balakrishna despite double age gap
- Who Is Kendrick Lamar’s Fiancee? Whitney Alford’s Kids & Relationship History
- Invincible Season 3 Reviews Deliver the Best Rotten Tomatoes Score Possible
- Telegram Rolls Out ‘Stars’ for In-App Purchases
- Godzilla Minus One 2 Update Given, Will Have Bigger Budget Than First Movie
2024-10-07 17:11