As a lifelong Dragon Ball fan, let me tell ya, I feel like a kid again with this game, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero! It’s been ages since I’ve played something that truly captures the essence of the series. From the action-packed battles to the creative freedom it offers, this game is a dream come true for any DBZ enthusiast!
As a kid of seven, Dragon Ball was the art that entered my life at just the right time, creating an indelible mark in my heart. It felt like it was tailor-made for me. I’d rush through my homework to catch its airing on Toonami, and I’d stay up past my bedtime on weekends to watch Dragon Ball Z: Uncut on Adult Swim. I even made a point to catch every single one of the straight-to-video movies, with Bojack Unbound being my personal favorite.
In a more casual and engaging manner, I could say: I absolutely mastered video games, especially the Legacy of Goku series on Game Boy Advance and the Budokai and Budokai Tenkaichi games on PS2. Dragon Ball was a significant part of my childhood, so much so that my dad, who was usually away due to his submarine service, bought me a Budokai game when I had the flu for two weeks as a pick-me-up. Fighting games have always been my passion, and growing up in arcades, Dragon Ball and its fighting game style were like a perfect fit.
Back From the Dead
For years, I’ve been yearning for a game similar to Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero, and let me tell you, the last installment in this series, Budokai Tenkaichi, was released back in 2007 – a time when I was just 17, still in high school. Now, at 34, with a Master’s Degree, a loving spouse, and residing in a new state, it feels like Budokai Tenkaichi 3 was nearly half my life ago. Yet, Sparking! Zero brings a sense of familiarity, but it’s not the same house I remember. Instead, it’s an upgraded version that surpasses my cherished memories.
In essence, Sparking Zero is an extensive game within the Sparking series. This game boasts a whopping 182 characters, tracing back through Dragon Ball’s rich history, encompassing everything from the original Dragon Ball to the latest Dragon Ball Super, and even including side stories like GT. Characters from every epoch of Dragon Ball are present here, along with movie characters, both canonical and non-canonical. Some characters also showcase their transformations. Upon glancing at the character selection screen, you’ll notice a multitude of Gokus. However, these aren’t identical characters; each one possesses unique combinations of Skill and Blast attacks, as well as exclusive combos. To fully utilize your team, it’s essential to master every single one of your characters.
Additionally, each character in Sparking! Zero possesses the ability to undergo transformations similar to those seen across Dragon Ball’s timeline, albeit not all at once. For example, Goku from the beginning of Z cannot achieve Super Saiyan 3, and Vegeta without a tail would not be able to perform the Fusion dance. However, if you select a character that fits within the appropriate era and it makes sense for them to undergo a fusion or transformation, they will. Essentially, your choice of character in Sparking! Zero is entirely up to you. You can opt to play alone if desired, or assemble a team of up to five characters. Moreover, starting with a pre-fused Kefla (Super Saiyan 2) might be an option, but it’s much more exciting to combine Caulifla and Kale and fuse them yourself!
I Need a Hero
One enjoyable aspect of Sparking! Zero is its disregard for concepts like “equilibrium” and “justice.” Instead, it focuses on portraying the characters’ power levels as accurately as possible from Dragon Ball. This implies that characters like Broly (in both Z and Super forms) are immense forces who could easily overpower someone like Krillin. Similarly, characters such as Frieza, Perfect Cell, and Beerus possess immense strength, while Yamcha might find himself in a crater if he chooses to fight them. This can lead to exciting matches, particularly when you manage to defeat a stronger opponent with your character.
If you’re skilled enough, you certainly can, and that’s where Sparking! Zero took me by surprise. Unlike most Arena fighters, which are not typically deep, Sparking! Zero is surprisingly complex, sometimes even feeling overwhelming at the start. To excel in a character, you must master their combos, skills, blasts, and transformations, and then the combos, skills, and blasts for each transformed version of the character as well. It’s quite a challenge!
Although Sparking! Zero offers an engaging gameplay experience, its intricacies lie primarily in the technical aspects. For instance, managing your ki is crucial as it governs when you can vanish, employ skills and blasts. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll need to grasp more complex tactics such as using Perception to instinctively dodge and retaliate against attacks (which could expose you to throws), knowing when and how to activate Sparking! Mode, understanding the concept of a Step-In Sway, mastering a Z-Counter, and so forth. The game requires keen reflexes and strategic knowledge of when and how to employ each tool effectively. As you start using High-Speed Evasion to outmaneuver opponents, win beam battles, and execute lengthy combos, the thrill is unparalleled. However, it demands quick responses and a deep understanding of your arsenal. Once you use Super Counter or a Sparking! Combo to clinch a close fight, you’ll be drawn in.
Every Frame a Panel
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I must admit that diving into the world of Sparking! Zero can be quite an undertaking, with its complex mechanics needing practice and application in actual matches. Yet, what sets this game apart from others is its wealth of opportunities for growth if one seeks it.
Which brings me to just how much stuff there is to do in Sparking! Zero. Silly as it sounds, it starts with the menus. Sparking! Zero nails Dragon Ball’s look and feel during matches, and like Dragon Ball FighterZ before it, you’d swear certain animations were ripped straight from the show or the manga. They look that good, and the attention to detail is there in matches, too, if two characters that have history are throwing down. And not just in a cool voice line way, but in a “this throw animation only happens if these two characters are fighting each other kind of way.” That rocks.
That same level of dedication carries over to Sparking! Zero’s menus. Navigating between menus means watching Goku fly or teleport to a new place full of other characters. Heading to Episode Mode or checking out the Custom Battles? You’ll be vibing with everyone at Bulma’s house. Getting ready to play the Tournament mode or just wanna fight? You’ll be chilling outside the World Martial Arts tournament. Wanna spend some time at the Gallery? Take a trip to Mr. Satan’s house to see him, Videl, and Majin Buu. Buying things at the shop? Pay Master Roshi and crew a visit at the Kame House. All the while, you’ll hear characters talking to each other or see them interact in the background.
Who Run the World? Girls
In Sparking! Zero, every scene unfolds within the Dragon Ball universe. Venture into the Gallery and eavesdrop on a lively conversation between Bulma, Chi-Chi, and Videl, discussing various character adaptations. Although it may seem trivial, these details significantly enhance Sparking! Zero’s appeal. The meticulousness is astounding, contributing to the overall atmosphere in an impressive manner. I found myself captivated by the Girl Talk segments within the Encyclopedia section of the Gallery and spent a good deal of time randomly selecting characters to listen to their discussions. I even called my wife over to share the experience with her. Such elements are seldom seen in today’s AAA games, making them all the more enjoyable for me.
Beyond that, there are several functions or modes. Wow, I must say, for those in the know, this game, Sparking! Zero, has a plethora of functions. To start your journey, you might want to head straight to Super Training, where you can familiarize yourself with all the capabilities it offers. Although it’s packed with information, the tutorial in Sparking! Zero is excellent. It provides clear explanations, demonstrates how things work, and allows you to easily redo a step if you make a mistake. The success of fighting games often hinges on their learning tools, and Sparking! Zero does not disappoint. Fortunately, the creators at Spike Chunsoft recognize this and have done an outstanding job in designing it.
After mastering the fundamentals, you’ll likely find yourself immersed in Episode Mode, a feature that takes you on a journey through the Dragon Ball saga from various character viewpoints such as Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, and some unexpected additions. These episodes can be quite lengthy but are made engaging by the brief animated or still scenes between missions. The presentation is what makes it work. With Whis, you have access to the entire Dragon Ball timeline, allowing you to delve into small sequences. It’s quite fascinating!
I Want You to Hit Me as Hard as You Can
The other cool thing about Episode Mode is the branching paths. Doing certain battles in certain ways — like say, defeating Android 18 really quickly as Vegeta or beating Frieza as Goku without the Spirit Bomb — open up cool, “What if?” scenarios. These are generally pretty hard to get because a lot of them boil down to “beat this character you’re just supposed to survive against fast”; you’ll probably have to come back after upgrading characters with the Capsules you can buy with the Zenni you’ll earn from playing the game, but it gives you a reason to play the story multiple times and some of these branches are pretty involved and quite long. I miss things like this in fighting game stories, and I’m glad Sparking! Zero is bringing this back.
The Episode Mode is quite impressive, however, it comes with certain issues. If you finish a battle but wish to replay it, you’ll need to navigate through subsequent scenes, reach the next fight, then quit and choose the battle again for a redo. It might seem trivial, but it can become cumbersome if your goal is to unlock an alternative pathway. Furthermore, the significant power disparities between you and your opponents can lead to some challenging difficulty spikes. Luckily, Sparking! Zero offers you the option to lower the difficulty when you find yourself being repeatedly knocked out in the Dragon Balls. Most of these difficulties can be managed by using better capsules or simply improving your skills, but it can be tough during the initial stages of learning.
Thankfully, there’s an abundance of activities available for you to explore. You can participate in multiple competitions, choosing from established rulesets such as the Tournament of Power (where flying isn’t allowed, and you’re eliminated if you leave the arena) or creating your own unique sets of rules. There are single-player matches against the CPU, as well as multiplayer battles with another player. However, it’s odd that player versus player matches can only take place on the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stage, and not anywhere else, which can be disappointing.
Kill Your Friends, Guilt-Free
Among the most exciting features are Bonus and Custom Battles, offering engaging play experiences that allow you to create your own scenarios. These include unique win conditions, character dialogues, and more. There are pre-made Bonus Battles for those not feeling overly imaginative, but if you’re creative, this game provides plenty of opportunities. In fact, it mirrors the creativity of Super Mario Maker but for Dragon Ball. Any Custom Battle you design and complete can be shared online, giving others a chance to play your creation. The tutorial is comprehensive, guiding you through each step early on, making it easy for everyone, whether you want to cause trouble for others with your Dragon Ball-themed creations or simply have fun. Overall, I appreciate that Sparking! Zero encourages creativity and allows players to explore their imagination.
Performing various tasks will fulfill challenges for Zen-Oh and Whis, offering rewards such as Zenni, titles, and even Dragon Balls, which can grant additional Zenni, titles, characters, etc. Regardless of how you engage in Sparking! Zero, you’re consistently moving forward towards the next goal, and that’s fantastic!
[Insert Goku Power-Up Scream Here]
Absolutely, the game offers online play, but I hadn’t had a chance to try it out before its early access launch. Fingers crossed that it’s enjoyable! If not, there’s always something to do if you’re playing by yourself. As for your concerns about repetitive overpowered characters in multiplayer, rest assured. The game uses a point system to limit team compositions; the more powerful a character is, the higher the points they require. You can certainly utilize those strong characters, but you won’t be able to field many of them simultaneously.
I ended my time with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero much the same way I started it: really excited to play more of it. I’ve already dumped a lot of time into Sparking! Zero, but there’s still a lot more to see. I have more alternate paths to complete, more costumes to unlock, plenty of other mechanics to master, more Capsules to play with, new teams to build… I could be here for a while, now that I think about it. The greatest compliment I can pay to a game is to say that I want to keep playing it after I’m done covering it. I want to keep playing Sparking! Zero. It’s been a long, long time coming, but Sparking! Zero is worth the wait. That little kid who grew up loving Dragon Ball would love that. I’m really happy for him.
As a passionate fan, I’ve had the privilege of getting an early sneak peek at Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero thanks to the publisher. Mark your calendars for October 10th, 2024, as this exhilarating game is set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC!
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2024-10-08 03:28