Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Orange, Orange, Orange; Fuse, Fuse, Fuse,
Sparkle, Sparkle, Sparkle; Buus, Buus, Buus,
Together, Forever; Vegeta and Heather!
Best Friends!
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero hit stores on October 11, 2024. This game is the newest part of the Dragon Ball fighting series, created by Spike Chunsoft and released by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It's like a follow-up to the Budokai Tenkaichi series, aiming to provide a huge and absorbing experience for both old fans and new players.
Sparking! Zero sticks to its roots by offering fast-paced 3D battles that reflect the anime's lively combat. New features include mid-air dashing and deflecting beam attacks, making fights deeper and more thrilling. Players can pull off famous moves like beam struggles and rush attacks. Plus, the environments can be smashed up, adding a realistic touch to the fights.
Combat is easy to get into, letting players do combos without much fuss, but it also has layers of complexity. You need to manage ki (energy), do transformations, and master counters and teleportation, which call for smart planning and perfect timing. However, some critics think the enemy AI can be too simple, leading to repetitive tactics.
The game features a huge list of 182 characters from all over the Dragon Ball universe, including Dragon Ball Super and recent movies. This wide selection lets players recreate classic fights or think up their own matchups.
Sparking! Zero includes several game modes to fit different playstyles:
- Episode Battle: A story mode revisiting key arcs from the Dragon Ball saga where you get to see events from different views, including those of famous villains.
- World Tournament: Compete in traditional martial arts tournaments to become the champion.
- Custom Mode: Create and customize your own characters, tweaking abilities and looks to make unique fighters.
Even with these features, some reviewers have pointed out that the variety in game modes is limited, and the online features are not advanced.
Using Unreal Engine 5, Sparking! Zero offers great visuals that faithfully mirror the anime’s art style. Character models are detailed, and special effects during battles are bright and striking. The game’s presentation has been praised for being visually stunning, effectively bringing the Dragon Ball world to life.
When it came out, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero got mostly positive reviews, scoring 83 on Metacritic for its Xbox version. Critics loved its faithful take on the source material and the large amount of content. Still, some mentioned issues with menu navigation and the tutorial system's clarity.
Sales-wise, the game was a huge hit, selling over 3 million copies within the first 24 hours. It also set a record for the most concurrent players in a paid fighting game on PC, peaking at 122,554 players.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a strong entry in the franchise, offering a nostalgic yet fresh experience for both long-time fans and new players. With its large character roster, faithful combat mechanics, and amazing visuals, it’s a must-play for series fans, even though the game mode variety and AI complexity could use some work.
