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Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Review - A Nostalgic Punch to the Gut
Alright, folks, it’s time to talk about something that’s been on my mind ever since I got my hands on Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Now, let me take you back to the good ol' days—“Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.” Remember that? The crazy-fast fights, the ridiculously huge character roster, and the chaotic, explosive battles? Yeah, that game had us all glued to our controllers, and fans have been dreaming about a return to that glorious 3D arena-style combat ever since.
Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 gameplay memories
Well, guess what? After 17 freaking years, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is here to scratch that itch. But before you go Super Saiyan with excitement, let me break it down for you—because, as much as I wanted this game to be the second coming of Budokai Tenkaichi, it’s got a few issues that’ll have you raising an eyebrow, or maybe even pulling a Vegeta and screaming out of sheer frustration.
The Battle System: Fast, Fun… and Repetitive
Let’s start with the combat, because that’s what we’re all here for, right? The game sticks to the classic Tenkaichi formula—open arenas, destructible environments, and super fast-paced action. You’ve got your basic punches, kicks, and Ki blasts, along with the iconic moves we all know and love. Goku’s Kamehameha? Check. Vegeta’s Final Flash? Oh, it’s there. Spirit Bomb? Oh yeah, baby. And let’s not forget the flashy Ultra Instinct Kamehameha that’ll have you feeling like you just unlocked the power of the gods.
Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO open arena combat
But here’s the thing: while the combat looks and feels exciting at first, it doesn’t take long before you realize something’s off. I mean, sure, you can spam attacks and pull off some crazy-looking moves, but the game quickly devolves into a button-mashing fest. Seriously, it’s like the game is begging you to use the same combo over and over again. Punch, punch, charge Ki, rinse, repeat. It’s like the game is stuck in this endless loop, and it gets old real fast.
Button mashing combat in Sparking ZERO
I can’t tell you how many times I found myself thinking, “Is that it? Is this all the game has to offer?” Don’t get me wrong—those first few fights are exhilarating, especially when the screen lights up with explosions and the camera zooms in for those dramatic cutscenes during special moves. But after a while, the excitement fades, and it starts feeling like you’re just going through the motions.
Character Roster: Quantity Over Quality
Now, Sparking! ZERO boasts a huge roster—181 characters, to be exact. That’s a crazy number, right? I mean, who wouldn’t want to pick from such a massive lineup? But here’s where things start to get a little disappointing. Sure, there are a ton of characters, but many of those slots are filled with different versions of the same character.
Let me break it down for you: You’ve got Goku from Dragon Ball Z, Goku from Dragon Ball Super, Goku as a Super Saiyan, Goku as Super Saiyan Blue, and Ultra Instinct Goku. You get the picture. It’s a whole lot of Goku (and Vegeta, and others), but not much variety in how they actually play. Sure, they’ve got different moves and transformations, but the gameplay doesn’t change much between them. After a while, it feels like you’re just switching costumes rather than getting a fresh new character to master.
Character roster selection in Sparking ZERO
I couldn’t help but feel like the roster was padded out with these alternate versions, and while it’s cool to see all the different forms of our favorite characters, I wish there was more variety in how they played. It’s like the game is trying to be this massive celebration of Dragon Ball history, but it kind of misses the mark when it comes to making each character feel unique.
Visuals: A Feast for the Eyes, but Stiff at Times
Okay, let’s talk about the graphics, because Sparking! ZERO is definitely a pretty game. The characters look fantastic, and the environments are vibrant and detailed. When you’re in the heat of battle, the game does a great job of capturing that high-energy, over-the-top action we all love from the anime. The special moves are flashy as hell, with dramatic cutscenes that really make you feel the power behind each attack.
Goku performing Kamehameha in Sparking ZERO
But—and there’s always a “but,” isn’t there?—the animations can feel a bit stiff at times, especially during the in-game cutscenes. You know those moments where the camera zooms in on a character’s face and you’re expecting some epic dialogue or intense stare-down? Yeah, those moments sometimes feel a little awkward. The character models just don’t move as fluidly as you’d hope, and it kind of takes you out of the moment. It’s not enough to ruin the experience, but it’s definitely noticeable.
And while we’re on the subject of visuals, let’s talk about the environments. They’re destructible, which is awesome, but they don’t always feel alive. You can blow up mountains and send your opponent crashing through buildings, but the stages themselves feel a little… empty. I mean, I get it—this is a fighting game, so the focus is on the characters and the combat, but it would’ve been nice to see a little more life in the backgrounds.
Episode Battle Mode: A Mixed Bag of Fun and Frustration
Sparking! ZERO’s main single-player mode is called “Episode Battle,” and it essentially lets you relive the major story arcs from the Dragon Ball series. You’ll be fighting key battles from the show, taking on the roles of different characters as you progress through the story. Sounds great, right? Well, yes and no.
On the one hand, it’s really cool to experience these iconic moments from a new perspective. You get to play as different characters, see the story unfold, and even make some choices that can change the outcome of certain battles. It’s a nice twist on the familiar Dragon Ball narrative, and for long-time fans like myself, it’s a blast to revisit these epic battles.
Episode Battle Mode story cutscenes
But—and this is a big “but”—the Episode Battle mode suffers from some serious pacing issues. The cutscenes (especially the repetitive ones) start to drag after a while, and the difficulty spikes are brutal. One minute you’re breezing through a fight, and the next you’re getting your butt handed to you by an overpowered enemy. It’s frustrating, to say the least, and it really disrupts the flow of the game. There were a few times where I had to put the controller down and take a breather because I was that close to throwing it across the room.
Online Play: Hit or Miss, but Mostly Miss
Sparking! ZERO has online multiplayer, which is always a plus in my book. I love the idea of going head-to-head with other players, testing my skills, and showing off my favorite characters. But here’s the thing—the online experience is a bit of a mess.
First of all, during pre-launch testing, there were tons of issues with connecting to matches. I’m talking about constant disconnects, long wait times, and some pretty serious lag. Now, to be fair, this was before the game’s official launch, so I’m hoping they’ve ironed out some of these issues by now. But even so, it’s not a great first impression when you’re trying to jump into a match and you spend more time waiting in matchmaking than actually fighting.
Online multiplayer interface or match
When you do manage to get into a match, the experience is… okay. The fights themselves are fun, but there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking here. It’s pretty much the same experience as the single-player mode, just with a human opponent. There’s also a “custom battle” mode where you can create your own scenarios with predetermined dialogue and settings, but it’s super limited in terms of creative freedom. You’re not going to be crafting any epic, fan-made storylines here, which is a bummer.
Custom battle mode setup with cutscenes
Final Thoughts: A Nostalgic Trip with Some Serious Bumps Along the Way
So, where do I land on Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO? Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a fun, nostalgic trip back to the days of Budokai Tenkaichi, and the combat—while repetitive—does capture that fast-paced, high-energy feel we all love from the Dragon Ball series. The visuals are stunning (for the most part), and the sheer number of characters is impressive, even if many of them are just different versions of the same few characters.
But on the other hand, the game’s repetitive combat, stiff animations, frustrating difficulty spikes, and lackluster online play really hold it back. It’s one of those games that’s fun for a while, but it doesn’t quite have the depth or polish to keep you coming back for more.
If you’re a die-hard Dragon Ball fan like me, you’ll probably enjoy Sparking! ZERO for what it is—a nostalgic nod to one of the best Dragon Ball games of all time. But if you’re looking for a fighting game with more depth and variety, you might find yourself getting bored after a few hours.
So, should you play it? If you’ve got a soft spot for Budokai Tenkaichi and want to relive those glory days, then yeah, give it a shot. But if you’re expecting a groundbreaking, next-level Dragon Ball experience, you might want to temper your expectations.
For me, it’s a love-hate relationship. I wanted to love it, really did, but it just didn’t quite live up to the hype. Let me know what you guys think in the comments—am I being too harsh, or did you feel the same way?
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