Trying to list all of the Dragon Ball titles that have come and gone over the years is virtually impossible, because with roots stretching back to the ’80s, there’s no doubt that the series has been a success for were the ones who wanted to have control of Goku’s company. Now the time has come for a new installment, with the adventure called Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, and once again there are plenty of epic battles and great fan service.
However, I first have to admit that I’m not the biggest Dragon Ball fan. Because although there are some who have seen and experienced everything in the series in question, my history with the franchise is mainly shaped by reading the manga. So I don’t know all the details of the brand’s intricate structure, but most of all I have a nostalgic love and respect for the craftsmanship that has been created over the years. Therefore, this review may not be intended for those looking for an in-depth analysis and comparison with previous titles (or representation of the series in other media), but rather for those with an interest in the brand and a fondness for the games of have fights in general.
You might think that Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero would be a reinterpretation within the Dragon Ball universe, but in reality it is a sequel to 2007’s Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 and therefore there are some differences from other similar games with the name Dragon Ball. One of these Differences compared to the relatively new Dragon Ball FighterZ, for example, are that the camera is located directly behind your character’s shoulder, creating a more classic third-person feel than viewing the entire level from the side. One could argue that this adds more immersion to each battle, but it also comes at the cost of the controls not feeling as precise as in more traditional fighting games.
Advertising:
It’s not entirely accurate to call this a fighting game, as it feels more like an action game that’s all about providing the most authentic Dragon Ball experience possible, with the character controlled through three dimensions rather than two. It has advantages and disadvantages. For example, positioning yourself on a battlefield and trying to withstand your opponent’s attacks can sometimes feel a bit clumsy, at least if you’re used to the pinpoint precision found in other titles in the fighting genre. However, the experience improves and the ability to move freely up and down gives the film a sense of grandeur that fits perfectly with the source material. It truly feels like you’re in the middle of an epic battle between Goku and Vegeta as they fight across the screen, and every punch and kick brings an added sense of weight while still being entertaining to watch see the opponent being thrown from a great height onto the ground.
The expanded environments also focus more on destruction, and while it’s not something that breaks new ground, it is certainly possible to jump-kick the enemy through multiple levels of the environment, further enhancing the experience. However, these obstacles can also hinder you as a player as you can easily get stuck in the environment if you are not careful. Since the game is also quite challenging, it can be a little frustrating when you feel like your opponent is on the back foot, only to be defeated by a poorly dodged attack that you missed from behind.
Advertising:
Dragon Ball: Sparks! Zero Otherwise offers a fantastic presentation where the cartoon style shines from the first frame to the last. It really feels like you’re stepping into an elaborate episode of the series, and when you add in the ability to switch between English and Japanese, you can tailor the experience exactly how you want it. This is probably most evident during the game’s single-player campaign (or episodic mini-campaign, if you want to be picky), where we take on the roles of eight fighters in a coherent story. Everything from Goku to Frieza himself can be controlled through various stages, and these can be experienced in any order you wish without ruining your progress in another character’s story.
Additionally, there is also a connected multiplayer mode where you can test your skills against others, and you can choose whether you want to play more casually or take on the more challenging “ranked mode”. In the leaderboard, your skills affect your ranking and the opponents you may face. If you have a stubbornly competitive mentality, this is where you need to be obvious. Additionally, you can also play with a friend in split screen, although I don’t recommend this as the speed of the game doesn’t work well on a smaller screen. Additionally, local multiplayer currently appears to be limited to a single, meager map, and it’s clear that the developer hasn’t made it work to the extent we would have liked.
Otherwise, the wealth of content is quite remarkable, as there is something for all fans. This pack includes a whopping 182 character variants, and since each variant of a character counts as a unique fighter (with some unique abilities), you can be exactly the character you want to be without having to compromise on anything else.
In short: Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero seems to be a game made primarily for fans. It’s bursting with fan service and the amount of content and characters shows that the developer wants to satisfy the needs of as many people as possible. This makes the gameplay a bit patchy, as this otherwise competent action game sometimes struggles in practice. However, there are only a handful of better alternatives for seeing Goku and the Z Fighters gang in a virtual context, and even if my final rating is “only” 7 out of 10, I can certainly imagine that hardcore fans Followers of the franchise could see it in a more celebrated form. If you like Dragon Ball, you should definitely check out Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. You won’t be disappointed.
