Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is the long-awaited continuation of the Sparking! & Budokai Tenkaichi series from Namco Bandai Games, a 3D fighter with a roster of 182 Dragon Ball characters. It features arenas, training, story mode, what-if storylines, online tournaments, and more! Unleash the fighting spirit within you and take this legendary gameplay to a whole new level as the battle rages on. This review will break down this content, discuss the game, and share my overall thoughts at the end. This is NOT a spoiler-free review.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokia Tenkaichi is a series of fighting games based on the Dragon Ball series that have been coming out since 2005 on the PS2, with a 13-year gap between the last game and this one. Announced in 2023, Sparking! ZERO has had major hype behind it, marketed character announcements well, and created an incredible Collectors Edition. It’s currently available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Certain versions of characters are only available with the Deluxe Edition and up or are available for individual purchase. 

As you start the game you’ll be able to see which characters you have access to right away and the opportunity to train/practice combos. There are A LOT of things to learn though, so take advantage of the thorough training arenas to gain familiarity with the characters and abilities. Once you’re ready, you can jump into Episode Battle, Custom Battle, or Local Multiplayer. Episode Battle allows you to choose among 8 characters (Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Goku Black, Frieza, and Jiren) and play out the story from their perspective. Custom Battle allows you to create your own story and scenarios with characters, playing out what-if scenarios and unlocking new challenges. Local Multiplayer is available within the Hyperbolic Time Chamber so you can challenge friends or others around the globe to test your skills! There are also other things to do, like utilize the dragon balls or master different techniques for each character.

With so much to do the adventure never really ends and you can explore every possible outcome or take your skills to the arena and see how high you can rank. Many online players are not using the strongest characters, but relying on sheer skills alone so be sure you’re confident with the team you pick AND familiar with the other characters’ abilities. In order to unlock all the characters though, you have to go through the story mode, complete challenges, or get them with the Dragon Balls. It’s worth it though to be able to utilize your favorites or do combo attacks, and of course fusions! 

Since it’s a fighting game, the gameplay is fairly straightforward with the option to select from modern or classic controls. It’s recommended for newer players to use modern controls, but those who used to play Tenkaichi may feel more comfortable with the classic controls. It is extremely fast-paced though, as the 3D element forces you to track your opponent’s movements beyond forward and back. The area around you also reacts to your battles, being destroyed, crushed, or altered as you attack and hit the ground. This detail adds to the depth of the game and the fighting experience. 

Overall, this is an incredible game. It has so much potential for hardcore fighters and so much room to learn for newer players, a balance that can be hard to achieve in a fighting game. Getting to play as beloved characters and really diving into the what-if scenarios were my favorite aspects of the games, even though I’m no good at fighting games. If you’re a fan of any version of Dragon Ball, fighting games, or generally curious about this game, you for sure should check it out and practice those fighting skills!

Fun fact! The Sparking! in the title references the last word in the “Cha-La Head-Cha-La” song from Dragon Ball Z, but was titled Budokai Tenkaichi or Tenkaichi Budokai in North America and is not technically a continuation of that series, but directly related due to the name differences. 

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