Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review - A Flicker of Fun Amidst Familiarity

It’s been a long time—17 years, to be exact—since Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 brought its intense 3D fighting to consoles. Fans have been eager for a revival, and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero aims to deliver just that. This new entry introduces an exciting story arc from Dragon Ball Super, a series that added depth to the franchise starting in 2013. While the familiar Tenkaichi-style battles provide plenty of adrenaline, the overall experience feels shallow, marred by repetition and limited game modes.

Sparking Zero brings players back to the beloved Tenkaichi format, where battles unfold in open arenas filled with destructible environments like buildings, cliffs, and rocks. Players can unleash a mix of physical strikes and powerful ki attacks, showcasing iconic moves such as the Kamehameha, Final Flash, and Spirit Bomb.

One of the standout features of Sparking Zero is its impressive visual style. The graphics are vibrant, and the animations during special attacks are stunning, reminiscent of the anime itself. For instance, when performing Ultra Instinct Goku's Point-Blank Kamehameha, the cutscene is beautifully rendered, making the final moments of a match incredibly satisfying.

However, as exhilarating as the combat starts, it soon falls into a predictable pattern. Each character has a basic control scheme that allows for close-range attacks, ki blasts, and special moves, but these controls become repetitive quickly. Most battles devolve into button-mashing contests, where players unleash a few hits, charge their ki, and repeat until they win. While the energy of the fights captures the essence of the anime, those seeking a more complex fighting experience may find it lacking.

The single-player mode, Episode Battle, follows a character through key story arcs, complete with cutscenes between fights. Unfortunately, while the battles are fun, the cutscenes often feel repetitive and lack depth. The dialogue consists of brief exchanges that lead right back into combat, which can get old quickly. Additionally, some boss fights spike in difficulty unexpectedly, creating frustrating moments. For example, facing Great Ape Vegeta can feel unfair when he seems to withstand endless attacks without flinching.

To add some variety, Episode Battles occasionally present choices that can alter the storyline slightly, like deciding whether Goku teams up with Piccolo or Krillin against Raditz. However, these alternate paths usually lead to only a couple of extra fights before returning to the main narrative, making them feel like temporary diversions rather than significant changes.

Sparking Zero boasts a massive roster of 181 characters, including many versions of Goku and other favorites. However, this number is inflated by multiple forms of the same character, such as Goku’s various transformations from Super Saiyan to Ultra Instinct. While having different forms represented is great, it also results in a bloated roster that can make choosing characters feel overwhelming and arbitrary.

In standard matches, players can engage in one-on-one battles or participate in online World Tournaments. However, the online experience can be hit or miss, with limited matchmaking seen during our pre-launch testing. While the few matches we experienced ran smoothly, the uncertainty of a robust player base on launch day raises concerns about the online experience.

Sparking Zero also includes a Custom Battles mode that allows players to create their own scenarios, complete with personalized cutscenes. While the idea is intriguing, the execution falls short due to restrictions on dialogue creation. Players must select from pre-written phrases, limiting the creativity and excitement of crafting unique battle stories.

Overall, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero succeeds in delivering the classic Budokai Tenkaichi experience with modern graphics and fast-paced combat. Yet, it struggles with the same issues that plagued previous titles: shallow gameplay, repetitive mechanics, and a lack of diverse game modes. The fighting is enjoyable and visually impressive, but the experience can grow stale quickly.

In conclusion, while Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero offers some fun moments and a nostalgic return to the franchise's roots, it ultimately fails to ignite the excitement fans were hoping for. The battles are exhilarating, but the repetitive nature and limited options leave much to be desired. For dedicated fans, there’s still enjoyment to be found, but the spark may not last as long as they’d like.