Our VerdictDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
Our VerdictDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
Our Verdict
Our Verdict
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
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As someone who grew up with the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai trilogy and merely dabbled in the later Budokai Tenkaichi games, I’ll admit that I was bitter when I first heard aboutDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. In my eyes the inferior trilogy of PS2 games was being brought back, and all I could do was sit and watch. And watch I did, as Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero soared in on a flying nimbus straight to the top of the Dragon Ball game totem pole.
Need to knowWhat is it?A new entry in the Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi arena fighter seriesExpect To Pay?£55 | $70Developer:Spike ChunsoftPublisher:Bandai NamcoReviewed on:RTX 3060Ti, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB RAMMultiplayer?YesSteam Deck:UnknownLink:Steam
Need to know
What is it?A new entry in the Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi arena fighter seriesExpect To Pay?£55 | $70Developer:Spike ChunsoftPublisher:Bandai NamcoReviewed on:RTX 3060Ti, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB RAMMultiplayer?YesSteam Deck:UnknownLink:Steam
What is it?A new entry in the Dragon Ball Budokai Tenkaichi arena fighter seriesExpect To Pay?£55 | $70Developer:Spike ChunsoftPublisher:Bandai NamcoReviewed on:RTX 3060Ti, AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, 16GB RAMMultiplayer?YesSteam Deck:UnknownLink:Steam
While Dragon Ball games were mainly 2D fighters up through Budokai, Tenkaichi (aka Sparking in Japan) was the first game to really depict the fights like the anime series, turning the arena into an open zone rather than a typical fighting game side-on view. This meant there was an entire new layer to the combat as you flew around dealing with altitude and fully 3D movement, positioning, and a lot of punching each other through mountains
In the 17 years since Tenkaichi 3, countless Dragon Ball games have attempted to recapture this same essence. None of them have. They’ve ranged from okay to terrible. Thankfully, Sparking! Zero this isn’t a Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 moment; it nails the feeling of those PS2 classics. I felt right at home playing it all day, like I was 12 again and only taking breaks to watch a Vegeta x Papa Roach Last Resort AMV on YouTube.
The combat is as bonkers as it’s ever been. While not deep in the way of Street Fighter or Tekken—you won’t be memorising lengthy combo inputs or attack frame data and will mostly be mashing square and triangle—itismechanically complex. As you fight you’ll need to deal with movement, teleporting, charging up your ki, and triggering transformations. Once I got into that flow it was hard to resist getting hyped up as I smacked around series villain Frieza and blasted him to bits with the kind of ultimate move that rewarded me with a flashy, over-the-top animation.
It’s a lot to take in, sometimes even overwhelming, and Sparking! Zero’s tutorial isn’t the most intuitive. There is a menu full of deeper training scenarios, but using it is a pain as you need to manually exit each lesson and navigate to the next. All the info is in there, but it could’ve been presented in a far more engaging way that didn’t add tedium to an already steep learning curve. Menu navigation in general is a bit rough. While the main menu’s animations—which see Goku fly about to visit groups of characters—are a cute detail, they add a delay between transitions.And the character select screen can be a nightmare to navigate.
Image1of5Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Image1of5Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Image1of5
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Hey it’s him! Goku. The original and the best.(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Fusion characters are, of course, represented(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
A character’s strength is in-line with the series(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Death, taxes, Krillin being blown up(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The Ginyu Force are here in all of their glory(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The story mode lets you follow one of eight fighters through Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super (covering the main four arcs and canon films from Z, and only the later Future Trunks / Tournament of Power Arcs from Super). Outside of Goku these aren’t all-encompassing (Gohan starts at the Cell saga and others only appear for some arcs). You know what to expect if you’ve seen the show or played the games before, but Sparking! Zero’s take shine with the inclusion of what-if scenarios instead of staid retellings.
Bonus episodes allow you to take on curated challenges like Mr. Satan taking on all the (canonically vastly more powerful) Z Fighters. There are 30 pre-made ones, but you’re able to go in and create your own scenarios and post them online. While there are limitations, like being relegated to slotting words into pre-written sentences instead of writing your own dialogue, it’s a cool little system whose full potential won’t be seen for a while.
Image1of8You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Image1of8You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Image1of8
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can destroy the many fighting arenas(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
The game is a visual feast when beams are involved(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Sparking! Episodes offer unique alternate scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball’s unique roster of weirdos are all accounted for(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can take up to five fighters into the ring(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Episode creator allows for some unique scenarios(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Giant characters aren’t exempt from the roster of fighters(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
You can shift into first-person during some cutscenes(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Despite the frenetic pace of battles, and the large arenas, the game ran perfectly at 1440p/60fps on high settings for me and feels extremely well optimised. Although I haven’t been able to get the game to launch on Steam Deck at all, hopefully something that gets sorted with the day one patch. I’ve also only been able to test the online very briefly, but so far it seems to hold up well in the same region, although it did struggle at times.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the new benchmark for Dragon Ball games. It captures the magic of the original Tenkaichi games perfectly, while the fresh approach to the well-worn story and its deep roster of characters serve as the ultimate celebration of Akira Toriyama’s classic (at least for now). When it’s the pure Dragon Ball millions know and love, it’s great; when it dabbles in what ifs with the Sparking Episodes, Zero really excels.
The Verdict80Read our review policyDragon Ball: Sparking! ZeroDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
The Verdict
The Verdict
80Read our review policyDragon Ball: Sparking! ZeroDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
80Read our review policy
80
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZeroDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the best Dragon Ball game we’ve had since the PS2 and a generous love letter to Toriyama’s classic series.
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