
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Spike Chunsoft and Bandai Namco Entertainment | Released on Oct 11, 2024
- 8.5
- GW Score
- 83
- Metacritic
- 96%
- Community
About Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the long-awaited revival of the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series, a 3D arena fighter that delivers the quintessential Dragon Ball power fantasy. Developed by Spike Chunsoft, this modern successor harnesses Unreal Engine 5 to craft cinematic battles of unprecedented scale, where every energy clash and earth-shattering punch feels ripped from the anime. It is a celebration of the entire franchise, boasting a staggering roster that spans from the original series to the latest galactic threats.
At its core, the gameplay is defined by high-flying, fluid combat where players master melee combos, devastating ki blasts, and dramatic ultimate attacks. The strategic Switch Out system allows for instant character changes mid-combo, enabling relentless team assaults, while managing the Skill Stock resource is crucial for unleashing transformations and finishing moves. A defining feature is the highly destructible environments, where combatants can be smashed through mountains and cities, dynamically altering the battlefield. This is all enhanced by the Sparking! mode, a powerful state that temporarily supercharges a character's abilities for explosive turnarounds.
Beyond its core fighting, the game is a vast playground for Dragon Ball enthusiasts. The Episode Battle mode revisits iconic sagas through eight character perspectives, complete with branching "what-if" scenarios, while the incredibly deep Custom Battle tools let players script their own epic encounters with unique triggers and dialogue. The expansive post-launch support, including the Super Limit-Breaking Neo DLC, introduced the Limit Breaker Journey, an RPG-like progression mode where characters grow stronger through stat allocation and equippable Battle Arts. This all unfolds across a massive collection of destructible stages, from the World Martial Arts Tournament arena to the stratosphere above Planet Vegeta.
Seventeen years after the last mainline entry, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero stands as the definitive arena fighting experience for the series. It is engineered for both competitive players seeking mastery of its deep mechanics and for fans who simply wish to recreate—or rewrite—the most spectacular moments from the lore. With its unparalleled roster, faithful spectacle, and robust suite of creation tools, it solidifies its legacy as the ultimate virtual sandbox for Saiyan-level showdowns.
Review Verdict
A spectacular, high-octane love letter to the franchise that prioritizes anime authenticity over competitive balance. While the learning curve is steep and menus are archaic, the roster and visuals are unmatched.
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Codex
44 entries2 linked- Battle SystemGuideA deep 3D arena combat system featuring 182 characters, technical defensive tools like Revenge Counters and Sonic Sways, and cinematic beam clashes.
- Sparking! ModeA powered-up state that enhances a character's abilities and unlocks their full combat potential.
- Skill StockA resource consumed to perform powerful skills, ultimate attacks, and mid-battle transformations.
- TransformationsThe ability for characters to change into more powerful forms mid-battle, altering their stats and move sets.
- Switch OutA mechanic allowing players to instantly swap characters mid-combo to extend assaults or recover health.
- Destructible EnvironmentsInteractive stages where buildings, mountains, and planets can be devastated by powerful attacks.
- Sparking! BoostA high-risk mechanic that consumes Skill Stock for a massive power surge in Sparking! Mode, followed by a temporary stat penalty.
- Chain BlastA team-based combo technique where players switch to a reserve ally to continue an assault with a follow-up blast after launching an opponent.
- DP BattleA strategic online team-building system where players must manage a 15-point budget to balance high-cost powerhouses with lower-cost support fighters.
- Revenge CounterA high-risk defensive mechanic that allows a player to interrupt an opponent's combo with a perfectly timed counter-attack.








