DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is an action-packed fighting game that immerses players in the iconic world of the Dragon Ball franchise.



Developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment in late 2024, the game serves as a spiritual successor to the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi series, which has been dormant for nearly two decades.

The thing this game excels the most is its stunning recreations of the famous Dragon Ball action moments from the history of the franchise, empowering players to engage in high-octane battles featuring a vast roster of characters from various Dragon Ball series, including Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, and even Dragon Ball GT!

The DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO game incorporates both familiar mechanics known from the past Budokai Tenkaichi series entries and innovative new features that aim to enhance the combat experience. This approach makes this combat title appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers.

One of the most popular features of this game is its extensive character roster, boasting an incredible 181 playable characters at launch, with additional characters available through gameplay or in-game currency.

This vast selection allows players to create unique team compositions, explore different fighting styles, engage in dynamic combat scenarios with a focus on speed and agility, learn all the tactical advantages of flashy combos, devastate opponents’ weak spots with special moves, and much more.



Featuring a full single-player campaign, extensive training and customization modes, as well as in-depth multiplayer offerings, this game immediately received worldwide acclaim from both players and media which enabled it to become not only one of the fastest-selling games in the series but also one of the fastest selling games in Bandai Namco history.

Main Features

Homage to Dragon Ball Universe – Re-live famous fights and events from the rich history of Dragon Ball anime and manga.

Extensive Character Roster – Play and master 181 characters from across the Dragon Ball universe!

Dynamic Combat System – Learn fast-paced fighting mechanics such as Ki Blasts, special moves, and transformations.

Episode Battles – Relive iconic battles from the Dragon Ball series in innovative Story mode challenges, with choices that can alter the outcome of famous fights.

Custom Battle Mode – Create fan-favorite battles with customizable rulesets and scenarios, including the option to share creations online.

Skill Count System – Explore a brand-new mechanic that adds depth to combat by introducing a resource management element for executing powerful abilities.

Local and online PvP – Prove who’s the best fighter among friends with support for both local and online battles.



Installation and Setup

The game is available on PC via Steam in basic and deluxe versions, with streamlined support for one-click installation, automated downloading of updates, and full support for matchmaking, friends list management, and more.

Because the game does not require a lot of storage space, players can very quickly download it and jump into action.

Like many other games, the fully installed title does not require any additional setup step, enabling users to quickly adjust their graphics, learn about basic controls, and start exploring the high-octane fights of the Dragon Ball series.

How to Play

New users of the game will first navigate through a tutorial that introduces them to the basic controls and combat mechanics.

After mastering the basics, all users are free to pick which game mode they wish to immerse themselves in, including Episode Battles, Custom Battles, reliving famous moments from the animated show (including the re-made cinematics from the perspective of eight notable characters), and
multiplayer.



Engaging in fights involves using a combination of melee attacks, Ki Blasts, and special moves while managing resources like Ki and Skill Count.

Mastering these mechanics is crucial for success in both single-player campaigns and competitive matches against other players.

The game also offers access to online challenge mode, custom battles in Hyperbolic Time Chamber, tournament mode, and more!

User Interface

Since this game is a fast-paced action title, its developers focused on delivering a highly visible and intuitive user interface that players can reference for important data points during even the most incredible action-filled moments that are rippled straight from the TV screens of the famous Dragon Ball anime series.



The result of their effort is a UI that is designed for clarity but can feel overwhelming due to its complexity.

Menus for character selection and customization are extensive but may require some learning to fully understand all available options.

All in all, while the UI effectively conveys important gameplay information, some players may find it labyrinthine at first glance.

PC players have support to map their controls to keyboard inputs, but the game is optimized to be played on gamepads with full native support for Xbox and PlayStation controllers.

FAQ

What is DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO?
It is an action-fighting game based on the Dragon Ball franchise featuring extensive character battles and a wide array of available gameplay modes.

Is it safe?
Yes, it is safe to download from reputable platforms like Steam.

When did this game come out?
The game was released on October 11, 2024.

On what platforms is it available?
It is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Was this game a success?
It has received positive reviews from the media but has garnered significant interest from fans who made it one of the fastest-selling Dragon Ball and fighting games of all time.

Is this game newcomer-friendly?
The game includes tutorials that help new players learn the mechanics, but the endgame content requires significant learning of complicated combat moves.

Does it require a large time commitment?
Not necessarily. Players can enjoy quick battles or engage in longer campaigns.

What’s the average time for finishing this game?
The main campaign mode of this game lasts around 8-9 hours, but players can invest hundreds of hours in its other modes such as custom battles and multiplayer.

Can this game be played online with friends?
Yes, it offers not only multiplayer modes for competitive play against friends but also fully featured local (split screen) support.

Does this game offer in-game microtransactions?
Yes, players can purchase additional characters using an in-game currency called Zeni. The game also promotes the purchase of Season Pass.

Alternatives

Dragon Ball FighterZ – A highly acclaimed fighting game that celebrates the Dragon Ball franchise, featuring tag-team mechanics and stunning visuals.

Naruto Shippuden – An action-packed series based on the Naruto franchise with similar gameplay mechanics.

My Hero One's Justice – A fighting game based on the popular anime My Hero Academia.

Pricing

Standard Edition: $70

Deluxe Edition: $99.99

Ultimate Edition: $109.99

System Requirements

• OS: Windows 11 and Windows 10 (64-bit only)
• CPU: Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 (i7-9700K or R 5 3600 are recommended)
• GPU: GeForce GTX 980, RX 590, or Arc A750 (RTX 2060 and RX Vega 64 are recommended)
• RAM: 8 GB of memory (16 GB is recommended)
• Storage: 29 GB of free space

PROS

• Engaging story mode with branching story choices.
• Extensive character roster.
• Fast-paced action.
• Extensive replayability with a wide offering of game modes.
• Dynamic combat system.
• Creative player-generated content.
• Local and online multiplayer.

CONS

• Overwhelming UI for new players.
• Potentially overwhelming game mechanics for new players.
• Some balance issues for competitive play.
• In-game microtransactions.
• No cross-play multiplayer between PC and console platforms.

Conclusion    

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a highly competent and successful arena fighter that introduces innovative features that cater to both casual gamers and hardcore fans of the Dragon Ball franchise. Featuring an extensive character roster, dynamic combat system, and engaging story mode, this fan-favorite game offers a rich experience that captures the essence of Dragon Ball.

While there are minor drawbacks related to its complex interface and balance issues, these do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game that is today played by several million players who are eagerly waiting for additional in-game content (such as new fighters, arenas, game modes, and more).

For fans of Dragon Ball or fighting games in general, without any doubt, this is a must-play title that promises hours of entertainment to both longtime fans and brand-new players.