Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Review – Budokai Tenkaichi Makes a Welcome, Long-Awaited Return
As a lifelong Dragon Ball enthusiast who’s seen the rise and fall of every Z-fighter since the days of Frieza, I can confidently say that Sparking! ZERO has brought back the nostalgia with an impressive bang. It’s been far too long since we had a proper Budokai Tenkaichi game, and it feels like coming home after a long journey.
Forty years ago, Dragon Ball made its debut in Weekly Shonen Jump, leading to numerous anime adaptations and video games over the years. Among these, the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series, offering a thrilling 3D interpretation of the iconic battles from the manga and anime, stood out as a fan favorite. The question arises, why has it taken seventeen years to produce another installment? For enthusiasts, Sparking! ZERO promises to be well worth the wait, boasting the largest Dragon Ball cast ever, stunning visuals, and gameplay that’s easy for everyone to enjoy.
Players familiar with Dragon Ball gaming will immediately recognize the experience here – it’s all about Sparking! With ZERO, there isn’t a significant departure from the traditional Dragon Ball formula. Instead, it delivers the same pulse-pounding combat as the Xenoverse series and similar titles. This means large, 3D destructible environments are commonplace, and ZERO does an impressive job of emulating the style of the long-running anime. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, it’s one of the best-looking Dragon Ball games since Dragon Ball FighterZ, though it may not be the top Dragon Ball game overall.
The crux of Sparking! ZERO is to be found in Episode Battle mode, wherein you relive key moments and battles from an array of classic story arcs, chopping and changing between each character’s saga as you see fit. Leading the charge as Goku, you can then access sagas led by Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Frieza, and Goku Black, and later unlock Jiren’s saga. It covers an awful lot of ground, from the Saiyan Saga to the Namek Saga, the Cell Saga, Android Saga, Majin Buu Saga, and beyond. Dragon Ball Super characters also appear for the first time in the series, so that’s something to be excited about.
In every fight, it seems like it mostly comes down to rapid button pressing, which may disappoint those seeking intricate and strategic combat dynamics. Instead, what you’ll encounter is the typical, flashy Dragon Ball Z-style action, filled with Ki blast fireballs, spirit bombs, and scorching kamehameha waves cutting through the air, causing explosions to go off in all directions. The speed at which it moves can be overwhelming; the camera often struggles to keep pace, changing perspectives erratically and sometimes making it hard to follow the action, which can lead to a disorienting experience.
With delight, this game is straightforward and instinctive to learn, allowing for stunning combos to be formed swiftly with just a few button presses. Dashing to close gaps and eye-catching finishers can be executed spontaneously – the latter, however, necessitates the use of Ki. Counters and reversals are also included, requiring precise timing. The confrontations are fast-paced, typically not exceeding a couple of minutes, thus emphasizing quick, uncomplicated entertainment in brief spurts. After completing the lengthy narratives of Episode Battle, which includes occasional decisions and an immersive exploration of Dragon Ball history, Custom Battle is available for you to explore.
In this setting, you can design your own fights, pick details like characters, stages, and settings, then publish them online. The Custom Battle mode houses not only original battles but also Bonus Battles, along with a collection of user-generated levels to play. This feature significantly extends the playtime of Sparking! ZERO. Additionally, you get access to online and offline tournaments, as well as straightforward online fights. On top of that, an extensive training mode is available where you can learn fundamentals and advanced techniques.
Everything is seamlessly integrated with an engaging presentation and stylish menus, allowing you to submit finished missions at ‘Zen-Oh’s Orders’. This earns you outfits, Zeni currency (used for purchasing characters, consumables, and other items in the in-game store), titles, and customizations for your player card. There are also objectives to accomplish within Whis’s Stamp Book, providing plenty of motivation to continue playing and unlocking new content. You can even progress through the single-player Episode Battle mode solo, level up, collect rewards, and enjoy a substantial gaming experience. Naturally, Dragon Ball enthusiasts will find themselves in Super Saiyan paradise.
In terms of gameplay, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO marks the return of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, which last saw release on PS2 and Wii in 2007. This game is essentially a tribute to fans, boasting an extensive character roster exceeding 180 figures, multiple storylines, and the option to design custom battles. However, after some time, it may feel repetitive, especially for those not deeply familiar with characters like Goku, Vegeta, Cell, Frieza, Gohan, and so forth.
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2024-10-07 19:42