Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, a beloved arena fighter from the PS2 and Wii era, captured the essence of the anime with its story mode, extensive character roster, and high-octane battles. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the spiritual successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3, aims to be the next-gen revival fans have been eagerly awaiting. Based on my hands-on experience at EVO, it seems well on its way to achieving that goal, despite a few caveats.
Initially, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, but my time with Sparking Zero at EVO changed my perspective. The game’s visuals are stunning, far surpassing what videos can convey. Each character, including multiple versions of Goku, is meticulously crafted, reflecting their evolving power levels and appearances from various shows and movies. This attention to detail is deeply nostalgic and a treat for long-time fans.
Sparking Zero, developed by Spike Chunsoft and set for release on October 11 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, is built on Unreal Engine 5. The game promises a robust story mode with a first-person camera during cutscenes, an extensive roster, and exhilarating fights. The “what if” scenarios allow players to explore alternate storylines, while the new Edit mode lets them create and share custom battles online. These features ensure that both the narrative depth and replayability are top-notch.
In my demo, I battled a CPU-controlled Vegeta, experiencing the game’s omnidirectional movement and extensive combo system. This fluidity and depth have always been a double-edged sword for the series, offering both excitement and complexity. However, Sparking Zero introduces two control schemes—classic and standard—to cater to different player preferences. The classic scheme will feel familiar to long-time fans, while the standard scheme simplifies controls with single-button actions, making the game more accessible.
A significant improvement in Sparking Zero is the precision of the homing feature, which allows players to rapidly close in on opponents. In previous games, this mechanic could be inconsistent, but it felt accurate and responsive in Sparking Zero. Targeting for other attacks also struck a balance between strategic planning and player assistance, enhancing the overall combat experience.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero looks poised to deliver the explosive, high-energy battles that fans crave. While potential issues like missing fan-favorite characters or problematic netcode remain concerns, the game’s initial showing at EVO was strong. With its blend of nostalgia and modern enhancements, Sparking Zero could very well be the next great chapter in the Dragon Ball gaming saga. I eagerly await its full release to see if it fulfills its promising potential.
