Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is coming out very soon on October 11, and whether you've been a fan of the Dragon Ball games for as long as you remember or if you're pumped up to step into the arena for the first time, this article will provide you with an overview of what to expect.
First and foremost, tthe game- a 3D arena fighter that is a continuation of the Budoukai Tenkaicihi series- will be available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, and PC via Steam.
(Sorry last-gen console owners, but you'll have to sit this one out, unfortunately. Its kinetic combat and adapting environments seem like they'll prove taxing for a PlayStation 4, let alone the Nintendo Switch.)
Developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will come in four editions: Standard, Deluxe, Ultimate, and Premium Collector's Edition.
Standard Edition, which is just the base game digitally or physically, will set you back $69.99 or your regional equivalent. Deluxe, meanwhile, is digital-only, comes with the game, DLC 1-3 Season Pass, a "Summon Shenron" bonus for the Season Pass, and 3 days of Early Access, and will cost $99.99 or your equivalent.
The Ultimate Edition takes things to the next level by including everything from the Deluxe alongside the Ultimate Edition "Summon Super Shenron" bonus and the Ultimate Upgrade Pack that comes with a costume for Goku, an emote set, and other goodies. This one is available both digitally and physically, though it seems as if the physicals have mostly sold out. Regardless, taking a chance with this edition will ask $109.99 of you.
Lastly, the highly-coveted, physical-only, and colossal Premium Collector's Edition includes everything above in addition to an assortment of goodies, including but not limited to a steelbook and bookmark, though it has also, sadly, sold out. The Bandai Namco Store does, however, have an option for customers to "join the waitlist" should it restock, but generally, limited editions such as these rarely get a second go. In the short time that it was available, it came in at $129.99.
With that out of the way though, let's get into the story.
Episode Battle lets you decide what happens next
The story mode brings Universe 7 to life by letting you literally step into the shoes of 8 characters from Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball Super. From switching to a first-person POV to making it so that your actions can change the course of history, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO offers players a chance to see the story they know and love in a different light.
Episode Battle's eight playable characters are Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Frieza, Goku Black, and Jiren.
One example of the branching narrative comes at the start of Goku's story. Pursuing Raditz after teaming up with Piccolo, like in the beginning of Dragon Ball Z, will set you down the canon route, while going after him alone will take you down an entirely new path.
In this version of events, Goku doesn't die, meaning that he never gets to train under King Kai. Without that training, Goku is less prepared for Vegeta's arrival later on- catapulting the story into uncharted territory.
And yet, that's only one of many moments where the player's choice can dramatically alter the events that follow. To see all the ways that a new spin can be put on your favorite arcs, be sure to check out Episode Battle and all the chaos it offers.
Budoukai is back
With over 180 characters from Dragon Ball Z, Super, GT, and even from the upcoming Dragon Ball DAIMA anime, players will be able to reneact some of their favorite battles in series history while also creating matchups that have never been seen before.
And Sparkling Zero's roster is so impressive that the amount of Gokus in the game actually outnumber Street Fighter 2's entire roster.
Additionally, producer Jun Furutani told Gamesradar+ that characters have been designed to reflect their power levels in canon, meaning that the roster will be unbalanced but accurate to lore.
Now, that does mean that competitive play will be hindered, but the team behind the game has gone to great lengths to keep online play from becoming unplayable or unfun.
When selecting their team of fighters, players will be given a limited amount of points to use for team-building. Stronger characters will cost more, while weaker characters will cost less- making it so that all players and sides will be required to use a combination of strong and weak characters.
Beyond its roster, the game's most touted feature is destructible and adapting environments. The arenas in which players will put their training to the test are reactive: crumbling when damaged by blows and shaking as fighters ascend to the next level.
Being home to fighters who make the ground tremble under their might, it looks like Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO's battles will be destructive and devastating- pushing its worlds and the hardware it runs on to its limit.
"Break The Heavens"
2024 has been rough for Dragon Ball fans, with series creator Akira Toriyama having passed away in March, but so long as his work lives on, he'll be able to rest easy.
Both Dragon Ball DAIMA and Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO will launch into action on October 11, keeping Toriyama's memory alive and keeping fans entertained as the series gets ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary in November.