Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has been a highly anticipated game for fans who have been waiting for a sequel to Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 for 17 years. The game looks, sounds, and feels like the ultimate Budokai Tenkaichi 4 in all but name, promising to be a next-gen revival that diehard fans have been longing for. The recent presentation of the game by publisher Bandai Namco at Summer Game Fest, featuring in-game fight moments set to the iconic “Rock the Dragon” theme song, evoked nostalgia and excitement among fans.
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 holds a special place in the hearts of many fans due to its faithful adaptation of the beloved anime, capturing the essence of what made Dragon Ball Z so popular. The anticipation for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, developed by Spike Chunsoft and set to release on October 11, is high as it promises to deliver a thrilling experience for fans of the series. The game, made in Unreal Engine 5, boasts a meaty story mode, a massive roster of characters, and heart-stopping fights that stay true to the essence of the anime.
One of the exciting new features of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is the “what if” mode in the story, allowing players to explore alternate fights and storylines. Additionally, the new edit mode enables players to create custom battles with unique modifiers and share them online with friends and strangers. The game offers two control schemes, classic and standard, to cater to both longtime fans and newcomers, making the gameplay experience more accessible and enjoyable.
While the hands-on experience with the game in versus mode showcased smooth and accurate homing mechanics, there were some disappointments with environmental destruction effects and split-screen multiplayer. The visual effects of environmental destructions seemed lacking in some areas, and the split-screen multiplayer is restricted to a single stage, the Hyperbolic Timechamber, raising concerns among fans who enjoy local multiplayer battles.
Despite these minor drawbacks, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero shows great promise in delivering the explosive and action-packed battles that fans have been eagerly awaiting. With a focus on capturing the essence of the anime and providing an engaging gameplay experience, the game has the potential to be a worthy successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3. As fans eagerly await the release of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the anticipation for the game continues to grow, promising an exciting and nostalgic journey for fans of the Dragon Ball series.
