Man, playing Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero at Gamescom was like stepping into a time machine that catapulted me straight back to the glory days of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi. This game is the modern evolution of that classic series, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier. The game offers everything that made Budokai Tenkaichi a fan favorite, but with the kind of polish and detail that only today’s technology can deliver. A dream come true? Let’s Kamehameha in!
The return of the king
At its core, Sparking Zero is a pure Dragon Ball fighter, and it makes no apologies for that. The game is fast-paced, with every punch, kick, and Kamehameha delivered in a way that feels just as real as it does in the anime. The controls are responsive, making it easy to string together combos. The fights are extremely fast-paced and you need to combine attacks with dodges to stay on top of the fight but in true Dragon Ball style, it’s so much fun!
The roster itself is crazy, with 164 characters available at launch. We’re talking about heroes and anti-heroes from across the entire Dragon Ball saga, from the early days of Dragon Ball Z all the way through to Dragon Ball Super. Characters like Ultimate Gohan, Super Buu (in multiple forms), and the ever-popular Gogeta are all here, each with their unique abilities and transformations. Fan service? For sure!
No, it’s not an anime episode
One of the aspects that truly blew me away was the visual presentation. Sparking Zero isn’t just a game—it’s a playable anime. The level of detail in the characters, from their facial expressions to their battle-worn clothing, is stunning. The developers have clearly poured a lot of love into making sure that everything looks just right. Even the environments react to the battle; you’ll see craters forming where energy blasts hit, and the landscape itself seems to tremble under the weight of these epic confrontations.
The use of Unreal Engine really shines here, providing not just smooth animations but also breathtaking visuals that stay true to the look and feel of the anime. This is the Dragon Ball game we’ve all been dreaming of for so, so long.
Early conclusion
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is well on its way to become the definitive Dragon Ball fighting game. It takes everything fans loved about the Budokai Tenkaichi series and elevates it with modern technology, a massive roster, and stunning visuals. If you’re a fan of Dragon Ball, you simply can’t miss this one!
