Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review – A Final Flash, But Not Quite a Bang
After 17 long years, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi fans finally have their wish: Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero revives the beloved 3D-arena combat style. This time, it draws from the Dragon Ball Super storyline, adding fresh material for fans to explore. While the fast-paced combat still excites, the repetitive gameplay and limited mode variety leave much to be desired.
A Return to the Tenkaichi Arena in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero
In Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, battles unfold in expansive, destructible arenas, allowing players to fight using a combination of physical attacks and iconic Dragon Ball moves like Kamehameha, Final Flash, and Spirit Bomb. Visually, the game impresses right from the start. Every character’s movement is fluid, and special attacks feel as bombastic as they should, with high-energy animations ripped straight from the anime.
However, beneath the flashy exterior, battles often fall into repetitive cycles. Each character shares the same basic control setup, and combat tends to loop through the same formula: unleash a few attacks, knock the opponent away, charge up ki, and repeat. This limits the depth of the combat system, making it less appealing for players looking for complex, skill-based action.
Repetitive Gameplay Weakens the Spark
The main single-player mode, Episode Battle, retells classic Dragon Ball storylines through a series of cutscenes and battles. Unfortunately, the repetition becomes noticeable here as well. Cutscenes are minimal, often consisting of a few quick exchanges before launching into the next fight. Occasional difficulty spikes add frustration, especially when unfair scenarios arise—like fighting Great Ape Vegeta, who shrugs off 10-hit combos without flinching.
While some cutscenes offer branching storylines and “what if” moments, these diversions are brief and don’t change the overall flow of the game. The novelty of revisiting familiar Dragon Ball stories wears off quickly, especially for long-time fans who have experienced these arcs multiple times.
An Overloaded but Shallow Character Roster
With a staggering 181 playable characters, Sparking Zero offers variety—on paper. However, much of this number comes from multiple versions of the same characters, especially Goku and Vegeta. Goku alone occupies 19 slots, representing everything from his base form to Ultra Instinct. While these forms offer slight differences in moves and animations, the shared control scheme makes them feel less distinct.
This character bloat diminishes the sense of uniqueness, as many forms follow similar patterns in combat. Though diehard Dragon Ball fans might appreciate the completeness of the roster, it ultimately feels padded with redundant options rather than fresh, varied fighters.
Custom Battles: Missed Potential for Creativity
Custom Battles let players create their own fights with custom cutscenes, but the creativity stops short. Instead of freely writing dialogue, players must choose from a pre-set list of phrases, which limits the personal touch this mode promises. While the idea of creating your own Dragon Ball scenes sounds appealing, the limited options make it feel like a missed opportunity.
A Visual Treat, But Lacking Depth
Visually, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero shines. The cel-shaded characters and destructible environments bring the anime’s energy to life in stunning detail. Each battle feels like a high-octane spectacle, and moments like landing a Super Spirit Bomb never get old. However, the game’s excitement fades as repetition sets in, and the shallow gameplay mechanics fail to sustain long-term engagement.
Conclusion: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Doesn’t Quite Ignite
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero does a decent job of bringing the Budokai Tenkaichi format into the modern era, but it falls short in delivering the depth and variety needed to keep players hooked. The game’s battles are fun, fast, and flashy, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay and limited mode options make it more suitable for quick-play sessions than marathon gaming.
For fans of the original Tenkaichi series, there’s enjoyment to be found in Sparking Zero, but it doesn’t spark the same joy we hoped for.
Get the game here.
