Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review (PS5)

During an era where AAA video games are often criticized due to a clear lack of content, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero swoops in spectacularly and takes gaming back to a time when players actually had to put some effort into their favorite titles to unlock various elements, leaving them satisfied and feeling rewarded in the process.

The extremely high level of expectations that had been surrounding the game leading up to its release would not have been easy to meet, but developer Spike Chunsoft and publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment have truly outdone themselves with Sparking Zero.

It stays true to its Budokai Tenkaichi roots, never once forgetting the core that made the series so iconic in the first place, builds on that amazing foundation by creating a current-gen experience that fans of Akira Toriyama’s magnum opus will not be able to get enough of, and respects the Dragon Ball name to an extent that has not been witnessed in video games for quite a long while.

Dragon Ball fans who may have found recent video games based on the franchise to be falling short when it comes to the colorful and vibrant personality that used to ooze out of Budokai Tenkaichi more than a decade ago will be pleased to know that Sparking Zero takes the “life” factor up several notches.

Before players even dive into the ground-shattering battles, just the menu screens alone showcase the kind of love and dedication that was put into the title by the developers.

Kicking things off with an epic opening that increases the hype to unfathomable levels, Sparking Zero proceeds to put a modern touch to its old-school vibe by making sure that each screen, ranging from the various areas of the Main Menu to the sub-sections like Battle Training, is lively and lets fans spend some cozy time with their favorite characters.

For example, the Episode and Custom screen shows Goku surrounded by the people he would literally die for, including Chi-Chi and Bulma having their own conversation, Trunks and Goten checking out a Capsule Corporation handheld gadget, Beerus simply soaking in the sun, and Vegeta brooding in the corner as always.

As the player hovers over the Custom Battle option instead of the Episode Battle one, the camera dynamically shifts its focus on the two Saiyan kids playing on their device, but when the next menu screen is prompted, such as the Battle & Training section, Goku seamlessly flies over to another set of characters like Gohan, Piccolo, Android 17, and more.

These intricate details may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but they are what used to add even more flavor to the Budokai Tenkaichi experience, which Sparking Zero improves upon in a striking manner.

The story of Dragon Ball is one that has been told plenty of times in various forms of media, as a result of which the element of surprise doesn’t have much room to exist, so when Sparking Zero presents the numerous sagas through multiple fresh perspectives and turns them into cinematic spectacles, fans won’t be able to stop themselves from being blown away all over again.

Naturally starting off with Goku as he faces Raditz all the way up until his battle with Jiren during the Tournament of Power Saga from Dragon Ball Super, the Episode Battle mode feels like watching the greatest highlights of each character’s journey.

The characters whose POVs players get during the Episode Battles, aside from the protagonist, are Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Frieza, Goku Black, and Jiren, with each campaign taking fans on a trip down memory lane by revisiting the most significant moments from their many adventures.

Spike Chunsoft could have taken the easy way out and retold the same story following the exact beats that have been included in other Dragon Ball media, but fortunately, the developer goes the extra mile to also present different choices in certain scenarios, leaving it up to the player to decide how they want the outcome of a specific situation to go.

Another interesting element that keeps the momentum of each battle going strong is that one doesn’t even have to fully defeat the enemy to progress, as upon meeting a particular condition like Vegeta unleashing his Final Flash attack on Cell, the fight will come to a halt and move on to the next chapter, making Sparking Zero feel like a fun rerun of the anime with faster pacing.

Even those fans who may have stopped following the IP after Dragon Ball Z will most likely find the Super storyline to be very intriguing, motivating them to perhaps give the anime a chance simply because of how stunning the presentation in the Bandai Namco Entertainment title truly is.

Players who want to take a break from the canonical Dragon Ball storyline can head to the Custom Battle mode to experience or even create some innovative “What If?” situations, which include Bonus Battles that pit the unlikeliest of character combinations against one another.

These range from heartwarming battles like Kid Goku and Gohan vs. Goten and Trunks to Turles finally getting the respect he deserves in his own special little episode.

Then comes the Battle & Training section, where players can play online and offline matches, train to get a better grip on Sparking Zero‘s massive roster, or participate in World Tournament’s many offerings, such as the Cell Games or Tournament of Destroyers.

For those wondering whether Sparking Zero includes a split-screen multiplayer mode, there’s good and bad news, as although the option’s available, executed without a single drop in the frame rate despite so much happening on the screen, and brings back memories from the PlayStation 2 era, the only stage that currently allows it is the Hyperbolic Time Chamber.

But it is still a blast as always, and if Spike Chunsoft adds more stages to the mode in post-release content, the revival of Budokai Tenkaichi will become an even bigger force to be reckoned with in the anime arena fighter genre.

Players can also complete challenges given to them by Zen-Oh and Whis for rewards, go over to Kame House to spend their in-game currency or customize characters, chill with Mr. Satan and Majin Buu while listening to commentary by Chi-Chi, Bulma, and Videl about each character, and summon three types of Dragons to grant wishes after obtaining their respective Dragon Balls.

Bandai Namco Entertainment has proven time and again that it completely understands the fighting game genre and the franchises that it publishes video games for, with TEKKEN 8 absolutely smashing it earlier this year and Sparking Zero now continuing the tradition by presenting exhilarating battles regardless of their overall impact on the lore.

Living up to its tagline “Break the Heavens,” Spike Chunsoft’s Dragon Ball title goes all out in ensuring that each fight is a sight to behold and comes with multiple layers stacked on top of one another.

Charging up a character’s Ki to a certain level dynamically changes the environment from bright and sunny to dark and cloudy; the destructible environments add to the power fantasy that Dragon Ball is known for, and every special move is a visual treat that has to be experienced at least once.

By now, it really isn’t a surprise that Sparking Zero features an enormous roster of 182 characters (which can either be unlocked through playing, purchased from the in-game shop, or wished for by the Dragons), but even when one compares the different forms of the same character, their gameplay and power levels are quite distinct from one another.

For example, Goku (Z – Early) has a unique move set that gets surpassed by his Super Saiyan forms, and each variant comes with distinguishable special movies, consequently giving every character on the roster a chance to shine and encouraging the player to try them all out to find their main.

Another area where Spike Chunsoft succeeds is its ability to cater to a wide player base, so while newcomers to the series can have a lot of fun with simple controls, Budokai Tenkaichi veterans can utilize deeper and more complex mechanics to wreak havoc on their opponents.

Sparking Zero had a lot of responsibility resting on its shoulders, as not only did it have to fit in decades of Dragon Ball lore into one tight package, but it also had to make sure that it lived up to the unmatched legacy left by the Budokai Tenkaichi series 17 years ago.

Fortunately, Spike Chunsoft and Bandai Namco have delivered on every single front, showcasing great appreciation for Akira Toriyama’s work through respectful treatment of each and every character on the game’s expansive roster, turning up the intensity to deliver high-octane ground-shattering battles, and paying homage to its predecessors in the most wholesome ways.

It truly is the ultimate Dragon Ball experience in gaming, helping the franchise take the modern current-gen leap and marking a triumphant comeback for Budokai Tenkaichi that will be remembered for a very long time.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Review (PS5) – A Triumphant Comeback for Budokai Tenkaichi

Budokai Tenkaichi could not have asked for a better revival, as Sparking Zero succeeds on all fronts, showing deep respect for Dragon Ball, Akira Toriyama, and the fans.