Ah, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, the game that promises to transport us back to the golden age of DBZ gaming faster than Goku’s Instant Transmission. But does it deliver a Kamehameha-sized blast of nostalgia, or is it just another case of our childhood memories being better than reality? Buckle up, Saiyan warriors, because we’re about to dive deeper than the Hyperbolic Time Chamber into this mixed bag of Dragon Balls.
Let’s start with the good, because even Vegeta occasionally has something nice to say. The roster is more packed than Majin Buu after an all-you-can-eat buffet, boasting a whopping 182 characters and transformations. Whether you’re a fan of the original series or you’ve stuck around long enough to witness Goku’s hair turn every color of the rainbow, you’ll find your favorite fighter here. It’s like a Dragon Ball family reunion, minus the awkward small talk and with 100% more energy blasts.
The graphics? Hotter than Frieza’s final form on the surface of the sun. Sparking! ZERO looks so good, you might forget you’re playing a game and not watching a particularly interactive episode of the anime. The destructible stages are a nice touch, allowing you to recreate the property damage that made the original series so memorable. Who needs environmental conservation when you can turn entire planets into cosmic dust, right?
Now, let’s talk gameplay. It’s faster than Krillin’s hairline recession, offering a satisfying blend of button-mashing for newbies and intricate combos for veterans. It’s not as technical as Dragon Ball FighterZ, but then again, neither was the anime. This is a game that knows its audience – we’re here to feel like overpowered alien warriors, not e-sports professionals.
The story mode tries its best to keep things fresh, which is about as easy as making Goku give up fighting. The what-if scenarios are a nice touch, letting us explore alternate realities where Raditz becomes a good guy or where Yamcha actually wins a fight (okay, that last one might be too far-fetched). It’s not Shakespeare, but it’s Dragon Ball – we’re here for the punching, not the plot.
But alas, not everything in this game is as perfect as Cell claims to be. The single-player content feels as sparse as Nappa’s hairline. Sure, there’s the episode mode and custom battles, but it’s about as fulfilling as senzu beans without the healing properties. The AI will give you a run for your money, but it’s more like fighting a particularly aggressive training dummy than a worthy opponent.
Now, let’s address the Oozaru in the room – online play. If you’re a Steam Deck user, you might as well be trying to play online with a potato connected to a string. The online PvP is about as functional as Gohan’s scholarly ambitions. Maybe it’ll get patched, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. You’d have better luck waiting for the Dragon Balls to recharge.
The character customization is a mixed bag, like a handful of senzu beans with a few duds thrown in. It’s great to kit out your favorites, but the initial selection of capsules feels as limited as Krillin’s combat usefulness. And don’t get me started on the outfit selection – unless you’re playing as Goku, Vegeta, or Gohan, you might as well be fighting in a paper bag.
The stages, while gorgeously destructible, are fewer in number than the surviving Saiyans. Twelve stages might sound like a lot, but when you’ve played through them more times than Goku has died and come back to life, it starts to feel a bit repetitive. Where’s Kami’s Lookout? The iconic Mountain Road? It’s like they forgot half the Dragon Ball world exists.
And let’s pour one out for the missing characters. No kid Goku? No Oozaru forms? It’s like they’re setting us up for inevitable DLC faster than you can say “This isn’t even my final form!”
So, should you buy Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO? Well, if you’re a die-hard DBZ fan who’s bought every game since the SNES era, you probably already have. For the rest of you normal humans (and Namekians), it might be worth waiting for a sale. At $70, it’s asking for more zeni than it’s worth right now.
In conclusion, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is like a Spirit Bomb – it takes a while to charge up, and whether it hits or misses depends on your patience and love for the series. It’s a solid 7 out of 10 Shenrons, with room for improvement.
Is it the ultimate Dragon Ball game? Not quite. But is it fun? Absolutely. Just like the series itself, it’s got its flaws, but damn if it isn’t entertaining. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some Saibamen to punch.
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