| DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a new Budokai Tenkaichi! Play as your favorite Dragon Ball character in this modern take of the beloved 3D fighting game series! Read on to learn how it plays, what it’s about, and everything else we know so far.
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DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO Gameplay
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a 1v1 3D fighting game, succeeding the classic Budokai Tenkaichi series. Selecting from a range of characters across the Dragon Ball franchise, players can duke it out in a fully 3D arena, unleashing combos, special charged attacks, energy blasts, and more.
In line with the developers' aims to recreate the most immersive DRAGON BALL experience, they've implemented environmental effects that change depending on the battle's progress. These range from the dynamic weather to destructible buildings and terrain.
Battle Basics
Fights between two opponents will take place in a 3D arena, which can be navigated on the ground or in the air. Matches can end either by letting the Timer or either character’s HP Bars reach zero.
Rush Attacks and Ki Blasts
Players can perform simple combos using a set of basic punches and kicks called Rush Attacks, which can eventually launch opponents into the air before being pounded back to the ground. Ki Blasts are projectile energy blasts that can be thrown at opponents from a distance.
Rush Attacks charge a gauge called the Ki Gauge, which can let characters strike Ki Blasts or enter a state called "Sparking! Mode".
Finally, pressing the Step/Short Dash will let players quickly dart around the arena, both in the air and on the ground. They can also ascend and descend.
Guard and Perception
Guarding will prevent opponents’ Rush Attacks and decrease damage from energy blasts. Two orientations can be used, depending on which directional button is pressed: the High Guard (Up) and the Low Guard (Down). Players can use Smash Attacks to break guards.
Another way to prevent damage is to hold the Perception button and enter a state where the character will enter a state where they’ll counter Rush Attacks. Entering Perception will expend one gauge of the Ki Gauge, and then two when entering Super Perception to also block Ki Blasts.
Sparking Mode
Once the player’s Ki Gauge is maxed out, either by charging with the Ki Charge button or using Rush Attacks, and has at least one skill gauge, characters can charge further and enter Sparking! Mode. In this special state, characters can use actions that normally expend Ki, unleash their Ultimate Blast, and grant stun immunity to Ki Blast.
Once the Ki Gauge turns red, characters will be rendered immobile until it returns to its normal state.
Game Modes
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO features a wide variety of game modes, offering players different experiences and features unique sets of preset rules.
Episode Battle
Players can choose between eight iconic characters and relive beloved events from the anime series. Each stage starts with an introduction to ease players into the scenario before they are thrown into the fights. The number of stages depends on the character, with Goku having the most.
Certain stages are even animated in the character's point of view, allowing players to experience the scenes from a never-before-seen perspective. There are even moments where players can diverge from the anime's events by making a different choice from what should transpire.
Custom Battle
Experience entirely original scenarios with your favorite DRAGON BALL characters in this mode. Unlike other modes, the goals in Custom Battle differ for some battles. This allows for a fresh gameplay experience for players and allows for more creativity. Players can even edit the scenarios themselves, including the characters that appear in them and the cutscenes that play. These custom scenarios can also be uploaded for the world to experience in an online pool.
Tournament Mode
Players can stage their own tournaments and use a variety of rule presets. These can be hosted in Online Mode, where players across the world can join, or in Offline Mode, where players can compete with CPU opponents or with others next to them.
Multiplayer
On the multiplayer side, the game features online multiplayer and offline single-player modes. Local split-screen multiplayer can be played on the Hyperbolic Time Chamber stage and in Tournament Mode.
DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO Story
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's story mode, "Episode Battles", follows retellings of events from across the series through the perspective of eight characters. Players will have the option to alter the narrative and make different decisions, leading to alternative scenarios.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Setting
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is set across the Dragon Ball franchise, mainly the Z and Super series. Player choice can spin the events into alternate scenarios, effectively creating branches from the series’s main timeline.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Plot
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's Episode Battles follows different perspectives of eight characters: Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Frieza, Goku Black, and Jiren.
Several arcs from the anime and manga are featured in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's Episode Battles. These include the arcs Saiyan, Planet Namek, Android/Cell, Majin Buu, God of Destruction Beerus/Frieza's Resurrection, Future Trunks, and Universe Survival.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO Characters
Goku
Goku is the recurring protagonist of the Dragon Ball series, a battle-hungry martial artist and one of the last members of the Saiyans. Almost all of his appearances throughout the series are playable in Sparking ZERO, including both his younger selves and fusions, as well as numerous powered forms.
Vegeta
Vegeta, the Prince of all Saiyans, is a playable character in Sparking! ZERO. Formerly a deadly opponent of Goku and company, he eventually becomes his ally and combat rival. He is the father of Trunks and the husband of Bulma.
Frieza
Frieza, the former emperor of the universe, is one of the most brutal opponents of Goku and company, being responsible for the genocide of countless races across the universe, including the Saiyans.
Gohan
Gohan is the son of Goku and Chi-Chi. A prodigy in battle, he was once recognized as one of the most powerful Saiyans during his teenage years. He eventually set aside his training, pursued a career in entomology, and formed a family with Videl. However, he would eventually find himself in combat when his family is threatened, awakening to a new form.
Kale
Kale is from Universe 6 and its latest "Legendary Saiyan", an extremely rare transformation that puts its user in a nearly unstoppable hyper-charged Berserk state. She has many similarities to Broly, who is also a Legendary Saiyan.
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