Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Reviews

When DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero made its way to Nintendo Switch 2 fans were eager to see how the spectacle-driven fighter would handle the transition. We’ll take a close look at how the Switch 2 version performs across different play modes, what visual and technical compromises were made, and whether the port delivers the full Dragon Ball experience on Nintendo’s new hardware.

Picking right up where it left off with Budokai Tenkaichi 3, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a return to form and a celebration of everything Dragon Ball. Reinvigorated with characters and transformations from Dragon Ball Super as well as your favourites from Dragon Ball Z, the game feels both brand new and classic as it brings fast-paced action and eye-popping graphics into the new generation. While some players may be frustrated or overwhelmed with the learning curve of the controls, the rewards lie in mastering your favourite characters, and crafting an experience that blends your imagination and classic Dragon Ball.

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO feels like a faithful continuation of the series. Beautiful visuals and epic combat make for a great combination and the creative What If scenarios were a treat to explore. A definite recommendation for fans. The AI cheats, though.

Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO delivers a massive 182-character roster than spans all eras of Dragon Ball, but lacks representation from the original Dragon Ball series and certain fan-favorite characters. While the What-If story paths add intrigue, the overall story mode feels lackluster, skipping content from Dragon Ball GT and the movies, However, the game shines with its custom battles, in-depth combat system, and returning fan-favorite features like Chi-Chi's encyclopedia. This game, as a wh...

Y’know, I’m often amazed at how Bandai Namco always manages to get me hyped for a new Dragon Ball game when, in essence, they’ve done everything the franchise can offer over and over again. We are back at yet another game featuring a ton of overdramatic battles, the same damn sagas, Yamcha’s dying pose, a ton of beams and screams… and I had a great time with it, once again. Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is an odd game because it doesn’t do anything new at all with franchise. In fact,...

A vibrant, flashy and overdue return to one of Dragon Ball’s best game series. But it’s not quite fresh enough to keep me coming back for more.

2024 will go down in history as the saddest year for every Dragon Ball fan, as it was the year the series' legendary creator Akira Toriyama passed away. Without this tragic event, however, the year would have been remembered as a great one for the franchise as a whole, not only thanks to the release of the Dragon Ball Daima series but also to the return of the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi franchise. Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is one of the best games based on the works of Toriyama-sensei ever made. Right from the start, it is clear how Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a labor of love. From its presentation to its gameplay, Spike Chunsoft created a love letter to the series that every fan is sure to appreciate, even if they are not keen to play against others, whether online or offline, with the series' classic split-screen mode making a return, albeit in a very limited fashion.

There’s no denying that developer Spike Chunsoft was under pressure to deliver with Sparking Zero, but instead of backing down from the challenge, they rose to the occasion to create the best Dragon Ball game in years.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is an absolute blast that captures the over-the-top nature of the franchise’s fights perfectly while also offering a massive, albeit unbalanced, roster.

Like past entries in the series, it may take a little while for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero to really click with you due to the perceived difficulty at the start. Once it does click though, you are in for a real treat with easily one of the best Dragon Ball games to date. With a massive character roster and high flying combat that perfectly emulates the series, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers a Kamehameha of gratification for fans of the series and is something that would have made series creator Akira Toriyama very proud.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO isn't perfect, with Episode Battle falling somewhat short in its ambitions, but it's an excellent recreation of the series' power fantasy.

Sparking! Zero is everything Dragon Ball fans will have wanted, but it's also just a blast for those unbothered by its extensive fan-service.

It's been a long time coming but DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is finally here and it's one great fighting game for fans to enjoy.

The closer we get to the release of Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO, the game looks more and more like a production that Goku fans will look forward to for years. A huge number of characters, well-stylized graphics and classic gameplay - let's see if it's enough.

Dragon Ball has been around for years as have games that have tried to recreate the excitement the series is known for. Sparking Zero is the latest arena fighter that gets it right.

It’s been an incredibly long wait, but this series is arguably more super than ever on the current generation of hardware. Goku’s 3D battles with his friends (and enemies) look stunning, the roster is stacked with an updated cast, there are seemingly limitless match-ups, and the combat feels great, even if it might be a bit simple for some players. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero may just be the ‘ultra instinct’ entry fans have always wished for.

Close to two decades after its release, beloved PS2 arena fighter Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 has been handed a sequel in all but name. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a throwback of epic proportions — the kind of all-out, franchise-encompassing brawler that's been sorely missed beyond the Naruto Ninja Storm series.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero feels like it breaks the curse of anime arena fighters, finally giving players a complex fighter with real depth that’s simultaneously a gorgeous celebration of a seminal series. It’s a game that absolutely revels in its massive rosters and the absurdity of Dragon Ball, embracing both every step of the way.

Have you ever wanted to jump into the Dragon Ball franchise but didn’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re a diehard fan who wants to create their ideal battle scenarios? Even if you are somewhere between those extremes, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will be great for you. There’s enough content to help you learn about Dragon Ball while also giving players the chance to test their fighting skills.

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is an outstanding achievement from studio Spike Chunsoft. You can feel their love and reverence for the series in every aspect. It includes nearly everything I could hope for in a Budokai Tenkaichi follow-up, with beautiful graphics and excellent gameplay.

As Dragon Ball games go, Sparking! Zero stands as one of the better translations of what it feels like to be a super powered hero, Goku or otherwise. It’s not for everyone, but with a great set of modes and roster of characters, fans should find plenty to enjoy.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a game that many fans have wanted for fifteen years, and while it was delivered to us, it does feel like it is lacking in some areas. There are issues with the camera and combat at times, but the game is still fun, flashy and over the top like fans deserve. Fans may also find newer stories missing somewhat frustrating, with some story arcs missing at launch or otherwise unavailable until a further date. Out of the box, this is still a solid game with a huge cast of characters and a ton of optional content available to the player. This was made for the fans of Dragon Ball and might not end up being for everyone.

A sensational-looking game that looks just like the anime, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO marks a robust return for the dormant Budokai Tenkaichi series, even if the nuts and bolts of the game's fighting mechanics can wear quite thin pretty quickly.

“Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers thrilling fights, but its disjointed story mode doesn't hold up its end of the bargain.”

Intentionally prioritizing flashy fanservice over competitive play, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero provides the most complete series toybox yet. But, with simple enemy AI and repetitive fighting mechanics, it lacks the depth of its more serious competition to the point of becoming rote.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is my favorite Dragon Ball game I have ever played, and with the Engine.ini fix, it is an essential Steam Deck game.

The particle effects and colors are especially noteworthy in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, though the visual style in general is absolutely incredible. Every time a Dragon Ball game comes out, I assume they can’t get any closer to Akira Toriyama’s iconic style, but as is the case here, my expectations are always surpassed. The menus have a ton of charm that harkens back to the PS2 games, which is a delightful touch. There are tons of little details like this, including loads of special banter and references to memorable panels and scenes strewn throughout each character’s moveset. This is the ultimate Dragon Ball game, and it’s clear the team behind it wanted to honor the series as much as possible throughout. They even brought back Chi-Chi (as well as Bulma and Videl) commentating on all of the characters in the Galley — what more could one ask for?

With its huge roster of fighters, thrilling combat system and satisfying selection of modes, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a must-have for fans of the franchise. Newcomers are likely to enjoy it, too, though they might find themselves a little lost when tackling its story-driven Episode Battle mode.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is an excellent Dragon Ball game that delivers plenty of deliciously intense arena fights, with a great amount of content too. It feels familiar yet remarkable, but the performance issues are problems that need to be quickly rectified.

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Make yours the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL! PS5 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

A sweet drink that'll quench the thirst of any and all Dragon Ball fans.

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero is a near-perfect representation of the legendary Shounen series, which comes with its own set of pros and cons but ultimately is a must-play for fans.

The frenetic fighting Dragon Ball fans expect is here, but it's marred by an overall shallow experience with more repetition than revolution.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is the ultimate Dragon Ball sandbox, giving you all the tools needed to satisfy your wild imagination. Filled with iconic fights, flashy animations, and delightful easter eggs, it's arguably the final form of Dragon Ball arena fighters.

Regarding the roster, it would be remiss not to mention the notable exclusions. Not only does the base roster miss popular characters like Super 17, Pikkon, and King Piccolo, but even with the wide selection of transformations for some characters, for some reason, forms like Goku’s Super Saiyan Blue Kaioken and Vegeta’s Super Saiyan Blue Evolution are only present as skill buffs as opposed to genuine transformations. With multiple waves of DLC in the works, of course some familiar faces have been left behind at launch, but even so, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s roster still comes up somewhat short, even with its massive size.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero isn't a perfect sequel to Budokai Tenkaichi 3, but it has successfully recaptured its spirit. Effort is visible even in the areas where Sparking Zero falls short, and concentrating on the core gameplay, presentation, and progression has paid dividends. Custom Battle and a decent online suite help this game find its own voice, both compared to its PS2 forebears and its more focused modern Dragon Ball peers. Ultimately, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero does the late Akira Toriyama and his collaborators’ work justice, and that should help it find its audience.

I ended my time with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero much the same way I started it: really excited to play more of it. I’ve already dumped a lot of time into Sparking! Zero, but there’s still a lot more to see. I have more alternate paths to complete, more costumes to unlock, plenty of other mechanics to master, more Capsules to play with, new teams to build… I could be here for a while, now that I think about it. The greatest compliment I can pay to a game is to say that I want to keep playing it after I’m done covering it. I want to keep playing Sparking! Zero. It’s been a long, long time coming, but Sparking! Zero is worth the wait. That little kid who grew up loving Dragon Ball would love that. I’m really happy for him.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero evolves the Budokai Tenkaichi series into the modern era of gaming: Faster-paced fights, and more dynamic than it has ever felt before. Akira Toriyama would be proud.

DRAGON BALL Sparking! ZERO is a great 3D arena fighter. It’s got a sizeable roster, huge maps, and a fun combat system that I quite a bit of mileage out of over the weekend. A clumsy user interface and only one splitscreen map does suck the life out of the party a bit, but there’s still a great game here for Dragon Ball fans and arena fighter enthusiasts. ∎