As someone who grew up with Dragon Ball Z dominating my after-school cartoon lineup and spent countless hours debating the merits of Goku vs Vegeta with friends, I can confidently say that Dragon Ball: SPARKING Zero has me more excited than a Saiyan seeing a freshly ripe Senzu Bean. The demo at Gamescom was nothing short of electrifying, with the destructible environments and fluid combat system reminding me why I fell in love with this franchise in the first place.
2013 was when I caught the movie Man of Steel, and it felt almost as if I was watching a live-action adaptation – albeit with plenty of CGI – of a Dragon Ball Z film in real life, due to the intense final battle between Superman and General Zod.
From characters flying through the air landing punches, to throwing each other through buildings, it felt like you could drop a Saiyan or two into the fight and have it feel pretty true to some of the anime’s more destructive scenes. I’m pleased to say that Dragon Ball: SPARKING Zero finally feels like the city-leveling superhero fighting game I’ve seemingly always wanted.
Destruction over 9000
During my presentation of the Sparking Zero demo at Gamescom, I had an opportunity to participate in team matches involving up to three players, though it should be noted that the final version of the game boasts an impressive collection of 164 characters to choose from.
In addition, I managed to face off against adversaries across various battlefields, including the timeless dusty canyons symbolic of Dragon Ball’s legendary scenes, all the way to Planet Namek and beyond. Of particular interest to me, though, was the bustling urban landscape of West City.
Following my throw of Vegeta off cliffs and mountains in the Gizard Wasteland, I shifted my focus towards the bustling metropolis. In the midst of blasting adversaries through structures, collapsing bridges, and discharging a Kamehameha that transported poor Piccolo to a new location, I was amazed at how devastating the surroundings could be. By the end of the battle, my actions made the Chicago scene from Invincible appear like a trivial skirmish.
In Sparking Zero, while there’s a focus on launching martial artists worldwide, the combat system shares similarities with Xenoverse. This implies that managing your Ki is crucial as it influences the power of your special attacks and when you can dash. Essentially, it encourages strategic timing for attack, much like in anime, where choosing the right moment to strike is key.
Time Capsule (Corp)
More recently, I pointed out that Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has now been released on PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, making it my preferred method to experience the latest 3D arena brawler from the series. While Xenoverse 2 is already an exceptional game, what took me by surprise was the significant improvement in graphical quality.
In a refreshingly vivid style, the bold character outlines against captivating (and frequently ruined) settings give an impression that the legendary cast from Akira Toriyama’s works is literally jumping out of the screen. Moreover, the abundance of characters, each with intricate designs and authentic move sets for their respective eras, seems like a heartfelt homage to the artist.
I’ll always have a soft spot for the Saiyan saga, and being able to use Goku’s Spirit Bomb technique to beat Vegeta in the Gizard Wasteland felt great. I imagine the full game will be full of those moments for players regardless of how long they’ve been with the franchise. I’m also curious to see how much longevity there is to be found in the single-player modes, but equally, I could see myself spending hours just punching iconic characters into buildings – which probably says a lot about me as a person.
Final Thoughts
Dragon Ball: Ignition Zero might just be what Dragon Ball anime enthusiasts have eagerly anticipated during the extended hiatus of 3D arena fighters. With an extensive roster of characters, destructible environments, and dynamic and gratifying battle mechanics, it’s a game that fans can hardly wait to get their hands on.
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2024-08-27 13:12