I am just going to say it of the bet, if you are a fan of Dragon Ball then DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero will make you feel at home on multiple fronts. In a lot of Dragon Ball games the focus is on giving players a big roster and this new game doesn’t shy away from doing that. There are literally hundreds of characters, 182 to be exact from the complete Saga so far.
A lot of these characters not only play well but are well-balanced and don’t feel overpowered. There is something to be had whether you are a fan of the franchise or not. The episodic mode keeps the experience fresh as it presents different sagas. All this makes you wonder, Is DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero worth it? Let’s find out.
The Episodes
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero gives you the option to approach a scenario from a different point of view. Episodic mode is a major part of the game. If you are a fan of Dragon Ball and want to see different fights that you have already seen then there is still a lot of stuff you can play. In Episodic mode, you basically pick a character and then see the story play out from their perspective.
It begins from Goku which means that you can see the entire sagas through his eyes. When you are playing the episodic mode you can play as the characters that you encounter. It means that when you encounter Vegeta, Freezer, and other characters, you can then play the game from their perspective. It’s good to see what these characters were doing when different events were unfolding.
It goes beyond the point of view of what we have seen in the anime. This can also result in a What If situation in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero. Winning or losing some fights can change the timeline and you will see stuff that you haven’t seen before. It is good to experience it since these characters have full voice-overs and some of them are quite funny. Episodic mode is fun and it shines once everything is put together. Episodic mode is also a good way to learn the ropes of the gameplay.
The Good Guy and The Bad Guy
One of the things that stands out for Episodic mode is that playing as good guys is comparatively easier. In the later storylines, the difficulty increases. It is also one of the reasons that playing as bad guys is hard in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero. The later storyline gets harder and part of the reason for it could be the fact that power level becomes higher. The low difficulty of the initial sagas also makes it easier.
Combat
Combat is simple and the actual buttons you need to press are easy to get the hang of. Training does a good job of teaching you enough to get you started. Like any fighting game, a lot of it comes down to different combos and timing. The controls you have are punch, dash, fly, and abilities (skills). Skills are known as signature abilities and ultimate attacks. Your abilities can vary based on the character that you are playing.
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero is high speed but it still feels responsive. When you play the game even little, the effect of that practice will be evident which can be felt even at the beginning of the game. In the beginning, it is just a skill button and punch button but later you begin to see more of what the game has to offer. It is easier to use a simple combo such as a mixture of different attacks. The combination of hit buttons and ability buttons makes up a satisfying combination.
Not Only Winning
It is not just about winning and progressing because some of the moments go beyond winning and losing even if it results in your death, and can be quite fun. These are the moments that are not only fun to look at but to play regardless of whether you lose or win. Fighting game wants you to learn, grow, and win. It is not about how you lost but what you learn from your loss. That is true DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero.
Everything feels smooth and DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero is balanced even with 182 characters. If you are not familiar with Dragon Ball then you might find it strange that so many versions exist of the same character. The idea revolves around showing a character in different versions of their evolution into a more powerful version of themselves.
Not only do these characters look different but they are balanced differently as well. Each version of these characters fights differently similar to how different versions of Goku and other characters fight differently in the anime. Even their abilities and powers were different which sits quite well with what fans have seen in the anime.
It goes as far as letting you play full-moon Vegeta as a big ape. His attack in that mode is powerful but at the same time, he can’t dodge that well. The situation is no different for other characters because everyone has weaknesses and strengths. It’s good to see everyone play differently and experiment with them to figure stuff out. The AI can break from time to time and stop attacks for a few seconds so keep that in mind.
Verdict (Is DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero Worth It?)
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! Zero is a good take on the Dragon Ball and it can be considered among the good Dragon Ball games. The episodic mode lets players experience different events of different sagas in a new light. There is something to be had in the game whether you are a fan of the franchise or coming at the game as a new newcomer. The performance of characters and alternate events is done nicely.
Combat is not just simple with buttons for attack, evade, and use abilities. The abilities of different characters come together to provide a good experience. The moment-to-moment gameplay is fun even if it does not always result in winnings. For fans of the franchise, it is an absolute blast.
