Games

Cool New Features In Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Published

30 seconds ago

December 17, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Summary

Table of Contents

Sparking Zero brings back beloved features & introduces new ones for both old and new players.
What-If storylines offer fresh, non-canon experiences fans haven’t seen before.
Super Shenron, first-person cutscenes, & custom battles add depth & personalization to the game.

The latest entry in the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, does a fantastic job of continuing the legacy of the series. It brings back all the fan-favorite features from the previous installments, including the enormous roster of characters, fast-paced battles, and a plethora of epic fusions and transformations that define the Dragon Ball experience.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – 8 Strongest Kamehameha Attacks, Ranked

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is packed with variations of the Kamehameha. These are the strongest, ranked.

On top of that, Sparking Zero also brings a set of brand-new features never before seen in the Budokai Tenkaichi series. These additions make the game feel familiar yet fresh, making for an enjoyable experience for both veterans of the series and new players. Now that Sparking Zero has been out for a couple of months, let’s highlight its best new features, ones that will hopefully become a fixture of future Dragon Ball games in this subseries.

These features are only “new” for
Budokai Tenkaichi
, not
Dragon Ball
in general.

What-If Storylines

Non-Canon Storylines That Take The Story In Unexpected Directions

The earlier entries in the Budokai Tenkaichi series were renowned for having some of the most comprehensive story modes in all the Dragon Ball games. For instance, Budokai Tenkaichi 3‘s story mode covered almost every fight that happened throughout the Dragon Ball series (including GT). Therefore, fans expected Sparking Zero’s story mode to be even more expansive, especially considering all the new content shown in Dragon Ball Super.

However, Sparking Zero’s story mode doesn’t quite reach the same level of extensiveness as its predecessors, though future DLCs are expected to expand on the content. The game makes up for this shortcoming by introducing What-If storylines. By completing alternate objectives during story battles, players can unlock alternate paths that lead to non-canon storylines that fans have never seen before, offering a fresh take on beloved characters and events.

Super Shenron

Shenron’s Bigger, More Powerful Version Joins The Cast

One of the most underappreciated features of the Budokai Tenkaichi was the ability to summon Shenron, who would grant the player different kinds of rewards, such as Zeni, new maps, and additional characters.

A collage image of Sparking Zero featuring Vegito, MUI Goku, and Goku Black

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – 8 Tips For Beginner Players

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero can be a little overwhelming for new players. Luckily, these tips should help.

Sparking Zero not only brings back Shenron but also introduces his superior counterpart: Super Shenron. First seen in Dragon Ball Super, this multiversal dragon is the most powerful in the franchise, and his inclusion in the game doesn’t disappoint. Players can summon Super Shenron to make incredible wishes, such as unlocking characters like Goku Black or obtaining powerful ability items that provide a significant edge in battles.

First-Person POV Cutscenes

Experience Iconic Dragon Ball Moments Like Never Before

While the previous Budokai Tenkaichi games had highly fleshed-out story modes, one notable shortcoming was the lack of properly animated cutscenes. The games relied on static character models delivering dialogue, which resulted in a lack of visual flair.

Sparking Zero takes a huge leap forward by introducing fully animated cutscenes for a large chunk of its story moments. It also introduces a First-Person POV option, allowing players to experience iconic moments from the series through the eyes of their favorite characters. This feature makes the cutscenes feel a lot more personal and intense.

Custom Battles

A Unique Feature With A Lot Of Potential

For Dragon Ball fans with creative minds, Sparking Zero’s Custom Battle feature is a dream come true. This brand-new mode lets players craft battles in their own image, offering full control over elements like the map, characters, trigger events, win conditions, and the battle’s title screen.

The highlight of the Custom Battle mode is the ability to share these creations online for other players to enjoy. While some improvements are needed to make the battle creation process easier, its potential is undeniable. It’s a fantastic way to foster creativity and strengthen the Sparking Zero community, encouraging fans to build and share their own Dragon Ball stories.

A collage image showing screenshots from Dragon Ball Sparking Zero

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – 6 Moves You Need To Master

The combat in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero isn’t overly challenging, there are still some key moves that every player must master.

Online Ranked Mode

A Place For Players To Finally Put Their Skills To The Test

While the Wii version of Budokai Tenkaichi 3 included an online multiplayer option, none of the previous installments in the series ever featured an online ranked mode. Fans had long dreamed of a system where they could face off against each other, earn ranks, and climb a competitive ladder – a dream finally realized in Sparking Zero.

The game offers a full-fledged online ranked mode, allowing players to compete across 26 ranks to reach the coveted Z Rank. This mode caters to different playstyles with two battle formats: Single Battles, where players can choose one character for 1v1 combat, and DP Battles, where players can assemble a team of up to five characters. Whether players prefer one-on-one duels or strategic team-based clashes, Sparking Zero’s ranked mode has something for everyone.

Unique Grab Animations

Special Animations That Reference Legendary Moments From The Show

Sparking Zero introduces a delightful new feature that fans didn’t expect to see but welcomed with open arms: unique grab animations. While every character in the game has a standard grab animation, a handful of them perform special grabs when facing a specific opponent.

For instance, when SSB Vegeta grabs SSJ Rosé Goku Black, he replicates his iconic moment from the anime, grabbing him by the air and delivering a brutal headbutt. These unique grabs recreate awesome moments from the series, serving as exciting Easter eggs for keen-eyed fans who catch the references.

Zen-Oh’s Orders

A Fun Progression System That Gives Cool Rewards

Zen-Oh makes an appearance in the game’s “Challenges and Missions” menu, not to wreak havoc, but to issue fun challenges known as “Zen-Oh’s Orders.” These challenges are very straightforward but offer cool rewards, such as Zeni, and cool titles for players to use on their profiles.

A collage image of Broly, Goku, and Gogeta from Sparking Zero

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero – 8 Most Overpowered Characters

Character power in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is canonical, and just like the series, there are some very overpowered characters on the roster.

This system serves as a fun little progression mechanic that encourages players to grind the game. It also motivates them to use characters they might not have tried otherwise, making the gameplay feel more fresh and rewarding.