Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Review – Battles Unleashed

(image credit: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)

Key Takeaways

• A Massive Lineup: Over 180 characters bring Dragon Ball’s universe to life, from beloved heroes and deep-cut fighters to legendary what-ifs.

• Fighting That Feels Right: The fast, high-energy battles you remember from Budokai Tenkaichi are back—tighter, smarter, and more satisfying than ever.

• Breathtaking Visuals: Unreal Engine 5 makes every character shine, every explosion hit harder, and every scene feel like you’re inside the Dragon Ball world.

• Play Your Way: Dive into iconic stories, create wild dream matchups, or challenge rivals online—whether you’re in it for the nostalgia or the competition, there’s something for you.

• Fresh Spins on Classic Stories: Episode Battles rework legendary arcs to pull in lifelong fans and first-timers alike.

• Make It Your Own: Tweak your strategy on the fly with upgrades and smart mechanics like ki and stamina control—no two battles play out the same.

• The Best of Old and New: Sparking! Zero respects the Budokai Tenkaichi legacy while bringing bold updates to push the series forward.

• Easy to Learn, Hard to Master: New players can jump in and have fun, while veterans will love the layers of strategy and combo potential.

• A Few Bumps: Online play has some rough edges, but updates should smooth things out soon.

• Pure Dragon Ball Energy: From jaw-dropping moves to spot-on voices, this is Dragon Ball through and through—a true treat for fans.

Gameplay and Mechanics

Sparking! Zero brings Dragon Ball battles to life with thrilling, fast-paced combat. You’ll leap into huge 3D arenas, smashing together combos, firing off powerful ki blasts, and zipping around with lightning speed. It’s easy to pick up, so anyone can jump in, but there’s plenty of depth for seasoned players to pull off perfect counters and dodges. The real fun comes from managing your ki, stamina, and ultimate gauges to land game-changing moves like Goku’s Kamehameha or Frieza’s Death Beam. Every fight feels intense and satisfying, keeping you hooked from start to finish. Here are a few features to help accomplish that:

• Transformation System: Transformations like Super Saiyan or Golden Frieza explode onto the scene mid-battle, shaking up your stats, moves, and abilities. But this raw power comes with a price—draining your ki and stamina, making every transformation a high-stakes decision.

• Tag Team Battles: Swapping characters on the fly opens up fresh strategies, lets you chain slick team combos, and keeps your fighters in the game longer.

• Destructible Environments: Fights tear apart the world around you—crashing through mountains or launching opponents into orbit cranks the action up and makes you feel like you’re living the Dragon Ball dream.

• Cinematic Finishers: Ultimate moves hit hard and look stunning, breaking into jaw-dropping cutscenes that feel ripped straight from the anime.

• Ki and Stamina Management: It’s all about balance. Pour your ki into powerful attacks or save it for defense, but push too hard, and you’ll leave yourself wide open. Every move matters.

(image credit: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)

Sparking! Zero invites everyone to leap in and enjoy, blending approachable controls with deep mastery for seasoned players. Pull off flashy moves with ease, or dig into the nuanced art of perfecting combos and timing. The tutorial covers the essentials, though it might feel like a flood of info at first.

Shape your fighter to match your flair—tweaking stats, moves, and appearance. With a sprawling roster, every clash brings something new, though balancing so many characters leaves a few feeling overpowered. Destructible stages and cinematic attacks dazzle, even if they sometimes disrupt the fight’s rhythm.

At its heart, Sparking! Zero celebrates players old and new. Smooth combat, satisfying strategies, and stunning visuals make every match a fresh thrill.

Graphics and Presentation

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero throws you right into the heart of the Dragon Ball universe. Everything looks incredible—Goku’s torn-up gi, Vegeta’s scouter, and the wild glow of Super Saiyan transformations practically leap off the screen, thanks to Unreal Engine 5.

The battlefields are just as alive. You’re smashing through Namek’s rocky cliffs, tearing up Earth’s forests, or even brawling in space, leaving pure chaos in your wake. Lightning rips the sky, sunlight breaks through the dust, and every explosion feels massive, capturing all the epic, over-the-top energy Dragon Ball is known for.

(image credit: BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers a feast for the senses. Goku’s Spirit Bomb and Frieza’s Death Ball don’t just land—they explode with raw anime energy, amplified by breathtaking visuals and cinematic angles that make every victory feel colossal.

On modern systems, the action flows effortlessly, juggling chaos and dazzling effects with ease. Older consoles may stumble during massive clashes, but the magic stays intact. Classic music, thunderous sound effects, and spot-on voice work tie it all together seamlessly.

The gameplay takes center stage, even if a few cutscenes feel a touch rigid. Ultimate moves occasionally overload the screen with effects, obscuring the action, but the sheer thrill overrides the clutter.

This game is pure Dragon Ball—electric, detailed, and overflowing with love for its universe.

Episode Battle Mode

Episode Battle Mode throws you straight into Dragon Ball’s biggest moments, like the Saiyan Saga and Tournament of Power, while also letting you explore hidden stories and bold “what-if” scenarios. You’ll play as Goku, Vegeta, Frieza, and Cell, reliving these legendary arcs through a fresh mix of storytelling and gameplay.

The action stays exciting with survival battles, timed missions, and mid-fight character swaps. Arenas crumble around you as you relive epic anime moments brought to life by unforgettable voice lines, an incredible soundtrack, and stunning visuals.

There’s plenty to keep you coming back—unlockable content, alternate endings, and extra challenges. Sure, the difficulty can spike, and repeated cutscenes might test your patience, but Episode Battle Mode perfectly captures what makes Dragon Ball so special: a thrilling mix of nostalgia, creativity, and pure energy.

Custom Battle Mode

Custom Battle Mode in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero hands the controls over to you, letting you shape every fight your way. Build your perfect team, choose iconic arenas, and set the rules to recreate legendary battles or dream up crazy, one-of-a-kind matchups.

Tag battles are the real showstopper—switch fighters on the fly to outsmart your opponent, keep your strategy alive, and hit with explosive combos. It keeps every fight fresh and full of surprises.

But all that freedom has a downside. With no rewards or progression, the mode can start to feel repetitive, and with so many characters, a few inevitably outshine the rest.

Even so, it’s a playground for Dragon Ball fans to go wild, giving you everything you need to turn each fight into something truly your own.

(image credit BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment)

Online Multiplayer Mode

Online Multiplayer unleashes the series' signature mayhem. Jump into Casual Matches for laid-back brawls, climb the competitive ladder in Ranked Matches, or shape your perfect battles in Custom Rooms. Exploding visuals, collapsing stages, and dynamic mechanics like tag battles and character tweaks make every fight a fresh, electrifying experience.

While lag and balance quirks occasionally disrupt the rhythm, and Ranked Matches might daunt new players, this mode shines as a lively arena for creativity and skill. It’s primed to become one of the game’s standout features.

Final Verdict

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero pulls you straight into the heart of the series with over 180 characters, explosive combat, and jaw-dropping Unreal Engine 5 visuals that bring the anime to life.

The combat is easy to pick up but offers plenty of depth. You’ll unleash iconic moves, chain together devastating combos, and master the tag-team system, where timing and teamwork can turn the tide. Custom Battle and Online Multiplayer keep things exciting, whether you’re recreating legendary fights or building your own dream matchups.

The game looks and sounds incredible. Every character is brought to life with amazing detail. The arenas feel alive with energy, and every punch, blast, and impact feels satisfying, all backed by a dynamic soundtrack that draws you into the action. Sure, some characters feel a bit too strong, and progression could use more variety, but those are minor issues in a game that does so much, so well.

Whether you’ve been a Dragon Ball fan for years or are just getting into it, Sparking! Zero is a thrilling, replayable celebration of everything that makes the series special.

Unleash your inner Saiyan in Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero! Experience epic battles and stunning visuals. Grab your copy now through my Amazon affiliate link and power up your game!