Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero: Bringing Back the Classic Budokai Tenkaichi Formula
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is a three-dimensional fighting game that aims to bring back the formula of the classic Budokai Tenkaichi. Set to be released on October 11th, the game promises to bring back the nostalgic experience of the PlayStation 2, with an impressive number of playable characters, including some more obscure and unknown ones.
During the tests conducted at Gamescom Latam, the game proved to be faithful to the classics, with familiar gameplay and controls that replicate the schemes of previous titles. In addition, the state-of-the-art visual presentation and well-crafted animations pay homage to the memorable moments of the anime.
One of the great novelties of Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is its cast of characters, which promises to be the largest in the franchise’s history, with around 160 fighters already available at launch. In addition to well-known characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan, the game will also give prominence to characters who never had a chance in more traditional fighting games. During the tests, characters like Bergamo from the Ginyu Special Forces were present, which shows the developer’s intention to explore the Dragon Ball universe to the fullest.
Despite some flaws in the menu interface, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero caught attention for its fast-paced gameplay. As soon as the characters and the battlefield were selected, the action started almost immediately.
The game provides old-school fun, allowing players to repeatedly press the same button to unleash combos. However, there is also strategic depth for more dedicated players, such as the ability to parry opponent attacks and perform long-range techniques.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero also stands out visually, with destructible environments and meticulously crafted character models. The cinematic special moves have high-quality animations, reminiscent of the memorable moments from the anime. The Brazilian Portuguese localization is a positive aspect, despite the lack of dubbing in our language.
Despite some inconsistencies, such as camera positioning problems and the repetition of a single music track during fights, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero promises to be the game that fans of the series have been waiting for a long time. With the potential to reignite interest in the formula among casual players, the game has everything to become the best arena fighting game from Spike Chunsoft in decades. We just have to wait for the official release to experience all the new features and game modes that the title will offer.
