As someone who’s been spinning ki blasts since the days of Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, I can confidently say that Sparking! ZERO is not just a game, but a testament to the evolution of our beloved franchise. The introduction of the Super Counter in Sparking! ZERO takes the skill ceiling to new heights, catering to those who crave mastery. It’s a risk-reward mechanism that can either leave you victorious or defeated, depending on your timing and control over the mechanic.
Spike Chunsoft’s game, Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, is set to release on October 11th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. However, even in its pre-release stage, it has become a significant success. As of now, on Steam alone, there have been over 122,000 players playing simultaneously, which is more than major fighting games like Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8.
Ready to explore what sets Sparking! ZERO apart from Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi 3? Is it merely an upgraded version with additional features, or does it offer something truly unique? Let’s delve into the key distinctions that make Sparking! ZERO shine. Stay tuned as we uncover the differences that set this game apart.
Faster Combat
The noticeable difference between Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 lies in the significantly increased speed of Sparking! ZERO. Even though the original felt smooth, this new version is even faster. This speed increase can be attributed to the enhanced processing power of modern consoles and PCs, as well as the fast-paced mechanics and quick decisions required from players. Nonetheless, it provides the most realistic experience of Dragon Ball combat to date, embodying the sensation of controlling extremely powerful warriors in rapid succession, with exchanges so swift that they’re hard for the human eye to follow. In short, it’s impressive!
Presentation
In Unreal Engine 5, the game Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO boasts one of the most visually stunning installments in the series thus far. This visual appeal isn’t limited to improved environments, detailed character models, or spectacular depictions of devastating attacks like the planet-erasing beams. It also stems from the animation quality and its faithful adherence to the original anime style, even replicating specific moves such as Vegeta’s grabs against Goku Black and Frieza’s ragdoll physics when faced with Toppo. However, it’s important to note that the game’s impressive music, whether it’s the second opening theme from Dragon Ball Super, Limit Break x Survivor, for the opening movie, or the tune that plays upon entering Sparking! Mode for the first time, should not be overlooked.
Environmental Destruction
Among the standout features of Budokai Tenkaichi 3, one that frequently receives praise is the option to destroy a stage during combat. Any damage inflicted is permanent, adding tension and intensity to the battles. Sparking! ZERO builds upon this feature by introducing varying degrees of damage for different attacks. For instance, Ki Blasts cause significant dents, while beam attacks cause the buildings to crumble and even scorch the ground. While the extensive destruction may have limited the number of stages available in local split-screen play, it certainly adds an impressive level of realism and interactive environment to the game.
Beam Clashes
In a Dragon Ball game, Beam Clashes are essential as they showcase the collision of powerful energy attacks between characters, with one trying to outmatch the other. Unlike Budokai Tenkaichi 3’s rather simple implementation, Sparking! ZERO offers a more engaging experience. Before the clash, there’s a wind-up and zoom into each character’s face, followed by the actual collision. A mini-game kicks in during the clash, and winning means delivering a stronger attack with more hits and a more impressive visual presentation.
More Characters, Deeper Roster
Upon release, Tenkaichi 3 boasted a record-breaking roster for Dragon Ball games with a total of 162 playable characters. It’s only fitting that the follow-up game, Sparking! ZERO, would take it a step further by introducing an even larger starting roster of 182 characters. Notably, characters from Dragon Ball Super have been included, such as Jiren, Cabba, Dyspo, Beerus, Hit, Kale, Caulifla, Kakunsa, and Toppo. Additionally, new base forms and Transformations for Goku and Vegeta are present, along with the iconic Broly from the Super film. This expansion results in a greater variety of options when assembling your team.
Strategies
Incorporating additional tactics in a contest, particularly when dealing with an adversary prone to destruction, can be tricky, regardless of the arena. However, Sparking! ZERO introduces an extra strategic dimension through Skill Count. This resource regenerates over time, limiting access to techniques like Sparking! Mode (while other conditions apply), Transformations, Fusions, and numerous other abilities. This factor also affects the Destruction Points equilibrium since you can select lower-cost characters and transform or fuse during battle, but only if you survive long enough to accumulate sufficient Skill Count. Making decisions about transformations is another delicate balance, but Skill Count also impacts whether you employ specific moves, such as…
Introducing Super Perception and Revenge Counter
Sparking! ZERO offers Super Perception, which diverts Beam Attacks. It can create a significant advantage against an opponent running low on Ki, but it costs two Skill Points and may impact your overall Transformation balance. The Revenge Counter option also uses Skill Points and is useful for countering melee attacks. However, overusing it could lead to a disadvantage by depleting your Skill Count faster, increasing the strategy and making matches more intense.
Increased Skill Ceiling With Super Counters
Additionally, here’s an interesting detail: Sparking! ZERO boosts the potential of advanced players by raising the skill cap with the Super Counter. Similar to the Revenge Counter, it enables escaping melee attacks and making a comeback, but without consuming any Skill Points. This means you can use it whenever you desire, preserving those points for Transformations, Super Perception, Sparking! Mode, and so on. The catch is that it demands precise timing, which could make it a gamble for those still learning, or a way to identify skilled players from the rest due to its high-level execution requirement.
More In-Depth Tutorial and Training Options
When I dive into either Budokai Tenkaichi 3 or Sparking! ZERO, these games can be quite a challenge for newbies like myself. That’s why I appreciate that the latter includes a comprehensive Battle Training mode, which breaks down all the fundamentals and pushes me to test my abilities. Plus, it offers straightforward training options so I can learn characters at my own speed and in different scenarios.
What if Saga vs. Episode Battle Branching
In the fresh mode called Episode Battle of Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, players revisit iconic battles for each character, but with a twist. This version introduces branching narratives that depend on your choices, leading to familiar storylines unfolding in unexpected ways. For instance, if you choose correctly, Goku might survive his initial encounter against Raditz and train Gohan before Vegeta and Nappa reach Earth.
Although certain results may align with the initial storyline, it’s thrilling to venture into different storylines. To put it another way, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 offered a What-if Saga, which were self-contained narratives that deviated from the traditional storyline. These side stories were intriguing on their own, even though they had a smaller focus and scope, and did not connect with the established storyline in any way.
Standard and Classic Control Options
In essence, Sparking! ZERO comes equipped with two play styles – the initial one being Standard, which introduces modern methods for executing moves such as a dedicated Perception button and effortless Revenge Counters (simply press the Right Stick on your controller). Notably, it does away with stick spinning. Yet, devotees need not fret because the alternative control scheme, Classic, preserves every aspect of Budokai Tenkaichi 3, providing that authentic gaming experience.
Edit Mode
Despite Budokai Tenkaichi 3 being an exceptional game, it lacked the ability to create custom battles with the level of customization found in Sparking! ZERO. This includes aspects like scripting, camera angles, multiple endings, special conditions, and more. Another feature that Sparking! ZERO offers is the ability to share your custom creations with other players, allowing you to experience first-hand the destruction wreaked by a base Cabba against some of the strongest warriors. The only drawback is the limited number of creation slots, which hopefully will be expanded in the future.
Please take note: The perspectives conveyed within this article belong solely to the author and may not align with or be officially endorsed by GamingBolt as a collective entity.
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2024-10-14 13:43