Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Proves That DB Story Modes Need To Change

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Proves That DB Story Modes Need To Change

As a seasoned Dragon Ball gamer with over two decades under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from the original Budokai Tenkaichi to the latest Sparking Zero. It’s safe to say that I’ve fought more saiyan battles than most people have had hot dinners!


The highly-anticipated new video game titled “Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero” is now available. Critics have praised it, and sales have been impressive, captivating numerous fans with its revival of the classic gameplay style from Budokai Tenkaichi’s Dragon Ball Z simulation and an abundance of secret interactions and bonus content. In the competitive Dragon Ball gaming world, “Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero” has quickly established itself as the latest standout title, even amid a few flaws and missteps. It has done an impressive job in upholding its legacy.

A truly immersive Dragon Ball fighting game like Sparking Zero requires a multitude of characters to play and various activities, and this game certainly delivers. With an unprecedented roster of 182 playable Dragon Ball characters, plus numerous offline and online modes, players can easily lose track of time climbing the online leaderboard or creating their own tales in the flexible Custom Battle. Eventually, most gamers will find themselves captivated by Sparking Zero’s story mode, titled Episode Battle, which is inspired by different character episodes and hypothetical “Sparking Episodes.” However, it seems that Dragon Ball story modes, as fans have come to expect them, might be approaching their end with Episode Battle potentially signaling a shift.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s Story Feels Like A Retread

For dedicated Dragon Ball fans, Episode Battle offers numerous intriguing interactions that allow them to influence the series’ established events. Apart from the dialogue choices leading to distinct paths, a player’s battle performance subtly alters the storyline as well, sometimes resulting in fresh battles or different characters joining in. The most significant deviations lead to Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s Sparking Episodes, which are noticeable due to their increased originality and even some newly animated scenes. Even minor changes triggered by performing well in a fight can be rewarding.

Episode Battle Should Be The Last Vanilla Dragon Ball Story Mode

As a dedicated Dragon Ball fan, I can’t help but feel a bit disappointed with the Episode Battle mode in Sparking Zero. Instead of immersive battles, it often feels like a rapid-fire recap of the events from Dragon Ball Z and Super, akin to flipping through slides of my favorite episodes.

What Dragon Ball Video Games Need To Change About Their Stories

Essentially, Dragon Ball video games have been reimagining the original and Z arcs of Dragon Ball for many years now. If we compare it to games like Sparking Zero, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2, released in 2003, already had all of Dragon Ball Z adapted with a lot of “what if” scenarios and additional features. More recent Dragon Ball titles on eighth generation consoles, starting with Dragon Ball Xenoverse, have generally moved away from retelling the Dragon Ball Z story, but with Kakarot and Sparking Zero coming out so close together, both heavily focusing on Dragon Ball Z while Dragon Ball Super was still airing, it seems there should be a shift in approach.

The Next Dragon Ball Game Should Explore Uncharted Territory

It’s good news that we already have a few potential approaches. The game Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 has been releasing “what if” expansion packs, and it might be beneficial for the next game to follow suit. Interestingly, Sparking Zero‘s Episode Battle appears to have a stronger interest in investigating hypotheticals rather than retelling events, so transitioning could be smooth. On the other hand, there are still untapped aspects of Dragon Ball Super‘s anime and manga, as well as Dragon Ball Daima, that haven’t been the central focus of a game yet. These could serve as a starting point to venture into new gaming genres for the next Dragon Ball title after Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. At least, it seems the upcoming game doesn’t lack options for its storyline.

Read More

2024-10-18 13:33