Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Easter Egg References the Franchise’s Disastrous Live-Action Movie

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Easter Egg References the Franchise's Disastrous Live-Action Movie

Key Takeaways

  • Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero includes an Easter Egg referencing the infamous Dragon Ball Evolution movie.
  • Fused Zamasu uses a line originally said by Lord Piccolo in Evolution.
  • Voice actor James Marsters, who voiced Zamasu, also played Lord Piccolo in Dragon Ball Evolution.

As a long-time Dragon Ball fan with memories of watching the original series on VHS tapes and even braving the cinematic atrocity that was Dragon Ball Evolution, I must say, I was taken aback by the Easter Egg reference to the movie in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. It’s not every day you see a game nodding to such an infamous blip in the franchise’s history!


In the game Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, fans have identified a tribute to one of the more unexpected entries in the series – the controversial live-action film, Dragon Ball Evolution. Similar to the Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi games, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is brimming with Easter Eggs and winks to iconic phrases, memes, and instances from the entire Dragon Ball universe. Characters from non-canonical movies appear as playable characters, while pre-fight dialogue adds a touch of humor. Uncovering hidden references from various Dragon Ball media is part of the enjoyment in playing Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.

“The part of that media which fans might prefer to overlook is ‘Dragon Ball Evolution’, a 2009 live-action adaptation of ‘Dragon Ball’. This film, loosely modeled after the King Piccolo Saga from the original series, was a flop at the box office and received harsh criticism from both critics and fans. The numerous deviations from the source material, along with other problems, were major issues. Even Akira Toriyama, the creator of ‘Dragon Ball’ who passed away this year, expressed dissatisfaction with how the movie portrayed his work, though it did inspire him to revisit the franchise until his demise.

In an unexpected twist, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero seems to acknowledge Dragon Ball Evolution, as some attentive players have spotted a connection. A Twitter user named Burd14 highlighted that Half-Corrupted Fused Zamasu utters “Human power has failed before, and it will again!” during one of his special moves. Interestingly, this phrase is also spoken by Lord Piccolo in the climax of Dragon Ball Evolution, as noted by Burd14. This line fits well with Zamasu’s arrogant character, but its appearance in Sparking Zero suggests a subtle reference to the live-action movie.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Sees Zamazu’s Voice Actor Reference His Past Dragon Ball Role

The importance of the Easter Egg in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero lies in the fact that James Marsters, who voices Zamasu and all his forms, is also known for portraying Lord Piccolo in Dragon Ball Evolution. Marsters has frequently shared his disappointment with how his initial Dragon Ball appearance turned out, and he took on the role of Zamasu in Dragon Ball Super and other media as a means to make amends within the Dragon Ball Z community.

Marsters’s portrayal of Zamasu has garnered praise from fans of Dragon Ball, and some Twitter users have noted that Piccolo’s line from Dragon Ball Evolution could also apply to Zamasu due to his general disdain for humans and mortals. As of this writing, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has only been out for a week, so players may discover more references to the less-fondly remembered Dragon Ball Evolution movie among the game’s many homages to the broader Dragon Ball franchise.

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2024-10-14 20:14