Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s Success Hints at DB FighterZ Sequel

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As a long-time Dragon Ball fan, I was beyond excited when Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero hit the shelves in 2024. This 3D fighting game, crafted by the masterful hands of Spike Chunsoft and published by Bandai Namco, is a testament to the franchise’s enduring appeal. It’s safe to say that this ambitious installation is a giant leap forward for the series.

With an astounding roster of 182 playable characters – more than twice the number available in the initial Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkaichi game on the PS2 – it’s clear that they weren’t messing around. The game also boasts 12 unique stages and over 140 distinct Ultimate Blast attacks, ensuring each battle is as dynamic and exhilarating as the last. I can hardly wait to dive back into the Dragon Ball universe with this incredible new addition!

The video game titled “Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero” has been an incredible triumph for publisher Bandai Namco, garnering widespread acclaim from both critics and fans alike. Upon its launch on Steam, it boasted over 122,000 concurrent players, a feat that speaks volumes about its popularity. To top it off, the game managed to sell a staggering 3 million copies within a single day across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC platforms. As a result, “Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero” ranks as the third best-selling Bandai Namco game in the United States, trailing only behind Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring. Despite the initial fervor surrounding “Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero” gradually subsiding, its enduring popularity should serve as a compelling argument for Bandai Namco to develop a sequel of another legendary Dragon Ball fighting game.

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Proves There’s Still an Audience for a Sequel to Dragon Ball FighterZ

Dragon Ball FighterZ is One of the Highest-Rated Dragon Ball Games Ever

Generally speaking, video games derived from the Dragon Ball series have often been met with unfavorable reviews by professional critics. However, certain titles like Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku 2, and Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2 have been warmly received by fans, despite garnering mixed-to-positive ratings at best. Interestingly, one recent exception to this trend is the game Dragon Ball FighterZ.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve found myself immersed in the thrilling world of Dragon Ball FighterZ, a masterpiece developed by Arc System Works, the same studio behind classics like Double Dragon and Guilty Gear. This game, published by Bandai Namco, was unleashed on PS4, Xbox One, and PC back in 2018. At first glance, it might seem like just another anime fighting game, but it’s far from ordinary for a game of this caliber.

The 2.5D art direction is astonishingly true to the Dragon Ball Z anime, and its team-based gameplay offers an intriguing blend of the Marvel vs. Capcom series and Guilty Gear. It’s not just another fighting game; it’s a testament to the power and creativity of gaming.

Similar to how Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero was a massive success, Dragon Ball FighterZ quickly became a runaway hit. It received a 94% approval rating from critics on OpenCritic and an 87/100 score on Metacritic. In its first week alone, it sold 2 million copies, eventually becoming the most popular fighting game on Steam at the time of its release, at least in terms of concurrent players. DB FighterZ is widely recognized not only as one of the top Dragon Ball games ever made, but also as one of the greatest fighting games ever created.

In time, the number of simultaneous players on Steam for Dragon Ball FighterZ was surpassed by other popular fighting games such as Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero.

Arc System Works and Bandai Namco Should Team Up Again to Make Dragon Ball FighterZ 2

Although Dragon Ball FighterZ has been quite successful, there’s been scant information regarding a potential sequel or updates for the game beyond a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S port released in February 2024. Since then, Arc System Works has focused on other projects like Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and Guilty Gear Strive, leaving Dragon Ball FighterZ with minimal significant updates over the past couple of years. It would be wonderful if Arc System Works and Bandai Namco could revisit Dragon Ball FighterZ in the future and develop a proper sequel to the game. With Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero demonstrating a sizable fanbase for top-tier Dragon Ball fighting games, a follow-up to Dragon Ball FighterZ would likely be snapped up quickly.

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2025-02-19 01:05