DB:SZ Remembers a Small Touch That Makes The Anime More Special

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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Remembers a Small Touch That Makes The Anime More Special

Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO

By Liam Ferguson

Published Apr 10, 2024

Fans of Dragon Ball games are on the lookout for more news about Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the next installment in the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Known for their massive rosters, stylish action, and abundant fanservice, the first three numbered Budokai Tenkaichi titles remain some of the most respected games in Dragon Ball's repertoire, and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will pick up where they left off. Several trailers in, Sparking Zero really does look like the direct sequel to the PS2/Wii trilogy, with only its enhanced visuals and Dragon Ball Super characters betraying that it took over a decade to finally arrive.

Even with a gameplay showcase released to the public, it's clear that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has a lot left to reveal. Only a fraction of its launch roster’s 164 Dragon Ball characters and forms have been announced, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. The Budokai Tenkaichi games were defined by their attention to detail, and that means Sparking Zero could be holding back anything from “what if?” scenarios to niche interactions between specific characters. Small nods to Sparking Zero’s decades of source material should keep piling up, and it already has one of Dragon Ball’s most subtle recurring elements present in full force.

Grid of characters from the Speed vs. Power trailer for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO

Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero May Give Super Smash Bros. Ultimate a Run for its Money

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate made one major mark on the fighting game genre that Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO could blow out of the water.

Sparking Zero Understands Clothing's Place In Dragon Ball’s Style

Dragon Ball is best remembered for its fights and fighters, and a lot goes into the best Dragon Ball games’ recreations of both. There's a reason why the Budokai Tenkaichi series, including Sparking Zero, divides combatants’ forms and eras into separate character slots, allowing players to build precise scenarios involving specific sets of forms. In Budokai Tenkaichi, some fighters even had cosmetic options, like Goku’s different gi or his Yardrat outfit. How much of that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero will include is currently unknown, especially since costume DLC is now an option.

Battle Damage Returns In Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero

Fortunately, a show-accurate form of dynamic costume changing has already been confirmed. When fighters take major damage from Ki Waves or Ultimate Attacks, their clothes will be damaged in ways reminiscent of Dragon Ball’s manga and anime. The Dragon Ball Super versions of Goku and Vegeta from the gameplay showcase get damaged clothes specifically from the climax of the Dragon Ball Super: Broly movie, suggesting that their past selves could take on damaged appearances from their Sagas instead. Complete with scuff marks appearing as fighters take damage, Sparking Zero has done a great job at capturing the look of Dragon Ball.

How Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Reflects The Manga and Anime

Its combat and characters may be iconic, but Dragon Ball’s visual identity needs to be established for them to work, and battle damage is just one way that Sparking Zero replicates it. Overt design choices like cell-shaded art and accurate camera work during intros, transformations, and Ultimate Attacks are expected, but Sparking Zero's features go the extra mile with subtle touches like Saiyan hair swaying while Ki Charging and dust clouds parting around oncoming Ki Blasts. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is using modern consoles’ power to pack more movement and detail into its gameplay, and it seems to be making all the right moves.

There's Still More Fine Touches That Sparking Zero Can Add

Of course, past Budokai Tenkaichi games wouldn't have earned their reputations without doing the best they could. Everything from objects hidden in stage backgrounds and different Super Saiyan 3 breaking through super armor faster to Piccolo and the Supreme Kai using their fake names when in tournaments, all demonstrate Budokai Tenkaichi’s reverence for Dragon Ball. Even battle damage had special instances that aren't guaranteed to return in Sparking Zero, like Future Gohan losing one of his arms. It looks like Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is on the right path, though, so fans should expect plenty of other details that remind them of why Dragon Ball is so special.