80
MONSTER
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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76
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with inventive "What If" narratives and Episode Battle variety, yet falters under static visuals, uneven pacing, and missed character moments, offering a nostalgic but flawed tribute to Dragon Ball.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
76
Positive Reviews (80-100)
46%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
52%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with inventive "What If" narratives and Episode Battle variety, yet falters under static visuals, uneven pacing, and missed character moments, offering a nostalgic but flawed tribute to Dragon Ball.
Gameplay Mechanics
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85
A dynamic, deep Dragon Ball brawler praised for its fast-paced combat, 180+ characters, and nostalgic flair, but bogged down by clunky controls, repetitive mechanics, and a steep learning curve—yet its core excitement and strategic depth win out.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
85
Positive Reviews (80-100)
80%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
19%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
A dynamic, deep Dragon Ball brawler praised for its fast-paced combat, 180+ characters, and nostalgic flair, but bogged down by clunky controls, repetitive mechanics, and a steep learning curve—yet its core excitement and strategic depth win out.
Graphics and Visual Design
Expand for full analysis
88
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with jaw-dropping visuals, cel-shaded flair, and Unreal Engine 5 mastery, capturing the anime’s essence while smashing expectations—though chaotic battles and clunky cutscenes stumble against its own ambition.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
88
Positive Reviews (80-100)
79%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
21%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with jaw-dropping visuals, cel-shaded flair, and Unreal Engine 5 mastery, capturing the anime’s essence while smashing expectations—though chaotic battles and clunky cutscenes stumble against its own ambition.
Music and Sound Design
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77
Praise for immersive, nostalgic sound design and authentic voice acting, but critics panned a forgettable original soundtrack reliant on costly DLC for iconic Dragon Ball tracks, creating a divisive mix of admiration and frustration.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
52%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
45%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Praise for immersive, nostalgic sound design and authentic voice acting, but critics panned a forgettable original soundtrack reliant on costly DLC for iconic Dragon Ball tracks, creating a divisive mix of admiration and frustration.
Voice Acting
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77
Voice acting in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero shines with nostalgic authenticity, reuniting original cast members and offering multilingual tracks, but inconsistent implementation, missing language options, and underused voice lines dampen its potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
57%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
39%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
4%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero shines with nostalgic authenticity, reuniting original cast members and offering multilingual tracks, but inconsistent implementation, missing language options, and underused voice lines dampen its potential.
Technical Performance
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73
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero shines with buttery-smooth 60fps on PS5/Xbox Series X/PC, but glitches, lag, and UI hiccups dog its polish—proof of a technically strong yet imperfect experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
34%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
62%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
4%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero shines with buttery-smooth 60fps on PS5/Xbox Series X/PC, but glitches, lag, and UI hiccups dog its polish—proof of a technically strong yet imperfect experience.
Replay Value
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83
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero thrives on customizable battles, 180+ characters, and endless online play, but its shallow single-player story and clunky UI risk alienating fans craving depth over diversity.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
83
Positive Reviews (80-100)
71%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
28%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero thrives on customizable battles, 180+ characters, and endless online play, but its shallow single-player story and clunky UI risk alienating fans craving depth over diversity.
Overall Verdict
80
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
84%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
16%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a nostalgic, chaotic revival of Budokai Tenkaichi with deep combat, sprawling characters, and vibrant visuals—but technical glitches, repetitive content, and a lackluster story temper its impact, though fans hail it as the ultimate Dragon Ball game.
80
MONSTER
Reviews
181 reviews found100
ComicBook
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is highly praised for being a fusion of past and present Dragon Ball games, offering a great gameplay experience with a deep combat system and impressive visuals. It's recommended for both long-time fans and newcomers to the series.
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100
Impulsegamer
Oct 8, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a polished Dragon Ball game with extensive content, fun combat mechanics, and impressive visuals, making it a must-play for fans and newcomers alike.
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97
Hooked Gamers
Oct 9, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Sparking Zero is a labor of love that successfully revitalizes the beloved series, offering gripping gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a wealth of content for fans.
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95
SomosXbox
Oct 13, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO is hailed as the definitive Dragon Ball game, combining enjoyable arcade gameplay with depth, a vast character roster, and impressive technical execution, making it a must-play for fans.
95
COGconnected
Oct 9, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a polished and fun Dragon Ball game with abundant content, gorgeous presentation, and satisfying gameplay, despite minor issues with episode battle presentations and rare online connection problems.
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95
MeuPlayStation
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is highly recommended for both newcomers and long-time fans, offering electrifying combat, a massive character roster, and exciting gameplay mechanics, despite minor flaws like lack of Portuguese dubbing and limited maps.
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95
GamersRD
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero exceeds expectations by delivering a worthy sequel to Budokai Tenkaichi 3. Combines familiar gameplay with new mechanics, impressive visuals, and a high level of customization. Offers a variety of engaging game modes and promises post-launch DLC content.
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95
Digital Chumps
Oct 15, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is considered a wonderful fighting experience with a rich array of characters and customization options, though the imbalanced fighting may challenge some players.
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90
LevelUp
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is a love letter to the franchise, modernizing the classic formula while introducing new mechanics and modes, making it a top-tier arena fighter.
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90
Hey Poor Player
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a triumphant return to form for the Budokai Tenkaichi series, offering fans a nostalgic yet modernized experience that captures the essence of epic Dragon Ball battles.
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