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’s story mode is a divisive blend of nostalgic fan-service and inventive "What If?" twists, offering branching paths and character-driven episodes that thrill hardcore fans—but its low-budget execution, static visuals, fragmented pacing, and underdeveloped characters tank immersion, making it a niche, gameplay-first experience that prioritizes replayability over cinematic polish.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
76
Positive Reviews (80-100)
47%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
51%
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’s story mode is a divisive blend of nostalgic fan-service and inventive "What If?" twists, offering branching paths and character-driven episodes that thrill hardcore fans—but its low-budget execution, static visuals, fragmented pacing, and underdeveloped characters tank immersion, making it a niche, gameplay-first experience that prioritizes replayability over cinematic polish.
Gameplay Mechanics
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85
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers deep, skill-based combat and a vast roster of 180+ characters, but clunky mechanics, a steep learning curve, and technical flaws frustrate newcomers, though fans praise its nostalgic depth and dynamic modes.
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
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers deep, skill-based combat and a vast roster of 180+ characters, but clunky mechanics, a steep learning curve, and technical flaws frustrate newcomers, though fans praise its nostalgic depth and dynamic modes.
Graphics and Visual Design
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88
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with UE5-powered visuals, vibrant cel-shading, and faithful anime recreation, hailed as the "best-looking Dragon Ball game" and a "playable anime episode." Minor cutscene flaws and technical hiccups exist, but they’re overshadowed by its immersive design and nostalgic, technically impressive execution—making it a standout series entry.
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 UE5-powered visuals, vibrant cel-shading, and faithful anime recreation, hailed as the "best-looking Dragon Ball game" and a "playable anime episode." Minor cutscene flaws and technical hiccups exist, but they’re overshadowed by its immersive design and nostalgic, technically impressive execution—making it a standout series entry.
Music and Sound Design
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77
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s audio nails the franchise’s spirit with immersive soundscapes, epic combat effects, and nostalgic voice work—but its generic original score and DLC-locked classics alienate fans. While praised for authenticity, the lack of iconic music and paywalled content overshadow its technical strengths, leaving a strong but incomplete tribute to Dragon Ball’s legendary soundtrack.
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
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’s audio nails the franchise’s spirit with immersive soundscapes, epic combat effects, and nostalgic voice work—but its generic original score and DLC-locked classics alienate fans. While praised for authenticity, the lack of iconic music and paywalled content overshadow its technical strengths, leaving a strong but incomplete tribute to Dragon Ball’s legendary soundtrack.
Voice Acting
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77
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with original voice actors, dual English/Japanese dubs, and nostalgic returns, but struggles with sparse voiceovers, missing languages, and uneven cutscenes—yet remains a fan-pleasing, immersive triumph despite flaws.
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
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero dazzles with original voice actors, dual English/Japanese dubs, and nostalgic returns, but struggles with sparse voiceovers, missing languages, and uneven cutscenes—yet remains a fan-pleasing, immersive triumph despite flaws.
Technical Performance
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73
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero shines with smooth 60fps on PS5/Xbox, optimized PC performance, and improved Switch 2 stability, but grapples with camera glitches, online lag, and UI hiccups across platforms. While technical flaws in high-intensity scenarios and multiplayer linger, critics praise its solid foundation, calling it a worthwhile experience despite manageable imperfections.
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 smooth 60fps on PS5/Xbox, optimized PC performance, and improved Switch 2 stability, but grapples with camera glitches, online lag, and UI hiccups across platforms. While technical flaws in high-intensity scenarios and multiplayer linger, critics praise its solid foundation, calling it a worthwhile experience despite manageable imperfections.
Replay Value
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83
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero delivers explosive replayability via 182+ characters, flexible Custom Battle modes, and endless multiplayer options, raving for fans and creators. But its underwhelming single-player and grind-heavy systems alienate casual players, leaving mixed reviews: a tech-heavy, fan-service gem with limited appeal beyond dedicated enthusiasts.
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 delivers explosive replayability via 182+ characters, flexible Custom Battle modes, and endless multiplayer options, raving for fans and creators. But its underwhelming single-player and grind-heavy systems alienate casual players, leaving mixed reviews: a tech-heavy, fan-service gem with limited appeal beyond dedicated enthusiasts.
Overall Verdict
80
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
83%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
17%
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, fan-pleasing triumph with electrifying combat, a massive character roster, and modernized flair, but struggles with technical glitches, repetitive content, and uneven balance, making it a passionate ode to the franchise that’s best suited for diehards over newcomers.
80
MONSTER
Reviews
178 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
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
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
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
Carole Quintaine
Oct 7, 2024
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is described as the ultimate Dragon Ball game, a worthy successor to Budokai Tenkaichi, offering a joyous overall experience despite some frustrating bugs.
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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