Dragon Ball fans and fighting game fans haven’t forgotten the legendary Budokai Tenkaichi series.
In 2007, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3 set the bar high for anime brawlers. After a hiatus longer than Goku’s training in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero development has finally come to fruition, ready to reignite the fire of epic battles.
The wait has fans powering up with excitement, but some may be wondering why they had to wait more than 15 years for the fourth installment of the Budokai Tenkaichi series.
We’ll explain the reasons behind this long gap and see if Dragon Ball Sparking Zero delivers the ultimate Dragon Ball fighting experience, proving the wait worthwhile.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero development is the next-gen evolution for anime brawlers
According to Bandai Namco’s Jun Furutani, Sparking Zero’s producer, the answer lies in the past decade’s incredible technological leaps. During a hands-on media preview and interview session in June 2024, Furutani mentioned the game has been on a 15-year hiatus.
Today’s gaming hardware and software allow for a richer, more immersive experience that captures Dragon Ball’s explosive action and dazzling animation. Furutani assures us that a recreation this faithful wouldn’t have been possible a decade ago.
Beyond the technological hurdles, living up to the Budokai Tenkaichi legacy was another major challenge. The development team shouldered the burden of meeting and surpassing the high expectations set by the epic battles that have become synonymous with the Dragon Ball series.
The series has always set the bar for epic showdowns between heroes and villains throughout Dragon Ball, from the clash between Goku and Vegeta on Saiyan Saga battlefields to the universe-shaking battles in Dragon Ball Super. Sparking Zero aims to give DBZ fans a chance to recreate these iconic moments in the game.
One major hurdle was crafting a vast roster with unique abilities for each character, ensuring every battle felt fresh and strategic—a process that understandably took extra time to perfect.
Here’s where Sparking Zero stays true to its Budokai roots. The previous game, Dragon Ball Z Budokai Tenkaichi 3, boasted the largest roster in a fighting game at the time, featuring a whopping 98 characters with 161 forms.
Sparking Zero promises an equally impressive lineup, ensuring players can experience the diversity of the Dragon Ball universe.
Fan input has always been a vital ingredient in the Dragon Ball recipe, and Sparking Zero is no different. Furutani highlights how core Budokai fan feedback influenced Dragon Ball Sparking Zero’s development.
Based on the graphics and demo, the game is nothing but promising, especially for Dragon Ball fans. The team actively incorporated desired features and improvements, particularly in the battle system, to create a game that fulfills fan expectations and elevates the gameplay experience to Super Saiyan levels.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero releases on October 11, 2024. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X | S, and Steam.
Preorders for the game are available on the following online stores:
You can go to our preorder guide to secure your copy early. Check out the collector’s edition if you want to prove you’re a die-hard DBZ fan.
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