Review: DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO (Switch 2)

When Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero debuted last year on non-Nintendo consoles, I was astonished at how much time had elapsed since the previous installment in this franchise. I was just a teenager still attending school!

With the arrival of Nintendo Switch 2, a wave of ports is arriving on the enhanced console and handheld device, including Sparking Zero. I’m pleased to report that Switch 2 is an excellent platform to enjoy this thrilling 3D fighter filled with content, provided you can overlook some of the performance hiccups.

To begin with, Sparking Zero appears sharp on Switch 2, and its delightful and true-to-source art style radiates with color on display. The visuals are noticeably improved in docked mode. In handheld mode, the jagged edges around character models become glaringly apparent and somewhat distracting.

Nonetheless, the high-paced gameplay aids in masking some of these graphical imperfections. When you’re absorbed in the fast-paced action, the rough edges become less noticeable. Additionally, the Switch 2 version is limited to 30fps, which is disappointing compared to its alternative console versions, but it’s ultimately justifiable to maintain stability on the handheld.

The camera angles enhance the gameplay’s cinematic feel. When executing special moves like Trunks’s Burning Attack, the camera zooms in, often replicating angles seen in the anime, making it feel genuine to the original material. Much of the voice acting aligns with my memories from the TV series as well, intensifying these nostalgic sensations.

The most compelling feature of Sparking Zero is its absolutely remarkable character lineup. It includes over 180 distinct fighters from all corners of the Dragon Ball universe, including the non-canon films. Whether you began with the original Dragon Ball or joined in with Super, you’re sure to find your favorites here.

Some characters are humorous duplicates, with 19 different iterations of Goku, yet each possesses a unique move set that represents where that specific Goku was during the anime. Despite the redundancy, they each necessitate slightly different strategies to play and feel unique from one another.

Even so, there are multitudes of characters to select from that ensure combat and gameplay never become monotonous. To accommodate this extensive roster, each character employs the same controls to move, fly, and charge their ki. However, there are some nuances according to character types, such as androids like Android 18 not being able to charge ki but having it gradually increase automatically during combat. Larger characters, like Great Ape Baby, cannot be grabbed. These variations help further differentiate the cast, even though the controls remain universal.

The core substance of Sparking Zero lies in its Episode Battles, which traverse the storyline of Dragon Ball. Instead of reenacting every single skirmish, there are eight playable characters with diverging paths narrating a more succinct version of the tale. Each path highlights the most significant and iconic moments, such as Super Saiyan Goku’s initial fight against Full Power Frieza on Planet Namek. Although going through eight distinct characters can be exhausting, Episode Battles effectively cover the most critical battles within the series.

What makes Episode Battles intriguing is the opportunity for branching narratives. For instance, during the Cell arc in the anime, Piccolo confronts Cell (1st form) while Goku and Gohan await Trunks and Vegeta. However, Sparking Zero allows you to choose differently. By having Goku battle Cell instead (and triumph), this averts the occurrence of the Cell Games, and Goku is granted a blissful existence alongside the Androids.

This does not apply to every pivotal plot point, so it retains its charm. I was consistently pleasantly surprised and excited whenever these choices appeared on my screen.

Another method of uncovering branching events involves meeting specific hidden conditions in particular battles. For example, when Vegeta and Trunks train in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber during Vegeta’s narrative route, defeating Trunks reveals a completely new path where the duo overcomes Perfect Cell during the Cell Games, paralleling the canonical events from the anime where Goku and Gohan achieved this instead. These were unexpected yet gratifying ways of unlocking additional what-if scenarios.

Regrettably, Sparking Zero fails to inform you of these conditions, which can be rather frustrating. On the positive side, since it took just over a year for the game to arrive on Switch and Switch 2, you can quickly find this information online, although I wish the game was clearer about it.

Furthermore, this is where Switch 2’s performance experiences a bit of a decline. During the comic-style cutscenes, panels would shift and there would be a noticeable lag, particularly when transitioning to a battle. While that’s not a significant issue once you engage in the fight, where the performance is nearly flawless, it remains relevant.

This rings true for both handheld and docked modes. The performance glitches also extend to the menus. Whenever I would navigate the main menus examining game modes, like Episode Battle or the Shop, it would begin to lag.

As you engage in battles, you earn in-game currency Zeni that can be used to unlock new characters and costumes. Fortunately, I didn’t feel like I was being fleeced. I acquired Zeni at a consistent rate and the progression in obtaining unlockables felt natural. Although there are microtransactions, I never felt compelled to seek them out, which I appreciated.

Sparking Zero also includes a custom battle mode, allowing you to design battles as if you’re playing out a form of Dragon Ball fantasy. There’s an option to incorporate dialogue to give your scenarios some narrative depth, but overall this mode feels more like an afterthought than anything substantial. It wasn’t as engaging as the Episode Battles, so I didn’t spend much time with it.

Conversely, the online battle system is comprehensive. Performance was nearly flawless here, and I didn’t experience any connection drops during the matches I played.

Sparking Zero intelligently balances online combat as well. You and your opponent start with 15 DP, and each character has a specific cost. While you can comprise a total of five characters on your team, the more formidable ones like Vegito Blue demand a hefty 10 DP, meaning you only have 5 DP left for weaker characters like Master Roshi, Cell Jr, or even base form Early Goku to include on your team.

To add an extra layer of strategy, many characters can transform mid-battle. So, you could select Goku (Z-End) in his base form, costing 5 DP, but eventually evolve him to Super Saiyan 3, increasing his power as the battle progresses. Your Goku might be somewhat damaged by that point, but this allows you to sidestep Super Saiyan 3 Goku’s more costly 7 DP requirement to use him right away.

This prevents both you and your opponent from entering matches with highly powerful characters, requiring you to carefully consider your team composition. If your Vegito Blue falls in battle, the remainder of your team may struggle to compensate.

Conclusion

Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero offers a commendable 3D brawler experience, even if some visual and performance challenges persist. The vast roster is sure to delight any Dragon Ball enthusiast, regardless of their age or when they joined the franchise. The branching narratives in Episode Battles and the online gameplay are enjoyable features of the title, and it feels perfectly at home on Switch 2.