Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the spiritual successor to the Dragon Ball: Budokai Tenkiachi series, the game some fans feared would never be released, is now less than a week away for those who pre-order the special editions.
People of various ages will be calling in to work and staying home from school for this epic event in gaming.
Here are the ten things you need to know about DBSZ.
Release Date
The official release date is October 11. However, early access begins for customers who pre-order the Deluxe, Ultimate, or Premium Editions three days early on October 8.
The Premium Edition is sold out almost everywhere. EBay sellers bought multiple copies and have sold them for as much as $700. Here is what is included in every version.
- Standard Edition: $69.99
- Deluxe Edition: $99.99
- Ultimate Edition: $109.99
- Premium Edition: $229.99
Platforms
DBSZ will be playable on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
PC System Requirements
To install DBSZ on your PC, you will need 29 GB of free hard drive space and the following specs:
- Intel Core i5-9600K or an AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- 8GB of RAM
- Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, or AMD Radeon RX 590, or Intel Arc A750
The Roster is Gigantic
With one of the largest rosters you’ll ever see in a video game, DBSZ will feature 182 fighters from the Dragon Ball universe, coming from the entire 40-year franchise history.
Bandai Namco has unveiled most of the characters with glorious cinematic flair in typical DB style, as seen in the trailer below.
YouTuber Ozaru played the game early and recorded a video of the character select screen showing off all of the characters in the game.
DLC
There will be post-release content for DBSZ, which will expand the roster even more. The game will launch with a Season Pass, and the DLC will bring more than 20 characters. That DLC will be spread across three expansion packs.
Two of those packs are believed to be Dragon Ball Super: Super Herp and Dragon Ball Daima. The characters have not been confirmed, but many are scrambling to post their predictions for the extra fighter slots.
Story Mode
DBSZ takes a different approach to the concept of story mode.
They’re called Episode Battles, and it’s a fresh switch from what most have become accustomed to with games in the many spinoffs from the franchise. DBSZ allows users to play a game of “what if,” by dropping you into situations that hardcore fans may remember, but giving you the autonomy to choose a different path.
It’s an intelligent approach from developers to refresh the stories of an IP that fans know, like the backs of their hands.
Visually Stunning and Blasty
Some have described the visuals and art style in DBSZ as a hybrid between cell-shaded/anime inspirations for the characters. At the same time, the environments carry a more life-like feel but are still animated, just a different expression.
The goal was to capture some of the Dragon Ball FighterZ flavor, and based on most of what I’ve read from fans across social media and forums, Bandai Namco is getting positive feedback.
I’d describe it a little more simplistically. It looks like you’re watching a remastered version of the anime, but you’re controlling the characters as they move wholly and fluidly on-brand with the iconic series’ style.
The Environmental Destruction is an Excellent Touch for Immersion
As you’re fighting, you can see the ground, mountains, and other structures and masses break down from the power of the fighters. I didn’t notice it in the first few gameplay videos I watched, but my appreciation for these details grew as I locked in a little more.
The Game Wasn’t Designed to Be an eSport Title
According to the game’s producer, Jun Furutani, DBSZ was never developed to be competitive, but that doesn’t mean it won’t have balance. Speaking at the Summer Games Fest 2024, Furutani said the game will function with a “system of costs.”
DBSZ is a team fighting game, and this system of costs applies to the fighters you can add to your team. With up to five slots allowed in multiplayer games, you must budget how you fill out your squad. The more powerful characters have a higher cost to carry, so you must determine if you want three really powerful characters and two very weak ones or go for more balance.
Play styles and other diversities will help create endless possibilities when it comes to finding your best team.
Soundtrack
Classic Dragon Ball music holds a special place in the hearts of many fans. Bandai Namco knows this, and that’s why DBSZ is chock full of remastered versions of the classic songs and some new ones that’ll probably be stuck in your head.
Be on the lookout for coverage closer to the game’s release.
