After a 15-year hiatus, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has been revealed, promising to “break the heavens.” The latest installment in the beloved Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi series made its global debut at The Game Awards. Known as Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, the game is now available for wishlisting on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5, and Steam, although no official release date has been announced yet.
Long-Awaited Return
Fans were treated to the long-awaited return of the Budokai Tenkaichi series with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero at The Game Awards. Although the specific gameplay details remain undisclosed, the reveal trailer showcased iconic characters from Akira Toriyama’s expansive universe engaging in both cutscenes and actual gameplay.
Trailer Highlights
The trailer opens with Goku and Vegeta racing across the Gizard Wasteland, leaving destruction in their wake. The Saiyan warriors transform into their Super Saiyan Blue forms, unleashing powerful beam attacks. The visuals provide a spectacular display of the characters’ abilities. The trailer then shifts to a confrontation between Super Saiyan Blue Vegeta and Frieza on Planet Namek, only to be abruptly interrupted by Broly from Dragon Ball Super: Broly.
Legacy of the Series
The Budokai Tenkaichi series has long been praised as one of the best anime fighting game franchises. Originating with the release of Budokai in 2002, the series evolved into the Budokai Tenkaichi trilogy, known as Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! in Japan, in 2005. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero seeks to continue the legacy with cel-shaded character models, destructible environments, and teleportation counters.
Characters and Expectations
The trailer’s closing moments feature a flurry of characters, including Piccolo, Krillin, Tien, Yamcha, Future Trunks, Android 18, Perfect Cell, Mr. Satan (Hercule), Majin Buu, Future Trunks (Super’s version), Jiren, and Bergamo from Universe 9 in Dragon Ball Super. The inclusion of characters like Bergamo hints at the possibility of a diverse roster, potentially featuring characters from Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball GT.
With the return of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, fans eagerly await additional character reveals and gameplay details, hoping for a comprehensive and thrilling experience. The legacy of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero looks set to captivate both longtime enthusiasts and new players alike.