Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO Hands-on preview – Strongest fighter

If you’re a fan of the Dragon Ball universe, then this one is definitely for you. DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is the reawakening of the legendary gameplay from the Budokai Tenkaichi series, but this time, the graphics are jaw-dropping. The intricacy of the character models and the explosive battle effects make each fight feel like an episode pulled straight from the anime. You’ll battle against a stunning roster of fighters, relive thrilling moments from across the series, and even create some of your own with the scene creator and custom battle modes. Fans of Dragon Ball will feel right at home, but the game’s fresh mechanics add a new layer of excitement for newcomers like myself.

We were able to play a hands-on preview of the game thanks to Bandai Namco Australia.

This game looks incredible! There, I said it. And the wild thing is, I’m not even the biggest Dragon Ball fan—but something about Sparking! ZERO made me feel like I’d been missing out. The vibrant, fluid art style captures the spirit of the anime so well, that I felt like I was stepping straight back into the Dragon Ball Z anime — explosive action blurs that line between cinematic cutscenes and playable moments. While I can’t say that players who aren’t big fans of the Dragon Ball franchise or the wider fighting game genre will have much fun, I can say that this game stands out. Its focus on that visual feel leads to cinematic fights as the ground shakes and fighters fly through the air.

Developed by Spike Chunsoft, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is the latest in the iconic Budokai Tenkaichi series, known for its expansive fighter roster. True to its roots, this game offers an extensive roster, letting you jump into battles as everyone from Goku to lesser-known fan favourites. While I can’t say how many fighters grace the roster for this game, I was very impressed. I don’t think there’s ever been another game series with a roster that big, but honestly maybe that’s true for the entire series.

During my time with the game, I got to briefly check out the episode battles, custom battle mode and even the scene-select features after some tutorial on how the gameplay. Despite not having much familiarity with the game, it’s clear there’s a fair amount of fan service happening. Episode Battles are the story mode iteration, featuring eight characters and their most famous battles from the anime series. Custom battles in Sparking! ZERO give you access to an array of customisable features. From you opponent to the map – it’s on the player to experiment in this mode. Though I’m not well-versed in Dragon Ball Z lore, I found myself genuinely hooked by the sheer energy and chaos of the fights. And it’s not just visual—players can tweak health conditions, damage multipliers, and battle effects, giving you granular control over every aspect of the fight.

One of the more unique features is the Scene Creator, which allows players to craft their own Dragon Ball stories. With the ability to edit post-battle cutscenes, camera angles, and fighter poses, you can unleash your inner director. Want to recreate iconic battles or dream up new scenarios? The tools are there to help you tell your story. This feature feels tailor-made for dedicated fans who thrive on creating their own Dragon Ball moments, and even though I’m not as invested in the series, I can definitely see the appeal. The possibilities feel limitless for those who want to create their own action-packed sagas. There feels to be a lot of potential in this mode that does feel somewhat lost on me as someone who doesn’t know the series.

Not only does the game feature a huge roster of fighters but it also includes a vast collection of maps from the series. Playing in the city ruins map was so incredible as a scene to set for the stunning match I set up in the custom battle mode. Seeing your fighter charge into the ruins, bashing through walls and sending your opponent sky high is a real thrill that few fighting games can quite match. It brought me back to those early mornings spent watching Dragon Ball Z before school, where the over-the-top battles always left me in awe. Again, I feel like so much of this game is a tribute to the fans with its depth, even the fans who didn’t keep up with the series.

With Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO launching next month, fans don’t have long to wait for this exciting new entry in the franchise. While fighting games aren’t usually my genre of choice, I can’t deny the polish and dedication that’s gone into this title. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore fan, the sheer variety of fighters and creative modes offers hours of experimentation. From the massive battles to the detailed custom modes, this game is shaping up to be a real hit for Dragon Ball fans well into the future.

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is out October 11 on PC, Ps5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The journalist was flown to Sydney courtesy of Bandai Namco Australia for this hands-on preview