Summary
The recentDragon Ball: Sparking Zerotournament has been making headlines for all the wrong reasons, including an imbalanced roster and competitors exploiting certain gameplay mechanics in ways that aren’t satisfying for spectators. Earlier this year, Bandai Namco and developer Spike Chunsoft released the first mainlineBudokai Tenkaichientry in nearly 17 years withDragon Ball: Sparking Zero, which updated the classic formula with new roster additions fromDragon Ball ZandDragon Ball Super.
The results have been quite positive forDragon Ball: Sparking Zero, which was recently named the highest-sellingDragon Ballgame in the United States and the fourth-highest-selling game of 2024 so far. Even thoughSparking Zero’s PC player count has dropped considerablysince its massive initial launch, Bandai Namco has promised to continue supporting the game through future DLC and even a global eSports tournament.Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero- The Dramatic Showdown - Grand Finals was announced earlier this month, with champions from all around the world picking one character to play as in a battle to see who is the best in the world.
While this might seem like an interesting way to promoteDragon Ball: Sparking Zeroat first glance, the tournament has already generated a lot of controversy. As reported byPush Square, observers have pointed out thatDragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s playable rosterisn’t very balanced, with some characters having very clear advantages over others in a way that is clearly meant to emulate theDragon Ballshows rather than serve as a competitive multiplayer fighter.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Tournament Sparks Controversy
Additionally, some ofDragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s gameplay mechanics are really easy to exploit, as shown in the most recent qualifying competition in France. The grand finals match saw both competitors stalling and avoiding their opponent using the game’s vertical flying to keep themselves just out of reach of ahigh-damageSparking Zerocombo. As many have noted, this doesn’t make for the most gripping fight to watch, and the commentary team at the French qualifying event even stopped calling the match for a considerable stretch of time.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero- The Dramatic Showdown - Grand Finals will continue throughout the rest of November going into December, with Japan and Spain holding qualifying events on November 30, Italy holding one on December 1, theUS west coast having theirSparking Zeroeventon December 7, and the US east coast holding one on December 8. From there, the grand finals will take place at the Dragon Ball: Games Battle Hour 2025 event in Los Angeles, CA on January 18 and 19. Hopefully, this event will be worth the hype forDragon Ball: Sparking Zerofans, but the previous qualifiers haven’t been the best of omens.
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero
WHERE TO PLAY
DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Become a super warrior and experience the earth-shaking, limit-breaking power of DRAGON BALL battles!Unleash the strength of over 180 fighters from DRAGON BALL Z, DRAGON BALL Super, DRAGON BALL GT, and selected DRAGON BALL movies, all in the base game! Each character comes with their own signature abilities, transformations, and techniques.Make the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL yours!Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series, with breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, movements too quick for the eyes to see, and planet-razing ultimate attacks.Challenge other players online to test your skills, or sit down with friends offline to hone your skills exclusively in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! Fight your way to become a champion across various tournament modes and victory conditions.Conquer the action-packed battles from the beloved original story, or discover and unlock new encounters for your favorite Z-Fighters and more. Relive your favorite moments from the series through cutscenes you may experience from the perspectives of eight characters!Recreate your favorite battles from throughout the DRAGON BALL story, or set up your dream story battle with your favorite characters! Share your creations with other fans and experience the battles brought to life by imaginations around the world.
