10 Things You Should Know About Dragon Ball: Spark! Zero

Dragon Ball: The Spark! Zero, the spiritual successor to the Dragon Ball series: Budokai Tenkiachi, the game that some fans feared would never be released, is now less than a week away for those who pre-order the special editions.

People of all ages will call into work and stay home from school for this epic gaming event.

Here are ten things you need to know about DBSZ.

Publication date

The official release date is October 11. However, early access begins for customers who pre-order the Deluxe, Ultimate or Premium versions three days early on October 8.

The Premium Edition is sold out almost everywhere. eBay sellers bought multiple copies and sold them for $700. Here’s what’s included in each version.

• Standard Edition: $69.99
• Deluxe Edition: $99.99
• Latest Edition: $109.99
• Premium Edition: $229.99

platforms

DBSZ will be playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

PC system requirements

To install DBSZ on your computer, you will need 29 GB of free hard disk space and the following specifications:

• Intel Core i5-9600K or an AMD Ryzen 5 2600
• 8 GB of RAM
• Nvidia GeForce GTX 980, or AMD Radeon RX 590, or Intel Arc A750

The list is huge

With one of the largest rosters you’ll ever see in a video game, DBSZ will feature 182 fighters from the Dragon Ball universe, hailing from the franchise’s entire 40-year history.

Bandai Namco has revealed 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 character select screen video showing all the characters in the game.

DLC

There will be post-release content for DBSZ, which will expand the list even more. The game will launch with a Season Pass and DLC will bring more than 20 characters. That DLC will be distributed 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 trying to post their predictions for the additional games of the fighters.

Story mode

DBSZ takes a different approach to the concept of story mode.

They’re called Episode Battles, and it’s a fresh departure from what most are used to playing in the many spinoffs from the franchise. DBSZ allows users to play a “what if” game, putting you in situations that die-hard fans may remember, but giving you the autonomy to choose a different path.

It’s a smart approach by the developers to refresh the stories of an IP that fans know like the back of their hands.

Visually stunning and explosive

Some have described the look and art style in DBSZ as a hybrid between cell-shaded/anime inspirations for the characters. At the same time, the environments have a more lifelike feel, but are still animated, just a different expression.

The goal was to capture some of the flavor of Dragon Ball FighterZ, and based on most of what I’ve read from fans across media and social forums, Bandai Namco is getting positive feedback.

I will describe it a little more simply. It feels like you’re watching a remastered version of the anime, but you’re controlling the characters as they move completely and fluidly in the style of the iconic series.

The destruction of the environment is a great touch for immersion

As you fight, you can see the earth, mountains, and other structures and masses disintegrate from the power of the warriors. I didn’t notice it in the first few gameplay videos I watched, but my appreciation for these details grew as I got a little closer.

The game was not designed to be an eSports 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 Summer Games Fest 2024, Furutani said the game will operate on a “cost system”.

DBSZ is a team fighting game and this cost system applies to fighters you can add to your team. With up to five slots allowed in multiplayer, you need to budget how you fill out your squad. More powerful characters have a higher cost to keep, so you have to determine whether 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.

The 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 full of remastered versions of classic songs and some new ones that will probably stick in your head.

Be on the lookout for coverage closer to the game’s release.