Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO ‘Power vs. Speed’ trailer and gameplay showcase; new systems and 11 new characters announced

Super Saiyan Broly, Hit, and more join the fray.

Publisher Bandai Namco and developer Spike Chunsoft have released a new trailer and 13-minute gameplay showcase video for Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, introducing new and returning gameplay elements and 11 new playable characters.

The newly confirmed characters include:

Burter
Dyspo
Hit
Jeice
Kakunsa
Master Roshi, Max Power
Nappa
Super Saiyan Broly (Full Power)
Super Saiyan Kale (Berserk)
Super Trunks
Toppo

Elements that the Budokai Tenkaichi series is known for are back and enhanced in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, and evolved features such as “Skill Count,” “Revenge Counter,” and “Vanishing Assaults” have been added. Here are the details, via producer Jun Furutani:

“Because this game is a genuine sequel and evolution of the series, one of our goals was to preserve the essence of what made the Budokai Tenkaichi series so popular: an enjoyable, dynamic 3D-action battle experience that deeply captures the elements of Dragon Ball.

“To do so, in addition to close-range attacks with rush attacks and combos, we kept battle systems such as the Dragon Dash, which enables high-speed movement, the iconic counter system that fans know and love, as well as the ‘Impact Action,’ which allows intense fisticuffs or the exchange of energy blasts.
“We have also paid attention to the graphic aspects so that you can enjoy not only the challenge of the battles themselves, but also the fun of just watching battles.
“Ultimate Blast is one of the references in terms of stunning effects that can only be achieved on the current generation of consoles. I hope you will feel as stunned as I am by the dynamism and intensity of the Dragon Ball-like battles we have created in this game.
“So far I’ve been talking about the elements that we value in the series, but I’d like to take this opportunity to go a bit more into detail on the new features as well.
“As I said before, the game keeps the core mechanics of the series, but after some considerations we’ve tweaked some and added new ones to better express the high-speed and authentic battles unique to the Dragon Ball action. Let’s break down four of them in detail using the battle video shown earlier.
“One of the biggest changes was to boost the normal movement, making it as fast as the dash in the previous title, and to allow a short dash that lets you move at lightning speed with a button that used to be for dashing. This change opens up more possibilities for movement, attacks on the go, and even more complex actions. In fact, you can perform various actions to suit your style, such as dodging an opponent’s attack with a short dash, unleashing a charged attack, or even a Ki Blast while moving, or linking to a Dragon Dash to pull off a huge move in one go.
“Besides the basic actions, this new entry also introduces actions using ‘Skill Count’ that builds up over time during battle. ‘Revenge Counter,’ which lets you strike back while absorbing an opponent’s attack, is an action that enables high-speed attack and defense that are unique to Dragon Ball, as seen in the original story, where characters launch an attack even while being hit.
“‘Super Perception,’ a counter command that lets you counterattack in anticipation of various attacks—even Ki Wave types of blasts. Both can only be triggered when you have enough ‘Skill Count,’ and this new element expands the choices you have in the fight and makes the game more fun, while enjoying the distinctive elements from Dragon Ball.
“Last but not least, we’ve added a new action using Ki called ‘Vanishing Assaults’ that lets you approach an opponent instantly and swoop in. I’m sure you’ll love this new option at mid-range, where it’s hard to choose whether to attack from afar or get up close and personal.
“We believe these new features will make the battles more Dragon Ball-like and more strategic.”