Hello everyone, I’m Jun Furutani, the producer of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO. I am very glad to to be hosting this video today!
We officially announced DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO last December at the Game Awards, and the trailer we just watched together was from that announcement!
At DRAGON BALL Games Battle Hour 2024 in January, we revealed our second trailer, focusing on the rivalry between Goku and Vegeta.
The fans have shown a lot of enthusiasm and excitement, so I would like to seize this opportunity to thank all our fans around the world.
Sparking! ZERO isn’t just a new game; it’s a new sequel to the long-awaited Sparking series, also known as Budokai Tenkaichi in the West.
Today, we would like to go into an exclusive glimpse into gameplay footage unveiling Sparking! ZERO's unique mechanics.
So brace yourselves - it’s time to dive headfirst into an epic confrontation between two iconic rival characters - GOKU and VEGETA! I hope you liked the video!
Because this game is a true 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 fistfights 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's achievements in terms of its stunning effects are only possible thanks to the power of 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 consideration, 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.
1. Short Dash
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 is to be used 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 addition also introduces actions using “Skill Count” that builds up over time during battle.
2. Revenge Counter
“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 can launch an attack even while being hit.
3. Super Perception
“Super Perception,” a counter command that lets you counterattack in anticipation of various attacks - even Ki Wave types of blast. Both can only be triggered when you have enough “Skill Count” and this new element expands the choices you have in combat and makes the game more fun, while retaining the iconic elements from DRAGON BALL.
4. Vanishing Assaults
Last but not least, we’ve added a new action using Ki called “Vanishing Assaults” that lets you approach an opponent instantly and pounce. 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 that these new features will make the battles more DRAGON BALL-like and more strategic.
I hope this demonstration answers most of the questions coming from Budokai Tenkaichi fans. But I also hope that I've captured the interest of the newcomers to the series who are looking for a flashy and impressive DRAGON BALL 3D Battle game.
“Beyond the battle system, there’s another pivotal aspect I want to emphasize today: The Characters! In our previous trailers, we unveiled a plethora of both familiar and new faces.
New faces including characters from the anime "Dragon Ball Super."
And now, we’re thrilled to introduce a new trailer showcasing a wide range of characters joining the roster. We have been dedicated to developing an electrifying and intense battle experience! Stay tuned for further news on DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO.”
