Created by the late, great Akira Toriyama, the ‘Dragon Ball’ franchise has a long history in video games across various genres, but it is always best suited to the fighting genre. Before there was ‘Dragon Ball FighterZ’, which instantly became a top-selling and highly rated fighting game and a major part of esports events, there was the ‘Budokai Tenkaichi’ series.

It began in 2005 with ‘Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi’, followed by two sequels and a spin-off, all of which were best known for their large rosters. For 14 long years, the Budokai Tenkaichi series hasn’t had a sequel, until 2024. A year ago, Bandai Namco, with developer Spike Chunsoft, summoned Shenron to bring us ‘Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero’ for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC and now, in 2025, the highly anticipated sequel is ready to rock all 12 universes on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

Now using the Japanese name, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is an original game, not connected to the Budokai Tenkaichi games that came before it, but it takes the same gameplay style to a new level. Just like the previous games, players can relive some of the biggest story arcs in the Dragon Ball Z series and now the Dragon Ball Super series as well in Episode Battle.

Episode Battle begins with the fight against Raditz, but more will be unlocked not long after. Aside from Goku, you can also play from the perspective of Vegeta, Piccolo, Gohan, Frieza, Goku Black, and more. Fans can create some what-if scenarios, such as what would happen if Goku survived the battle against Raditz, meaning he wouldn’t receive the special training from King Kai, and various scenarios of the villains defeating the heroes and what the outcomes would be.

Cutscenes can be enjoyed between battles, and losing a battle triggers a short cutscene explaining what happens if the opponent is victorious. Episode Battle has hours upon hours of content with various branching paths, and even though some lead back to the same path, it’s always interesting to see what could’ve been if history were rewritten.

Fans can even create their own stories in Custom Battle, where players can pick a hero and villain from a selection of characters to create never-before-seen battles with that cinematic anime flair. If you want to see someone other than Goku be the hero for a change, this is the mode for you. Aside from playing the battles, players can also edit the title screen, cutscenes, presentation, and more.

Even though fans may not have complete control over what they can create, and not every playable character is available in this mode, there is still so much fun to be had by creating dream matchups like never before. Anyone wanting to see Nappa take on Cell, the Androids vs. the Ginyu Force, or Mr. Satan being the hero the world believes he is can make it happen here. There are some pre-made Custom Battles already included to enjoy, and you’ll also be able to share what you’ve made online and download what other players have created.

Balance is an important aspect when it comes to fighting games, but the Budokai Tenkaichi games sacrifice balance and are targeted more towards fun, and the latest game follows in the same footsteps. Dragon Ball FighterZ is the ideal fighting game for the franchise, but Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero makes up for it with its large roster of more than 180 characters (even though some are just different forms of the same character) and its unique gameplay mechanics.

Being more of an arena fighter, players will feel like their favourite Dragon Ball characters by duking it out with their opponents, firing energy blasts and flying at high speeds, all while destroying the environments around them. There are still issues with the camera, especially when you’re stuck in a tight spot or if there is plenty of debris in the way. It can be annoying not being able to see incoming attacks, but it’s only a minor issue and doesn’t ruin the game.

The gameplay is much like the previous games, but better and faster than ever. Precision and timing are critical to emerging victorious, as you must anticipate and react to opponents’ attacks. Aside from the variety of offensive moves, there are also a variety of defensive moves, including blocking, swatting away energy blasts, evading attacks, counters, countering counters, and more.

The game uses every button on the controller, and the deep learning curve for mastering combat mechanics can be overwhelming. Thankfully, there are helpful tutorials to teach you everything you need to know. It may take some time, but it is well worth it to create some universe-shattering battles.

Both Switch versions introduce the option to use both Joy-Cons for a single player to perform all attack moves, while all other functions are assigned to their original buttons. There is a steep learning curve to get used to all the different movements, but a helpful list shows how to perform them. The motion controls may not make you feel like a Dragon Ball character, but swinging your arms around is certainly fun, satisfying and a decent workout too.

Amongst the 180-plus playable characters of featured combatants from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball DAIMA, and the various canon and non-canon movies. Various DLC characters, such as Gamma 1, Gamma 2, Beast Gohan, and more, are available to purchase or included with the Deluxe or Ultimate editions. Since this game has already been out for a year on other platforms, it would’ve been nice to have some DLC characters already included in the base game to create more incentive for new players. Still, the 180-plus base roster already provides a huge selection of diverse characters.

The different power levels between the characters seem to be accurate to the manga/anime, so, as mentioned above, there can be a significant imbalance in certain matchups. Ultra Instinct Goku has a huge advantage over Goku in his base form. Jiren can easily defeat Nappa, Yamcha… well, he tries his best, and Mr. Satan and Yajirobe don’t have much hope of taking on planet-destroying beings, but it sure is entertaining to see them try. Gigantic characters are also playable, including Vegeta in his ape form, Lord Slug, Anilaza, and more, so players can have some David vs Goliath matches or full-on kaiju battles.

Up to five characters can be chosen per team (depending on their power levels) in Vs. battles against the CPU, a friend, or online. There are a wide variety of stages to battle in, from the city, open fields, islands, Planet Namek, World Tournament, Cell Games Arena, and the Land of the Kais, to name a few.

The bigger stages have so much detail and many things to destroy. Sending your opponent flying through buildings, mountains, and debris never gets old. Battles can take place on the ground, in the air, and even underwater. The buildings in the city stage aren’t empty either, as you’ll be able to see the interior before it all crumbles to the ground. There is no limit to where you can take the fight.

All stages are playable in every Vs. mode, except when playing with a friend offline. It uses a split screen to show the action from both players’ perspectives, but you can only select the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, which isn’t the most exciting place to fight in, and this hasn’t changed in both Switch versions. Maybe it was to make it easier for both players to see the action, but there are at least two other stages that could’ve worked for that reason as well. Tournament rule sets can also be used in stages with a ring, where touching the outside means losing the match, and the ability to fly can be disabled to recreate the Tournament of Power.

In my experience with online matches, they held up quite well on PlayStation 5. Since the game has been out for a year and player numbers have dropped significantly, finding opponents online on Switch has been a struggle. With the matches I could get, some felt smooth with minimal input delay, others had some lag and a few struggled. Of course, this depends on the connection quality and how far the opponents are from you. For me, the game has proven it’s capable of smooth online play.

Sadly, there is still no crossplay, so players will only be matched with opponents on the same console. The Switch and Switch 2 versions also can’t do crossplay with each other, but those with the original Switch can get a free upgrade to the Switch 2 version if they get Nintendo’s latest console.

Both the Japanese and English voice casts can be selected. It’s always great to hear the Japanese voices of Masako Nozawa, Ryō Horikawa, and Toshio Furukawa, and the English voices of Sean Schemmel, Christopher Sabat, and Kyle Herbert, plus so many more reprising their roles from the anime. Their voices can be heard during matches, cutscenes, and throughout the menu screens.

The game utilises cel-shaded graphics with the Unreal Engine 5. The characters look and act just like they do in the anime. The environments are a bit realistic looking, but look excellent, filled with many familiar sights, and don’t look out of place like that Jump Force game we wish never happened. The graphics on the Switch version are reduced to compensate for the less powerful hardware, but the Switch 2 version is almost on par with the more powerful platforms.

Performance-wise, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC can achieve 60fps, but the Switch versions can only do 30fps, though the Switch 2 still features smooth animation with little to no frame drops, while the original Switch version suffers a lot of frame drops when a lot is happening on screen. It suffers more in handheld mode on Switch, while Switch 2 handles it better.

Despite all that, both Switch versions are still just as fun to play, even with the dropped frame rates. The overall style and presentation have that signature Dragon Ball feel, from the menus to the battles, cutscenes, and more. The soundtrack features familiar tunes from the show and original tracks, all adding to the excitement of the fights. It’s Dragon Ball everywhere you go!

This Dragon Ball game is jam-packed full of content and is a must-own for longtime fans. On top of everything already mentioned, there are challenges and missions by Zen-Oh and Whis that will give in-game currency, extra outfits, unlock new characters, and more. Those can also be attained with enough Dragon Balls collected to summon Shenron, Porunga or Super Shenron to grant your wish.

In the Gallery, fans can watch cutscenes and replays, listen to the soundtrack, check their data, and learn about every playable character in the Encyclopedia. Here is where Chi-Chi, Bulma, and Videl have some girl talk, sharing facts and opinions on any unlocked character, including all their forms, and they are a joy to listen to.

The latest Budokai Tenkaichi game can now be enjoyed on Nintendo’s latest consoles. Even though the initial hype faded quickly after the original release and player numbers have dropped significantly, it still has everything fans of the series love and more, and can now be played on the go. Akira Toriyama may be gone, but his legacy lives on, and this game is a great tribute to the legend. Reliving or recreating memorable stories, planet-shattering battles, and tons of fan service, this is truly a game made for loyal Dragon Ball fans. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is on a limit break, and the universe is theirs to take.

Written by: Sammy Hanson