Summary
As I madeveryclear in my review,Dragon Ball: Sparking Zerois one of my favourite games in the whole franchise, even more thanKakarot,FighterZandXenoverse 2. I grew up on Budokai Tenkaichi anddreamed of a new entry for more than a decade, which left me with a list of expectations as long as Snake Way.
By some miracle,Sparking Zero managed to live up to and even exceed what I hoped it would bewhen it launched a few months ago. There were some smaller problems,like the lack of customisation and stages, but it nailed how Budokai Tenkaichi should feel,had a roster that blew previous games out of the water, and looked unbelievably true to the anime.
Even though it took up the second spot on my 2024 Game of the Year list, I haven’t had much reason to go back to Sparking Zero since then beyond playing online for fun. After spending more than 60 hours getting the platinum and seeing all it had to offer, I was uncharacteristically Dragon Balled out and happily waiting to see what the first DLC pack delivered whenever it was ready.
Despite what most of the online discourse would have you believe, being done with Sparking Zero isn’t a bad thing - it was never meant to be an always-online game that you never put down like Xenoverse.
A Beastly Lineup Of Characters
Although I wasn’t as impatient as most Dragon Ball fans calling the game dead, that three-month-long gap did feel like a long one,even with multiple updates that improved the online experience. The wait is finally over with the arrival of the Super: Super Hero-themed Hero of Justice pack, which, although imperfect, has reminded me why I loved Sparking Zero so much in the first place.
The main event (and really only event, which we’ll get to later) of the DLC pack is its 11 new characters, six of which I’d consider truly new. Gohan and Piccolo both get new Super Hero variants that include their strongest forms to date, while Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 bring some new life to the game’s selection of android characters.
All of Hero of Justice’s characters are great additions to the roster that feel unique and fully realised. Gamma 1 and 2 are incredibly charming and fun to play compared to the other more simplistic androids, while even the versions of Piccolo and Gohan that we’ve technically seen before get new movesets, unique animations, and custom interactions with other characters that make them stand out.
The only weak link in the bunch is Cell Max, who doesn’t feel all that interesting despite his strength. I’ve never liked Giant characters anyway, but at least Piccolo Orange’s Giant form feels more unique.
Without a doubt, the highlight of the whole DLC and what makes it feel more than worth it to a diehard Gohan fan like me is Beast Gohan. Just like MUI Goku, Beast Gohan is ridiculously overpowered, making him a joy to play in both offline and online modes. Beast has been in other Dragon Ball games before like Xenoverse and Dokkan, but his abilities and powers here are at their very best. Fans have wanted Beast in Sparking Zero since it was revealed, and he was more than worth the wait.
Sparking Zero isn’tjustbetter because of the Hero of Justice pack, either, as a free update was also released alongside it that adds some much-needed changes to the game as a whole. Beyond the balancing tweaks that make online feel a little cheaper (well, except for Beast Gohan who definitely needs some nerfs), the highlight of them all is a simple one - the addition of a “Quick Match” option.
Previously, one of the biggest pains of playing Sparking Zero online was having to sift through match rooms, which would lead to frequent disconnects that forced you to repeat the process all over again, making casual matches impossible. That’s no longer a problem with the Quick Match option and makes playing online far easier. Like the rest of Sparking Zero’s updates so far, it’s a sign that the developers are listening to feedback to ensure the best experience possible even months after launch.
A High Price And Lack Of Stages Holds Hero Of Justice Back A Little
Hero of Justice’s character additions and gameplay improvements are exactly what I wanted from a Super-Hero DLC pack (even if I would have loved teen versions of Goten and Trunks) but there are a few shortcomings. The biggest miss is that, outside of the new fighters, there isn’t anything else really new to see.
Sparking Zero’s DLC packs seemed like the perfect chance to add a few more stages or customisation options to beef up the base game’s slim pickings, but that isn’t the case here. All you really get is one, admittedly great, costume for Piccolo and that’s it.With no word on more costumes and stages coming in the future, it is a bit of a letdown not to see more in the first DLC.
Then there’s the $17.99 price tag which, even with so many great new forms and characters added, does feel like a big ask. I have the season pass, so I didn’t hear my wallet crying out in pain,but I can see why some players have a bitter taste left in their mouths.
Even with those issues weighing it down, Sparking Zero’s first DLC pack is overall a win thanks to how it builds upon the game’s already unbelievable roster alongside making much-needed changes with the latest gameplay update. More than anything, Hero of Justice gave me a great excuse to return to and fall in love again with one of my favourite games in recent memory. Sparking Zero has certainly tried, but you can’t put a price on that.
