The newest update for Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is now live, introducing an exciting limited-time game mode, fine-tuning various combat aspects, enhancing battles, and implementing crucial balance changes. This update is available for all players on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero hit the shelves on October 11, 2024, and immediately made a splash for Spike Chunsoft, the Japanese studio behind it. The game sold over three million copies on its first day, solidifying its status as a blockbuster release. Building on the success of its predecessor, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3, this new entry has become the top-selling Dragon Ball game in U.S. history. However, it’s not been all smooth sailing; the game has faced some backlash over balance issues, specifically impacting multiplayer gameplay. This latest update seeks to address those criticisms and bring additional improvements to the table.
Now, let’s dive into the update specifics. Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero adds a fresh mode titled the Legendary Warrior Face-Off, where players are challenged against a formidable foe, albeit for a limited time. Alongside this, adjustments have been rolled out across various game modes. Custom Battle mode, for instance, now has more tailor-made options, allowing players to tweak effects, scenarios, and text. Those who make a habit of quitting matches will endure a cooldown before they can dive back into online play, courtesy of new penalties, while Quick Match sees expedited matchmaking.
In the Battle Setup section, players will find a handy control overview during character selection, and there’s a new "Guarding After Attacks" option in Training mode when fighting against the CPU. Additionally, in Episode Battle mode, changing the difficulty level is now possible whether Dragon Orbs are in play or not.
The update also ushers in an array of combat balance changes. High-Speed Evasion, Perception, Super Perception, and Super Counter are now more challenging to pull off. Conversely, moves like Rush Attack, Grand Slash, and Chase Change have been made more advantageous for the player wielding them. The Wild Sense technique has been toned down, and using Automatic Avoidance Skills requires more precision. Developers have eased the Skill Count usage for certain moves, specifically Kaioken and Ta-dah.
Despite a fantastic launch, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has seen a dip in its player base, attributed to in-game exploits and balancing quirks. Updates like this one aim to rectify such issues and enhance the gaming experience. As fans digest these tweaks, they are setting their sights on the upcoming DLC slated for release on January 23.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero Patch Notes
New Game Mode: Legendary Warrior Face-Off
Join this limited-time challenge to battle against an exceptionally strong opponent.
Game Mode Adjustments
- Episode Battle: Difficulty levels can now be adjusted with Dragon Orbs.
- Custom Battle: New variables, effects, and text options are available for customization.
- Player Match: Quick Match now swiftly pairs you with opponents without entering a waiting room.
- Ranked Match: Disconnect penalties now introduce a waiting period before you can rejoin.
- Battle Setup: Control instructions appear during character selection.
- Training: CPU matches now offer a "Guarding After Attacks" feature.
Combat System Changes
- Charge Attacks now lack recoil when charging under attacks in Sparking Mode.
- Rush Attack’s unintended input issues have been smoothed out.
- Combos following a Grand Slash or Rush Ki Blast are more difficult to evade.
- Perception/Super Perception now drain Ki with increased cooldown times.
- Super Counter and Speed Impact have extended input windows after unsuccessful execution.
- Chase Change deals reduced damage upon switching to Giant Characters.
- Enhancements in Impact Recovery for improved execution timing.
Skill Adjustments
- Automatic Avoidance Skills, like Wild Sense, are less exploitative in combos.
- Wild Sense now inflicts reduced damage.
- Skill Counts for Kaioken and Ta-dah are decreased.
- "All I Need Is Five Seconds!" restores Ki completely.
General Improvements
The latest changes also include tweaks for user-friendliness and stability enhancements across the game. As fans gear up for upcoming content, these updates set the stage for a refined, exhilarating gaming experience in the Dragon Ball universe.
