Summary
WhenDragon Ball: Sparking Zero launches on October 11, gamers will have access to a variety of modes and characters fromthroughout Dragon Ball’s history. One of those confirmed modes is local multiplayer, meaning two players in the same room can play together off one console. It’s a relic from the past when couch co-op was a major focal point in games, and a major fan request forSparking Zero. Except there’s one caveat.
According to Bandai Namco’s website, while local multiplayer will be a thing, it’s limited to just one map. Yes, just one map. Those wanting to play with a friend locally will only be able to do so in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber. In other words, no Namek or Cell Games or any other iconic locale, just the chamber.
Bandaihas provided the following description on its website:
Challenge other players online to test your skills, or sit down with friends offline to hone your skills exclusively in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber! Fight your way to become a champion across various tournament modes and victory conditions.
Sparking Zero’s Story Mode Will Have Alternate Scenarios
One of the biggest blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments in the Summer Game Fest release date trailer was the potential for alternate story paths. In the trailer, beginning at the 48-second mark, a screen for “Reclaim New Possibilities” is shown. From there, the game showcases Goku at the beginning of the Saiyan Saga after his son, Gohan, has been kidnapped by his brother Raditz.
In the anime, Goku reluctantly agrees to work together with Piccolo to bring back his son. But in Sparking Zero, players will have the option to go about it alone. Choosing that scenario has Goku racing off on his Flying Nimbus with Krillin pleading with him to reconsider, andaccording to Bandai, that’s just one of several instances in which players can choose an alternate path.
Per Sparking Zero’s website, players can go through the game’s original story or “discover and unlock new encounters for your favorite Z-Fighters and more.” In other words, players will be able to veer off the canonical path and experience the “What Ifs” of Dragon Ball lore. This wouldn’t be the first time that those scenarios are included in the game. For example, Budokai Tenakichi 2 had a storyline revolving around Raditz not being a villain. Check it out:
So, while split screen is pretty barebones, the game is certainly making up for it in various ways, like its roster or story mode. In many ways,the spiritual successor to the original Budokai Tenkaichi seriesis everything that fans have been dreaming of.
