Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO is here, and it’s challenging! But don’t worry; we’ve got some helpful tips to make your experience easier in this tough anime arena brawler.
Table of Contents
1. Practice, Practice, Practice!
To get good at Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, you need to practice. Use the training mode, even if the menus are complex. Work through all the tutorial sections to understand the combat system fully. Only start battling once you’ve mastered counters, attacks, blocks, and other mechanics. The characters don’t differ much, so once you understand the combat system, you won’t struggle with other characters from the extensive roster.
2. Change Episode Difficulty
You can adjust the difficulty in story mode. If you find a fight, like the difficult one against Were-Ape Vegeta, too challenging, you can try it again on a lower difficulty. This can also be done from the episode overview card. Keep in mind that you can only unlock secondary goals and alternative story paths if you play on normal or harder difficulty. Choosing easier options means you miss out on exciting extras, like a new form for Son Gohan. Many fights, including the one against the Were-Ape, don’t have secondary goals, so feel free to lower the difficulty if needed.
3. Use Auxiliary Settings (With One Exception)
Go to the options menu and adjust the automatic help in the accessibility settings. This can make the game easier by reducing the need for perfect timing. However, we recommend not setting the revenge counter to auto, as it can be countered by the AI, causing you to lose skill points. Ultimately, it’s up to you.
4. Only Use Normal Attacks in Sparking! Mode
Ideally, charge your Ki until you enter Sparking! mode, but only if you have at least one skill point. This allows you to perform almost endless combos that are less frequently blocked by the AI. Normal melee attacks deal more damage in this mode. It’s usually worth using, but ensure you have time to charge. Keep your enemy at bay with Ki blasts or find cover.
5. Use Special Attacks When Opponents Are Vulnerable
Timing is crucial in Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO. Use your powerful special attacks when your opponent is defenseless, such as right after you’ve thrown them at the end of a combo and they are falling to the ground.
6. Stay Calm When on the Defensive
If your opponent is closing in on you, don’t panic and mash buttons. Instead, hold down the Circle button (or B on Xbox). This allows you to counter the first attack of a classic combo initiated with Square or X (on Xbox). Timing isn’t critical, but pressing the button at the perfect moment increases effectiveness. Holding it down will block and throw the opponent back without using Ki or a skill point.
7. Use Skill Capsules to Enhance Your Character
To improve your chances in tournaments and standard fights, you can buy skill capsules in the store using Zeni. These capsules provide benefits, such as increased health or starting with partially charged Ki. Try them out! However, they won’t help you in episode battles. If you’re struggling against the Were-Ape Vegeta, even the strongest capsule won’t assist you.
8. Master Counter Techniques, Especially the Super Counter
In Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO, various counters can be very helpful. The revenge counter can counter all attacks but costs one skill point. The super counter lets you keep opponents at bay without using a skill point, but timing is crucial. On the PS5, move the left stick forward or up and press Square at the exact moment the opponent’s attack hits. On Xbox, press the X button.
9. Change the Controller Layout for Classic Players
If you’re an old-school player familiar with the Budokai Tenkaichi games, you can switch the controls to a classic layout in the menu. This allows your muscle memory, hopefully still intact after 17 years, to guide you.
What other tips do you have to make Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO easier?
