Besides just getting it’s second DLC featuring eight new characters from the Dragon Ball Daima anime, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has also received a massive new patch which aims to address tons of balancing issues and fine tune the gameplay in a large number of ways. Generally fighting games require balancing updates and other micro-level refinements after release and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is no exception as it sees a wide range of smaller but significant adjustments in it’s gameplay with the new patch.
So if you’re currently playing Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, make sure to keep your game updated with this latest patch as the total number of changes and tweaks it brings into the gameplay is substantial and can make you feel like you’re playing a vastly improved version of the beat em up.
Here are some of the changes included in the latest patch:
Changes and Adjustments by Game Mode:
Episode Battle
- Adjusted the balance of some stages to reflect changes to the battle system.
Bonus Battles
- Adjusted the balance of some Bonus Battles to reflect changes to the battle system.
- Added 2D cutscenes and text.
Changes and Adjustments to Features:
Battle Rules
- In Offline Battle, Player Match, World Tournament, and Training DP Battle, players can now select total DP amounts of 10/15/20.
- Fixed an issue where the last settings were not retained after the game ended.
Character Select Screen
- Added a display switching function.
Options
- Added the ability to switch the sound quality of some battle SFX.
Changes and Adjustments to the Battle System
Short Dash
- Reduced the speed of backward Short Dashes.
- Reduced the recovery time after initiating a Dragon Dash during a Short Dash.
High-Speed Dragon Dash
- Adjusted the input timing to make it easier to connect Rush Attacks upon arrival near the opponent.
- Reduced the time required to fully charge Smash Attacks during High-Speed Dragon Dash.
- Adjusted the system so that even when manipulating the trajectory during High-Speed Dragon Dash, the player will ultimately reach the front of the opponent.
Z-Burst Dash
- Reduced the Ki needed for activation and changed the system to consume Ki based on the distance traveled after activation.
General Melee Attacks
- Increased the ki recovered upon hitting an opponent.
- Adjusted the system to make attacks less likely to deviate from their target when used against an opponent immediately after they use a Step.
Rush-in
- Fixed an issue where guarding was possible between Rush-in and Rush Attacks in some cases.
Rush Chains
- Made it possible to activate Rush Chains even while Rush Attacks are being automatically evaded by characters like Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct and Whis.
Smash Attack
- Adjusted the system to allow for smoother connections when using Smash Attacks during Rush Attacks.
Rush Ki Blast
- Reduced damage.
- Strengthened the damage reduction correction when hitting multiple times in a row.
Smash Ki Blast
- Reduced the damage of spreading-type Smash Ki Blasts.
- Made it possible to deflect Smash Ki Blasts from Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct -Sign- and Goku (Super), Ultra Instinct.
- Increased the Ki needed for and recovery time after firing unblockable Smash Ki Blasts.
Perception
- Made it impossible to perform Perception during guard stun.
- Increased the time window for follow-up attacks after a successful Perception.
- Increased the Ki needed for upon activation.
- Increased the Skill Count requirement for using Perception against Smash Attacks and Rush Chains from 1 to 2.
Super Perception
- Buffed the effects granted upon deflecting a Blast. (Increased effect amount, extended effect duration)
- Slightly restored Ki upon deflecting a Blast.
Blast
- Reduced the damage dealt when hitting with Blasts or Ultimate Blasts during a combo.
- Reduced the damage dealt when hitting with Blasts consecutively.
Auto-reflect
- Only characters with DP 7 or higher can activate Auto-reflect during Sparking! Mode.
Other
- Increased the automatic Ki recovery speed for the first Ki gauge only.
- Adjusted the camera behavior during battles between normal-sized and Giant Characters.
- Adjusted the system to prevent accidental throws during Air Combos when using Classic controls.
- Adjusted the time until character switching becomes available.
You can read the rest of the patch notes here.
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero came out on 7th October 2024 for Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S and the PC platform. The beat-em-up was released to generally positive reviews from the critics and quickly became a huge commercial success with over five million units sold worldwide.
