Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero launched on October 11, 2024, and set playable roster records with 182 characters available in the arena. While the game has duplicates, you can reminisce with the players from past Dragon Ball games. For example, there are 20 versions of Goku from various stages. If Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2 is your favorite, you can play with Goku Z-End. Vegeta, Gohan and Majin Buu also return to the game with variations.
In the past, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi games have demonstrated a plentiful selection of characters. However, this 2024 title takes the selection to the next level. You and your friends can spend plenty of time testing each character and deciding your favorites. With that in mind, select characters aren’t available upon starting the game.
The trailer revealed newcomers to the roster, including familiar villains from the past. Who could forget King Cold, Mecha Frieza, and Androids 17 and 16? Other new characters on the massive roster include Dr. Gero, Cell, Perfect Cell and teen versions of Super Saiyan Gohan. Preordering Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero gave gamers access to a bonus character, Goku (Mini). Producer Jun Furutani presented the news right before the game’s launch.
Furutani has been integral to making the game come together. While the 182 characters are a record, he says they’re not done yet because there are more to reveal. Furutani emphasized the importance of quality and details. “Each character has been meticulously crafted to ensure they bring their unique flair and abilities to the game, staying true to the essence of Dragon Ball,” he said in an interview with Bandai Namco America.
Once in the game, you can choose from eight characters in episode battles and recreate their best moments from past games. Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has custom battles and local multiplayer game modes.
When you have over 180 characters, it takes time to play with all of them. How does the Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero roster compare to past titles? The game beat its predecessors like Budokai Tenkaichi 3, which had over 160 characters after its base roster of 98. Like the 2024 game, many personas in this title had alternate forms. The Dragon Ball rosters keep expanding, so who knows how many characters will be in the next one?
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero also outpaces its competition in fighting games. Its 182-character roster only falls short of two titles, including one made by Akira Toriyama. The Dragon Ball creator inserted 200 characters into Tobal 2, a DreamFactory and Square game from 1997. Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme Vs. 2 Overboost has 233 playable units, setting the record for arcade games.
However, none from the 21st century beats Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero so far. Some notable titles it outpaces:
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NARUTO X BORUTO: The latest edition of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja includes 130 characters, including 10 new previously unknown ninjas.
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Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4: This game precedes NARUTO X BORUTO and has 121 ninjas. The 2015 title received a boost with the Road to Boruto expansion.
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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: With 34 million copies sold, this title is among Nintendo’s most successful. Its roster features 89 playable characters after Pokémon Trainer’s variations, Pyra, and Mythra.
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The King of Fighters 2002: Unlimited Match: The King of Fighters series has held strong since its 1994 debut. In the 2002 edition, gamers had 66 characters to choose from.
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Mortal Kombat: Armageddon: Armageddon has the most expansive roster of Mortal Kombat games, featuring 62 fighters. Users can also add a couple of custom characters and join the fun.
Fighting games have been crucial to the video game industry for decades. Since Heavyweight Champ 50 years ago, the rosters have become more massive. However, few compare to Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and its 182 characters. The game has the most fighters of any title in the 21st century, with Furutani saying more are coming.