Summary
The developers at Dimps had fun with theDragon Ballfranchise when they made theBudokaifighting games. Then Spike (now Spike Chunsoft) took Goku and the gang back into the arena fighting subgenre for theirDragon Ball: Sparkingseries (though in the West, the games were renamed toBudokai Tenkaichito play off Dimps’ games). People thought the series ended afterTenkaichi Tag Teamcame out, andDBZmoved to other developers.
But now, it’s back asDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, retaining its Japanese name and bringing in 182 characters from across the series (mostlyDBZandDragon Ball Super) to battle it out, over 20 of which are different variants of Goku, and some are stronger than others. The game has only just come out, so things could change as players find out which moves work better, but for now, these arethe strongest incarnations of GokuinDragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
R2/RT+D-Pad Up or Down
R2/RT+D-Pad Left or Right
Ultimate
R2+Circle/RT+B
Akin toCapcom Vs SNK’s Ratio system,Sparking! Zerobalances its characters out with Destruction Points (DP). Players can form teams of up to 5 characters, so long as they total up to a maximum of 15 DP. That way, they’ll have to make the most of everyone on the roster instead of stacking all the Gogetas and Vegitos together.
So, players might end up finding room forSuper Saiyan Goku from the end ofDBZ. He’s mobile enough to get around opponents, and anyone who closes in on him can be countered with his Wild Sense. Then, his Saiyan Boost will double his strength, speed, and meter. On top of that, his Instant Transmission Kamehameha can trick opponents into a false sense of security, teleporting right in front of foes to blast them.
This is odd.Super Saiyan Goku from the middle ofDBZis a bit stronger than his more advanced self — for now, at any rate. He’s got the same mobility and counters, including the Wild Sense instant counter. However, he doesn’t have the Instant Transmission Kamehameha anymore. Instead, he trades off Z-End’s mobilityfor more power.
‘Now I’m Angry’ will boost his stats and put him into Sparking Mode, where he’ll be able to do his Ultimate Blast attack: the Angry Kamehameha. It’ll rip through opponents with a yellow beam attack. Though, if players want to be careful with their Skill Points and ki, his Super Kamehameha will still do heavy damage, and the Meteor Smash will knock opponents around like a pinball. If players want a more offensive Goku, Mid-Z Super Saiyan Goku offers it on a plate.
Dragon Ball GThas its fans, and they’ll be happy to see itskid version of Goku go Super Saiyan 3— particularly if they don’t have room in their team to fit his Super Saiyan 4 form. At 7DP, he still leaves enough room for an equally stronger partner. He combines the best of the Super Saiyan 1 Gokus in being both very mobile and having the heft to blast foes away.
His smaller size and extra agility make him harder to pin down, which makes it easier for the player to strike back with a quick combo or activate his buffs. Both Saiyan Spirit and High-Tension will boost his offense and meter gain. Then, he can use the Full-Power Energy Blast Volley to pummel them into submission — or break out the Dragon Fist to finish them off.
If playersdon’t like Kid Goku, they can skip toSuper Saiyan God Goku fromDragon Ball Super. He costs the same amount of DP, though being adult size, he’s a slightly bigger target for opponents to catch with attacks than his kiddy counterparts. Luckily, he’s got some unique skills to fight back with. God Impact and his Ultimate Attack, God Burst Kamehameha, pack a lot of punch.
But, the deadliest weapon in his arsenal is actually one of his simplest. God Bind basically acts as a free stun attack, leaving the opponent open to more punishment. That is, if it’s used correctly. They could pummel them with more strikes, or use their skill points to double their offense, speed, and defense with Shenron Aura. He requires a more tactical approach to energy use, though, as players must consider how they use their skill points.
If Super Saiyan God Goku doesn’t strike players the right way, they could go for the luscious locks and lack-of-eyebrows ofSuper Saiyan 3 Goku fromDBZ’s end. Beyond having the mother of all hairdos, he can use Instant Transmission to give players a fantastic mobile option. It costs Skill Points, but it takes the guesswork out of mastering Super Perception and its follow-ups.
Then, he can go back on the offensive with his own skills. Power Up to the Very Limit will instantly put him in Sparking Mode, which makes Rush Combos last longer and hit harder. Super Dragon Twin Fists will pound enemies to bits and blow them away at point-blank range with twin energy blasts. To finish it off, the Super Kamehameha does what it says on the tin: provide a souped-up version of the chargeable beam attack.
Zamasu may be the one in the driver’s seat, butGoku Blackwas made to provide an evil Goku to contend with, and hisSuper Saiyan Rose (SSR)form offers an evil version of the SSGSS form. Though, for the sake of simplicity, this list will skip the Fused Zamasu forms as they’re more Zamasu than Goku. Then, to avoid repetition, the best Gogetas and Vegitos havebeen covered elsewhere.
So, what does Goku Black SSR bring to the table? He’s got the same mobile options and counters… only he can use Instant Transmission, instantly go into Sparking mode with Audacious Laugh, and rip through opponents with Godly Black Kamehameha. It’s an Ultimate Blast attack, but if players can connect with it, it’ll leave opponents at death’s door. Otherwise, the regular Black Kamehameha andGodly Display Slashwill help rack up the damage.
x10 Kamehameha
Getting back in touch with his inner ape, GT Goku regained his tail and his adult form by becomingSuper Saiyan 4 Goku. He’s just as nippy as the other Gokus, but if the player has Skill Points to spare, they can skip mastering High-Speed Evasion and go straight for Instant Transmission. Then, they can zip up to their foes in a flash.
All I Need is 5 Seconds will buff his offense, defense, and energy threefold, and he’s got his own versions of the Meteor Crash autocombo — and, of course, the almighty Dragon Fist rips through his foes. His x10 Kamehameha offers more power than a Super Kamehameha too, and it doesn’t need to be charged. Itdoesneed 3 ki bars to use, though, so players have to manage their meters carefully.
Goku Black SSR, Super Saiyan 4 Goku, andGoku Ultra Instinct -Sign- (UIS)don’t leave much room for team members, DP-wise, costing 8DP each. Though, considering they’re the equivalent of bringing a railgun to a knife fight, they don’t really need as many allies to help out — particularly when UIS Goku offers the same dashes and offensive moves of the regular Gokus, the High-Speed Evasion of Super Saiyan 4 Goku, and a range of unique skills.
He’s got two buffs, with Even Greater Potential boosting his offense and defense, and You’ll Never Beat Me putting him in Sparking Mode. Kamehameha -Sign- offers an instant energy blast, and Flash -Sign- is a powerful dashing super. Point-Blank Kamehameha doesn’t require getting up-close, either, but it also requires a clean dash straight at the opponent. He’ll blitz them with strikes before roasting them with his signature beam.
Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan Goku (SSGSS)fromDB Superisn’t just a mouthful to say — he’s a handful to deal with as well. He retains Instant Transmission to close the distance in a snap and can tap into Kaioken to double his stats just as quickly. If it’s used well, it can spell the difference between hurting an opponent and finishing them off, especially if he can use God Kamehameha afterward.
It’s a flashier technique than ‘No Hard Feelings,’ which is actually quite charming in its simplicity, as Goku just dashes and smashes his foe in the face with a hard punch. But, if the player gets really lucky and can combine Kaioken with the Limit Breaker Kamehameha, they can turn the tables ASAP, if not win the bout outright.
Lastly, fans likely expectedGoku Ultra Instinctto top the listin terms of raw power— particularly as he only leaves 6DP left for players to figure out who to team him up with. Not that they might need them. He’s swift and strong, with Ultra Movement giving him an extra counter to kick rushing opponents off to a safe distance. For a super-powered buff, he can utilize No Backing Down to double all his stats and put him in Sparking Mode.
The Ultra Barrage acts like a spiced-up version of SSGSS Goku’s ‘No Hard Feelings,’ giving his foe a swift, warping punch with a blitz of strikes before smashing them across the face. The Ultra Kamehameha provides yet another stronger take on the beam attack, but (if they can pull it off) the Supreme Kamehameha will live up to its name and shut the opponent down for good.
