Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero Producer Discusses the Challenges of Developing The First Dragon Ball Game in 15 Years

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is set to be the first entry to the DRAGON BALL Z: BUDOKAI TENKAICHI series in 15 years. Coming out this year on October 11, 2024, the game promises to take the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raise it to whole new levels, featuring breathtaking 3D fights and stages that react to your actions.

Recently, we had an opportunity to interview the producer of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, Jun Furutani, as he talks about the upcoming game. Before we began, he gave a special message to his fans, saying that he received a lot of feedback from the core fanbase. He listened to their suggestions and incorporated them into the latest version, particularly focusing on improving the battle system.

Addressing the feedback he received from Budokai, this new game is an evolution of the previous one. His goal with this launch is to accommodate everyone’s feedback from the previous version, ensure that both core and new fans enjoy the game, and continue supporting the community through this latest release.

(Interview has been slightly edited for clarity)

Dragon Ball, 15 Years Later

It has been 15 years since the last Dragon Ball game, with the last one being Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3. To kick off the interview, we asked Furutani about his feelings about coming back to work on another Dragon Ball game, given the advancements of technology since then.

“15 years ago,” he began, “we released the last Budokai game and had already planned to release the next one. Although it took a long time, he believes the 15-year wait has been worthwhile. We’re excited because we spent many of these years developing this new game. Additionally, we feel that the latest technology has enriched the gaming experience and the characters, making them more vibrant than in the previous version. We are eagerly looking forward to the release.”

Competitive Prospects

Given the action-packed nature of the game, we hazarded a guess that Sparking! Zero would also be considered by the gaming community as a possible esport and that the game’s development might have been done with that in mind. Furutani did not give a direct response, but kept his own reservations, noting, “Actually there is another game called Dragon Ball Fighters Z that is more focused on esports, while Sparking! Zero is designed for gamers to enjoy the character experience and the fighting scenes.”

“Sparking Zero emphasises a 3D and action-packed battle experience. Although they can’t confirm or deny if Sparking Zero will have a competition format, they are considering and exploring this option for the future.”

New Storyline

During the interview, Furutani also confirmed that depending on the player’s actions, the plot of Sparking! Zero may deviate from the original Dragon Ball storyline, revealing a game-exclusive original storyline.

“Depending on the outcome of your battles, the game features different original storylines that are unique to this game and distinct from the anime,” he described.

“Regarding the episode battle mode, we aimed to stay true to the original series, which is a given. However, while the primary goal was faithfulness to the original, there is a possibility that the episode battle mode may branch off slightly from the original anime. This branching is specific to the game and provides more variety and options for the players, though it’s not extensive. The intention was to give gamers a unique and flexible experience while respecting the core elements of the Dragon Ball series.”

Balancing

Furutani mentioned at the start of the interview regarding player feedback, especially when it came to implementing suggestions form long-time fans into the final version of the game. We wondered how the development team balanced these suggestions while ensuring the game remained accessible to new players.

He replied, “We considered feedback from long-time fans while making the game accessible to new players. For returning fans, the character actions and responses in battle remain similar to previous games, capturing what they loved about Budokai.

To attract new players, we introduced features like a revenge counterattack for moves like the Kamehameha, enhancing the Dragon Ball fighting experience. Simplified controls, such as pressing the square button (on the PlayStation) multiple times to perform skills, made it easier for new users. Additionally, players can customize their control settings before entering battle mode to suit their preferences.

We also included an assist control feature to adjust game speed, creating a more authentic Dragon Ball experience. This option addresses feedback from previous games, allowing users to choose their preferred game speed and enhancing the overall experience for both new and returning players.”

Custom Battle Mode

One of the many standout features of Sparking Zero is its Custom Battle Mode, where players can customise and set parameters of custom fights to practise or test their mettle. We were curious about the development team’s decision to create this mode, and their expectations of it when players will get a chance to try it out.

“The intention behind the custom battle mode is to provide gamers with the freedom to create unique scenarios.” Furutani explained, “With many characters in Dragon Ball, this mode allows players to choose the strongest characters or pair up characters that wouldn’t usually meet. They can customize battle conditions, including character skills options. In one word, it’s about “freedom”—giving gamers the ability to create their own conditions, environments, and matchups to experience fictional scenarios in the Dragon Ball universe.”

“This mode is also me and my team’s way of communicating with gamers, allowing them to flexibly create and experience the Dragon Ball world they imagine. The custom battle mode lets players choose and customize their scenarios, offering the freedom to shape their unique Dragon Ball experience.”

Sparkling Sparking

As the latest in a long history of Dragon Ball games, we asked Furutani about what makes Sparking Zero unique compared to other fighting games, as well as the most challenging aspect of developing it.

“Dragon Ball Sparking stands out due to its focus on ensuring that strong characters from the original anime are also powerful in the game, while minor characters may be less so. This deliberate design allows gamers to truly immerse themselves in playing their favourite characters. They focused on character strengths and experiences, providing detailed data and distinct graphical and motion representations that closely resemble the anime. The game’s uniqueness also lies in its attention to detail, such as when Goku charges his ki and the realistic destruction caused by powerful attacks.”

“However, the most challenging aspect of developing the game was twofold.” He reminisced, “Firstly, it’s been 15 years since the last instalment, which meant creating numerous characters and meeting the high expectations of long-time fans. Secondly, there were high expectations from core fans of the Budokai series, necessitating fine-tuning the battle configurations to ensure satisfaction.”

“One aspect he focused on during the extended development time was the superpower element. Specifically, when characters perform superpowers, it affects the environment in real-time. For example, superpowers destroy buildings, stones, and surroundings. This real-time environmental interaction enhances the gaming experience, creating a more immersive and dynamic gameplay. Advanced technology allowed them to focus on these superpower aspects, resulting in a more realistic and engaging experience for players.”

Plot Power vs Game Power

Sparking Zero stands out even among previous Dragon Ball games due to its focus on high-speed battles. Given its cast of characters, each with their own unique power levels, we were curious as to how the developers balance the gameplay while accurately depicting the characters.

“One of the challenges we faced,” Furutani noted, “was staying faithful to the power dynamics depicted in the original anime series. We aimed to accurately represent which characters were strong, fast, or slower, basing his decisions on the source material.”

“Anchoring my thoughts and intentions in the original anime series helped guide these decisions. I also prioritised ensuring that players felt the game stayed true to the original animated series. Balancing these aspects was difficult, but we made every effort to create an accurate and realistic representation of the characters’ strength and speed in the game.”

“A key message I want to convey to long-time fans is that the battle action remains faithful to the animated series, ensuring an experience they can eagerly anticipate. Additionally, not only is this message for core fans, but it also extends to new users. For those immersed in the Dragon Ball world or just starting to explore it, we intentionally made controls easier to grasp, allowing even newcomers to enjoy and become engrossed in the game.”

Destructive Environment

Another of Sparking Zero’s main features is its destructive stage, where the environment will change and react to fighters’ actions. However, this is not the first time this has happened in the Dragon Ball game franchise, with Budokai Tenkaichi 3’s potential destructiveness being so intense, the entire stage could be decimated. We asked Furutani about the scale of destruction in Sparking! Zero, to which his answer was, “it depends on the settings you choose before entering the battle.”

“You have the option to select the environment and, depending on your selection, you can see what parts of the environment are destructible, but you’ll need to explore to fully understand it. During battles, you may notice that some buildings and surroundings can be destroyed. However, the intention is not to destroy everything.”

“While you can break many structures and surroundings with powerful attacks, it would require significant force to destroy the entire environment. Experimenting with different moves and actions will help you understand the extent of destruction possible in the game.”

Most Anticipated Feature

Having spent so much time working on the game, we believe that Furutani would know virtually every aspect of it, so we asked him about which feature he was most excited about.

“It’s a bit challenging to choose just one,” he pondered, “but if I were to highlight a few points, I’m particularly excited about the graphics and character design. Specifically, features like alternate Ki blasts and battle action sequences are aspects where we’ve invested a lot of time. I believe gamers will be truly impressed by these elements and look forward to experiencing them in the game.”

The Budokai Charm

Every Dragon Ball video game, like any video game, has its own unique identity. For instance, Fighters focuses more on intense competitive fighting, while Kakarot places a strong emphasis on storytelling. We wondered about the developers’ own take on the charm of the Budokai series, to which Furutani unhesitantly jumped to the game’s follow up actions.

“One of the main features of this game series is the ability to perform follow-up actions.” He continued, “Specifically, the battle option allows characters to execute follow-up actions after performing an initial move. This includes the ability to maneuver behind the opponent’s back and execute further actions. This intentional design emphasises performing actions that closely mimic those seen in the animated series.”

From Budokai to Sparking

For those who live outside Japan, the latest series of Dragon Ball games are also known as the Budokai series, but go under a different name in Japan, the Sparking series. As such, not many people might be aware that Sparking Zero is under the Budokai series. This made us curious as to why the development team decided on this name change for global audiences.

“The intention behind using “Sparking” for the worldwide release is to enable simultaneous global launches,” Furutani responded, “allowing players to interact and build communities around the game from day one. Previously, there was a difference in naming between the Budokai series internationally and the Sparking series in Japan. However, with advancements in global gaming and marketing strategies, there’s no longer a need for separate naming conventions. Standardising the name to “Sparking! Zero” ensures consistency and facilitates a unified gaming experience for players worldwide.”

Perspective Swapping

In Sparking Zero, players will be able to switch between first and third person perspectives during combat. We enquired about the idea behind this concept, to which Furutani answered, “From the first issue, the idea was to allow players to experience the game from a first-person perspective. This perspective immerses players in the battle and storyline, seeing everything from the character’s viewpoint, such as Goku.”

“It provides a closer, more personal experience, allowing players to see what the character sees and feel more connected to their actions. This first-person view enhances the enjoyment of the character’s perspective and overall experience.”

“Alongside the first-person perspective, the game also offers a third-person perspective. This viewpoint allows players to step back and observe the action from a wider angle, providing a different but equally immersive experience. Players can switch between these perspectives based on their preferences, each offering its own unique way to engage with the game.”

Future Characters?

Throughout the interview, we asked a few questions regarding the game’s characters, such as workarounds for non-flying characters to fly and the developers’ plans to add more characters to the game after its release.

“At this moment, there are no settings that allow non-flight characters to stay airborne.” Furutani answered, “And yes, there is a plan to add more fighters after the game’s release, although the specifics of the release are yet to be finalised but should be coming soon.”

Designed For All Players

For our final question, we asked Furutani about any other challenging aspects of designing the game, particularly adjustments that had to be made in order to cater to fans both old and new.

“Adjusting the game to cater to both franchise fans and newcomers presented several challenges. One aspect was balancing the game speed to ensure it was enjoyable for both groups. If the speed was too fast, it might alienate new users, while if it was too slow, it might disappoint core fans. Another challenge was simplifying the controls without compromising depth. For example, ensuring that performing actions like skills was straightforward, such as pressing the square button multiple times to trigger skills.”

“For new users, the focus was on making follow-up actions easier to execute. This involved simplifying the progression of actions after the initial move, allowing even newcomers to perform follow-up actions with ease.”

“Additionally, the game includes a counter attack system, which advanced users can utilise to their advantage against beginners. This intentional control system allows experienced users to demonstrate their skill and expertise. Overall, the game’s design takes into account the needs and preferences of both novice and experienced players.”

This concludes our interview with Jun Furutani. We would like to once again thanks him and the development team of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero for their time.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam on October 11, 2024.

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