DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's early access release has unleashed a formidable foe: Great Ape Vegeta. This colossal ape is proving to be an unexpectedly brutal challenge, leaving players bruised and bewildered.
Great Ape Vegeta: A Boss Battle of Epic Proportions (and Difficulty)
Boss battles are designed to test players' skills. However, Great Ape Vegeta transcends mere difficulty; he's a relentless onslaught. His devastating attacks, including the infamous Galick Gun and a health-draining grab, transform the encounter into a desperate survival test. Players frequently restart upon seeing the Galick Gun charge-up, a testament to his overwhelming power. The fight's early appearance in Goku's Episode Battle further exacerbates the challenge for newcomers to the Dragon Ball fighting game franchise, who are immediately bombarded with super moves.
Bandai Namco's Hilarious Response
Instead of a hasty patch, Bandai Namco embraced the player frustration with a perfectly timed meme on their UK Twitter (X) account: "This monke got hands," accompanied by a GIF of Vegeta's devastating assault. This humorous acknowledgment highlights the widespread difficulty. It's worth noting that Great Ape Vegeta has a history of posing significant challenges in the Dragon Ball fighting game series, even harkening back to the infamous survival-esque battles in Budokai Tenkaichi.
Beyond the Ape: Sparking! ZERO's Overall Difficulty
The difficulty isn't solely confined to Great Ape Vegeta. Even on Normal, CPU opponents unleash punishing combos, a trend amplified on Super difficulty where the AI seems to possess an unfair advantage. This often leaves players with one option: lowering the difficulty to Easy.
A Triumphant Launch Despite the Challenge
Despite the widespread struggles against Great Ape Vegeta, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO has stormed onto Steam. Within hours of early access, it peaked at 91,005 concurrent players, surpassing fighting game giants like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat. This success is unsurprising, given the game's status as a highly anticipated revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi subseries. Game8's 92/100 score, praising its vast roster, stunning visuals, and engaging scenarios, further solidifies its acclaim as a top-tier Dragon Ball game. For a more detailed review, see our accompanying article.
