DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's early access release has unleashed a formidable foe: Great Ape Vegeta. This colossal ape is proving to be a significant hurdle for even seasoned players, leading to widespread frustration and a flood of memes.
Great Ape Vegeta: A Boss Battle of Epic Proportions (and Difficulty)
Boss fights are meant to be challenging, but Great Ape Vegeta transcends "difficult" and enters the realm of "brutal." His relentless attacks, including the devastating Galick Gun and a health-draining grab, leave players scrambling for survival. The encounter feels less like a strategic battle and more like a desperate struggle for survival, often resulting in immediate restarts upon seeing the Galick Gun charge-up.
The challenge is amplified by Great Ape Vegeta's early appearance in Goku's Episode Battle, presenting a steep learning curve for newcomers to the Dragon Ball fighting game genre. The onslaught of super moves from the outset can be overwhelming.
Bandai Namco Embraces the Meme
Instead of a quick fix, Bandai Namco's UK Twitter account playfully acknowledged the player outcry with a meme featuring Great Ape Vegeta's overwhelming attack power. The tweet, "This monke got hands," perfectly captures the sentiment of players worldwide.
While challenging, Great Ape Vegeta's difficulty echoes past Dragon Ball fighting games. Veterans may recall similar struggles with the Great Ape in earlier titles like Budokai Tenkaichi.
Beyond the Ape: Other Challenges in Sparking! ZERO
Great Ape Vegeta isn't the only source of frustration. Even on Normal difficulty, CPU opponents unleash punishing combos, a problem exacerbated on Super difficulty where the AI seems to possess an unfair advantage. This often leads players to lower the difficulty to Easy.
Sparking! ZERO's Triumphant Steam Launch
Despite the intense challenges, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO has stormed onto Steam. Within hours of early access launch, it peaked at 91,005 concurrent players, surpassing major fighting game franchises like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat.
This success is unsurprising, as Sparking! ZERO represents a highly anticipated revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Game8's 92/100 review highlights the game's vast roster, stunning visuals, and extensive scenarios, calling it "the best Dragon Ball game in ages." For a more detailed review, check out our featured article.
