Let’s be real for a second. We all knew Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 was going to be the "Super Hero" show. Bandai Namco hasn't exactly been keeping it a state secret that the first major wave of additional content for the spiritual successor to Budokai Tenkaichi 3 would lean heavily into the latest cinematic outing of the franchise. But there is a massive difference between knowing the theme and actually seeing how these characters function in a game that moves at this breakneck speed.
It's fast.
If you've played the base game, you know the movement is already twitchy. Now, imagine adding Gamma 1 and Gamma 2 into that mix. These aren't just skins or recycled movesets from the "Super" era. They feel distinct. Honestly, the way the developers at Spike Chunsoft have handled the "superhero" aesthetic—the literal comic book sound effect bubbles popping up during attacks—shows a level of care that goes beyond just cashing in on a movie tie-in.
Who is actually in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1?
People keep asking if we're getting the "full" movie roster right away. The short answer is: mostly. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 focuses on the Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film, and the headliners are exactly who you’d expect. You’ve got Gamma 1 and Gamma 2, obviously. Then there’s the big one—Beast Gohan.
I’ve seen some debate online about whether Beast Gohan should have been in the base roster. Look, I get it. It feels weird to have a modern Dragon Ball game without the current "strongest" form. But from a business perspective, Bandai knows what sells season passes. Putting the silver-haired powerhouse behind the first DLC wall is a classic move. He isn't just a Gohan reskin, though. His reach and the weight behind his kicks feel substantially different from the Tournament of Power or Cell Games versions of Gohan already in the game.
Then we have Orange Piccolo. Finally. For years, Piccolo fans have been eating crumbs while the Saiyans got ten different flavors of hair dye. Seeing "Giant" Orange Piccolo in the Sparking engine is something else. The scale of this game handles giant characters much better than the old PS2 titles ever did, though the camera can still get a bit wonky when you’re cornered by a Namekian the size of a skyscraper.
The Gamma Twins and the Meta
The Gammas are probably the most "fun" additions if you’re into technical play. Gamma 2 especially has this flamboyant, almost arrogant movement style that translates into some really annoying (for your opponent) mix-ups. They use their blasters for ki blasts, which have a slightly different travel speed than traditional energy orbs.
It changes the rhythm of a match.
You can't just timed-reflect them the same way you do a standard Goku beam. It's a small detail, but in a high-speed fighter like this, those milliseconds matter. Most players are going to gravitating toward Gohan because, well, it's Gohan, but don't sleep on Gamma 1’s defensive capabilities. He feels like a wall.
What most people get wrong about the Season Pass
There’s this weird misconception that Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 is the only thing we're getting for a while. The Season Pass is actually split into three distinct packs. This first one is the Super Hero pack. The next two are confirmed to be centered around Dragon Ball DAIMA.
Wait, why does that matter?
Because it means the game is effectively bridging the gap between the "old" era of Super and the "new" era of Daima. Some fans are annoyed that we aren't getting more characters from the Moro or Granolah manga arcs. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless those arcs get animated, they are basically off-limits for these games. Shueisha and Bandai have a very specific pipeline. If it hasn’t been on a TV or movie screen, it’s probably not coming to Sparking Zero anytime soon.
Another thing: the DLC isn't just characters. You're getting more than 20 new fighters across the whole season pass. DLC 1 kicks that off with a solid chunk of that 20, but it also brings adjustments to the core gameplay. Every time a new character drops, the balance of the existing 180+ roster gets poked and prodded.
Is it worth the price of admission?
If you’re a solo player who just likes the "What If" scenarios, the DLC adds more meat to the bones. The Custom Battle mode is where the real longevity of this game lies. Adding the Super Hero cast means you can finally recreate the "Cell Max vs. Everyone" fight properly, or create a scenario where Gamma 2 meets Android 17.
The interaction dialogue is what kills me. They actually recorded unique lines for when the Gammas interact with the older Androids. It’s that kind of fan service that makes the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 feel like more than a simple character pack. It feels like an expansion of the lore, even if it’s non-canon.
Technical hurdles and the camera issue
We have to talk about the giant in the room. Or rather, the Giant Namekian.
When you play as Orange Piccolo (Giant) in the new DLC maps, the camera struggles. It’s a legacy issue with the Sparking/Tenkaichi series. When you have a character that takes up 40% of the screen and you’re fighting in a destructible environment with crumbling buildings, things get messy.
Spike Chunsoft has tried to mitigate this with a more dynamic "pull-back" camera, but it’s not perfect. You will occasionally find yourself staring at the inside of a mountain or the back of Piccolo’s neck while a Gamma 2 is pelting you with lasers from the stratosphere. It’s the price we pay for having scale, I suppose.
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- Beast Gohan: Incredible damage, slightly slower startup on certain heavy attacks.
- Orange Piccolo: A tank. Period. His health pool and stagger resistance make him a nightmare in close quarters.
- Gamma 1/2: High mobility, unconventional ki blasts, and some of the best looking Ultimate attacks in the game.
The animations for the Special Beam Cannon (Beast version) are a frame-for-frame recreation of the movie. It’s gorgeous. The Unreal Engine 5 lighting really pops during the cinematic finishes, making the purple and red hues of the Super Hero aesthetic look far better than the standard blue/yellow ki we’ve seen for decades.
How to prepare for the new meta
If you’re planning on jumping into ranked matches once Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 drops, you need to practice your vanish timing against non-traditional ki blasts. The Gammas will mess you up if you rely on muscle memory from fighting Gokus and Vegetas all day.
Also, start experimenting with the "Giant" slayer characters. If Orange Piccolo becomes a staple in the online meta—which he likely will due to his sheer intimidation factor—you’ll want to have characters in your team who can handle large hitboxes effectively.
Honestly, the best thing you can do is dive into the Training Mode the second the download finishes. Don’t just jump into ranked. The timing for Beast Gohan’s follow-ups is tighter than you’d think. He’s not a "mash to win" character, despite how powerful he looks on paper. You have to be deliberate.
What comes after DLC 1?
Once the dust settles on the Super Hero content, the focus shifts entirely to Dragon Ball DAIMA. That’s going to be a massive tone shift. We’ll go from the high-stakes, world-ending power of Beast Gohan to the smaller, more adventure-focused versions of the cast. It’ll be interesting to see how the community reacts to that.
For now, the Dragon Ball Sparking Zero DLC 1 is exactly what the game needs to keep the momentum going. It fills the most glaring hole in the roster and gives us a taste of what the future of Dragon Ball gaming looks like under the Unreal Engine 5 hood.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your storage: These DLC packs often come with large patches for the base game to ensure compatibility in online play. Clear out about 10-15GB just to be safe.
- Master the "Super" Gohan: If you haven't played much as the adult version of Gohan in the base game, start now. Beast Gohan’s fundamental movement is built on that framework, so getting the muscle memory down early will give you an edge.
- Refine your Custom Battle skills: Start looking at the logic triggers in the Custom Battle editor. The new characters will bring new "Effect" assets that you can use to make even crazier scenarios.
- Save your Proficiency: If you’re a completionist, remember that you’ll need to grind proficiency for these new characters to unlock all their titles and gallery items. Don't waste your "Player Exp" boosters on base characters if you're close to finishing them.