You just got hit by a 15-hit combo. You’re staring at the "Continue?" screen, wondering if you actually know how to play video games at all. It’s okay. Seriously. Thousands of people are currently stuck on Great Ape Vegeta, contemplating whether their controller would survive a trip through a closed window. The reality is that Sparking! Zero is hard, and it doesn't apologize for it.
If you grew up playing the Budokai Tenkaichi series on the PS2, you might have expected a warm, nostalgic hug. Instead, Spike Chunsoft handed you a high-speed physics lesson delivered via a Galick Gun to the face. This isn't your average arena fighter where you can just mash the light attack button and see a cool cinematic. It is a technical, demanding, and often punishing simulation of what it would actually feel like to fight a literal god.
The steep learning curve of Sparking! Zero
The difficulty spike hits almost immediately. In the Episode Battle mode, specifically Goku’s path, you encounter Great Ape Vegeta. This fight has already become legendary on social media for being a "brick wall." He’s huge. He has super armor, meaning your basic punches don't even make him flinch. He spams mouth blasts that take out 40% of your health.
Why is this happening? Because the game expects you to move.
Most modern fighting games have a bit of "magnetic" tracking where your character automatically zips toward the opponent. In this game, if you aren't manually managing your Ki, vanishing at the exact millisecond of impact, and using the 3D space to your advantage, you're toast. You have to learn the difference between a Short Dash, a Dragon Dash, and a Z-Burst Dash. If that sounds like a lot, it’s because it is.
The AI doesn't play fair, either. On the standard difficulty setting, computer-controlled opponents will read your inputs. They will deflect your beams. They will "Perception" counter your most powerful moves. It’s frustrating. It’s sweaty. But honestly? It’s exactly how Dragon Ball should feel. These characters are supposed to be terrifyingly fast.
Mechanics that make Sparking! Zero is hard to master
Let’s talk about the "Skill Count" system. It’s that little blue number next to your portrait. Most players ignore it until they realize they can't transform or use a Sonic Sway. This is the resource management layer that sits on top of the Ki bar. If you waste your Skill points on a random "Power Up to the Max" buff and then get caught in a combo, you won't have the points left to perform a Revenge Counter.
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Then there’s the camera. Oh, the camera.
Sometimes the hardest enemy in the game isn't Beerus; it's a rocky pillar in the West City stage. Because the movement is so fast, the camera struggles to keep up when you’re dashing at 300 miles per hour. This adds a layer of "environmental difficulty" that requires you to stay in open spaces. If you get backed into a corner, you aren't just losing health—you’re losing your line of sight.
The Vanish timing is tighter than you remember
In older games, you could sort of rhythmically tap the guard button to vanish. Here, the window feels much smaller. You have to wait until the very last frame. If you're a millisecond early, you just stand there like a dummy and take a punch. If you're late, well, you're already flying through a mountain.
- Sonic Sway: This requires you to hold the guard and a face button simultaneously during a rush. It looks cool, but if you miss the timing, you’re open to a heavy smash.
- Super Perception: This consumes Skill points to deflect almost any attack, including ultimates. Use it too early, and you've wasted your defense.
- Beam Struggles: They aren't just about spinning the stick anymore. There are specific timed hits and Ki management involved.
The game is a dance. A very violent, very fast dance.
Why the difficulty is actually a design choice
Bandai Namco and the developers at Spike Chunsoft knew what they were doing. They weren't trying to make a "balanced" fighting game like Dragon Ball FighterZ. They were trying to make a "lore-accurate" simulator.
In the anime, Goku doesn't just walk up to a villain and trade even blows. There’s a massive power disparity. When you play as Krillin against Perfect Cell, the game should be hard. It should feel like an uphill battle. This "canonical difficulty" is something the series has always flirted with, but in Sparking! Zero, it’s fully realized.
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The game even includes a "Lower Difficulty" option for the story mode, but it comes with a catch: you can't unlock certain side paths or "What If" scenarios if you take the easy way out. It’s the developers’ way of saying, "You can see the story, but you won't be a master."
How to stop dying in the first thirty seconds
You need to go to the practice range. I know, it's boring. Everyone wants to jump straight into the Tournament of Power and start throwing Spirit Bombs. But Piccolo’s training missions are actually vital. He teaches you how to deal with the "Super Armor" enemies that are currently ruining your life.
Stop charging your Ki in the open. It’s the biggest mistake new players make. You see a gap, you hold the button, and you get hit by a Beam. Only charge after you've knocked an opponent away or behind cover.
Also, learn the "Short Dash." By flicking the movement stick and the dash button, you do a tiny teleport. It’s the best way to dodge ki blasts without spending any resources. If you can master the Short Dash, the game suddenly becomes 50% easier because you aren't constantly losing stamina.
The community's reaction to the challenge
Go to any forum or Discord server right now. You'll see two types of people. The first group is complaining that the AI is "broken" and "cheating." They feel the game is unfairly balanced. The second group is posting clips of them beating Great Ape Vegeta without taking a single hit.
The divide exists because this game has a very high "skill floor." It’s not a game you can pick up and play for ten minutes to feel like a pro. It requires muscle memory. It requires you to learn the specific cues of your opponent's animations.
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Is it hard? Yes. Is it "Dark Souls of fighting games" hard? Maybe not quite, but it’s definitely the most challenging Dragon Ball game in over a decade. It rewards patience and punishes greed. If you try to finish a combo when you’re low on Ki, the AI will punish you. Every. Single. Time.
Actionable steps to improve your gameplay
If you are struggling, don't just keep bashing your head against the same boss.
- Master the Revenge Counter. This is your "get out of jail free" card. It costs two skill points but will break an opponent's combo and give you breathing room.
- Use the environment. In stages with buildings or mountains, stay behind them to charge Ki. The AI often gets confused by line-of-sight breaks.
- Customize your character. The "Ability Items" (capsules) can drastically change the game. If you're dying too fast, equip items that boost your health or defense. If you can't land a hit, look for items that increase your tracking speed.
- Learn to "Deflect" small Ki blasts. You don't always need to dodge. Simply holding the guard button and timing a directional flick can swat away those annoying yellow pellets, keeping your momentum alive.
- Watch the Sparking! Gauge. When you enter Sparking! mode, your speed increases and your combos become much longer. Don't just fire your Ultimate immediately. Use the buffed stats to beat down the opponent first, then end with the Ultimate just before the bar runs out.
The game isn't going to get easier, but you will get better. That feeling of finally taking down a boss that's been killing you for two hours is exactly why these games have such a cult following. It’s not just about the flashy lights; it’s about the struggle to become a Super Saiyan.
Stop mashing. Start timing. The Great Ape is waiting.
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