Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero marks another milestone for Bandai Namco Entertainment as the acclaimed 3D fighter makes its debut on both the Nintendo Switch and the new Nintendo Switch 2.
Originally developed using Unreal Engine 5, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero invigorated fans with its expansive roster, boasting over 180 fighters from Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, and more.
The title first gained traction on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2023, earning a reputation for its stunning visuals, dynamic online play, and attention to detail, though accessibility issues on handheld PCs at launch slowed its momentum for some. The Nintendo Switch 2 release answers longstanding calls from portable gaming enthusiasts, providing a tailored experience on both the original Switch and its successor.
The latest ports target 30 frames per second: 1080p when docked and 810p in handheld mode for the Switch 2, whereas the original Switch sticks to 810p across the board.
While these figures are aspirational, the real-world results see the game running at these targets with varying degrees of graphical sharpness and performance.
Texture resolutions, draw distance, and loading times have been noticeably scaled back to accommodate the hardware, but the core experience remains intact. "Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a visually stunning and content-rich fighter, but the Nintendo Switch 2 port makes considerable concessions compared to PS5 and Xbox Series X," notes our review.
Menu transitions, high-fidelity scenes, and quick loading—hallmarks of the current-gen console versions—are replaced with lower-quality assets and slower load times in the Switch 2 version.
Yet, for players who favor handheld play, the Switch 2 port delivers a satisfactory experience that surpasses the state of the game on platforms like Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, where performance and online stability are less consistent without manual adjustments. Online play, while present, comes with limitations on Switch 2: ranked mode is not yet implemented, and cross-platform play is not supported, restricting matchmaking largely to friends or the available player pool.
The online community is currently less active than at launch, and frequent updates to address player feedback have slowed compared to earlier cycles.
Still, both local and online multiplayer are supported, making the game appealing for offline play and casual multiplayer sessions. Bandai Namco offers Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero at full retail price on the Nintendo Switch family, with multiple editions and a wide array of DLC also available through the Nintendo eShop.
While the Switch 2 lacks some of the advanced haptic feedback present in the PS5’s DualSense controller, it does feature basic HD Rumble support, albeit with room for improvement.
Load times are moderately longer than flagship consoles but remain competitive relative to other recent ports. For those seeking the best TV experience, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X remain the premier platforms for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
However, as a portable brawler, Switch 2 offers the most complete on-the-go experience, albeit with some sacrifices in visual fidelity and performance.
Offline players have the most to gain, especially by opting for the Ultimate Edition to unlock maximum content value. In summary, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero on Nintendo Switch 2 is a competent port that delivers the essence of the modern Budokai Tenkaichi revival for handheld-minded fans.
While its visuals and technical polish fall short of dedicated home consoles, it stands as the best portable option in the roster, particularly for those prioritizing local play and mobility over raw performance.
Originally developed using Unreal Engine 5, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero invigorated fans with its expansive roster, boasting over 180 fighters from Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball Super, Dragon Ball GT, and more.
The title first gained traction on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC in 2023, earning a reputation for its stunning visuals, dynamic online play, and attention to detail, though accessibility issues on handheld PCs at launch slowed its momentum for some. The Nintendo Switch 2 release answers longstanding calls from portable gaming enthusiasts, providing a tailored experience on both the original Switch and its successor.
The latest ports target 30 frames per second: 1080p when docked and 810p in handheld mode for the Switch 2, whereas the original Switch sticks to 810p across the board.
While these figures are aspirational, the real-world results see the game running at these targets with varying degrees of graphical sharpness and performance.
Texture resolutions, draw distance, and loading times have been noticeably scaled back to accommodate the hardware, but the core experience remains intact. "Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero is a visually stunning and content-rich fighter, but the Nintendo Switch 2 port makes considerable concessions compared to PS5 and Xbox Series X," notes our review.
Menu transitions, high-fidelity scenes, and quick loading—hallmarks of the current-gen console versions—are replaced with lower-quality assets and slower load times in the Switch 2 version.
Yet, for players who favor handheld play, the Switch 2 port delivers a satisfactory experience that surpasses the state of the game on platforms like Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, where performance and online stability are less consistent without manual adjustments. Online play, while present, comes with limitations on Switch 2: ranked mode is not yet implemented, and cross-platform play is not supported, restricting matchmaking largely to friends or the available player pool.
The online community is currently less active than at launch, and frequent updates to address player feedback have slowed compared to earlier cycles.
Still, both local and online multiplayer are supported, making the game appealing for offline play and casual multiplayer sessions. Bandai Namco offers Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero at full retail price on the Nintendo Switch family, with multiple editions and a wide array of DLC also available through the Nintendo eShop.
While the Switch 2 lacks some of the advanced haptic feedback present in the PS5’s DualSense controller, it does feature basic HD Rumble support, albeit with room for improvement.
Load times are moderately longer than flagship consoles but remain competitive relative to other recent ports. For those seeking the best TV experience, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X remain the premier platforms for Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero.
However, as a portable brawler, Switch 2 offers the most complete on-the-go experience, albeit with some sacrifices in visual fidelity and performance.
Offline players have the most to gain, especially by opting for the Ultimate Edition to unlock maximum content value. In summary, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero on Nintendo Switch 2 is a competent port that delivers the essence of the modern Budokai Tenkaichi revival for handheld-minded fans.
While its visuals and technical polish fall short of dedicated home consoles, it stands as the best portable option in the roster, particularly for those prioritizing local play and mobility over raw performance.
