Vegeta Avoided: Bandai Namco Jokes About ZERO's Grueling Fight

DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's early access release has unleashed a formidable foe: Great Ape Vegeta. This colossal ape is proving to be an incredibly challenging boss, leaving players bruised and frustrated. The difficulty is so extreme, it's even spawned memes, with Bandai Namco itself joining the fun.

Great Ape Vegeta: A Universal Struggle

Boss fights are designed to be tough, but Great Ape Vegeta takes "challenging" to a whole new level. His relentless attacks, including the devastating Galick Gun and a health-draining grab, make the fight feel less like a battle and more like a desperate survival test. Players frequently restart upon seeing the Galick Gun charge-up.

This difficulty is amplified by the boss's early appearance in Goku's Episode Battle, presenting a significant hurdle for newcomers to the Dragon Ball fighting game franchise. The fight often begins with a flurry of super moves, leaving little room for error.

Bandai Namco Embraces the Meme

Instead of immediate patching, Bandai Namco's UK Twitter account responded to the player outcry with a meme featuring a GIF of Great Ape Vegeta overwhelming Goku. The tweet, simply stating "This monke got hands," perfectly encapsulates the widespread frustration.

While challenging, Great Ape Vegeta's difficulty isn't entirely unprecedented. Veterans of the Dragon Ball fighting game series might recall similar struggles with the character in previous titles like Budokai Tenkaichi.

Beyond Vegeta: Other Challenges in Sparking! ZERO

The difficulty isn't limited to Great Ape Vegeta. Even on Normal difficulty, CPU opponents deliver punishing combos, a problem exacerbated on Super difficulty where the AI seems exceptionally strong. Many players have resorted to lowering the difficulty to Easy.

A Triumph Despite the Difficulty

Despite the intense challenge posed by Great Ape Vegeta and other aspects of the game, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO has made a massive impact on 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 likely due to the game's revival of the popular Budokai Tenkaichi style. Game8 awarded the game a 92/100 score, praising its vast roster, stunning visuals, and engaging scenarios. For a more detailed review, check out our featured article.