DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's early access 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 online frustration and meme-worthy moments.
Great Ape Vegeta: A Boss Fight of Epic Proportions (and Difficulty)
Bandai Namco Joins the Meme-Fest
Boss battles are meant to be challenging, but Great Ape Vegeta in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO transcends "difficult" and enters the realm of legendary frustration. His brutal attacks and seemingly unstoppable combos are leaving players battered and bruised. The situation has become so prevalent that even Bandai Namco is embracing the memes, acknowledging the widespread struggle.
Anyone familiar with Vegeta's Great Ape transformation in Dragon Ball Z knows the potential for destruction. Sparking! ZERO amplifies this power to an almost comical degree. His relentless beam attacks, including the dreaded Galick Gun, and a devastating grab move make survival a primary objective, often resulting in immediate restarts upon seeing the Galick Gun charge.
The challenge is exacerbated by the early appearance of Great Ape Vegeta in Goku's Episode Battle. For newcomers to Dragon Ball fighting games, this encounter can be incredibly daunting, with the boss launching a barrage of super moves from the outset.
Bandai Namco's Hilarious Response
Instead of a quick patch, Bandai Namco opted for humor. Responding to the collective groans, their UK Twitter (now X) account tweeted "This monke got hands," accompanied by a GIF perfectly capturing the overwhelming power of Great Ape Vegeta.
It's worth noting that Great Ape Vegeta has a history of being a difficult opponent in Dragon Ball fighting games. Veterans might recall similar struggles in Budokai Tenkaichi, where the fight often felt less like a battle and more like a desperate survival test.
Beyond Vegeta: A Tough Fight Across the Board
Great Ape Vegeta isn't the only challenge. Even on Normal difficulty, CPU opponents unleash devastating, hard-to-counter combos. Super difficulty amplifies this, giving the AI a seemingly unfair advantage with relentless attack strings. The only recourse for many? Lowering the difficulty to Easy.
A Triumph Despite the Difficulty
Despite the widespread "monke-hand" beatdowns, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO has stormed Steam. Early access saw a peak of 91,005 concurrent players, surpassing major fighting game titles like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat.
This success isn't surprising. Sparking! ZERO is a highly anticipated revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi series, and fans have waited years for its arrival. Game8's 92/100 score summarizes the sentiment: "With a massive roster, stunning visuals, and engaging scenarios, this is the best Dragon Ball game in ages." For a deeper dive into our review, see the linked article below.
