GamesFightingDragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s split-screen multiplayer is only playable on one map, devs confirmWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesFightingDragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s split-screen multiplayer is only playable on one map, devs confirmWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, the weirdly named new fighting game fromBandai Namco, lets you play couch co-op with your friends on the same TV, but there’s a pretty huge catch - you can only do so on the Hyperbolic Time Chamber map.
Talking to GamesRadar+ during Summer Game Fest 2024, producer Jun Furutani, via translator, described Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero’s local multiplayer option as something of an afterthought. Although there’s an inherent challenge in deciphering intent in a translated interview, it seems pretty clear that Furutani views Sparking Zero as primarily an online multiplayer game with the added benefit of a limited local co-op mode.
“The game was really developed as a solo experience on one screen, because it was so important for us to be able to maximize and optimize the experience of a Dragon Ball fight and all that comes with it,” Furutani said. “For example, all the real-time interactions and animation that you can see in the game that will make this Dragon Ball experience the best. There were definitely challenges to go with the split screen feature. But still, we wanted the player to enjoy the game in many situations, and playing on his couch with a friend is one of the situations, so we made sure to add this feature in the game.”
It was previously rumored that Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero wouldn’t have a local multiplayer option at all, so although it’s disappointing that it’s restricted to just one level, it’s a good thing that we’re able to play together with friends in the same room at all. There’s a chance the feature is expanded to include more maps in the future, but since it sounds like the restriction to just one map is due to technical challenges, that’s far from a certainty.
Only time will tell if Sparking Zero will join the ranks of thebest fighting gamesout there.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
Summer Games PreviewWe are diving deep into the hottest upcoming games of the year and beyond. To find all of our coverage, visitGamesRadar’s What’s Hot 2024 hub.
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TOPICSSummer Game Fest
TOPICS
CATEGORIESPS5Xbox Series XPC GamingPlatformsPlayStationXbox
CATEGORIES
PRODUCTSDragon Ball: Sparking ZeroSummer Game Fest 2024
PRODUCTS
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More about fighting
Tekken 8 boss gives broken Tifa stans hope after Clive got to join the fighter instead: “It’s not like we’re only limited to one character from Final Fantasy"Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is one of the best-selling games in Bandai Namco history: “A nice surprise in a year that’s been kind of rough overall,” says analyst
Tekken 8 boss gives broken Tifa stans hope after Clive got to join the fighter instead: “It’s not like we’re only limited to one character from Final Fantasy”
Tekken 8 boss gives broken Tifa stans hope after Clive got to join the fighter instead: “It’s not like we’re only limited to one character from Final Fantasy”
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is one of the best-selling games in Bandai Namco history: “A nice surprise in a year that’s been kind of rough overall,” says analyst
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is one of the best-selling games in Bandai Namco history: “A nice surprise in a year that’s been kind of rough overall,” says analyst
LatestElder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in MorrowindSee more latest►
Latest
Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in Morrowind
Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in Morrowind
Elder Scrolls modders have released a playable part of the ambitious Project Tamriel, which aims to recreate all of the beloved RPG’s regions in Morrowind
See more latest►
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GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
2
Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure”
3
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4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years”
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4
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1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show”
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4
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5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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1
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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2
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3
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
4
Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”