The upcoming Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has got fans hyped as they wait to delve into the signature gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series after a 16-year-long wait. The developer recently shared in-game screenshots, which impressed many DBZ fans.
However, some fans think the game is “mid” as there are other upcoming titles from Dragon Ball creator, Akira Toriyama, which look much better than Sparking Zero, or any other game in the popular franchise. This is all thanks to the adaptation of Toriyama’s signature art style in the manga.
Fans Call Dragon Ball Sparking Zero “Mid” Compared to Other Akira Toriyama Games
Akira Toriyama is well-known for Dragon Ball among manga and anime fans, but there is more to this name than just the DBZ franchise. He also worked on character and model design in the Dragon Quest franchise and created a manga called Sand Land, which is getting a video game adaptation of the same name.
The character models in the game have players more impressed than the upcoming DBZ game. One Akira Toriyama fan took to X/Twitter and reacted to the gameplay trailer saying that the character models in DBZ games are “garbage” and Sand Land has got a “1:1 adaptation.”
The X/Twitter user is angered about the missing signature art style of Toriyama, adding that it is not fair to the fans. The fan further said that the upcoming game Sand Land looks “visually” better than even Budokai Tenkaichi 4.
In response to another user agreeing with them, the fan added that game models in the upcoming DBZ title are “mid” compared to any other Akira Toriyama-based games.
The fans agreed saying that the developer mostly tries to “replicate” anime style rather than the original art style. One fan said that this is mainly the reason why they “lean away” from DBZ games, while another added, “I felt this EXACT same way YEARS ago.”
Yet another fan added that FighterZ and Kakarot have good models to which the user said that they “are extremely generic.”
Upcoming Akira Toriyama-Based Games Other Than Sparking Zero
Sand Land is an action RPG based on the manga by Akira Toriyama and is set to release on April 26th this year. The title is set in a post-apocalyptic desert, where the water supply is short.
Players will be playing as a Fiend Prince called Beelzebub, and will go on a journey to find a Legendary Spring.
The game features a beautifully designed world and character models in the Akira Toriyama art style, which has impressed gamers and they are excited to play. The title also has customizable vehicles such as a Hovercar and Hovertank, that can be customized with different weapons.
A DraQue III 2D HD remake has also been announced and is in the pipeline to release this year. Many players think it will fare better than the upcoming DBZ game.
What are your thoughts about this debate? Is the art design in Sand Land significantly better? Let us know in the comment section below.
