Vegeta's Ape Rampage Frustrates Players in Latest ZERO Update

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 experienced players, leading to widespread online frustration and humorous memes.

Great Ape Vegeta: A Boss Fight of Epic Proportions (and Difficulty)

Bandai Namco Joins the Meme Frenzy

Boss battles should be challenging, but Great Ape Vegeta in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO transcends "difficult" and enters the realm of legendary hardship. His devastating attacks, including the infamous Galick Gun and a health-draining grab, leave players scrambling for survival. The fight often feels less like a strategic duel and more like a desperate attempt to endure an onslaught of super moves. The sheer intensity has even prompted Bandai Namco to join the meme-making, acknowledging the widespread struggle.

The difficulty is amplified by the fact that players encounter Great Ape Vegeta early in Goku's Episode Battle, presenting a massive wall for newcomers to the Dragon Ball fighting game genre. The relentless barrage of super moves from the start makes for a brutally steep learning curve.

Bandai Namco's UK Twitter (X) account perfectly captured the sentiment with a tweet featuring the phrase "This monke got hands" and a GIF showcasing Great Ape Vegeta's overwhelming power. This humorous response highlights the game's unexpectedly high difficulty.

While challenging, Great Ape Vegeta's difficulty is not entirely unprecedented. Veterans of the Dragon Ball fighting game series may recall similar struggles with this character in past titles, like the original Budokai Tenkaichi, where the fight was described as a pure survival test.

The challenge extends beyond Great Ape Vegeta. Even on Normal difficulty, CPU opponents unleash difficult-to-counter combos. Super difficulty further amplifies this, giving the AI a seemingly unfair advantage with relentless attacks that leave players struggling to react. Many players have resorted to lowering the difficulty to Easy.

Despite the widespread difficulty, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO is a massive success. Early access saw a peak of 91,005 concurrent Steam players, surpassing other fighting game giants like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat. This remarkable achievement highlights the anticipation surrounding the game's release.

The game's popularity is understandable. Sparking! ZERO effectively revives the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi subseries, fulfilling a long-standing desire among fans. Game8's 92/100 review praises the vast roster, stunning visuals, and engaging scenarios, calling it "the best Dragon Ball game in ages." For a more in-depth review, see our linked article.