“Borderline impossible” was a launch-era player reaction to particular fights in DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO—not a measured verdict on the whole game. GamesRadar reported complaints about aggressive CPU opponents and Episode Battle encounters in October 2024. Difficulty can also depend on whether you are pursuing the main victory condition or an optional branch, and the game has received updates to CPU behavior and story difficulty since launch.
What “borderline impossible” refers to
GamesRadar’s October 10, 2024 report collected player complaints about CPU opponents landing long combos and a story fight described by one player as “WAY too hard.” The headline phrase captures that frustration; it is not a developer admission, a formal difficulty rating, or evidence that every player will find the game impossible.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO PS5 | $39.88 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dragon Ball Sparking Zero - Compatible for PS5 - UK PAL | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, 1 PS5-Blu-ray Disc | $48.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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DRAGON BALL Z: Kakarot - PlayStation 5 | $21.92 | Buy on Amazon |
The complaints concerned specific fights and CPU behavior. They should not be taken as a description of every battle or mode. No named statistic or controlled difficulty comparison establishes how often players struggle.
Why Episode Battle can feel especially demanding
Episode Battle is the game’s story mode, with perspectives from Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Piccolo, Future Trunks, Goku Black, Frieza, and Jiren. Bandai Namco says choices, victory conditions, and secondary objectives can lead to alternative scenarios. That means “finish the fight” and “meet the condition for a particular branch” may be different challenges.
#1 Best Overall
- Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series
- This game contains breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, and movements too quick for the eyes to see
- Step into an arena that reacts to your every action including planet-razing ultimate attacks
- Watch the environment respond with stunning realism, and leave a trail of destruction in your wake as you battle to your heart’s content
- Main progression: Focus on the fight’s standard victory condition if your goal is to continue the character’s story.
- Alternate scenarios: Some outcomes depend on choices or additional objectives. If a branch is proving difficult, check the fight’s stated conditions and decide whether you need that route now.
Bandai Namco’s Game Modes Handbook explains the mode structure and its branching possibilities.
Can you lower Episode Battle difficulty?
Yes. In a January 20, 2025 update notice, Bandai Namco said players can change Episode Battle difficulty even when using a Dragon Orb. This is relevant if a story encounter is blocking progress: the Orb does not prevent you from adjusting the mode’s difficulty.
Rank #2
- UK PSN Account Requirement: UK PSN account may be required for any online features
- Legendary Budokai Tenkaichi Gameplay: Experience the iconic gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series elevated to new heights with enhanced mechanics and controls
- Extensive Character Roster: Learn and master an incredible roster of playable characters, each with signature abilities, transformations, and techniques
- Authentic Dragon Ball Combat: Harness the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL with faithful recreations of their abilities
- Regional Compatibility: Physical game disc compatible with PlayStation 5 consoles in UK PAL regions
The notice does not establish that every optional objective becomes easy, or that all other modes use the same setting. For the exact change, see Bandai Namco’s January 2025 update notice.
Has the difficulty changed since launch?
Official update notices confirm that CPU behavior has been adjusted after the October 2024 reports. Bandai Namco’s April 20, 2026 patch notes announced an adjustment to CPU behavior at Ultra difficulty in the following day’s update. Its September 3, 2026 notice also listed a CPU behavior adjustment for an update beginning September 4, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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Rank #3
- Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series to a whole new level.
- Use the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever competed in Dragon Ball!
- Learn and master an incredible group of playable characters, each with individual skills, transformations and techniques.
These changes make launch-era accounts less reliable as a guide to the current build, but they do not show that a particular fight is now easy or hard. The notices do not provide a controlled comparison across platforms. Consult the relevant platform’s current update information if you need to confirm which build you are playing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to get help with difficult fights
Bandai Namco’s official guide hub includes fundamentals, strategy, and combo guides. Use those resources to build familiarity with the game’s systems rather than assuming that a single launch-era complaint describes your fight or version.
Rank #4
- Experience the story of DRAGON BALL Z from epic events to light-hearted side quests, including never-before-seen story moments that answer some burning questions of Dragon Ball lore for the first time
- Play through iconic DRAGON BALL Z battles on a scale unlike any other
- Fight across vast battlefields with destructible environments and experience epic boss battles that will test the limits of your combat abilities
- Increase your power level and rise to the challenge
- Don’t just fi ght as Goku - Live as Goku. Fish, fly, eat, train, and battle your way through the DRAGON BALL Z sagas, making friends and building relationships with a massive cast of DRAGON BALL characters
Platforms
Bandai Namco lists DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Store availability and editions can vary by platform and region; check the listing for the system you use on the official game page.
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