The Best Dragon Ball Sparking Zero What If Moments That Deserve Their Own Anime Or Manga Spinoff

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR DRAGON BALL SPARKING! ZERO EPISODE BATTLES

Dragon Ball fans have been treated to a plethora of features in the Sparking! Zero game, including its story mode’s What If scenarios. These scenarios, which could serve as intriguing spin-offs in the manga or anime, allow players to delve into the franchise’s storylines from the unique perspectives of multiple beloved cast members. With each character’s storyline branching into alternative situations, the game offers a diverse and engaging experience that no Dragon Ball fan should miss.

Long-time fans of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball franchise have had no shortage of video games to enjoy over the past decade. However, people who have played several may have grown disinterested in playing through the same storyline repeatedly. That is why the latest game’s What If scenarios have captured the attention and imaginations of so many fans. Many of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘s well-thought-out branching plotlines are so good that they should be adapted outside of the game and known to fans worldwide.

5 Piccolo Takes Charge In The Battle Against The Androids & Cell

The Cell Games Saga Takes Place in Dragon Ball Z Episodes #166 – #194

Even though Trunks broke the rules of space and time to give Goku heart medicine, he still succumbed to the sickness just in time for Android 19 and Dr.Gero’s attack. With Piccolo usually standing out for his cunning nature, Sparking! Zero has an opportunity to have the Namekian interfere in Goku’s battle against the energy-draining Android. Afterward, Piccolo takes on a more vital role than he did during the DBZ arc by training with Gohan in the Hyperbolic Time Chamber and growing strong enough to make an even bigger difference when Cell becomes a problem.

Gohan and Piccolo’s relationship is arguably one of the franchise’s most emotionally satisfying, especially during the events of the most recent film, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero. Unfortunately, Piccolo’s character took a considerable backseat in relevance during many of DBZ and DBS‘s arcs. However, the character’s What If scenario continues to focus on his bond with Gohan and arguably creates a more touching payoff during the Cell Games than the original storyline.

Instead of Goku, Sparking! Zero‘s What If story explores what happens when Piccolo challenges Perfect Cell in the tournament’s first battle after training with Gohan in the Time Chamber. With extra years of training, the Namekian is able to put up a considerable struggle, pushing the antagonist to unleash his full powers and significantly damage Piccolo, enraging Gohan and pushing him to join the battle. Unlike the Dragon Ball manga, this scenario shows Gohan calming his rage more effectively and defeating Perfect Cell with the help of Piccolo, someone many fans consider a better father figure than Goku.

4 Golden Frieza Defeats Goku and Vegeta and Earn’s Command of the Tournament of Power

The Golden Frieza Saga Takes Place in Dragon Ball Super Episode #16 – #27

The Resurrection F arc doesn’t rank particularly high on any Dragon Ball Super arc’s ranked lists, but Frieza’s episode battles allow players to control the iconic villain and win when he should have lost. By defeating Super Saiyan Blue Goku and Vegeta, with extreme haste, Beerus prevents the Saiyan’s deaths and trades their lives for the Earth’s Dragon Balls. After coming back to life and defeating the God of Destruction’s proteges, Frieza regained the respect of Beerus and the opportunity to revive his forces who once ruled over the universe and would surprisingly assist in defending its future.

“…the game’s choice to explore the villain further and his dynamics with his subordinates is one fans didn’t know they needed.”

After Frieza revived his comrades, including the Ginyu Force, his brother Cooler, and more, his group once again became the most formidable force in Universe 7. However, the scenario does not end there. Beerus later approaches the Galactic Emperor to participate in the Tournament of Power to help prevent the Universe from being completely erased. After defeating Goku and Vegeta and earning Beerus’s respect, Frieza is allowed to choose team members for the ToP, resulting in the return of characters fans would have never pictured in the multiversal tournament.

Players can select which of Frieza’s allies they want to include in Grand Zeno’s tournament, and each choice features different battles, outcomes, and interactions. The return of Frieza has brought several surprises in both Dragon Ball Super‘s anime and manga. However, the game’s choice to explore the villain further and his dynamics with his subordinates is one fans didn’t know they needed. While readers anxiously await what will come about with the monstrous Black Frieza transformation, Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘s extra Frieza material will have to suffice for now.

3 Goku Unlocks Super Saiyan In His First Battle Against Vegeta

The Saiyan Saga Takes Place in Dragon Ball Z Episodes #1 – #35

Goku’s older brother Raditz coming to Earth at the beginning of Dragon Ball Z sets off a plethora of events that could have had alternative repercussions across the universe if they had transpired differently. Another of Sparking! Zero‘s most interesting ideas has Earth’s forces team up and manage to defeat Raditz without Goku’s death. When Nappa and Vegeta do arrive, another desperate battle ensues, but after seeing several of his friends die, Goku triggers his Super Saiyan form against Great Ape Vegeta, drastically changing the future DBZ fans are used to.

While Goku’s triumphant moment of transforming against Frieza is an all-time highlight for many anime fans, the What If moment also receives its dramatic presentation worthy of the golden form’s first debut. The idea of Goku’s triggering Super Saiyan early is a fun idea, but what makes the moment worth bringing to fan’s attention is the fact that the story continues in a surprising direction where Goku travels to Namek alone to wish his fallen comrades back to life, but what he encounters is an already slain Frieza and a satisfying rematch for players to discover.

2 Future Trunks In The Tournament of Power

The Tournament of Power Takes Place in Dragon Ball Super Episodes #77 – #131

Dragon Ball Super‘s Tournament of Power was a major highlight for many viewers. However, the arc did have some disappointing participants who could have been replaced by more interesting inclusions, like Future Trunks. The What If scenario explores what would have happened if Trunks stayed in the main timeline to train and participated in the Tournament of Power instead of Frieza, resulting in multiple scenarios in which the once fan-favorite character got some emotionally poignant battles, interactions, and development that felt lacking in the anime.

Additional dialogue between Future Trunks and Vegeta adds to their relationship throughout Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘s story modes that felt lacking from DBS‘s scenes where the father and son interacted. The pair have several satisfying moments in the game’s What If scenarios, especially during the Tournament of Power arc when they team up against God of Destruction Toppo. However, Future Trunks’ participation in the Tournament of Power explores another narratively rich opportunity involving Androids 17 and 18.

At first, Frieza’s inclusion in the Tournament of Power was a surprising and disappointing twist for fans anxious to see more of Majin Buu in action. However, in hindsight, it’s difficult to imagine a more exciting ending than what fans got for the Tournament of Power. Still, by adding Trunks into the fold, he was able to address the trauma the Androids of his timeline caused more effectively by having to work together with them to help save the universe. Sparking! Zero arguably did better at evolving Future Trunk’s character than the canon material.

1 Gohan Black Story Is Rich With Narrative Potential

The Goku Black Arc Takes Place In Dragon Ball Super Episodes #47-#76

The Dragon Ball Super series featured incredible highs and lackluster lows, and both can be found in the Goku Black arc. While the return of Future Trunks and an evil Goku are interesting ideas on their own, the two characters fail to resonate with satisfaction on a narrative level. However, one of Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘s most interesting What If scenario fixes this with Gohan Black, a timeline where the rogue Kai Zamazu steals the Human-Saiyan hybrid body instead of Goku’s.

In Dragon Ball Super‘s canon storyline, Frieza returns and easily overpowers a grown-up Gohan, who’d been slacking on his training but Sparking! Zero allows for a far more exciting alternative. If Gohan defeats Frieza, it pushes him to continue his training, which leads him to fight Hit during the tournament against Universe 6. The battle attracted the attention of the multiverses Gods, including Zamazu. Instead of Goku, Gohan’s body is stolen, forcing Trunks to face the man who trained him in very different and tragic circumstances.

While Goku is a more popular character, which led to some interesting interactions when his body was stolen (again) in DBS, Gohan’s body being used for Zamazu’s evil plans feels much more emotionally poignant on several levels. Trunk’s confronting the consequences of his past actions directly manifested as his former teacher is heartbreaking. And having a more determined Gohan facing off against Gohan Black also fits as a brilliant obstacle, a physical manifestation of the one who always held him back: himself. Dragon Ball Sparking! Zero‘s Gohan Black is such a narrative-rich idea; it’s a shame it wasn’t explored in Dragon Ball Super.

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  Dragon Ball

  From the creative mind of Akira Toriyama, Dragon Ball is a mega multimedia franchise that spans back to the 1980s. Dragon Ball expanded quickly, starting as a serialized manga for Weekly Shonen Jump in Japan. It made its way overseas via manga and an anime adaptation that is enjoyed worldwide. Dragon Ball was the initial starting animated series that followed the adventures of the young Son Goku as he sought after the Dragon Balls. These mystical orbs would grant the wish of any who gathered them together. Then, the series would branch off into the immensely popular Dragon Ball Z, which followed Goku as an adult and featured high-intensity battles and Goku’s never-ending search to be the strongest. The series has also enjoyed several popular video game adaptations and continues to release several new animated series and theatrical films up to the recent popular Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.