Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is a true love letter to fans of the multiple animes from which the game is adapted. Full of winks and references, one of them is perhaps the most discreet of all.
The success of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero has been absolutely phenomenal. Fans of the franchise rallied in droves to support this revival of Budokai Tenkaichi, helping the game sell over 3 million copies upon launch, making it one of the most popular fighting games on Steam.Article continues after ad
Not only does the game boast an impressive cast of over 180 playable characters, but it’s also chock-full of references to the many Dragon Ball animes that inspired it. Even though the story and roster of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero mainly focus on Z, Super and GT, the saga that started it all has not been forgotten.Article continues after ad
A surprisingly subtle reference to a classic Dragon Ball character is hidden in the character customization menu, a place you wouldn’t expect. This nod is aimed at fans of the original series, and they will be delighted to discover it.Article continues after ad
The reference in question alludes to Lunch, an iconic character from the first Dragon Ball. For those who remember, Lunch is best known for her multiple personalities that change with every sneeze.
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero hasn’t forgotten Launch.
Most often, she is seen with a gentle and caring personality, sporting blue hair. But as soon as she sneezes, she transforms into a formidable blonde with an explosive character, a bank robber and armed to the teeth, accumulating crimes with disconcerting ease.Article continues after ad
This new monstrous anime is “incredible” according to the artist of One Punch Man
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Even though Lunch is not a playable character in Sparking Zero, she gets a special mention thanks to Krillin in the customization menu. When trying out lines, Krillin asks: “Hey, has anyone seen Lunch around?“
The answer is no, because it does not appear in the game’s story or in the menus. However, that doesn’t mean we won’t see her in the future. Some theories suggest that one of Dragon Ball Sparking Zero’s DLCs could focus on the 22nd Martial Arts Tournament, from the original anime.Article continues after ad
We could even hope to see Lunch become a playable character, provided that Bandai Namco dares to make her capable of shooting her opponents as a super attack. A daring idea, but one that could well delight early fans.Article continues after ad