DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO's early access release has unleashed a formidable foe: Great Ape Vegeta. This colossal ape is proving to be a brutally challenging boss, leaving players battered and meme-worthy.

Great Ape Vegeta: The Ultimate Test in Sparking! ZERO

Bandai Namco's latest fighter has thrown down the gauntlet, and Great Ape Vegeta is picking it up with both hands (and a Galick Gun). This early-game boss battle is causing widespread frustration, prompting even Bandai Namco to join the meme-making frenzy.

The challenge is legendary, echoing the devastating power of Vegeta's Great Ape transformation in Dragon Ball Z, but amplified to almost impossible levels. His relentless beam attacks and health-draining grabs transform the fight into a desperate survival test. Players are resorting to immediate restarts upon seeing the Galick Gun charge-up animation.

The difficulty is particularly punishing for newcomers to Dragon Ball fighting games. Encountering Great Ape Vegeta early in Goku's Episode Battle, and facing a barrage of super moves from the start, presents a significant hurdle.

Bandai Namco's Response: A Meme-worthy Acknowledgement

Instead of a quick fix, Bandai Namco embraced the player outcry with humor. Their UK Twitter (X) account aptly tweeted "This monke got hands," alongside a GIF showcasing Vegeta's overwhelming energy attacks.

This difficulty isn't entirely unprecedented. Veteran players remember similar struggles with Great Ape Vegeta in Budokai Tenkaichi, a fight often described as a survival experience.

Beyond the Ape: A Broader Difficulty Curve

Great Ape Vegeta isn't the only source of player frustration. Even on Normal difficulty, CPU opponents unleash devastating, hard-to-counter combos. Super difficulty amplifies this, with seemingly unfair AI advantages. The result? Many players are humbling themselves and lowering the difficulty to Easy.

Despite the widespread "monke-slapping," Sparking! ZERO is a runaway success on Steam. Early access saw a peak of 91,005 concurrent players, surpassing major fighting game titles like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat.

This triumph reflects the long-awaited revival of the Budokai Tenkaichi series. Game8 awarded the game a 92 score, praising its extensive roster, stunning visuals, and engaging scenarios. For a more in-depth review of DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, check out our related article!