After 17 long years and two skipped console generations, the Budokai Tenkaichi series returns with Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero, bringing the Japanese series name to the world. And what a return it is! With over 180 characters, unlimited replay value, and bombastic battle mechanics, Sparking! Zero is not only one of the best games of the year, but one of the best Dragon Ball games ever released.

The sheer robustness of Sparking! Zero’s roster begs a bit of a discussion beforehand. The roster includes characters from the beginning of Dragon Ball Z all the way through Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power. Fans were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Dragon Ball GT fighters like Super Saiyan 4 Goku and Dragon Ball Z movie villains like Cooler were also announced for the core game roster. It includes the obvious heroes, but also minor characters like King Cold and Spopovich who don’t often appear in Dragon Ball games. In essence, Sparking! Zero features everyone’s favorite characters, even the deep cuts.

But a large roster wouldn’t be as exciting if every character felt the same, and this is where Sparking! Zero really shines. Even the 25 different versions of Goku feel somewhat unique, thanks to different special attacks, abilities, and costumes. The way characters take battle damage and tear their clothes is even different depending on which version of Goku or Vegeta is fighting. Supers and rush attacks have cinematic references to specific scenes in the anime, and some characters have unique grab animations depending on their opponent, such as Goku grabbing Frieza’s tail.

Sparking! Zero isn’t afraid to be unbalanced, and even embraces it while trying to stay as true to the franchise as possible. Someone like Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta is going to feel much more powerful than Yamcha – and rightfully so! The best characters have larger health pools, devastatingly powerful ultimate blasts, and abilities to enter Sparking mode without charging up the required ki.