Ever since its announcement at the Dragon Ball Games Battle Hour 2023, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has fans of the popular fighting game and anime unable to contain their excitement.

With a release date for the upcoming fourth installment to the Budokai Tenkaichi series finally announced at the Summer Games Festival 2024, fans of the franchise have begun to clamor for a tribute to the man behind it all: Akira Toriyama.

In Loving Memory of a Legend

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Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero has its fans excited to raise their power levels later this year.

The Dragon Ball anime has rightfully occupied its place among the all-time greats of the genre, with memorable characters, a nuanced narrative, and explosive action. Goku, Vegeta, and their respective families occupy a place in the hearts of many fans around the world – as does their creator.

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Mr. Toriyama’s tragic demise earlier this year left many fans of his work heartbroken to learn of his passing. As one of the most influential manga artists in the industry, My. Toriyama rose to prominence in the manga industry from humble beginnings. However, his humility led him to stay away from the public eye and was the catalyst for his avatar “Robotoriyama”, a recurring character in many of his works.

Making the Artist Live on Through His Art

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Fans of the beloved anime hope to see a tribute to its legendary creator added to the game.

The highly anticipated addition to the Budokai Tenkaichi franchise, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero is all set to be the first to take on its original Japanese moniker. And if fans of the series have their way, it could very well be the first to introduce Robotoriyama as a playable character to its roster.

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A recent tweet from the game’s official page teased its fans with a question on who they think the pre-order bonus character is going to be, reminding them that it’s one that has never been playable before. Check out the tweet below:

While other fans took educated guesses, it was a user named Cannibal_Lemons who highlighted the possibility of a tribute to the legendary artist with his reply which you can see below:

Considering that Robotoriyama does indeed have the skill set and power levels to duke it out with the rest of Dragon Ball’s cast, his addition to the game would make a fine tribute to his real-life inspiration, and perhaps elevate the game’s popularity alongside the return of a series staple in general as a result.

However, many believe that Robotoriyama would probably be too overpowered for the rest of the cast to take on, considering his massive arsenal of abilities. And of course, it would feel wrong to beat up the beloved robot.

However, it would be a great tribute to Mr. Toriyama to have his avatar in the game in some capacity as long as it is handled right. Robotoriyama’s ability to break the fourth wall, for example, could set up the scope for some poignant moments – or funny ones, as the great artist would want.

The mystery is set to resolve itself in October this year, and it is clear that Spike and Bandai Namco have created something that Mr. Toriyama would love – even if he doesn’t find a place in the game’s final roster of fighters.

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