Dragon Ball Z is one of the most popular and influential anime series of all time. It has spawned countless spin-offs, merchandise, and video games over the years. But none of them have captured the essence of the original show as well as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. This game is an action RPG that lets you relive Goku’s epic adventures from his battle with Raditz to his final showdown with Buu. You can explore a vast open world filled with secrets, side quests, and familiar faces. You can also customize your characters’ skills, items, and outfits to suit your playstyle. But is this game a worthy tribute to the anime legend? Or is it just another cash grab for fans? In this review, we will examine the gameplay, story, and presentation of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and see if it lives up to its name.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a game that fans of the anime will enjoy, as it faithfully recreates the story and offers a lot of content and customization options. But it also has some flaws that may disappoint some players. The game suffers from some technical issues, repetitive combat, and uneven pacing. It is not a perfect game, but it is a fun and nostalgic one.

The gameplay of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot consists of three main aspects: combat, exploration, and RPG elements. Each one has its own merits and drawbacks, which we will discuss below.

The combat of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the core of the game, as you will spend most of your time fighting enemies from the anime. The combat system is simple and intuitive, as you can use the buttons to perform basic attacks, special moves, transformations, and dodges. You can also use the triggers to lock on to targets, switch characters, and activate support actions. The combat is fast-paced and responsive, as you can fly around the battlefield, unleash powerful combos, and trigger cinematic scenes. The game also offers a variety of enemies, from low-level grunts to iconic villains, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. You can also customize your characters’ skills and items to suit your preferences and strategies.

However, the combat system also has some drawbacks that may frustrate some players. The combat can get repetitive and boring after a while, as you will face the same enemies over and over again, with little variation or challenge. The game also suffers from some difficulty spikes and balance issues, as some fights are too easy or too hard, depending on your level and equipment. The game also has some glitches and bugs that can ruin the immersion and fun of the combat, such as enemies getting stuck in walls, animations not syncing properly, and inputs not registering correctly.

The exploration of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is another major aspect of the game, as you can roam around a vast open world that recreates the locations from the anime. The exploration system is immersive and nostalgic, as you can fly, swim, fish, hunt, cook, eat, train, and interact with various characters and objects. You can also find hidden items, collectibles, and easter eggs that reference the anime and manga. The game also features a dynamic day-night cycle and weather system that change the appearance and atmosphere of the world.

However, the exploration system also has some drawbacks that may bore some players. The exploration can get tedious and pointless after a while, as you will find little to do or see in the world, besides collecting orbs and completing fetch quests. The game also suffers from some linearity and lack of interactivity, as you can only explore certain areas at certain times, depending on the story progression. The game also has some limitations and restrictions that can hinder the freedom and fun of the exploration, such as invisible walls, loading screens, and fast travel points.

The RPG elements of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot are another important aspect of the game, as you can level up your characters, unlock new skills, equip items, and complete quests. The RPG elements are deep and complex, as you can use various systems to enhance your characters’ abilities and stats. You can use the Z-Orbs to learn new skills and super attacks. You can use the Community Boards to place Soul Emblems and activate bonuses. You can use the Training Grounds to master new transformations and techniques. You can use the Cooking System to prepare meals and boost your attributes. You can also use the Dragon Balls to revive defeated enemies and fight them again.

However, the RPG elements also have some drawbacks that may confuse or overwhelm some players. The RPG elements can get complicated and tedious after a while, as you will have to manage a lot of systems, menus, and resources. The game also suffers from some imbalance and grind issues, as some skills and items are too powerful or too weak, depending on your level and equipment. The game also has some inconsistency and redundancy issues, as some quests and rewards are not worth the time or effort, or are already available elsewhere.

The story of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the main attraction of the game, as you can experience the epic saga of DBZ from a new perspective. The story is faithful and complete, as it covers all the major events and characters from the anime. The story is also emotional and engaging, as it delivers the iconic scenes and dialogues that fans love, with enhanced graphics and sound. The game also features some original and exclusive content that adds to the lore and depth of the story.

The adaptation of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is one of the best aspects of the game, as it recreates the anime in a faithful and satisfying way. The adaptation is accurate and comprehensive, as it follows the original plot and timeline of the anime, with minor changes and additions. The adaptation is also immersive and nostalgic, as it lets you play as different characters, explore different locations, and relive different moments from the anime. The game also features some filler and side stories that expand on the anime’s lore and humor.

However, the adaptation of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot also has some drawbacks that may annoy or disappoint some players. The adaptation can get boring and predictable after a while, as you will know what will happen next, especially if you have watched the anime before. The game also suffers from some inconsistency and pacing issues, as some scenes and dialogues are not faithful to the anime, or are skipped or rushed. The game also has some quality and polish issues, as some animations and lip-syncing are not up to par with the anime’s standards.

The DLC of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is another great aspect of the game, as it adds new content and features from Dragon Ball Super, the sequel to DBZ. The DLC is fresh and challenging, as it introduces new sagas, characters, transformations, and mechanics from Dragon Ball Super. The DLC is also high-quality and fun, as it delivers new stories, battles, and interactions that fans of Dragon Ball Super will enjoy.

However, the DLC of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot also has some drawbacks that may deter or dissatisfy some players. The DLC can get expensive and short after a while, as you will have to pay extra money for each episode, which only last a few hours. The DLC also suffers from some availability and compatibility issues, as some episodes are not released yet, or are not compatible with the main game’s save data. The DLC also has some balance and integration issues, as some content and features are too powerful or too different from the main game’s style.

The presentation of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is another impressive aspect of the game, as it showcases the anime’s visuals and sounds in a stunning way. The presentation is beautiful and faithful, as it uses a cel-shaded art style, smooth animations, and flashy effects to recreate the anime’s look and feel. The presentation is also authentic and varied, as it uses the original music, voice acting, and sound effects from the anime, with different options and languages to choose from.

The graphics of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot are one of the best features of the game, as they bring the anime to life in a gorgeous way. The graphics are stunning and realistic, as they use high-resolution textures, detailed models, and realistic lighting and shadows to create a vivid and immersive world. The graphics are also colorful and expressive, as they use vibrant colors, dynamic weather, and emotional facial expressions to convey the mood and tone of the anime.

However, the graphics of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot also have some drawbacks that may ruin or diminish the experience for some players. The graphics can get glitchy and buggy after a while, as you will encounter some graphical errors, such as clipping, pop-in, and flickering. The graphics also suffer from some performance and optimization issues, as you will face some frame drops, stuttering, and loading times, especially on lower-end devices.

The sound of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is another amazing feature of the game, as it captures the anime’s audio in a superb way. The sound is authentic and immersive, as it uses the original soundtrack, voice acting, and sound effects from the anime, with different options and languages to choose from. The sound is also varied and impactful, as it uses different music genres, voice tones, and sound levels to match the scene and action of the anime.

However, the sound of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot also has some drawbacks that may annoy or distract some players. The sound can get repetitive and boring after a while, as you will hear the same music, voice lines, and sound effects over and over again. The sound also suffers from some mismatching and quality issues, as some music, voice acting, and sound effects are not appropriate or consistent with the anime, or are of low quality or volume.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a game that fans of the anime will enjoy, as it faithfully recreates the story and offers a lot of content and customization options. The game has a simple and fun combat system, a vast and immersive open world, and a deep and complex RPG system. The game also has a faithful and complete adaptation of the anime, with some original and exclusive content. The game also has a beautiful and authentic presentation, with stunning graphics and sound. However, the game also has some flaws that may disappoint some players. The game suffers from some technical issues, repetitive combat, and uneven pacing. The game also has some linearity and lack of interactivity, complexity and imbalance, and inconsistency and redundancy. The game is not a perfect game, but it is a fun and nostalgic one.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a game that is worth playing for fans of the anime, as it delivers a satisfying and enjoyable experience that brings the anime to life. However, it is not a game that is suitable for everyone, as it has some flaws that may frustrate or bore some players. If you are looking for a game that is faithful to the anime, has a lot of content and features, and has a simple and fun gameplay, then you should give Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot a try. But if you are looking for a game that is original and innovative, has a balanced and challenging gameplay, and has a polished and flawless presentation, then you may want to skip Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

Here are some frequently asked questions about Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot:

I hope this article has helped you learn more about Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, and whether you should play it or not. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!