Not Quite a Super Sayin – Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Review

The anime phenom since the 80s, the Dragon Ball series is back at it again with another game. The running joke is that every 2 years we get another Dragon Ball Z game running through the same story for the hundredth time. In actuality we usually get either a greatest hits fight-to-fight game, like the Budokai series which we haven’t had in a while, or we get some kind of twist to the story a la the Xenoverse series. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the first time in a while that we go through the entirety of the DBZ story in an open world with exploration and RPG elements. At its best, DBZ:K is a gorgeous and energetic fighting game that gives you the best of what the show had to offer. Unfortunately those moments aren’t exactly few but can be far in between. At worse it’s a buggy and uninspired button mash, and honestly, the fans deserve better.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Strengths Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot on the surface is quite charming and shows a lot of respect to the original show. From the opening with the original song to the recaps and “Next Time on…” previews to each chapter, there’s a love here that I haven’t seen an anime game in quite some time. From the beginning of the Sayin Saga to the end of the Buu Saga, everything is here and then some. What’s really nice is all the little moments that you get in the story. Getting Launch, who was literally forgotten by the creator in DBZ, back or making fun of Yamcha and his famous death pose; there’s a lot here for longtime fans. Ba…