Cramming almost a decade’s worth of anime – 291 episodes, to be precise – into one game is a Super Saiyan task fit for Goku himself. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot summarises the lot with aplomb, but like many anime games before it, struggles to do away with the glacial filler while keeping the iconic characters intact.
At its best, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a beautifully realised romp through just about everything the original show has to offer. Though it’s let down by pedestrian open areas, simplistic, grindy combat, and an overly egalitarian approach to storytelling.
Alongside the core story missions, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot introduces some RPG mechanics like levelling up and skill trees, as well as more open exploration areas to the series. From an overworld, you can travel between various locations on the Dragon Ball continent and beyond – including cute recreations of King Kai’s planet, Kami’s lookout, and Master Korin’s tower.
There’s definitely potential in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, much of which you could build on in a sequel. But when you’ve blasted through the entire Dragon Ball Z canon in the first game, where would you go with a second? Straight to DB: Super, probably.
But whether you’ve grown up with Goku and friends, or you’re a first timer who’s never fancied sitting through 300 episodes without getting to play a part in the action, this is still a great way to experience the classic story.
-M.Jatin.Sharma
Jatin's Blog 