Relive Goku’s life in this RPG
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT is a role-playing game by CyberConnect2 Co., Ltd. that will give gamers everywhere a chance to experience the saga of the famous Saiyan. Fans of the popular anime series Dragon Ball are in for a treat with this game.
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT presents the same story of how Kakarot—Goku’s Saiyan name—fights enemies to save planet Earth. It allows gamers to step into the martial arts-appropriate shoes of their favorite fighters to engage in battles, make friends, and explore various worlds. The game blends familiar and new elements, offering an exciting adventure for long-time fans and newcomers alike.
An RPG that is not an RPG
Technically, DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT is a role-playing game. However, it is not super customizable. It is more like a hand-holding RPG on rails that tells you which character to play and, by extension, when you will be able to upgrade that character’s stats. It even tells you where you’re going and when.
Those are the restrictions of following a preordained story. However, the game—though not fully explorable—has many open areas that you can wander around in. That means you can go off on side quests to break the boredom of having to follow a linear storyline.
There are various tasks that you can perform. These include racing, collecting Dragon Balls, fishing, hunting, fighting dinosaurs, and even random battles. However, most of these are largely unrewarding. A lot of the activities only reward you with items you can use to cook or boost your stats temporarily. It also doesn’t help that these boosts are quickly made redundant by the game’s RPG leveling system, which means that the side tasks are only there to give you fun.
It is also a little frustrating that you cannot veer far from the narrow storyline of the game. But, on the bright side, you can get a chance to visit places you’ve always loved from the anime series. These places include Orange City, or Goku’s home; Yamcha’s hideout in the desert; and even Gohan’s high school.
Simple combat
Of course, it won’t be a Dragon Ball game without fighting. However, if you play the game expecting battles on par with Dragon Ball FighterZ, then you will be disappointed. In fact, the game’s battle mechanics are much closer to what you’ll find in Dragon Ball Xenoverse.
The game pulls back from the RPG’s traditional combat style and adapts a more fighting game style of combat. This means over-the-shoulder action, simple controls, and a combat system that is fun but not all that complex. You can launch a variety of attacks. However, not all of them are equal—basic melee attacks and specific explosive attacks are always effective.
A plethora of issues
The fighting aspect in DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT is fun. However, it results in more issues. The biggest is in the unique abilities of the UI. For one, its feature called Super Armor in fighting games lets characters take damage without flinching, allowing them to push through certain high-damage techniques. The enemies in this game have access to that armor at an alarming rate.
The other issue is that certain attacks have little two-second cutscenes, where the cameras focus on you or your opponent. Sure, it’s cool, but it affects your battle. You cannot move when the camera focuses on your opponent. And if you initiate a special attack before these cutscenes, it gets canceled. The worst part is that your enemy can still move even if the camera is focused on you.
To top it off, the game is prone to crashing, which stops certain cutscenes from loading. Worse, it sometimes boots players out of the game. There is also some screen-tearing, but it can all be solved with better equipment.
Engage in online competition
In DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT, there is an opportunity to engage in intense online battles with the DRAGON BALL CARD WARRIORS mode. Here, players can build and strategically customize their deck using a mix of character and event cards. Starting with 40 cards, you can collect over 260 as you progress, opening up countless deck combinations. The mode features three distinct play options to suit different preferences.
Casual mode allows for relaxed, random matches where results won’t affect your rank, making it perfect for beginners or those looking for stress-free gameplay. For those seeking a more competitive experience, the Ranking Battle pits you against others in thrilling matches where wins and losses influence your ranking. Finally, Tournament Battle is a monthly event where players are divided into three teams, competing for exclusive rewards.
Nostalgic but problematic
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT successfully brings the anime’s world to life, offering fans a chance to explore iconic locations and relive Goku’s journey. While the combat is simple and engaging, restrictive RPG mechanics and technical flaws hold it back. Side activities add variety but feel unrewarding, and performance issues can disrupt gameplay. Despite its shortcomings, it remains an enjoyable experience for die-hard Dragon Ball fans.
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