Paradise for lovers of Dragon Balls – review of the game “Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot”

Laurel for fans

The Dragon Ball manga  was created over 30 years ago by Akira Toriyama. A little later, the anime saw the light of day and it was thanks to the series that the brand became a phenomenon on a global scale. I perfectly remember from my childhood the empty backyards, when it was time to broadcast a new episode on RTL 7. Surprisingly, the popularity of Son Goku does not fade away and to this day we can follow the adventures of a nice Saiyan. 

Inevitably, many games based on a well-known license were created. Usually they were average successful, although there were gems like FighterZ  or the  Budokai series . Most of the production are typical fights, or hybrids with RPG elements (see Xenoverse ). This is actually not surprising – after all, the fight is at the heart of the matter here. Nevertheless, the said story had an “erpego” potential from the beginning, which was confirmed long ago by such titles as The Legacy of Goku .

Therefore, the news that the new Dragon Ball will be an action-RPG ignited the hearts of fans. Cyberconnect2 studio is famous for its successful adaptations, as we found out while playing the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series . In this case, the source material was also treated with respect and understanding, trying to please the fans in the first place. Because Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot  is a game created mainly for players who are sentimental about the work of Akira Toriyama.

From the very beginning, we are greeted by the opening with unforgettable music ( Cha-la Head Cha-la! ), And the farther into the forest, the deeper we are immersed in nostalgic memories. It’s great fun to take part in iconic scenes and visit familiar places and heroes. Japanese dubbing is also available – the original voices of the characters have an exorbitant influence on the atmosphere. You can see that the creators put a piece of their heart into it, filling the title to the brim with flavors.

Back to childhood

The plot covers the entire series of Dragon Ball Z  – from the ill-fated arrival of Raditz to the grueling fight with Buu. For the uninitiated, I will briefly outline what this is all about. Well, we get to know the fate of Son Goku – the strongest warrior in the world. He is a simple-hearted, pure-hearted hero who always stands behind his loved ones. One day, he discovers that he comes from an alien planet and that the Earth is in danger from the Sayians – the race he comes from.

Later, Goku repeatedly carries the fate of humanity on his shoulders, fighting with more and more powerful adversaries. During his adventures, he makes many friends and constantly trains, over and over again breaking the limits of strength and endurance in critical situations. It is also a story of extraordinary courage, competition, friendship and dedication. Dramatic and epic moments are interwoven with a specific sense of humor.

At first I thought it would be tedious to follow the same events again, but being able to actively participate in them has its undeniable charm. With a sincere smile – and often with weights all over my body – I relived them. I appreciate the fact that the side threads have also been thought of, joining and expanding the already known story, which makes its reception more attractive. However, due to the linearity of the story, we basically have no influence on the course of the dialogues and the results of some clashes.

Unfortunately, some scenes were omitted (for example the famous “It’s Over 9000!”) Or shortened, and others were censored so that the title reached a larger audience. Therefore, a few moments lose their dramatic overtone to some extent. Some players may be disappointed, but a good job has been done anyway, faithfully reflecting the spirit of Dragon Ball Z. In  addition, the game offers a huge encyclopedia of knowledge about the universe, the content of which is supplemented as we progress.

Kamehameha!

The essence of Dragon Ball lies in exciting duels, usually taking place in the air. The clashes are dynamic, effective and perfectly reproduced. At first, the blaze of explosions and the chaos on the screen overwhelm, but the pace of the skirmishes quickly becomes bloody. Contrary to appearances, the combat system is not complicated – you can see that the creators wanted accessibility.

In the range of movements we have, among others direct and energy attack, special attacks, energy boost, dodge and block. Thanks to the well-thought-out controls, performing even the strongest blows is child’s play. Initially, implementing quick combos and counterattacks is very satisfying – especially when it comes to considerable destruction of the environment. Unfortunately, the aforementioned simplicity is reflected in hiccups after many hours – we start to fight mechanically, without emotions.

Most of the opponents do not cause any problems, although the most powerful bosses are a different pair of wellies. Encounters with them are sometimes longer battles, requiring dexterity and focus, and controlling the ki energy necessary to launch super attacks. It is worth remembering about the large supply of support items on hand – it makes the challenges much easier.

Many a time we will be supported by various allies. The party stuns enemies, distracts them, or performs super attacks. Some activities can be skillfully combined if we plan it properly. We will also play the role of other heroes, which significantly diversifies the gameplay. After all, who would not want to fight Vegeta or Son Gohan – the more so because they have their own proprietary techniques.

If an opponent causes us a lot of difficulties, it is worth spending some time on a small level up. We gain experience primarily by completing side quests. A few side-quests are good, but the rest are repetitive and monotonous activities, such as find, destroy or kill. The lengthy loading of areas does not help at all. Another way to gain experience is to eliminate smaller opponents, although beating them up quickly becomes difficult.

Train like a Brilliant Turtle

As we advance to a higher level, our statistics increase. We also gain access to new skills, attacks and their improvements. To unlock them, we take part in training and consistently collect the right items – multicolored Z orbs and D medals. These are scattered around the world map, drop from fallen enemies or are sometimes rewards for completing tasks. Some techniques will unlock themselves, others will be accessed over time, which is dictated by story progress.

Each hero has a sizeable, unique skill tree. So you will spend hours grinding and gathering – which can be irritating – trying to develop it as much as possible. By the way, the game probably includes all the memorable transformations and techniques. You will throw Kamehameha, Masenko or Final Flash as much as your heart desires, taking on new forms of SSJ.

Eating delicious dishes also has a positive impact on the statistics – after all, Goku is famous for his unrestrained voracity. Chi Chi or other cooks will prepare real wonders if we provide them with the right ingredients and recipes. We also prepare food ourselves by the fire or buy it from merchants. Each dish is a small but permanent increase in attributes and temporary bonuses, so it’s worth systematically tossing something on the tooth.

An interesting element is the community system. Namely, we gain valuable bonuses and rewards by cultivating the friendship with our companions. By completing side quests, we unlock Soul Signs (representing new allies) that we place on the community boards. Different character settings give different perks. For example, the community of warriors increases the combat potential, while the culinary one influences the effects of consumed meals.

During a break from hitting the face, we replenish our supplies, talk to NPCs or explore the world divided into regions, large in size, in search of collectibles and raw materials. There are also, among others Dinosaur hunting, fishing, baseball and hovercraft racing. Of course, a wish-fulfilling dragon ball could not be missing. Thanks to them, we gain valuable rewards or resurrect bosses to send them back to the other world.

Genki Dama!

The graphic design is uneven. On the one hand, the game looks almost like a series. Character models, story inserts and spectacular battle scenes are almost taken out of the TV screen, which definitely deserves praise. On the other hand, the locations are empty, which is especially noticeable when we explore the area, gliding through the skies. The primitively designed elements of the environment and the economical design are also offensive.

There were also minor technical errors, but they are not very bothersome and can be forgiven in such extensive production. I also did not notice too frequent or annoying drops in liquidity during the game. On the other hand, the soundtrack, containing the original songs from the original, looks great. Well-known motifs significantly make long fun. Long, because the main plot itself is well over 30 hours.

The final verdict is a hard nut to crack. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot  is a true dream come true for fans and the most faithful adaptation of a popular series. Gameplay is repeatable, but pleasantly rejuvenating and accessible. The visuals are pleasing to the eye with vivid colors and effective animations, and familiar music plays in the background. 

However, there is no need to hide that in order to fully appreciate the advantages of the game and immerse yourself in the story, it is recommended to have at least a superficial knowledge of the history contained in the manga or anime. Players who have not previously had contact with the series may have a painful impact on this production. Mainly because it’s a relatively average title.

We find a lot of archaisms in mechanics and graphics, reminiscent of the times of previous generations of consoles. The combat can be spectacular, but it lacks depth, the RPG elements are shallow, and the character development artificially lengthens the game time. Coming to the point – if you are a fan of the universe, take this title blindly. Otherwise, you may be disappointed.

We would like to thank Cenega for making a copy of the game (PS4) available for review.