Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot

Even though DBZ: Kakarot retells the same story the franchise has been telling for decades, it manages to do so in creative new ways for hardcore anime fans.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is definitely a game for anime fans. If you are not familiar with this franchise, you will probably not enjoy this game as much. However, if you are a fan, this game is filled with everything we love about Goku and friends.

It's all well and good that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot looks and feels like you're re-experiencing the show. That's why it's all the more disappointing that the game makes for a really lacklustre RPG. It's overstuffed with unnecessary mechanics just to try and make it feel like an RPG, but it fails because it forgets to make any of the systems actually matter. It doesn't need them. Essentially, if you love Dragon Ball in any form, you'll probably love Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, but if you're looking for an in-depth RPG with engaging mechanics and combat, you're not going to get it here.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a solid entry in the long-running line of games based on the franchise. It's clear CyberConnect2 put a lot of love into this project, and it especially shows in how the story and locations are presented. However, it's held back by repetitive combat encounters and dull side quests. Despite its shortcomings, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is still an enjoyable adventure whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer.

There must be a reason we keep buying the same story over and over again, right? While the game certainly has its technical flaws, there's no denying that fans of the franchise will find a lot of love and attention paid to the classic series. It may not add anything truly new to the DBZ saga, but Kakarot is an interesting diversion sure to spawn several sequels or spin-offs.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an unexpectedly fresh take of the well-used Dragon Ball license. Although it must be said that most parts of the game could have been in better shape, and if you are not a Dragon Fall fan many aspects of the game fall flat. But on the other hand; With great fan service, some fantastic cutscenes and above all entertaining gameplay, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a great choice for all Dragon Ball fans - whether your interest level is 150 or over 9000.

If you want to experience these stories again, Kakarot is the best way you can do it, but expect a bit of tedium along the way.

Despite the roughness that comes with some of its systems, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is one of the best Dragon Ball Z games we’ve ever seen. CyberConnect 2 has really brought some of the most iconic bits of the Dragon Ball saga to life with its work on the cutscenes, and the game has plenty of offer fans looking to get lost in the world. You just have to be willing to look past some of the more shallow systems and repetitive combat to experience the good.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's modern, semi-open approach to telling the saga of DBZ--despite some minor issues--is a good one. Zooming around the environments and seeing the world up close is a blast, and it's great being able to interact with so many fun DBZ characters and see stories that usually get passed over for game adaptations. And even though combat can be a bit lacking, when the big battles happen, they feel suitably epic and engaging. If you're looking for an enjoyable way to see the life and times of adult Goku through a new perspective, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot will grant your wish.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's inconsistent quality holds it back from being a great Dragon Ball game, but ultimately, its high points do outweigh its problems -- especially if you're a fan. This is quite easily the most accurate retelling of Dragon Ball Z in a video game, and it's packed full of additional character moments and thoughtful little details. That said, it's difficult not to feel as though the game could have used more time in development or a bigger budget. CyberConnect2's admiration of the source material shines through, but at times, it's hard to ignore all of the corners that have quite clearly been cut. Kakarot's good fun and a decent way to spend 40 anime-soaked hours, but it could have been something more.

When Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is at its best, it’s incredible. The big moments of each saga are brought to life impeccably with beautiful visuals and effects – but more than that, Kakarot also shows love to the smaller, more character driven moments that made fans fall in love with the anime in the first place. As a result, Kakarot is a wonderful way to revisit the story of Dragon Ball Z, whether you’re a fan or looking to jump in for the first time. However, while it’s backed by extremely solid combat, it also comes with major drawbacks like poorly implemented RPG mechanics, a general lack of polish, and some disappointingly shallow and repetitive sidequests.

As a Dragon Ball love letter, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is nearly perfect, featuring an amazing world and attention to detail. But as an RPG and action-adventure game, it’s only good. Its combat can be fun and some of the more in-depth elements are a good change of pace, but a lot of it feels pointless or time-consuming. Dragon Ball Z fans have a lot to love here, but RPG fans might find themselves wishing for something more.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a mixed bag. If you're a Dragon Ball fan, this game will offer so many nice moments and make you occasionally beam from ear to ear. But then during exploration and combat, things quickly become tedious. At full price, it's hard to recommend this game, but when it becomes affordable in a sale, it'll be hard for fans to resist.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is not the anime game to end all anime games. It's not going to convert any non-believers or onboard them into this decades-old classic universe. Even as someone who still re-watches DBZ, it can be grating at times ⁠— but the juice is mostly worth the squeeze.

A competent adaptation of the original anime but there’s a serious danger of déjà vu even for series fans, and the solid but unremarkable action is unable to overcome it.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a beautiful monument to the legend of Goku and its wonderful world. But no matter how strange it sounds, it’s at the same time very close and very far from being the best Dragon Ball game out there.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot displays unparalleled care and respect for the iconic story arcs it adapts. The original music is there, original Dragon Ball characters return, and pivotal moments are gorgeously animated. If these were stories being presented in video game format for the first time, it would be a mind-blowing experience. Unfortunately, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot doesn't push the envelope enough to warrant sitting through the Cell Saga for the umpteenth time and seeing Frieza get obliterated yet again. If you've played a Dragon Ball Z game before, you've basically played this one.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot isn’t a bad game as much as it’s a boring one. Turning the series into an open-world RPG seemed like an interesting challenge, but the game goes about that challenge in the dullest way possible. Putting effort into the series' highlights and dismissively padding out everything in between.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a solid game for anyone looking for some nostalgia thanks to a great retelling of the anime's story. The game gets repetitive though and relies too much on forced RPG-elements that don't add that much to the overall experience.

In itself, nothing is really bad and if we do even find some excellent things, many elements are unfortunately average. However, we will experience a lot of pleasure in reliving all of the iconic face-to-face saga especially as the clashes are dynamic and based on an instinctive playability.

It was a good idea to adapt Dragon Ball Z in a game that was not only based on combat, but also on the adventure aspect. In addition to playing Goku, being able to play other Z Warriors while customizing their attacks and traveling through the rich universe offered by Akira Toriyama's work is quite fun. Unfortunately, the poor execution and the large but superficial content greatly spoil the enjoyment. The side quests are basic and uninteresting, so we'll tend to focus on the main story. Luckily, the soundscape, the cinematics and some fight scenes make up for it, along with the fidelity to the original work. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot isn't the great adaptation we were all waiting for.

Despite the numerous flaws, Kararot still offers a wonderful retelling of the main story, above-average graphics, and a great soundtrack, so it’s worth picking up for established and new fans of the series alike.

With unimpactful combat, Kakarot isn’t the Dragon Ball action RPG fans have been waiting for but still offers a faithful recreation of the most beloved anime series. [Issue#172, p.81]

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot focuses more on pleasing hardcore fans with a beautiful nostalgia reel than trying to be an RPG with substance.

That shortcoming definitely holds Kakarot back, but the overall experience still delivers strong all-ages, Dragon Ball Z fun. Are the open-world RPG elements perfect? No, but Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is still a hit for hardcore DbZ fans in the moments when it counts.

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.

If you're the type of person who loves revisiting Dragon Ball Z every year, Kakarot can be an interesting way to do it thanks to its unique approach. This mediocre game is surprisingly fun for fans of the anime. However, if you don't understand the phenomenon of Dragon Ball, don't expect this game to change that.

While there are more detailed JRPGs out there, Kakarot scratches the itch of both Dragon Ball and JRPG fans alike.

Earth’s greatest defender, our boy Goku, deserves the best; instead, we only get a title that is competent, not exceptional. Die-hard fans — and even casual ones looking for a bit of nostalgia fuel — will have a blast at points, but it’s hard to recommend Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot for anyone else.

After the very good FighterZ, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot could have been a worthy RPG for the fans, but the game ultimately underperforms in too many areas to be of any interest to anybody but the most hardcore of Dragon Ball fans.

It’s just not particularly interesting to play through. There’s certainly some enjoyment for fans to latch onto, but it’s hard to say if that’s enough when the game feels skin-deep in its appeal.

This games feels like it's Frankenstein. The developer put the fights from other games on top of the rough rpg-systems, without contemplating if that would be a good fit. You must really love Dragon Ball Z to enjoy this.