Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Review (PS4)

very good
key review info
  • Game: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
  • Platform: Playstation 4
  • Show system requirements
  • Reviewed on:
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot artwork

Dragon Ball is a huge franchise and the only reason one may not know about it is if it's not interested in anime. With more than 100 episodes under its belt, Dragon Ball is a worldwide phenomenon that will probably remain so for many years to come. Bandai Namco's most recent Dragon Ball video game, Kakarot is not just a love letter to fans, but also the best game for newcomers to the series.

The game perfectly recaps one of the best and meatiest Dragon Ball sagas, combining elements of fighting and action-RPG in an open-world environment. It's not really an unusual formula for a Dragon Ball game, but it's not working all the time.

Ironically, despite the fact that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is not a fighting game, you can only progress the story by beating certain bosses. As a matter of fact, the best moments in the game are fighting scenes, so the addition of the so-called RPG elements only tone down the excitement a bit.

The game does a good job of explaining the controls via pop up messages, which is more than enough considering combat is quite simple to understand. However, as with all fighting games, combat might be easy to understand but hard to master. Learning when to block and when to evade can mean the world in Kakarot, but first and foremost you have to learn how and when to unleash your Super Attacks.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
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All characters have the same combo scheme, so don't be afraid to unlock one character's skill tree, even the game will switch to another. The Super Attacks are the only moves that differentiate the characters and each can be executed with just two buttons. Just like in other Dragon Ball games, this one has a team mechanic where your main character can have up to two support characters to help in fights.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot tells you food, just like in the Yakuza series, is an important aspect of the game because it greatly enhances your attributes for a limited time. You can cook with different ingredients that you find throughout the world, but there's only one person who can prepare full courses – the ultimate buff machine.

Unfortunately, gathering ingredients for certain dishes is one of the most uninteresting parts of the game, along with those side quests that don't involve combat. The entire open-world aspect is much less stellar than the fighting part. Not to mention that you're forced to spend time to gather Z orbs of different colors that are needed to pay for your different skills.

The so-called Community Board is an entirely different thing. As you meet new characters, you'll earn Soul Emblems, which can be placed into one of several communities to unlock bonuses. Characters have different affinities and may offer higher expertise in various fields. Finding the right formula will allow you to unlock attack and defense bonuses, as well as additional experience or special attacks.

The best thing about the Community Board is that you can experiment freely with these emblems, as they can be moved around whenever you feel like. It's probably one of the few RPG aspects that developers got it right.

As far as the skill tree goes, you will be paying with Z orbs to unlock them. More importantly, the skill tree is gated, which means not all of them are available to unlock in the beginning. As you progress the story and beat certain bosses, they will become unlockable if you have gathered enough Z orbs to pay for them. Some special skills are only available through the training simulation, so don't avoid these side quests if you want to unlock them.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
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The way the story is told is what makes Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot one of the best games for newcomers. The semi-open world aspect has given the developer more space to accommodate the Saiyan saga and even explain the relationship between some of the characters. We can't talk about world-building and characterization, but at least we can see how the main characters develop and grow throughout their adventures.

The string of cutscenes and the voice acting heavily support the narrative. They're not just an interlude to the fights, but also a great way to get to know the characters better and, eventually, learn to care about them.


The Good

  • Enjoyable story
  • Beautifully animated cutscenes
  • Great combat, simplified controls
  • Exceptional soundtrack and voice acting

The Bad

  • Very thin on RPG elements
  • Underdeveloped side content

Conclusion

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is the best way to get acquainted with the Saiyan saga and the series in general. It's strange that the most advertised mechanics of the game, the RPG and open-world aspects, are also the least developed.

It's the story and the bombastic fights where Kakarot really shines, so if you're approaching the game from these perspectives, you're in for a thrilling ride. To put it bluntly, stay away from exploring and don't expect any deep, meaningful RPG elements, and you'll have a pleasant time in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot.

story 9
gameplay 7
concept 7
graphics 8
audio 8
multiplayer 0
final rating 8
Editor's review
very good
 

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot screenshots (34 Images)

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot artwork
Dragon Ball Z: KakarotDragon Ball Z: KakarotDragon Ball Z: KakarotDragon Ball Z: Kakarot
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