Jan 2023
In a world where nostalgia reigns supreme, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot arrives on the PS5 like a Saiyan crashing through your front door during dinner. This action role-playing game (let's just call it RPG - nobody has time to say 'action role-playing' in full) is here to teleport you back into the Goku-verse, bringing not only fights and energy blasts but also significantly more side quests than you can shake a Dragon Radar at. So, grab your power levels and let's dive into what makes this game both a Kamehameha breaker and a puddle of filler.
Kakarot lifts the plot straight from the beloved Dragon Ball Z anime, placing you in those thrilling moments, and also in those more mundane ones—like gathering the Z orbs (who knew that collecting shiny balls could be so addictive, right?). You’ll alternate between being a punching bag for villains and completing thrilling side activities such as fishing (because nothing says righteous warrior like catching fish), eating (because yes, even Goku needs to grasp the concept of three meals a day), and driving in a hover car (ultimate dad vibes). The game features seven playable characters, including Goku, Vegeta, and everyone's favorite green mentor, Piccolo. Each character has their own unique moves, special powers, and a good reason to remind you that Krillin is still not relevant. Seriously, someone get this guy a side quest! There’s also the power of downloadable content that astonishingly reveals even more Dragon Ball stories, proving that just like Goku's hair, there’s always more to uncover. So, if you feel like reliving the memories—or torment—of Buu and Frieza, well, now you can do that, pretty much free of charge... if you ignore the cost of DLC.
Visually, Kakarot looks like the animated series got a high-definition upgrade—or an overzealous digital facelift. Thanks to Unreal Engine 4, everything looks shiny and colorful, available in a blocky, cel-shaded style that makes you wonder if you’re fighting or participating in a giant carnival. The world is expansive, giving you ample room to flex those Super Saiyan levels while also discovering little pop-ups that mostly point you toward *literally* anything that isn't story-related. Just don't trip on that rock while doing a flip!
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot shines in delivering the nostalgic Z experience with its vibrant world and combat system. It brings that ‘one more quest’ vibe as you embark on Goku's journey while reminiscing about whether or not you prefer to unlock characters or fish for eels. Overall, it's not perfect—it's like Goku’s varied fighting styles: sometimes pretty effective, sometimes questionable when executed. It leans on the side of charming when it comes to the larger world and personality of its characters, but the sheer amount of side quests may have you channeling Vegeta's infamous 'It’s not possible!' because why do you need 3,024 side quests when you just want to save the world? So, grab your controller, unleash your inner Saiyan, and just remember: Goku might not be winning any parenting awards, but he sure can throw a punch!
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