Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Reviews
In the test "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" proves to be a successful action RPG, which lets fans of the series go back to the beginnings of anime. In the approximately forty hours of gameplay the player experiences the most important moments of the saga, which thanks to great staging know how to captivate even beginners. The fights are staged in a brute manner and especially the interaction with the supporting characters always brings variety to the battles. Only the side missions turn out to be rather tired accessories and go hand in hand with the somewhat lifeless game world. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball enthusiasts can indulge in nostalgia in "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" and will love the title especially for the detailed retelling of the original. Fans of fast-paced action RPGs won't be disappointed with "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" and will be challenged again and again. All in all, "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" may not be convincing in every detail - but the atmospheric staging of the story alone makes the game a real must-have.
Review in German | Read full review
A fine recreation of the story told by Akira Toriyama, but it lack the polishment and better mechanics to appeal to the non-fans.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There’s plenty of potential in the idea behind Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, so it’s a shame that the game itself is so bogged down in fetch quests and a repetitive combat system.
Kakarot is ultimately a game of two halves. On the one hand, this is the quintessential way to experience the entire Dragon Ball Z story beyond watching the anime, with some gorgeous aesthetics, faithful boss fights and some really iconic moments along the way. Unfortunately this is let down by a disappointing and barren open-world structure with little incentive to explore, especially give the long loading times and miniscule experience gains. It’s a game that could have been great, with all the ingredients to produce a spectacular RPG effort but unfortunately fails to hit Super Saiyan status.
All in all, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is a pretty impressive title. It's not something you'd call as Game of the Year, or the best Dragon Ball game ever made, however, it is one of the best recreations of the Dragon Ball Z series we could ever get.
While there are more detailed JRPGs out there, Kakarot scratches the itch of both Dragon Ball and JRPG fans alike.
While we've seen the story of Goku and the Z Warriors before, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot offers enough detail and fun gameplay to warrant a purchase.
Is it perfect? No. But Dragon Ball Z has always been a franchise that has thrived despite its shortcomings. And perhaps it is in that way that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot most perfectly captures its source material.
While it’s not perfect, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an incredibly enjoyable experience. Not just a retelling of the story, but ultimately the definitive way to play the Dragon Ball Z saga.
It took a long time, but with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Bandai Namco finally fulfills the wishes of many fans. Even if the story is already known several times, the combat system and the game world provide exciting moments and know how to convince connoisseurs as well as newcomers. In addition, the Japanese developers have learned from the mistakes of various anime implementations and thereby created a gaming experience that more than lives up to the template.
Review in German | Read full review
Dragonball Z: Kakarot isn't a bad game, it's just an average one.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot may not have the deepest combat mechanics but there's no denying just how exciting it is to play. From its jaw-dropping action to its top-notch presentation, this is one epic RPG that fans and newcomers alike can easily enjoy.
As an open world action RPG, Kakarot doesn't have much to offer compared to the heavyweights of the genre, but it wouldn't matter to the fans of Dragon Ball Z as the game is extremely loyal to Dragon Ball roots.
Review in Persian | Read full review
While far from bad, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens is a hard sell for anyone who is not already a fan of the series. Even then, franchise diehards will likely notice the changes and omissions in adaptation to the point of annoyance. Combat also leaves much to be desired, lacking in depth and devoid of real strategy more often than not. At the same time, overworld exploration is surprisingly relaxing, side content outside of side quests is engaging, and the story mode does make for an enjoyable way to revisit Dragon Ball Z thanks to stellar cutscene direction. Those who connect with the gameplay will also be delighted at the sheer amount of content available, from the three DLC packs to new playable characters. Kakarot is a Dragon Ball love letter that often forgets to be an action RPG, but never loses the unique charm that has defined the series.
That's really what this whole thing comes down to in the end: for people that are already big fans of Dragon Ball Z, as a whole, Kakarot has some value as a walk down memory lane and a way to re-experience the show in an entirely different manner. However, if you're not already a big fan of Goku and Co's adventures, Kakarot sadly has absolutely nothing for you. Without the nostalgia factor this game ends up being a slow slog of samey gameplay that likely won't keep your attention for very long.
Overall, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot + A New Power Awakens Set is a solid enough port of one of the more enjoyable Dragon Ball games. It's not quite as smooth or shiny as its bigger brothers, but it does the job well enough and has the advantage of being portable. The added DLCs are nice bonus content, but only Trunk's story stands well enough on its own. Fans of the franchise who haven't yet played Kakarot will find the Switch version a perfectly fun experience. Just don't be surprised when you're only playing the title character for short periods of time.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has its obvious flaws, however, I feel it's a welcome addition in the Dragon Ball games portfolio due to the fact that Bandai Namco is finally willing to take drastic risks with the franchise.
This is clearly a true labour of love, with CyberConnect2 clearly caring and being invested in Toriyama's legendary tale.
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.
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.