Playing Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a battle. It’s a fistfight between the part of me who loves Dragon Ball and the part of me with a more critical eye. Every time I think one side will come out on top, the other screams for 30 seconds, their hair starts glowing, and the tides quickly turn. During my time with Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, I’ve often found myself torn between these two perspectives, either grinning during high-intensity moments or sighing due to the dull repetition that plagues large portions of this otherwise enjoyable title.
In essence, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an okay role-playing game with a fantastically fun combat system attached. It’s in the battles that it shines brightest, with projectiles flying all over the place and fighters yelling while they charge up for their next special move. At first it seems quite simplistic, with dedicated melee and ranged buttons begging to be mashed vigorously. When combined with a selection of super moves specific to each character and defensive options like a burst that repels enemies, the encounters never become too stale or repetitive.
It only gets better as you progress. New unlockable attacks can be swapped in and out at your pleasure, a partner system lets you call in assistance, and a transformation mechanic allows you to further boost your power – all of this built on a foundation of responsive movement options. Not once was I frustrated when attempting to close the distance or dodge a ranged attack.
