

Many previous "DBZ" games use the story as a hook, something to draw you into something else (primarily the combat, since most of these titles are fighting games). What "Kakarot" does do differently, though, is put the story front and center.

The game doesn't deviate from the original storyline, though it does add flourishes all over the place. For the uninitiated, "Kakarot" covers the entire "Dragon Ball Z" anime, from its first story arc (the Saiyan Saga) through the fourth major arc (the Majin Buu Saga) - so, from Goku's first encounter with the Saiyans Radditz, Nappa and Vegeta to his final bout with Kid Buu. Oddly enough, though, the major draw of "Kakarot" is the story. And while it has its flaws - from its lengthy completion time to its repetitive side quests to its less-than-inspired combat system - "Kakarot" packs an enjoyable-enough (and apparently world-annihilating) punch. So, did we really need another video game starring Goku (also known by his Saiyan name, Kakarot) that simply retells his amazing yet well-trodden story? A case can be made to say no, but "Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot" does its level best to make the case for yes.

His story, of a young alien child coming to Earth and eventually becoming its - and the universe's - savior has been told countless times across just about every medium. has been around since 1984 and has helped turned the franchise into the one of the most recognizable on the planet. The longtime hero of the massive "Dragon Ball Z" universe - we're talking dozens of anime, movies, manga, video games, collectibles, etc.
