Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotis arguably the best video game adaptation ofDragon Ball, turning the long-running battle manga into a large open-world RPG. As amazing as this formula is however,Dragon Ballmight not have been the best fit for it.
There have been moreDragon Ballgames than some fans can keep track of. While nearly all of these games recount the iconic battles of Goku and the other Z-Fighters,Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotwas one of the few to capture the series in such a complete way. As amazing as the game turned out though, Dragon Ball isn’t a story that lends itself particularly well to the format of an RPG. In fact, there are a number of anime that probably could’ve used theDragon Ball Z: Kakarotstyle of gameplay in a more effective way.
RELATED:Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot - Where Will DLC 3 End?
Demon Slayer
The world ofDemon Slayerhas a slightly darker feel to itin comparison to a lot of other shounen series. Demons roam freely, leaving the people of Japan in constant danger. In a lot of ways,Demon Slayer’s world and Tanjiro’s journey feels like it belongs to an RPG already, making it a perfect candidate for aDragon Ball Z: Kakarotstyle adaptation.
Although CyberConnect2 is working on theirupcomingDemon Slayerfighting game, it feels like more could’ve been done. Being able to play as Tanjiro from the very beginning of the series, join the Demon Slayer Corps and travel around Taisho era Japan while taking on quests to hunt demons.Demon Slayer’s visually outstanding battles along with the various locations would make for a fun and cinematic experience, possibly offering more thanDragon Ball Z: Kakarotdid.
One Piece
Few series can capture the sense of adventure in the way thatOne Piecehas for over twenty years now. Although there’s beena number ofOne Piecegamesat this point, titles likeOne Piece: Pirate Warriors 4focus more on the action aspect of the series over its narrative and world building qualities. ADragon Ball Z: Kakarotstyle RPG would be able to shed a light onOne Piece’s plot to show potential fans a new different side of the franchise.
For a lot of fans, sailing the seas as a member of the Straw Hat crew would be a dream come true. Something that makes the idea of aOne PieceRPG so interesting is that it’s a story that has never really been accurately adapted before.MostOne Piecegames focus an a single arcof the series (usually the most recent), but this could be the one first games to accurately portray the series' beginnings. With how much material there is to work with, aOne PieceRPG could end up becoming an entire series of its own.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
For all the hype the series has gotten, there’s a surprising lack ofvideo games based onJojo’s Bizarre Adventure. There’s been a couple of notable titles over the series' lifetime, but nothing that has truly captured the essence that makes the series so appealing to so many people. Unlike most series within the genre, most ofJojo’s Bizzare Adventure’s fights can’t be translated into a traditional fighting game. An open world RPG however, might make for the perfect fit.
AJojo’s Bizarre AdventureRPG could result in one of the most unique anime games of all time. The series is known for having a varied cast, each with their own unique powers that evolve as the story continues, something that would translate well to an RPG. Even Phantom Blood, a part of the series that has fewer fans, could have its appeal heightened as players learn new hamon techniques. AJojo’s Bizarre AdventureRPG would have a great sense of progression while guaranteeing that players don’t get bored by constantly introducing new styles of combat.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotmay have opened the floodgatesfor an all-new type of anime adaptation. There have been plenty of anime and manga that gained widespread appeal, but never saw video games based on them, most likely because they didn’t fit the traditional framework of a fighting game.Dragon Balldid an amazing job of laying the groundwork, but as a series that does fit into the fighting game genre better than most, it might be best to leave theDragon Ball Z: Kakarotmold to a series that can better utilize it.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotis available now on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.
MORE:Why Dragon Ball Super Hasn’t Got as Much Video Game Attention as DBZ
