Summary
Dragon Ball Zvideo games have been a vital part of the gaming landscape for over 30 years. While the titles weren’t popular in the West until the 1990s, the franchise’s video game presence in Japan dates back to 1986 withDragon Ball: Dragon Daihikyofor the Super Vision. MostDragon Ball Zvideo game adaptations, including the recentDragon Ball Z: Kakarot, have recountedthe journey of Goku, the central protagonist of both the manga and anime. However, one character who exists across nearly allDragon Ball Zmedia, has a great story arc and could serve as a unique protagonist in his own title. Vegeta, the Prince of Saiyans, is arguably more interesting, dynamic, and tragic than Goku, and it’s time that he received theDragon Ball Z: Kakarottreatment.
Dragon Ball Zis part of theDragon Ballfranchise, a series of manga and anime that tell the tale of Goku, a Saiyan that lands on Earth and becomes its chief defender.Dragon Ball Zis split into Sagas, which follow specific story arcs and the conflict with a core villain or team of villains. Vegeta is among the villains ofDragon Ball Z’s first arc, the Saiyan Arc, as he arrives at Earth, following Goku’s defeat of Raditz. However, over the course of the series, Vegeta evolves into one of the most dynamic, motivated, and heroic characters in Japanese media.
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Goku’s Story Has Been Overdone in Video Games
While it is clearly the centerpiece of theDragon Ball Zseries,Goku’s storyhas served as the only narrative in the majority of the series' video games. Most anime franchises release games that act as unique spin-offs, an original story, or an adaptation of a single season of their respective narrative. However, the majority ofDragon Ball Ztitles recount the entirety of Goku’s narrative, from the Saiyan Saga through the Buu Saga. This has led to a lack of variety, as many of those titles are also fighting games, with some even acting as sequels to each other.
The recentDragon Ball Z: Kakarotis the latest title to retell the entirety of Goku’s story. However, it was the first to give Goku a committed single-player adventure RPG. This format worked perfectly forDragon Ball Z’s narrative, as it allowed for more story and character development than any prior title. Paid expansions for the title allowed for other narratives to take center stage, including oneDragon Ball Z: KakarotDLCin which players can take on the role of a young Vegeta. This DLC only proved the need for Vegeta to be featured in his own title, in the style ofDragon Ball Z: Kakarot.
Why a Dragon Ball Z: Vegeta Title Would Work
Vegeta is one of the greatest anti-heroes of all time, and it’s time that a video game singularly focused on his rise from villain to protector of the universe. Vegeta’s story dates back to theDragon Ball Zprequel film,Bardock: The Father of Goku, where he is portrayed as the young heir to the throne of Planet Vegeta, following the destruction of the Saiyans' home planet, Sadala. Because of this, a title following Vegeta’s lifelong narrative could provide one of the franchise’s most extensive historical depictions. Players would get the chance to experience theDragon Balluniverse through his eyes and trace his development into the villain that was introduced inDragon BallZ’s Saiyan Saga.
Vegeta’s story acrossDragon Ball ZandDragon Ball Supercould similarly provide a unique experience for fans, as the character is singularly responsible for his meteoric rise in power. Whereas Goku is shaped by his relationships, teachers, and losses, Vegeta is capable of matching or surpassing Goku’s power through training and willpower alone. Vegeta plays a pivotal role in bothDragon Ball Z’s Cell and Buu Saga, but the character truly becomes Universe 7’s hero inDragon Ball Super. In a potentialDragon Ball Z: Vegetatitle, fans could trace Vegeta’s story, while taking a direct role in Vegeta’s training, raising his power level, and navigating his morality, providing ample opportunities to integrate modern RPG elements.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
