DLC REVIEW: ‘Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – DAIMA Part 1’ Is A Short And Sweet Rendition Of The Show

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA: Adventure Through The Demon Realm Part 1 adds the newest Dragon Ball series to the six-year-old core game developed by Bandai Namco and CyberConnect2. With so much time having passed since the initial release, and such a different story, adapting DAIMA seemed like a tricky challenge. One that the developers manage to use to their advantage. 

With over half a decade between me and the last time I booted up the original game, I was worried about how well I’d get my feet back under me when trying out Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1. Luckily, the game takes this likelihood into account, setting up a smooth onboarding experience. 

As the player encounters elements for the first time in the DLC, the game largely treats it like a new experience. Tutorial cards pop up explaining how things work, and the first few encounters are laid out to be particularly forgiving. The options at your disposal in combat are also limited, making the game even friendlier for long-absent players. 

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 gets you back into the game with ease.

This ramp-up also works great with DAIMA‘s story. While Goku possesses all of his post–DBZ abilities at the beginning, he doesn’t access them until several episodes in, making their reintroduction a natural fit, and not an immersion-breaking necessity. 

Once the story gets going, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 delivers more of the experience players will be familiar with. Big arena combats pit the player and up to three supporting characters against enemies in frantic fights. Battles can be chaotic at times, but when the elements are clicking, they do a commendable job of capturing the energy of the series. The only place where the combat fails hard is in Horde Battles. 

These larger-scale fights pit the player against 150+ opponents. While not all enemies are active at once, many are running around, looking to score hits on Goku. These foes are weak and easily dispatched, but their sheer numbers can prove frustrating at times. When attacks get chained together, it can be hard to do anything but weather oncoming storms. Goku is unlikely to fall to these onslaughts; it just makes the battle drag on, which is the big problem.

Battles can be a great challenge if you don’t prepare properly.

If these battles had half the opponents, they’d work much better. With the triple-digit enemy count, the novelty wears off fast, leaving an unchallenging chore that becomes tedious. The periodic arrival of powered-up “boss” enemies doesn’t do much to alleviate the repetition of these fights, as they bring little to the battlefield but a sturdier punching bag. 

More focused battles can bring a genuine challenge if they are not prepared for. Boss fights against Glorio and Tamagami Three can test the player well, especially if they haven’t been spending their skill points and training new moves. These encounters provide the highlights for combat.

Multiple attack patterns need to be learned so that openings can be properly exploited and big damage can be avoided. Key moments bring cinematic flair that excellently recreate the series. This is doubly true for the final moments battling the Tamagami. 

Combatt is key in Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1, but exploration is also a solid element of this DLC offering. The areas that make up the Third Demon World provide ample space for discovery. The scaling of the areas is impressive, especially since flying is off the table due to the atmosphere’s density. This leaves Goku on foot, sprinting at top speed to find chests and upgrades while fighting enemies and knocking off dragons. 

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 delivers a concise version of DAIMA’s story without missing a beat.

There are also a handful of side stories to work through if desired. These new missions are goofy and fun, leaning into the series’ absurdity. Never dragging out their objectives, these distractions provide a bit more content without feeling like bloat. 

One part of Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1’s experience that is hands down better than the core game is the delivery of its story. Thanks to the great pacing of the DAIMA series, cutscenes never feel brutally long-winded. Transitioning from narrative to exploration, to combat, and back feels much smoother, providing for a more balanced experience. 

The game also adheres wonderfully to the original plot, making no significant changes to the story. Some scenes are streamlined, but never in a way that detracts from the moment’s intent. A great example of this is Panzy’s introduction.

Rather than having Goku, Kai, and Glorio witness her confrontation with the authorities, they encounter her after she tries to flee, with her enemies in hot pursuit. The fight plays out, and Panzy then fills the group in about what happened. Ultimately, it’s the same outcome, but it avoids trying to create a big cutscene filled with background characters and other elements that won’t be seen again.

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 does a great job recreating the world of the show.

Staying in line with the original game, Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 does a great job of recreating the world. Buildings, wildlife, and other elements all come together wonderfully. The alien nature of the Demon Realm is noticeable compared to the familiar surroundings of Earth, and the map is laid out with enough noteworthy elements that there is generally something to draw the eye. 

The only visual area that sometimes struggles in Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 is with its out-of-combat animations. Character animations can feel stiff and awkward at times, which is made all the more jarring when in other moments, they are implemented well enough to deliver real subtlety. This is most notable with Supreme Kai. The character has several veiled moments of suspicion as they observe what is playing out. That the animation captures these moments, while failing at others, creates an unbalanced feeling. 

Dragon Ball Z Kakarot DAIMA Part 1 delivers enough fun and enjoyment that fans interested in returning to Kakarot will find plenty to experience for the handful of hours it lasts. While it manages to address some struggles of its core game, it also creates some all-new ones. Happily, the DLC’s short length and fun energy manage to keep it from ever getting truly bogged down by its shortcomings.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot – DAIMA: Adventure Through The Demon Realm Part 1 is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.