Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is chock full of secrets and easter eggs from Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, and even other non-canon Dragon Ball games which only the most diehard of fans would notice. More than likely, at least a few of these references went over the heads of most players, but they certainly do a great job of showcasing the care and attention to detail which went into creating the game. It seems that nearly every detail was thought of, from character appearances down to lines of dialog, so Bandai Namco Entertainment and CyberConnect2 did a great job at providing the Dragon Ball game fans have long waited for.
For those unaware, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's main goal was to retell the story of Dragon Ball Z with greater accuracy than any other form of media ever has, but the game was not shy about including some changes, including original content and references from other entries of the Dragon Ball franchise. Some of these other entries include Dragon Ball, the predecessor to Dragon Ball Z, and Dragon Ball FighterZ and Dragon Ball Xenoverse. Unfortunately, for a player to understand and enjoy all of these references, they would need to be one of the most diehard of fans, but their inclusion is appreciated nonetheless.
Dragon Ball Easter Eggs
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot includes a number of Easter eggs relating to the original Dragon Ball anime. Many Dragon Ball characters make appearances, like Nam and Tao Pai-Pai, but perhaps the most interesting inclusion is Eighter. As some might have guessed by his name, Eighter's original name was Android 8. That's right, he's an android just like Androids 16 through 20. In Dragon Ball, one of Goku's main adversaries was the Red Ribbon Army, the selfsame one that Dr. Gero speaks of during the Cell Saga. Eighter was a very early prototype of the androids faced in the Cell Saga, and there is even an interesting sub-story in which Future Trunks meets and befriends Eighter, despite him being the very thing Trunks set out to destroy.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot definitely doesn't take itself too seriously or shy away from the weirder parts of its history. One thing many fans likely found strange was the very opening scene, in which Goku proves he's not a bad Father as he and Gohan go fishing... with their tails. Believe it or not, however, Goku has done this exact thing before in the very first episode of the original Dragon Ball anime. This scene is actually for the most part how viewers were introduced to Goku, and at the time, none could know he would become the monumental powerhouse he is now. Even this goofy portion of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot has its roots in Dragon Ball history.
Dragon Ball Z Easter Eggs
There were also a few throwbacks to more obscure moments from Dragon Ball Z. After defeating Frieza on Namek, the player will enter yet another intermission period in which they can gather materials, fight enemies, and roam the world while playing whichever DBZ: Kakarot playable character they want that they've unlocked to this point. This time, though, Vegeta is available as a playable character, and the emotions felt when the player adds him to the party range from shock and confusion to utter joy. In the anime, after Bulma convinces Vegeta to remain on Earth, she gives him the pink Badman shirt he is seen in during the intermission. Although only wearing it very briefly in the anime, it quickly became a beloved joke about the character, and it is fitting that this is his outfit during this entire intermission.
Another Dragon Ball Z easter egg would be when Chi-Chi makes Goku get his driver's license. After hearing about the Android's arrival in three years from Trunks, Goku resolves to convince Chi-Chi to allow him to train Gohan. She allows this on the condition that he gets his driver's license. Again, what might have seemed like a strange portion of the game to most is based on an actual, albeit silly, episode of Dragon Ball Z. This segment is based on the episode "Goku's Ordeal," in which the same thing happens. Interestingly, though, this quest is actually part of the main story and is required to progress through the game. It also introduces R&D to the player, should they be interested in that.
Other Dragon Ball Game Easter Eggs
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot knows that its audience aren't just fans of the show, but gamers as well and panders to them with the inclusion of some non-canon Dragon Ball characters from other games. One of these is Android 21, the main antagonist of Dragon Ball FighterZ. She is not given a name in Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, instead being referred to only as "female researcher," and plays the minor role of managing and upgrading the training room, but can be found on the field in various important places like Grandpa Gohan's house or the remnants of Dr. Gero's lab, hinting that she may have ulterior motives.
But Android 21 is not the only non-canon video game character to make an appearance in the game, as Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot's secret boss reveals yet more villainous foes. Mira and Towa, the time traveling antagonists of the Dragon Ball Xenoverse series, make an appearance after the player defeats every villainous enemy in the game. The very existence of these villainous enemies is enough to hint at their presence, as traveling to different time periods and powering up foes with a villainous aura is what the duo did during their time in the Dragon Ball Xenoverse franchise.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is full of many more easter eggs and secrets, but for the sake of time, not all can be listed. These are just a few which are direct references to other entries in the franchise or more obscure moments from Dragon Ball Z which were featured rather prominently. It is nice to see that the inclusion of these characters and story arcs did not take away from the engaging story that developers promised to deliver, and it will be interesting to see what new secrets players uncover.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.