Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dragon Ball: Origins places the Nintendo DS stylus at the center of its control scheme, offering an intuitive point-and-click approach to exploration and combat. To move Goku, you simply tap the terrain you want him to traverse; a quick double-tap even triggers a sprint. When enemies appear, tapping them swiftly initiates basic melee strikes, while drawing a line from Goku toward a foe unleashes a powerful dash attack. This design keeps the action flowing smoothly, ensuring the learning curve remains gentle for newcomers.

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As you progress, you’ll switch between melee and ranged attacks by tapping the on-screen icons. When the situation calls for distance, Goku can wield his Power Pole, extending his reach in stylized pole-thrust animations. Bulma also joins the fray, providing cover fire with her shotgun. Managing both characters’ Ki gauges adds a tactical layer: building up Ki allows Bulma to deliver a devastating charged blast, and timing these special moves against larger enemies feels immensely satisfying.

Beyond combat, Origins offers light puzzle-solving and platforming sections that make full use of the DS touchscreen. Sliding a block out of the way, pulling a lever, or guiding Goku across a fragile platform all happen with a simple tap or drag. These moments break up the enemy encounters nicely and encourage you to experiment with the touchscreen. While some sequences can feel slightly repetitive if you insist on mastering every technique, the base gameplay loop remains engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

Graphically, Dragon Ball: Origins captures the spirit of the original anime with bright, cell-shaded visuals that pop on the DS’s dual screens. Character sprites are well-defined and faithfully rendered, with Goku’s spiky hair and Bulma’s distinctive outfit immediately recognizable. The transition from overworld exploration to tighter combat arenas is seamless, with minimal slowdown even when several enemies fill the screen.

Attack animations are a highlight: Goku’s dash strikes leave blistering motion lines in their wake, and Bulma’s shotgun blast ricochets off surfaces with a satisfying flash. The developers also pepper the game with short, text-based cutscenes that use still images from the anime. Though lacking full voiceovers, these interludes effectively convey humor and character banter while you wait for Goku and Bulma to continue their hunt for the Dragon Balls.

The environments range from lush mountain valleys to dusty desert towns, each crafted with vibrant color palettes. While the DS’s resolution limits fine detail, clever shading and parallax scrolling tricks add depth to every area. Minor frame-rate dips occur during boss battles, but they’re infrequent enough not to detract from the overall visual experience.

Story

The narrative of Dragon Ball: Origins faithfully reimagines the early chapters of Akira Toriyama’s beloved manga. You step into the shoes of young Goku, a mountain-raised boy with outstanding strength and an even bigger heart. His peaceful life takes a turn when he meets Bulma, a tech-savvy city girl on a mission to collect all seven Dragon Balls. When she learns Goku already possesses the rare 4-star ball, she convinces him to join her quest.

As Goku and Bulma travel together, they encounter a colorful cast of allies and adversaries—ranging from the desert bandit Yamcha to the shape-shifting Oolong. These encounters are often punctuated by humorous dialogue and light-hearted moments that will resonate with long-time fans. While the plot follows a familiar arc, it gains charm through the duo’s contrasting personalities: Goku’s naïveté balances Bulma’s practicality, resulting in genuine moments of camaraderie.

The pacing manages to cover key story beats without dragging. Each chapter revolves around a Dragon Ball hunt interspersed with mini-boss skirmishes that reveal more about Goku’s strengths and Bulma’s ingenuity. Even if you’ve seen the anime or read the manga, the game delivers enough fresh dialogue and interactive twists to keep the journey feeling new and engaging.

Overall Experience

Dragon Ball: Origins succeeds as a portable action-adventure that appeals to both series veterans and newcomers alike. Its stylus-driven controls make it easy to pick up, while the layered combat system provides enough depth for those who want to explore advanced techniques. The cooperative dynamic between Goku and Bulma adds variety, and unlocking new abilities keeps the momentum steady.

Though the story follows a prescribed path, the charming presentation and faithful adaptation of the source material create a compelling reason to revisit the Dragon Ball universe. The art style, combined with the crisp animations, means the game looks and feels like a mini-episode of the anime that you can play anywhere. Graphical hiccups are rare, and the soundtrack—though limited in variety—complements the action with upbeat tracks that fit the series’ adventurous tone.

Minor drawbacks include occasional touchscreen misreads and a handful of repetitive battles if you’re aiming for 100% completion. However, these issues never overshadow the core appeal: a fun, fast-paced journey to gather the Dragon Balls. Whether you’re tracking down collectibles or simply enjoying the story, Dragon Ball: Origins delivers an enjoyable handheld experience that’s more than worth a look.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10