As Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot players dive into the new action RPG, they may be surprised by how powerful the first boss, Raditz, actually is. He is the first central antagonist to appear in the game but is considered by Vegeta, Nappa, and fans alike to be incredibly weak. Jokes are often made at his expense, but beyond showing a rare in-game Raditz moment, the game has also made him quite a formidable foe.
Understandably, Raditz has been weak in past DBZ games as fighting games often have to focus more on balance than Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. Developer CyberConnect2 introduced a concept roughly described as "uphill battles," which are meant to simulate how the battles went down in the anime. As such, Raditz actually poses a threat, so players may struggle with defeating him more than they initially think. The first battle, which sees Goku and Piccolo go against Raditz, is relatively simple, but his methods change as players enter the full Goku vs. Raditz fight (while Piccolo is charging the Special Beam Cannon.)
Developing a few key abilities, learning Raditz's attack pattern during the fight, and paying attention to available resources all make the fight a lot easier. First, players can attempt to dodge attacks or block them, and more often than not, it's better to block than to dodge. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot players who try to dodge have the potential of ignoring the full damage, but some of Raditz's attacks connect easier than others, meaning it's better to reduce the damage than gamble on no damage.
Furthermore, blocking will allow players to perform a Vanish Attack, which will put Goku behind Raditz and give an opening for a melee combo. These combos should be effectively timed, though, so players shouldn't rush in to squeeze in extra damage. In this manner, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is far more tactical than other games. Another good idea is, when there is an opening, use the Body Blow Super Attack as much as possible. This temporarily staggers Raditz, allowing for a few extra blows.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot players will also want to take the defensive from time to time. Get out of melee range when Raditz's body glows red, as he will do a wide-sweeping attack that will deal a considerable amount of damage. He can be damaged in this state, but he can't be staggered, making it to where the effort isn't really worth it. One time players will want to dodge is during his Super Attacks, as one sees Raditz spin and create massive, constant Ki blasts to damage the whole area.
Finally, players need to be prepared to take damage. It will happen. Yet Bulma will have given players a Vitadrink which will restore a considerable amount of health, basically giving players a full second chance at taking him down. It hasn't been needed before, so it's understandable if DBZ: Kakarot players forget about it, but heal appropriately, time strikes mindfully, and play defensively when needed to bring Goku's older brother down and continue the Saiyan Saga.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot releases January 17, 2020, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
