Vegeta is one of many fans' favorite characters, largely due to the dynamic nature of his character arc. Most characters in Dragon Ball Z are relatively static characters, meaning they remain the same as they were at the start by the end of the series. Vegeta, on the other hand, changes drastically throughout Dragon Ball Z, perhaps more than any other character in the show. Most heroes are paragons of good through and through, while the villains tend to be one-dimensional. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot portrays his character's gradual change very well by sticking the landing on certain scenes in each arc.
For those that don't know, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot beautifully recreates many iconic scenes of the anime, from Raditz's encounter with the farmer with a shotgun, to Goku's first Super Saiyan transformation, all the way to Gohan failing to catch the Potara Earings. Vegeta in particular has several iconic scenes which encapsulate his development as a character, and Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot approaches these scenes faithfully and with great accuracy. Given that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot doesn't have quite as much time to explore Vegeta's growth and his relationship with Bulma and Trunks, what the developers have accomplished is quite impressive.
Saiyan Saga - Killing Nappa
No moment in the entirety of the Saiyan Saga emphasizes how evil Vegeta really is at the time more than his merciless slaughter of his own companion, Nappa. Having struggled somewhat against Gohan, Piccolo, and Krillin, and ultimately being easily defeated by Goku, Vegeta's disappointment and contempt for the Saiyan is so great that he opts to kill him outright, disregarding the fact that they clearly have access to advanced regeneration methods (like the one Vegeta uses later after he is beaten worse than Nappa was).
And this is where Vegeta begins. He has no regard for his companions, even knowing that Nappa may be one of only three remaining Saiyans. His decision to destroy the Earth is made completely out of spite and malice, as the dragon balls could easily have been obtained after killing all of Earth's defenders. This moment also showcases the Prince of all Saiyans' hypocrisy, as not long after killing Nappa for being hardly unable to move, he finds himself in the same situation. This truly evil persona Vegeta begins with magnifies his transformation and makes it all the more powerful. This change is even more dramatic if one considers Dragon Ball Super.
Frieza Saga - Begging Goku For Help
Although Vegeta still does some seriously evil things in the Frieza Saga, like killing an entire village of Namekians to take their dragon ball, attempting to betray Gohan, Krillin, and Bulma, and abusing Dende immediately after being healed, the moment which aids his character development most are the words he speaks with his dying breath. After being shot through the chest by Frieza's Death Beam, Vegeta literally begs Goku, a warrior who he had previously denounced as nothing more than garbage, to defeat Frieza for the sake of the pride of all Saiyans.
This moment shows that Vegeta is able to think of more than just himself. Although it somewhat contradicts his lack of remorse for killing Nappa, it solidifies that he does care about his people and strongly supports the idea of a Saiyan's pride, a concept which would become central to both Vegeta and Goku, as well as their children. Vegeta's willingness to cast of his pride for the sake of his people, even if it was mostly for revenge, is a huge change from the holistically evil Saiyan fans faced in the Saiyan Saga. Perhaps Goku's act of kindness in sparing Vegeta is to be blamed for this.
Cell Saga - Avenging Future Trunks
A lot of character development must occur off screen for Vegeta, as by the time the player reaches intermission, it has become clear that Vegeta is now living on Earth. He likely had nowhere else to go and felt he owed some kind of debt for being revived. Regardless, he eventually settles down with Bulma and actually has a child. While it seems for the most part that he could care less about his child, when Future Trunks dies at the hands of Perfect Cell, Vegeta goes berserk. This scene is epic beyond description, and is by far his best moment of character development in this arc.
Vegeta's time on Earth must have mellowed him out quite a bit, as it is said that Saiyans have no concept of familial ties. They do not care for their spouse and young in the same way that Earthlings do, so it is interesting for fans to learn that Vegeta's tough exterior was really a front. The power he gains from the anger of Cell killing Future Trunks is the only indicator fans need to see that he really does care about his son, even if he is from the future.
Buu Saga - Final Explosion
Of course, this moment is here, as it is perhaps the most iconic moment Vegeta has and effectively the cherry on top for his redemption arc. The Saiyan who once threatened to destroy the Earth simply for fun now decides to sacrifice himself to save it. After hugging Trunks for the first time since he was born, Vegeta unleashes all the power he has left to create an explosion so powerful that it nearly completely disintegrates Majin Buu. Although this attack ended up being in vain, none can deny the significance it has for Vegeta as a character.
Vegeta has many other great moments, and his path to redemption is by no means an easy one. Even during the Cell and Buu Sagas, Vegeta slips and does some misguided or evil things, like allowing Cell to reach his perfect form or killing a crowd of people at the World Tournament. Nevertheless, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot does an excellent job of telling Vegeta's story even though it may not be the main focus of the game. It is no wonder that many fans want to see Dragon Ball Z take the Pokemon approach and make Dragon Ball Z: Vegeta.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
