When the news broke that Android 21, Dragon Ball FighterZ’s original character, would be part of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot, many fans were excited. After all, Dragon Ball FighterZ is a heavily lauded entry in the franchise. It’s exciting to think of crossover content between the two games, but one big question loomed. If Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot was going to focus largely on the story told in the Dragon Ball Z manga and anime, how would Android 21 fit in?
Now that Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is officially out, that question can be answered. Whether it’s a good answer is another matter entirely. Apparently, Bandai Namco’s decision was to just stick Android 21 into the game in an odd part of the story, ignoring her established continuity, as an assistant to Dr. Brief, Bulma’s father. She can be found during a part of the game where Vegeta comes to Dr. Brief regarding upgrades to his gravity training room.
Dragon Ball FighterZ has its own canon for Android 21, though its never been verified as canon for the main Dragon Ball franchise. In Dragon Ball FighterZ, Android 21 is based on a man named Dr. Gero’s wife. Dr. Gero would go on to build all of the vicious androids, including Cell, in an effort to defeat Goku. Android 21 is said to have received the knowledge of many researchers and warriors, up to and including Cell, Buu, and all of the Z-Fighters.
How Android 21’s new role is supposed to mesh with Dragon Ball FighterZ’s story isn’t clear. It likely isn’t intended to mesh at all, in all likelihood. Dragon Ball FighterZ is known to be a non-canon story, while Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is said to feature new canon backstories. Android 21 being an assistant of Dr. Brief might be Android 21’s new canon backstory, or it could just be some fan service with no ties whatsoever to canon.
Curious Dragon Ball Z fans are likely combing Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot for more hints about Android 21’s past, or clues to any other new canon for the franchise. Regardless of Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot’s overall quality, its open-world and multi-saga story ofter an incredible amount of opportunities to do fun things. Players will be getting to know Dragon Ball Z characters in a way the show could never manage. That’s got to be worth something, canon or not.
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
