Bloody Brilliant Underdog: Why a Dropout Star Says Piccolo is Dragon Ball's Real MVP
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Dropout star Jacob Wysocki, a self-confessed Dragon Ball fanatic, champions Piccolo as the series' most 'slept on' character, praising his unwavering loyalty and critical role as Gohan's father figure over the flashier Saiyans, reminding us that true impact isn't always about raw power.
Right, so you know that feeling when you've been tinkering with a potent new spell, expecting a burst of chaotic energy, and instead, you uncover a subtle, overlooked truth about something everyone thought they understood? That's precisely what happened when I dug into this gem of a story, featuring none other than Dropout's Jacob Wysocki, who's been doing some serious digital wizardry himself on their hit show 'Game Changer'.
Now, if you've been living under a rock (perhaps one dramatically blasted by a Kamehameha), 'Game Changer' is the show where the rules change every episode, often in hilariously unpredictable ways. It’s a bit like a DM just making it up as they go along, but in the most charmingly chaotic fashion. Wysocki, a genuine fan-favourite, recently had an entire episode designed just for him – a sort of meta-game titled 'Who Wants to Be Jacob Wysocki?' – where he snagged a cool $100,000. Fair dinkum, that’s a payout that makes even the most cynical gamer raise an eyebrow.
But here’s where it gets interesting for us lot. During this very special episode, Wysocki had access to some custom 'ripcords' (think 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire' lifelines, but with more potential for delightful mayhem). One of these absolute beauties? 'Go Super Saiyan'. Yeah, you read that right. He and his mates got to mash a button and watch a digital Wysocki power up, complete with all the glorious, screaming-into-the-void theatrics that any self-respecting Dragon Ball fan knows and loves. Turns out, this wasn't even his first rodeo with the Super Saiyan bit; he’d previously requested a post-production power-up in an earlier season, purely for the meme, probably, but also for the unadulterated joy of it. This isn't just a nod to a pop culture giant; it's a deep, abiding love.
So, naturally, when someone like Wysocki, clearly a connoisseur of all things Z-Fighter, starts talking about his favourite characters, you lean in. He readily admits his childhood awe for Future Trunks – the mysterious teen who rocked up and sliced Frieza in half like he was carving a Sunday roast. And let’s be honest, who *didn’t* think Trunks, with his sword and purple hair, was peak cool back in the day? He was the unexpected variable, the time-travel paradox that just made everything more exciting. It’s the kind of character reveal that makes you wonder if the game dev just accidentally opened a portal to a future DLC pack mid-playthrough.
But for all the Saiyan adoration, for all the golden-haired transformations and world-shattering power-ups, Wysocki’s true champion, his ride-or-die, isn't a Saiyan at all. Prepare yourselves, mate, because he reckons Piccolo is "a G." He goes on to say, "He holds it down." And honestly, isn’t that just it? The Namekian powerhouse who started as a villain and morphed into the most reliable, stoic, and frankly, *responsible* adult in the entire damn universe. Fans often joke that Piccolo was more of a father to Gohan than Goku ever was, and Wysocki is absolutely right to highlight that. While Goku was off chasing power levels and dying (again), Piccolo was teaching Gohan to survive, to fight, to *live*. He wasn't just a mentor; he was a steadfast, green, paternal figure in a world obsessed with raw power.
Now, Wysocki is a clever chap, and he’s quick to clarify that saying Piccolo is 'underrated' isn't quite right. "I think a lot of people would agree with me," he says, "but I think maybe he’s slept on a little bit more than some of the Saiyans." And that, my friends, is the crux of it. The gaming and anime world, much like reality, often gets swept up in the latest shiny thing, the biggest damage numbers, the most explosive special effects. Saiyans got the spotlight, the power-ups, the new forms coming out their ears. After the Cell arc, Piccolo, for a long stretch, faded into the background, becoming more of a tactical advisor than a frontline fighter, only truly getting his due again (and some wicked new forms, finally!) in *Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero*.
But even when he wasn’t front and centre, Piccolo was *there*. He was the bedrock. He was the character who didn't need a new colour in his hair to prove his worth. He proved it through loyalty, through sacrifice, through actually *being a good bloke*. He’s the kind of character you want in your raid party when the chips are down, not just because he can dish out damage, but because he’s got your back, tactically and emotionally. He’s the quiet hero, the one who cleans up the messes others leave behind, perhaps like a digital wizard tidying up the residual reality distortions after a particularly powerful spell.
This isn't just about Dragon Ball, either. It’s a broader conversation for us gamers. How many truly impactful, 'G' characters in our favourite titles get 'slept on' because they’re not the DPS kings, or the new flashy character that just dropped with a meta-breaking ability? How many nuanced narratives or clever gameplay mechanics get overlooked because they don’t come with a 'revolutionary' marketing campaign or the promise of endless grind? Wysocki's shout-out to Piccolo is a beautiful reminder that sometimes, the true gems are the ones who don't always hog the spotlight but consistently hold down the fort. They're the ones with the deep character arcs, the ones who evolve beyond their initial purpose, and who genuinely earn their place in our hearts and our fictional worlds. He's "still fucking tight," as Wysocki succinctly puts it, and that’s a sentiment many of us can absolutely get behind.
So next time you're re-watching or re-playing something, maybe take a moment to look beyond the obvious. Who's your Piccolo, mate? Who's the unsung hero that's been 'holding it down' while everyone else is busy chasing the next Super Saiyan transformation? Jacob Wysocki certainly picked a good one to champion, didn't he?
Source: Polygon, Article by Austin Manchester.
Tags: Dragon Ball, Character Analysis, Fandom, Gaming Culture, Underdogs
Original article: Polygon