Y'know, I learned something today. In the end, when all is said and done, Freezer was cooler, and Cooler was Freezer.
—Goku
The Z-Fighters field trip to New Namek takes a turn for the worst when they find that it's been occupied by an army of robots- and a giant vein that threatens to consume everything! Can our heroes deal with this new threat, in the form of their old enemy, Cooler?
I'm lookin' to get with some sexy Namekian tropes!
- Adaptational Badass: Piccolo is the strongest Z-fighter, unlike the original. He had fused with Kami, while Vegeta and Goku are only shown with their normal Super Saiyan forms. So, in the episode breakdown, Kaiserneko notes that he's stronger than Goku at this point and edits Piccolo to killing an army of Meta-Coolers.
- Adaptational Context Change: The Z-fighters didn't actually come to New Namek with the intention of saving them from Cooler, and in fact didn't even know the planet was in danger until they were in the planet's orbit. Instead, the whole thing was caused by them misunderstanding Dende's invitation to come visit, and the movie ends with Dende on the Lookout wondering where everyone is.
- Adaptational Wimp: Krillin in the original film manages to defend himself very well from the robots, and only loses when he is overwhelmed by the numbers. In this version he is easily defeated.
- Berserk Button:
- Cooler DOES NOT like being told that everything he's doing is stuff his little brother did already. In the final minutes of the film, Vegeta simply saying "And just like Freeza" is enough to send him into a screaming rage.
- Kami taunts Piccolo by mentioning that he's never defeated Goku, allowing Piccolo to destroy the Cyclopean guards.
- Bread, Eggs, Milk, Squick: Master Roshi notes that he has many things, "A turtle for a best friend. An island. Chlamydia."
- The Chew Toy: Vegeta's main purpose in this film is to get kicked in the dick repeatedly.
- Exactly What I Meant to Say: Goku and Meta-Cooler has this exchange at the beginning.Goku: So, you return once again, Freezer.
Gohan: Cooler.
Goku: Cooler.
Meta-Cooler: Yes. I have returned, dumbass.
Goku: Goku.
Meta-Cooler: Dumbass. - Forgot About His Powers: When Krillin is getting his ass kicked, Piccolo yells, "Just use your freaking Kienzan, Christ!" Krillin still doesn't use it.
- Groin Attack: Vegeta gets kicked in the dick by Meta-Cooler. Vegeta implies during the first cut that Meta-Cooler kicked him a few more times before the Saiyans destroy him, then Goku implies during their capture that Vegeta have received another thousand kicks to the dick from the other Meta-Coolers. By the time the movie smash cuts to Goku and Vegeta trussed up within the Big Gete Star's bowels, Vegeta can only muster a high-pitched whimper.Vegeta: He keeps kicking me in the dick! Why?! Why does he keep kicking me in the dick?!?
- It's Been Done: The Z-Fighters are quick to point out that Cooler becoming a robot is something Freeza did. As was [the attempt at] killing Krillin, invading Namek, trying to destroy Namek, coming back from the dead, underestimating their power... It's actually shorter to list the things that weren't ripped off whole-hog from Freeza. At least he was rather dignified in the face of his final death, unlike his brother.
- Lame Pun Reaction: Goku attempts a Bond One-Liner ("Time to put you on ice!"); Cooler's reaction is just "...Really?" and a heavy sigh.
- Literal Metaphor: Cooler points out how he and his Big Gete Star are here to "f**k" New Namek; as if to emphasize the literal point to its figurative, it briefly cuts to a geothermal piston pumping away.
- Running Gag: Several:
- Cooler's Mecha-Mooks can only say "Beep".
- Cooler being compared to Freeza.
- Goku mispronouncing the Big Gete Star.
- (in response to a stated desire for something impossible, like Master Roshi wanting to meet Namekian ladies) "I don't see that happening." "Not with that attitude!"
- Last but not least Vegeta getting hit in the dick.
- Shout-Out:
- D.V.E.D (Dynamically Voiced Evisceration Droid,) the robot running the Big Gete Star's death chambers talks and sounds just like Claptrap from Borderlands and is even voiced by David Eddings (under a pseudonym) to boot.
- "But enough about me, let's kill you!"
- Piccolo begins his escorting of Gohan and the gang out of the collapsing Big Gete Star with "Come with me if you want to live."
- The Stinger: The after-credits scene is of Vegeta heading home in his space pod, carrying a microchip with him. Said microchip is the last remnant of the Big Gete Star and gives off one meek beep before Vegeta crushes it.Vegeta: Flawless Victory.
- Strong as They Need to Be: Goku and Vegeta. Even Cooler wonders how they have enough power to overload him, when they had previously struggled to beat a single clone.
- Talk to the Fist: Cooler to Goku.Cooler: What's that thing on your face?
Goku: What's what thing on my fa—
Cooler: MAH FIST! - Weaksauce Weakness: The robots can be defeated just by hitting them really hard, which Piccolo still delivers like it's some huge revelation. Vegeta is not impressed when Goku tries to use the same logic with Cooler himself.Vegeta: If you say hit him really hard, I swear to god I will kick you in the dick!Goku: I guess we could hit him really hard...Vegeta: (Agonized groan)Goku: ...together?Vegeta: ...Whatever.
