Anyone think it's a good jumping in point for someone with no history with the Dragon Ball series?
Given I saw a full play-through of the game, I would say yes. However, there are other good Dragon Ball games that could be a good starting point for someone who has never experienced the series. For instance, I would recommend The Legacy of Goku series for the GBA, Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for the NDS, as well as Dragon Ball Origins 1 and 2 also for the NDS, and even Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for the Wii. Quite possibly some of the best games in the series that aren't fighters.
Anyway, I would also wait until the game comes down in price, especially taking into account there's DLC planned for it.
If you have zero experience with the series It's better to just watch the anime or read the manga instead. the story in the games is shortened allot with a bit of exclusive stuff wich is not in the main series filled with some mediocre gameplay in between to fill the time. It's not really the best way to experience the series and a ton of those story based anime games are pretty bad aswell. Better than movie based games but it's nothing to write home about.
if where talking kid dragonball games
You can skip the ds origins 1 & 2 but especially the wii version they are imo not really great games. i'd even go as far to say that the wii version is a pretty bad game for my taste,
The gba version dragonball advanced adventure is way better and actually an excellent standalone game wether your a fan of the series or not if where talking kid dragonball games. it actually is one of the better gba games gameplay and visual wise.
and aside from the single player content those multiplayer 2d fights are also quite excellent perhaps even the best feature of the game wich was supposedly only one of it's side features. I always loved playing as jackie chun and tien.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AuIR80q_OEi do agree that the rpg's like attack on saiyans on the ds are pretty good though so no comment about that.
If where talking some of the best dbz games many people seem to like dragonball z budokai tenkaichi 3.
or them 2d vs fighting games on the snes especially the later ones like DragonBall Z Super Butouden 3 and ofcourse the most modern 2d fighter dragonball fighterz wich is even loved among competitive esports replacing them marvel vs capcom vs fighters a bit.