One of the most popular anime and manga franchises is One Piece. It follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy and his quest to become the Pirate King. Though it has been running for more than two decades already, it continues to attract new audiences and keep old fans anticipating the next chapter’s release. As a popular franchise, it’s no surprise that One Piece also has many video games based on it available to play. One of those games is One Piece Odyssey.
One Piece Odyssey is a turn-based RPG that was released on January 10, 2023, by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Players will get to play all of the Straw Hat pirate characters and go on an awesome adventure. It features an open world with awesome graphics, allowing players to explore the world of One Piece and enjoy it. But is this game able to properly showcase the world and lore of the One Piece series? And will you still enjoy playing it if you’re not familiar with the franchise? We’ll discuss all of that in this One Piece Odyssey review.
One Piece Odyssey – Gameplay & Storyline
One Piece Odyssey is not like any RPG out there since it won’t start with the beginning of Luffy’s journey. The storyline will instead take place during a certain point in the Straw Hat Pirate’s journey along the Grand Line. They were swept away by a sudden storm and they find themselves on a mysterious but lush and beautiful island called Waford. This resulted in the crew getting separated, which will jumpstart a new adventure for Luffy and his crew. The adventure will also introduce two new characters Adio and Lim who reside in Waford.
Though the game will introduce a new story, it will also look back at some of the series’ already concluded arcs like Alabastra, the Marineford War, and Dressrossa. One Piece Odyssey will be played on two fronts, with one being the adventure in Waford and the other in the Memoria revisiting the different arcs. What’s interesting about this is that players will have a chance to revisit the arch deeper and try to change the outcome.
This is huge, even if it’s just a dream since not everything that happened in these arcs is acceptable (One Piece fans will know). In terms of gameplay, the battle system uses the typical turn-based battle found in many JRPGs. The game also features an open world that you can explore, similar to many MMORPGs. This is a great feature since it will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of One Piece and interact with some of the characters.
In terms of playable characters, so far you can only play Luffy and his crew with the addition of Portgas D. Ace and Jinbe later on. There’s no indication yet if other characters can be played in the game.
What’s Good About One Piece Odyssey
Now that we have a basic idea of One Piece Odyssey’s gameplay and storyline, let’s now look at what’s good. We will discuss things that are great in this game that can also help you decide if it’s worth playing or not.
An Immersive Open World with Awesome Graphics
One of the best things about One Piece Odyssey is the vast open world that you can explore. This is especially great for long-time fans of the franchise since they can now interact in the world of One Piece. Not only do they get a new world to explore in Waford, but also other places they’ve encountered in the series. Then add the awesome graphics, and you’ll have a very fun gaming experience.
Relive Past Arcs & Change the Outcome
Another great thing about One Piece Odyssey, again especially for long-time One Piece fans, is reliving past arcs. Players will be able to experience once again the battle with Crocodile in Alabastra or participate in the intense Marineford War. But what’s great is that you will have a chance to affect the outcome this time. You can change things that you didn’t like from the series and see how they’ll turn out in this game.
Though all of these things will happen in a dream, it’s still a great feature to have. It allows players to experience a different outcome when they revisit deeper certain arcs in the game.
What’s Bad About One Piece Odyssey
Not everything about One Piece Odyssey is good. There are also things about it that can be improved upon to make the game even better to play.
The Game is for Long-Time One Piece Fans
Probably one of the negative things about this RPG is that it’s a game suited for long-time One Piece fans. You can still play the game if you want, but to better understand the story and the different dynamics of each character, you need to be reading the manga or watching the One Piece series. For those who are just starting to read the manga or watch the anime, it is advisable not to play the game if you don’t want to spoil the story.
So, unless you’re a long-time One Piece fan, you likely won’t appreciate this game as much. And this is not shocking since the game was created to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the One Piece brand. It’s like creator Eiichio Oda’s thank you to the fans who have stuck with him all these decades.
Battle Gameplay Could Have Been Better
Though the turn-based battle system surprisingly works well in One Piece Odyssey, it would have been better if a different battle system was used. Something similar to that of a typical MMORPG or like what Genshin Impact is using. This provides players with more freedom to play and experiment with the different and unique skills each character has.
Should’ve Had More Playable Characters
This is just nitpicking at this point, but it would be great if there are more playable characters other than just Luffy and his crew. Most of the popular characters in One Piece are part of the Straw Hat Pirates, but there are also other great characters that people would love to see. There’s Trafalgar Law, Mihawk, Shanks, and many more. It would be great if these characters can also be added to the game.
The Verdict – To Play or Not to Play?
Looking at the entirety of One Piece Odyssey, it’s easy to see that it’s a very good game and it’s worth playing. However, although the game may be good and worth playing, it’s not really for everyone. People who have no idea what One Piece is or is just starting with the story won’t enjoy this game as much. They won’t understand much of the story, especially the ones in the Memoria arc.
It will also be hard to relate with the characters since there won’t be any more character development here. Non-One Piece fans will have a hard time understanding or relating with Luffy and his crew. So, if you want to immerse yourself in the game better, we suggest you read the manga or watch the series first. With this, we give the game a score of 4 out of 5.
