Summary
Developer – ILCA
Publisher – Bandai Namco
Platforms – PC – Reviewed, PlayStation, Xbox platforms
I am a massive fan of One Piece, the anime and the manga from the genius mind of Eiichiro Oda.
I’m also a gigantic fan of turn-based JRPGs. I’ve long been a fan of watching how various anime have been getting turned into unique games through the years.
When I first booted this up, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. The opening of the game, where I’m playing Luffy, and I’m going full Mr. Fantastic with my insane limbs, instantly sold me on the franchise’s appeal.
As the drama grew, chapter after chapter, it was pretty easy to see why One Piece fit the turn-based RPG genre. Even the story premise is pretty straightforward. Luffy eats this strange fruit, giving him his insane assortment of powers that he wants to use to build a Pirate crew to help him become the King of all pirates.
What quickly follows is nothing short of absurd, but despite how “anime” everything gets, One Piece Warriors does a pretty good job of keeping the story concise.
It’s not recreating the show one to one, but it was a sufficient motivation to continue the story and find some new favorite characters along the way. One Piece Odyssey is a celebration of the series’ history.
Gameplay-wise, One Piece Odyssey differentiates from the traditional formula by the sheer audacity of its characters. Various special moves and super abilities are all cranked to 11. It’s not uncommon for a single ability to demolish entire groups of enemies.
Every character has varying degrees of depth in their skills and class roles. One Piece action fits this genre perfectly.
One Piece Odyssey also features significant boss battles and great what-if moments as you revisit past moments the manga made famous. Visually, this game is a treat. On PC, the game runs perfectly. The game’s characters shine, with tons of expressive faces and special moves that fill the screens with stuff I never expected in a traditional RPG.
One Piece Odyssey is bizarre, amusing, and absurd, but it’s also pretty fun and lighthearted. ILCA and Bandai Namco did a great of bringing these characters to life and giving them a 25th-anniversary gift worth celebrating.
