One Piece Odyssey is a turn-based strategy game that takes little time to show how well it captures some of the One Piece franchise's most charming aspects. Most games involving Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew involve fighting hordes of enemies with fast-paced 3D gameplay. One Piece Odyssey changes things up with turn-based combat similar to classic Final Fantasy and Pokémon games. Luckily, Odyssey's gameplay isn't the only feature that delivers.
Similar to JRPGs like Dragon Quest,characters feature in One Piece Odyssey. Players start the game on a mysterious island that quickly puts Luffy and his crew in a situation where they must revisit memories of their past adventures to regain lost powers. Reviewing the events of past One Piece arcs gives newer characters a chance to experience the exciting adventures they previously missed. The writers of the game nailed the charm, humor, and essential dynamics of the series cast to tell a story that feels both familiar and new at the same time.
Odyssey Faithfully Recreates The Entertaining Dynamics of Luffy's Crew
The world of One Piece is filled with super-powered and super-goofy pirates who are captured beautifully throughout One Piece Odyssey, with some major story twists. The Straw Hat's befriend an extensive collection of memorable allies who both appear in the game and assist players in the heat of battle. During the adventures of the long-running series, its humor and charm consistently keep the tone of the series light and fun, even when its plot revolves around heavy subject material like slavery, an oppressive world government, and its deadly censorship of critical historical events. The lighthearted tone is something Odyssey nails, especially with the character writing of the Straw Hat crew.
Despite Desperate Situations, One Piece's Charm Shines In Odyssey
Players unfamiliar with One Piece's characters will quickly feel acquainted with Odyssey's cast thanks to the expressive animations and faithful character writing. The introduction cutscenes and dialog between crewmates quickly establish the Straw Hat crew's dynamics built throughout One Piece's manga and anime series. The first mate's rivalry with the crew's stubborn cook, the innocent and good-natured ship doctor, who happens to be a sentient reindeer, and even the morbid curiosity of the crew's scholar is effectively established within the game's first hour of playtime. With so much care and attention placed on faithfully recreating the bombastic crew, One Piece Odyssey feels like a proper installment to the series rather than a video game spin-off.
Although Odyssey revisits many of One Piece's most popular arcs, it fails to tell the entire story of the still ongoing shonen series. Series creator Eiichiro Oda provided designs for many of the game's original characters and creatures and has even commented on how playing One Piece Odyssey is like watching a movie with its impressive visuals and pacing. DLC will likely provide more story and characters to One Piece Odyssey and capture the One Piece charm that oozes from the series.
Source: Bandai Namco Europe/YouTube
