One Piece Odyssey: A Nostalgic Adventure with Missed Opportunities
1. Story and Plot
Narrative
One Piece Odyssey starts with an engaging premise: the Straw Hats must recover their powers and repair the Thousand Sunny, but this concept quickly fades into a mere background comment. While revisiting iconic settings from the anime provides nostalgic joy, the story progresses at a frustratingly slow pace. It takes nearly 40-50 hours for any real tension to develop, with Lim’s internal conflict about her loyalties being a late but pivotal turning point. Unfortunately, by this time, many players might have already dropped the game due to its sluggish pacing. It's surprising given Eiichiro Oda's reputation as a master storyteller.
Bonus point: Buggy the Clown is absent from the game—a small but appreciated detail.
Characters
The character design is fantastic, especially as it transitions anime characters into 3D, often surpassing their 2D counterparts. For new characters, Lim's growth from a naive girl to someone who values friendship is the highlight of the story. Adio, however, is a disappointment. Despite his initially friendly demeanor, his hidden agenda is too transparent, making him a predictable antagonist. While Lim shines, Adio fails to leave a lasting impression.
World-Building
Waford Island is well-designed, and revisiting anime settings like Dressrosa (a personal favorite) is a treat. The lore is crafted beautifully, with Robin acting as the main guide, adding depth and authenticity to the storytelling.
2. Gameplay
Mechanics
The game features exploration across Waford Island and familiar settings like Alabasta, Water Seven, and Dressrosa. While intuitive, certain design choices—such as disabling fast travel at crucial moments—create unnecessary frustration.
Combat System
The turn-based battle system adds unique elements, such as splitting characters into zones and incorporating a rock-paper-scissors mechanic. However, the difficulty is minimal, and leveling feels unbalanced. For instance, being 11 levels higher than recommended before a key section without grinding undermines any challenge. Moreover, the lack of player control over guest characters like Law and Sabo is disappointing, especially when more memorable characters like Vivi and Rebecca don’t join the party at all. (I'm referring to cavendish when saying more memorable).
Exploration
Exploration is a significant aspect of the game. While it’s not overwhelming like Breath of the Wild, it still offers a good balance. However, some side quests, such as finding five dolls for a boy in Water Seven, feel tedious. Others, like exploring the Ice/Water Ruins, are much more enjoyable.
3. Graphics and Art Design
Visual Style
The art direction is stunning, arguably better than the anime in some areas. Characters look fantastic in 3D, though Franky’s design feels oddly off.
Technical Quality
The textures, lighting, and animations are top-notch. However, battle animations can feel excessively long, even with the "fast animation" mode, which ironically worsens the experience. A skip button would have been a better option.
Character and Environment Design
Character and environment designs are consistently excellent, with standout settings like the Water/Ice Ruins showcasing the game’s artistic strengths.
4. Sound and Music
Soundtrack
The music is memorable and fitting, enhancing the experience. Some tracks, especially battle themes and Brook’s performance on the Sky Tower, are particularly enjoyable.
Voice Acting
The original anime voice cast brings the characters to life, and the performances for new characters like Lim and Adio are equally commendable.
Sound Effects
While sound effects are adequate, they don’t break new ground in the industry.
5. User Interface and Controls
UI Design
The user interface is simple and accessible, though removing accessories from characters was initially confusing.
Controls
Controls are responsive and intuitive, though the decision to use the circle button as the confirm key may confuse players accustomed to the "X" button.
6. Replayability and Content
Game Length
At over 70 hours, the game feels longer than necessary, with unnecessary detours—like revisiting Alabasta and Water Seven during the Sky Tower segment—dragging out the experience.
Replay Value
The game offers little replayability. With no multiple endings or new game plus modes, it doesn’t encourage a second playthrough.
Post-Launch Content
There’s no post-launch DLC, though the ending leaves room for a sequel, potentially featuring Whole Cake Island or Wano Kuni.
7. Performance and Technical Aspects
Performance
The game runs smoothly on PS5, with no noticeable bugs or crashes.
8. Originality and Innovation
Innovation
While the rock-paper-scissors combat mechanic is a unique touch, it feels underwhelming compared to similar systems in other games like Pokémon. Overall, the game doesn’t bring anything groundbreaking to the turn-based RPG genre.
Comparison
Despite being a fan of One Piece, the game falls short. The story is average and overly long, and the combat system lacks depth and challenge.
9. Overall Enjoyment
Personal Experience
The game took me longer to finish than most RPGs due to its pacing. While there were enjoyable moments, such as revisiting Dressrosa and Brook’s musical interlude, the overall experience felt stretched.
Target Audience
This game is best suited for hardcore One Piece fans. Casual players or those unfamiliar with the anime may struggle to connect with its content.
Final Thoughts
One Piece Odyssey is a visually stunning, nostalgic journey that ultimately stumbles in pacing and gameplay depth. While fans of the series will find joy in revisiting iconic settings, the game’s flaws make it hard to recommend to a broader audience.
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