The Worst of One Piece Odyssey: Pacing That Misses the Mark (Spoilers Ahead)
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A Slow Start That Drags On
From the outset, One Piece Odyssey promises an exciting adventure with the Straw Hats regaining their powers and embarking on a nostalgic journey through iconic settings. However, the execution falters, as the story takes far too long to build momentum. Players are left navigating an overly stretched narrative with minimal stakes until well into the game.
Lost Potential in Early Chapters
The opening hours introduce an intriguing premise but fail to capitalize on it. The lack of urgency in repairing the Thousand Sunny or addressing the Straw Hats’ power loss makes the early sections feel like filler rather than meaningful progression. These pacing issues could alienate players who expect quicker engagement.
Late Payoff, Too Little, Too Late
The story's emotional core doesn’t come into play until Lim begins grappling with her internal conflict about loyalty and betrayal. Unfortunately, this pivotal development occurs 40–50 hours into the game—well beyond the point where many players might lose interest. For a game aimed at One Piece fans, this delay undermines its ability to capture and retain its audience.
Repetitive Structure and Backtracking
Another pacing flaw is the repetitive structure of revisiting settings from the anime. While nostalgic, these moments often feel like they’re dragging the story rather than driving it forward. Additionally, the unnecessary backtracking—such as revisiting Alabasta and Water Seven during the Sky Tower segment—extends the game unnecessarily, making it feel padded rather than purposeful.
Missed Opportunities
Given Eiichiro Oda’s involvement in the project, the pacing feels like a missed opportunity. The potential for a tightly woven, action-packed narrative was overshadowed by a bloated middle section that failed to maintain the excitement and intrigue of the premise.
Conclusion
While One Piece Odyssey has its strengths, the pacing of its story remains its Achilles' heel. For a game to truly shine, especially in the RPG genre, it needs to balance nostalgia with engaging storytelling and consistent momentum—something One Piece Odyssey struggles to achieve.
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