One Piece Odyssey in overview: Hundreds of thousands have been ready for a role-playing recreation like this – and rightly so?

(The Straw Hat Gang has to relive past memories during their adventure. A nostalgic trip to Alabasta is the first trip down memory lane.)

One Piece Odyssey does virtually the whole lot proper within the implementation of the world-famous unique. Nonetheless, the gameplay drags on like rubber regardless of the open world.

Forgive the dangerous gag within the opening credit, however an allusion to the rubber talents of the One Piece protagonist was simply too apparent. Rubber not solely suits Monkey D. Ruffy completely, but additionally the gameplay of One Piece Odyssey.

If you happen to go by the Steam person scores, the open-world role-playing recreation is a success: 84 per cent of constructive evaluations are on the books, stuffed with effusive reward for the implementation of one of many world”s most well-known collection, cherished by hundreds of thousands of followers.

One Piece Odyssey is a dream come true for followers and an incredible entry level for collection newcomers. However the take a look at reveals: You need to flip a blind eye to it. Or put on an eye fixed patch straight away.

To present you a primary impression of the role-playing recreation, we’ve recorded a brief gameplay clip for you that reveals the everyday gameplay and the PC graphics:

A feast for followers

Developer ILCA combines components of a basic Japanese role-playing recreation with the story of the anime in One Piece Odyssey. One Piece Odyssey interweaves 4 components of the unique – together with the favored Alabasta arc – with the gameplay. In doing so, the makers take small liberties with the implementation of the plot.

(The Straw Hat Gang has to relive past memories during their adventure. A nostalgic trip to Alabasta is the first trip down memory lane.)
(The Straw Hat Gang has to relive previous reminiscences throughout their journey. A nostalgic journey to Alabasta is the primary journey down reminiscence lane.)

The island of Waford offers the setting for the story. The Straw Hat Gang lands on it and shortly after their arrival they lose their talents. To regain them, they should defeat 4 colossi. These spit out cube that regularly give the crew again their talents. Within the course of, they relive previous reminiscences – there may be loads of nostalgia right here for collection connoisseurs – with the assistance of recent characters Lim and Adio.

The implementation of the unique is the best power of One Piece Odyssey. The type of the anime is lovingly accomplished, the approach is flawless and the fan-favourite characters of the Straw Hat Gang are captured in a splendidly charming means. It’s enjoyable from the begin to take heed to their dialogue and watch them work together. The unique Japanese audio system play a giant half on this, however sadly there isn’t any German or English voice-over. As a substitute, there are German-language texts.

One Piece Odyssey offers an excellent abstract of necessary plot factors of the anime. So when you don”t need to make amends for 1,000 episodes or greater than 100 books, however you”ve already had first contact with One Piece, the sport will provide you with an excellent begin into the world of pirates. Supplied, in fact, that spoilers will not be an issue.

(One Piece Odyssey captures the characters of the anime brilliantly.)
(One Piece Odyssey captures the characters of the anime brilliantly.)

Full collection newcomers, nonetheless, might have issue comprehending some character traits or feelings. Those that don”t just like the overdrawn anime portrayal will actually have a onerous time moving into the sport.

Particularly, the portrayal of the feminine characters not appears up to date and clumsy. At the start of the manga and the collection, the proportions of Nami and Nico nonetheless appeared completely different. The truth that this has modified each within the recreation and within the present episodes is one thing One Piece doesn’t want. 

(Adio is one of the new characters created by series creator Eiichiro Oda especially for the game.)
(Adio is without doubt one of the new characters created by collection creator Eiichiro Oda particularly for the sport.)

Boredom on deck

However initially of One Piece Odyssey, persistence is critical. As a result of the start is something however gripping and dynamic: we run with Ruffy or one other member of his crew from one cutscene to the subsequent. These are enjoyable because of the profitable staging, however the motion loses tempo.

The tutorial mission offers an ideal instance. After the Straw Hat Gang is stranded, some members are lacking. Ruffy and Co. got down to discover Nami, who’s within the clutches of a giant gorilla. Alongside the way in which, we stumble right into a cutscene or a combat seemingly each ten steps.

(Dice can be found in the game world, slowly restoring abilities to the pirate crew).
(Cube will be discovered within the recreation world, slowly restoring talents to the pirate crew).

The precise boss combat compensates with an entertaining staging, however this sequence of occasions is repeated many times in later predominant missions, in order that the aspect of shock is lacking and tedium spreads all through the 35 hours of gameplay as a substitute.

You and which military?

The frequent battles are usually too straightforward in our expertise. There is just one issue stage and all through the gameplay there was an absence of huge challenges for our pirates. The boss fights towards the colossi or well-known villains like Crocodile present the highlights within the recreation because of their entertaining staging, however the pirates don”t actually break a sweat there both.

(The iconic attacks from the anime are spectacularly staged in the battles)
(The enduring assaults from the anime are spectacularly staged within the battles)

That is tragic as a result of the battle system is nice and delivers acquainted components of a Japanese role-playing recreation. The method is turn-based, and we are able to modify the flip order. As well as, every crew member brings an in depth catalogue of talents, that are acquainted from the anime and spectacularly staged.

We will exploit the weaknesses of our opponents utilizing the scissors-rock-paper precept. If we ignore these tactical prospects, nonetheless, we are able to often nonetheless simply overcome our opponents. If you happen to don”t really feel just like the boring commonplace fights, you possibly can flip up the velocity and even activate the autopilot, then the sport even regulates the combating all by itself.

(The fights with the colossi are an important part of the story. They give Ruffy and Co. their power back.)
(The fights with the colossi are an necessary a part of the story. They offer Ruffy and Co. their energy again.)

No process for a pirate

If you happen to don”t really feel like combating, you possibly can usually keep away from the enemies working round freely within the recreation world. The open world is disappointing: there may be little to discover off the overwhelmed monitor. In some dungeons, a number of straightforward puzzles await us, that are shortly solved. The optionally available facet duties additionally lack ingenuity.

(The puzzles, if we should call them that, are similar to the battles: no great challenges.)
(The puzzles, if we must always name them that, are much like the battles: no nice challenges.)

We received actually aggravated when One Piece Odyssey despatched us again to already identified areas simply to work by monotonous amassing duties. Even in the middle of the primary storyline, we frequently transfer alongside acquainted paths.

After we needed to take a break in frustration, the save system slowed us down. It isn’t potential to save lots of robotically or manually through the menu. Saving is barely potential at specifically designated factors, that are, nonetheless, generously distributed.

(The humour typical of the series can be found around every corner. The arguments between Sanji and Zorro are of course part of it.)
(The humour typical of the collection will be discovered round each nook. The arguments between Sanji and Zorro are in fact a part of it.)

All aboard?

Those that are large followers of the Straw Hat Gang could possibly overlook these moments of frustration and shortcomings within the gameplay. Followers who flip a blind eye will get a loving realisation of the world and characters from the anime with One Piece Odyssey and are welcome so as to add one other ten factors to the ranking.

Nonetheless, if this bond is lacking, it’s tough to disregard the backtracking, the boring battles and the unimaginative duties. If you happen to don”t get sufficient of JRPGs with turn-based battle programs, it is best to slightly go searching for different style representatives on the PC. Dragon Quest 11, the Persona collection or the not too long ago launched Chained Echoes supply rather more problem and thrilling gameplay.

Editorial conclusion

To start with, One Piece Odyssey actually bored me. The beginning is hard, the duties monotonous and the fights far too straightforward. After the primary chapter, nonetheless, the story picks up velocity and the brand new characters match coherently into the favored pirate gang. Acquainted tales from the anime are sensibly blended with new elements. The loving presentation makes for an actual feel-good ambiance.

I might have appreciated it even higher if the sport was shorter and had extra tempo within the manufacturing. At some factors it’s noticeable that the builders are artificially dragging out the motion. The truth that I always needed to return to acquainted locations actually aggravated me and put my motivation to a tough take a look at. Aside from the boss fights, there are hardly any challenges. The unique is excellently realised and a feast for followers, however by way of gameplay there are higher style alternate options.

Author: Ronnie Neal