For many years now, Luffy and his crew have captivated people of all ages with their adventures. The anime series has continued its success story with various video games in the past, and the latest installment is no exception. One Piece Odyssey (released on January 13, 2023) is simply a logical consequence of its success.
We were fortunate enough to have already had the opportunity to spend a few hours on Wadford Island and here we'll tell you what there is to discover at the beginning of next year.
Everything is the same as always, just new.
A major concern before the release is that the game's content will initially only offer reheated material. However, this should only pose a real problem for long-time One Piece fans, as they are already very familiar with much of the world. And here's the first piece of good news: Odyssey It offers a completely new perspective on the series. Our crew is the same as it was decades ago, and some of the stops on our protagonists' journey should seem familiar to many fans, but otherwise the creators have come up with plenty of new ideas.
In this case, "the creators" refers not only to the development studio, but also to the creator of the entire series, Eiichiro Oda. He created original characters specifically for this game – characters that fit perfectly into the previously untold story and the never-before-seen Wadford Island.
So, while we initially try to gather the crew, find resources, and explore the island to rectify the crew's shipwreck, one thing became apparent relatively quickly. Odyssey From the very beginning, it skillfully walks a fine line between delighting longtime fans and attracting new ones. For veterans, this is a chance to relive those familiar feelings, enjoy the humor, and rediscover the world of the series. At the same time, the game offers newcomers a fantastic opportunity to get to know and love the world, the humor, the characters, and their dynamics and quirks.
Role-playing game as you know and love it
We can't say much about the plot at this point, simply because we don't know it. However, those familiar with role-playing games will likely be less surprised by the sheer volume of dialogue and backstory. While the interactions between the characters often have their charm, some of the conversations and cutscenes can be quite lengthy, requiring a strong interest in the story and world to stay engaged, especially during the first few hours.
The map design, however, doesn't feel nearly as fresh as the story and the new characters. I'm the last person who absolutely needs a seemingly endless open world in every RPG, especially one that's half desert or water, just to show off its size. Nevertheless, I have to say that between all the long, narrow areas and then again some more expansive ones, I find myself drawn back to old favorites. ZeldaI felt transported back in time. While I still love those parts dearly today, this style of world design definitely shows its age.
As I said, it doesn't always have to be open world, but not being able to explore at all and always having to follow fixed paths just feels outdated these days. Fixed save points where you can also heal feel equally outdated. Healing – yes, please… but please just let me save normally.
Crazy round-robin battles
You have to be a fan of turn-based combat, whether you like it or not, because the relatively unique combat system is often too much of a thorn in the side for players. One Piece Odyssey This is likely to be the last real test for these players, because it's hard to imagine a more fun way to make these battles, and so it can be said for some players: if you don't enjoy turn-based battles here, then you most likely will never enjoy them anywhere else.
Consisting of Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Brook, Chopper, Franky, Usopp, Sanji, and Nico Robin, this is a whole roster of characters that then need to be narrowed down to four characters before being sent into battle. Careful consideration is required, as the individual abilities must be precisely tailored not only to the opponents encountered but also to each other. Over the course of several hours, players must figure out which character, with their specific abilities, makes the most sense against a particular opponent, for example, alongside Luffy.
The basic mechanics of action-reaction combat are likely familiar to most players. First, positioning on the battlefield must be carefully chosen, and then, guided by the game's instructions and common sense, players alternate between attacks of speed, power, or technique. Once enough points are accumulated, a selected character can unleash a unique skill, presented through a video sequence, which is usually highly effective. Items can also be used when necessary to either boost attacks or provide protection. All of this sounds rather unremarkable at first glance, which begs the question: why did the combat make such a positive impression, at least in the preview?
Due to the game's vast content, every battle offers variety. You decide how and with whom you upgrade abilities in the skill menu, constantly opening up new possibilities for combat. The sheer volume of content also adds a tactical element, requiring you to continually develop new approaches to each challenge. But even beyond these possibilities, the battles are incredibly fun. The animations are generally excellent, the sound effects, and especially the soundtrack, add immense impact, and the voice acting could have come straight from the anime.
One Piece Odyssey – an early conclusion
To what extent routine or even boredom will set in after playing the game for more than just a few hours remains to be seen, but some things are already clear. Apart from a few minor glitches, such as with the facial animations, the game looks very appealing from both a technical and stylistic point of view. The story is original, as are two of the characters, the sound design is excellent, the combat system is virtually flawless, and the sheer number of options suggests many hours of entertainment.
Unfortunately, it was already noticeable here that the story can drag on quite a bit, especially due to the numerous and lengthy dialogues, and the map design leaves something to be desired. While these negative points didn't really bother us in our preview, we'll find out how it all looks in the full version at the latest. on the 13. January 2023, if One Piece Odyssey It will be released in this country for console and PC.
