To have fun One Piece reaching its twenty fifth anniversary in 2022, Bandai Namco and Toei Animation unveiled all types of thrilling upcoming media tasks. One such announcement featured One Piece Odyssey, a turn-based RPG with an authentic story that may take a look at the power of the Straw Hat Crew’s friendships.
Will One Piece Odyssey be a uncommon treasure that’s capable of stand out amongst the droves of turn-based RPGs in the marketplace, or is it simply one other anime adaptation falling in need of its potential?
After all One Piece Odyssey stands out with Luffy on the helm of proceedings and a number of intelligent concepts in addition. A phrase of warning nevertheless, there are just a few humps to recover from earlier than the journey actually begins to shine.
One Piece Odyssey begins with Luffy and his crew crusing the excessive seas looking for their subsequent journey. Instantly, a storm wreaks havoc upon the Thousand Sunny ship they usually get washed up on a mysterious island. Upon assembly a few the island’s inhabitants, it turns into obvious that escaping this place shall be no straightforward feat; particularly when their powers are eliminated. It’s going to take the entire workforce to band collectively in the event that they’re to regain their power and set sail as soon as extra.
So far as the story goes for the Straw Hat Crew, it’s a little bit of a hybrid with a fresh-overarching narrative complemented by a retelling of basic tales from the anime. The previous entails the island and two new characters created by Eiichiro Oda, delving into their previous and current predicaments. In the meantime, the seek for cubes which may reinstate the crew’s powers will take them again in historical past. This creates a good steadiness between outdated and new content material, providing a compromise for returning followers and the newly initiated.
The rehashing of main arcs gained’t be for everybody, however having the ability to incorporate areas resembling Alabaster, Water 7 and Marineford by way of barely altered reminiscences is best than having only a sole island to discover. What’s extra, it permits a few of the finest characters one other probability to shine, each when it comes to antagonists and allies. With out these, I concern One Piece Odyssey can be a disappointment as the 2 new faces aren’t fairly attention-grabbing sufficient alone.
The entire vibe of the goings on is nice, with the jovial behaviour and happy-go-lucky nature of Luffy alongside the remainder of the crew. This helps guarantee a lighthearted environment is created, which is confounded additional by way of the brilliantly vibrant visuals used for the characters and most biomes. The Japanese voiceovers, offered by the superb solid of the anime, carry an actual authenticity to the whole lot too.
As for what you’ll truly be doing and focus centres on taking management of the Straw Hat Crew, possessing the power to modify between them at will. Put together to roam the land as Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Zoro, Usopp and extra, as you progress by way of the story through the principle missions consisting of you following relatively inflexible routes. It’s typically linear anyway, however often it’s excessively inflexible; I imply, it’ll actually stop you from taking detours to sure elements of the identical space you’re already in. Alongside the best way, you’ll bump into encounters in opposition to run-of-the-mill enemies, earlier than reaching the climax of the mission; typically boss-like battles. Irrespective of the foe, the battles are all the time turn-based, nevertheless not fairly as you’d count on.
A Scramble Space Battle system is used right here, so initially of an encounter, enemies and your chosen workforce of 4 shall be positioned in several zones inside the battlefield. Relying upon the assault of selection, you’ll be able to goal these in your zone or focus your consideration on one other to help a teammate in want. Dramatic scenes can also happen in the course of the battle, tasking you with finishing a particular goal in return for larger rewards.
Moreover, a Rock, Paper, Scissors aspect is current, the place Energy characters and strikes have a bonus over the Pace ones, whereas Pace trumps Approach and the Approach-based varieties are the weak point for Energy. Throw within the elemental results and the mix of the above options actually add an additional strategic layer to the battling. Though you gained’t essentially realise that’s the case early on in One Piece Odyssey.
Every part is only a bit too straightforward for the primary few hours. In actual fact, you’re drip fed for longer than is required and the primary actual journey embarked upon truly drags on due to the forwards and backwards nature of it. Luckily fast-travel is launched at one level, nevertheless it borders on being a little bit of a chore gameplay-wise for a short while. A positive signal of its gradual begin and lack of problem initially is how barely any thought goes into your battle actions.
You’ll most certainly find yourself permitting the sport to take over by utilizing the auto-battle mode for some time, tackling ape-like Eisas, bats, and bandits. The problem does turn into trickier fortunately and the boss encounters may even require you to modify members out with the intention to usher in these higher fitted to the battle. There are a good few boss-standard enemies to take pleasure in a skirmish with too, however I shall chorus from spoiling their identities.
It’s good that there’s additionally a good quantity of selection and selection when it comes right down to assaults. Other than fundamental assaults, every playable character has a reasonably respectable arsenal of signature abilities to unlock they usually’re all nice to look at play out. Whether or not it’s Luffy’s Gum-Gum-Gatling punches, Zoro’s Three Thousand Worlds sword wielding, Nami’s lightning strike Thunder Bolt Tempo, or Usopp’s hilarious Rubber Band of Doom, the animations by no means develop outdated.
Exterior of the story-focused sections, One Piece Odyssey is definitely fairly addictive as you try to search out treasure, decide up bounties and purchase aspect quests. Looking for cubes hidden throughout is an everyday pastime as properly, as a result of these enhance the powers of the crew. What makes it extra attention-grabbing is the truth that the distinctive talents they’ve are continually put to make use of. For instance, traversing onerous to achieve locations, sneak by way of small passages, hitting nests with a slingshot, unearthing forex, and constructing bridges.
In the end, One Piece Odyssey is a darn good RPG, however it’s hampered by being very gradual out of the blocks. This can put lots of people off. You completely ought to keep it up although, for there’s a lot enjoyment available by way of the principle story and the exploration features. It’s stuffed with enjoyable characters, humorous conditions and, because of the reminiscence side, an everyday dose of nostalgia. The battling is thrilling as properly, with cool strikes and an actual want for technique to succeed in opposition to the hardest foes.
Be part of the Straw Hat Crew in One Piece Odyssey and also you gained’t remorse it.
One Piece Odyssey is accessible on Xbox Sequence X|S through the Xbox Retailer
To have fun One Piece reaching its twenty fifth anniversary in 2022, Bandai Namco and Toei Animation unveiled all types of thrilling upcoming media tasks. One such announcement featured One Piece Odyssey, a turn-based RPG with an authentic story that may take a look at the power of the Straw Hat Crew’s friendships. Will One Piece Odyssey be a uncommon treasure that’s capable of stand out amongst the droves of turn-based RPGs in the marketplace, or is it simply one other anime adaptation falling in need of its potential? After all One Piece Odyssey stands out with Luffy on the helm of proceedings and a number of…
One Piece Odyssey Overview
One Piece Odyssey Overview
2023-01-24
James Birks
Professionals:
Narrative entails recent story and nostalgia
Vibrant worlds and characters
Scramble Space Battle system
Assaults and abilities are very cool
Cons:
Takes too lengthy to get going
Problem is erratic
Data:
Huge thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – Bandai Namco
Codecs – Xbox Sequence X|S, PS5, PS4, PC
Model Reviewed – Xbox Sequence X
Launch date – twelfth January 2023
Launch worth from – £59.99
TXH Rating
4/5
Professionals:
Narrative entails recent story and nostalgia
Vibrant worlds and characters
Scramble Space Battle system
Assaults and abilities are very cool
Cons:
Takes too lengthy to get going
Problem is erratic
Data:
Huge thanks for the free copy of the sport go to – Bandai Namco
Codecs – Xbox Sequence X|S, PS5, PS4, PC
Model Reviewed – Xbox Sequence X
Launch date – twelfth January 2023
Launch worth from – £59.99