One Piece Odyssey: Deluxe Edition

One Piece Odyssey proves that a classic turn-based RPG is a good genre fit for the world and characters of One Piece, and that makes it rewarding despite a lack of tension in its all-too-easy fights and some frustrating quest design that pads out its length.

One Piece Odyssey captures the visual style and whimsy of the original material but stumbles at turning it into an engaging RPG.

Cozy, meandering fun for One Piece fans, but swabbies should set sail from other ports.

It’s clear, both in Odyssey’s thrilling combat and colorful art direction, that ILCA harbors a lot of love for its source material. But these fleeting moments of joy make their counterparts — hapless storytelling, terrible pacing, and stilted navigation — all the more exhausting by comparison. The kernel of a good RPG exists within Odyssey’s framework, but it’s surrounded by so much muck that it can’t shine through. One Piece has a long, storied history, but I suspect Odyssey will soon be forgotten.

I have reservations about the experience as a whole – however, I can't help but smile thinking about this adventure with the Straw Hats. It nails the core cast of characters, the Memoria areas are fun to revisit, and the revelations surrounding Waford, Lim, and Adio ultimately satisfy. Of course, I can't thoroughly recommend this voyage for someone new to One Piece, but seasoned pirates will find a worthy adventure on the horizon.

A bonkers collection of epic adventures and side-quests sprinkled with puzzles that fans of the Japanese pop-cultural behemoth have been crying out for

No matter whether you're a hardcore One Piece fan or a complete newcomer, One Piece Odyssey is an utter joy of a JRPG. Its combat system remains incredibly enjoyable throughout, and new mechanics provide depth and strategy in droves. Most certainly the highlight of the experience, but with fun exploration to boot, you're always assured of a good time. One Piece Odyssey plays a lot like Dragon Quest XI, and it's not that far off being just as good as it.

One Piece Odyssey may not exactly be reinventing the wheel with its rather basic approach to JRPG game design, but it nonetheless provides a fun and engaging adventure that we'd recommend to any fans of One Piece or RPGs - preferably both if you don't want spoilers from the manga and anime. Though quibbles like the middling presentation and rather 'safe' gameplay design keep this one from being a top-shelf RPG, the strategic combat system, meaningful exploration, and nostalgic story all come together to make for a worthwhile experience that holds up well. We wouldn't suggest you rush out to buy this straight away, but it's definitely one to consider when a modest sale comes around.

One Piece Odyssey unfortunately fits the "it takes twenty hours to get good" shoe. I find it difficult to recommend it to those who aren't already fans of the series, and not just because it's a mostly bland RPG.

One Piece Odyssey is a fun enough diversion for hardcore fans with ample patience, but others won't find much to drive them through the conclusion.