The entire crew can be used in combat as well. Usopp proves useful for knocking items off high ground, and there are points in One Piece Odyssey where you’ll have to take control of a specific character to progress. Zoro, for instance, is able to slice through walls and blockades to reveal hidden pathways or chests, while Chopper can enter small, tight spaces with his diminutive stature. The game’s character-switching feature allows for a seamless swap between the crew members, with each of them having their overworld abilities that have been carried over from the source material. He isn’t the only playable character, either. Here, Luffy is able to traverse through his surroundings with a grapple hook mechanic that uses the elasticity of his arm, and it doesn’t take long to get the hang of it. One Piece Odyssey is generous with its tutorial sequences, dishing out bits of guidance instead of overwhelming players with a barrage of information. In between these cutscenes and narrative exposition is where the learning kicks in. Once all the characters are rounded up, another problem makes itself known – Nami, separated from everyone else, is in danger, and the group has to save her from the crutches of a gigantic ape and other hostile forces. Luffy’s crew finds themselves washed up on the shore of a mysterious island called Waford, with their ship entirely destroyed and the Straw Hat Pirates scattered all around. The game starts off in a linear fashion, and leaves very little room for free roaming in its first chapter. More notably, the story is penned by series creator Eiichiro Oda himself, which gives it an edge in the appeal factor right from the get-go.

As with every franchise title, it primarily targets the existing fan base, but there are also enough fresh and friendly elements to delight newcomers into the fold. And it’s a promising adventure, if a three-hour preview is any indication.

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