Game review: One Piece Odyssey (Nintendo Switch)

It goes without saying that there are many Nintendo Switch ports currently out, although some of them are hit-and-miss. One of the best Switch ports out there is the 2016 version of Doom, but there are duds, such as last year’s release of Mortal Kombat 1. 

The reason why some Switch ports are so horrible is mainly because the Nintendo console is underpowered compared to the PS5 and Xbox Series X. However, if a developer is talented enough, they can make it work. 

Thankfully, Arstech Guild has managed to pull off something great with the Switch version of One Piece Odyssey. I originally played One Piece Odyssey last year on the PS5, but I am mightily impressed with how this Switch version currently performs. This is because the Switch version does not look or feel as inferior as its PS5 cousin. 

Some Switch ports have long loading times, or the 3D style graphics look hideously ugly. If you have played Mortal Kombat 1 on Nintendo Switch, you may have seen pixelated graphics that look far inferior to the current-gen versions. 

Well, One Piece Odyssey doesn’t suffer graphical hiccups mainly because it’s not a demanding 3D open-world video game. The 2D-style anime graphics work really well on the Switch version, and the loading times aren’t very fast, either. Odyssey looks great on both handheld and TV modes. 

Another great thing about One Piece Odyssey on the Nintendo Switch is that Bandai Namco has included the Deluxe Edition of the game. Aside from receiving the full game, Switch owners also receive the DLC called ‘Reunion of Memories’ as well as extra outfits for the characters at no extra charge. 

In terms of the game itself, One Piece Odyssey is a turn-based RPG that features a ton of playable characters and a huge open-world environment for you to explore. Not to mention, the game features an original story that is different from that of the anime and manga. You are not experiencing the same storyline over and over again like with Dragon Ball video games…

One thing that might interest some people is that this game has turn-based combat. The older Final Fantasy games used to have this type of combat, but now they’re more like action video games. Turn-based combat will appeal to older gamers who grew up playing games like this. 

If you have never heard of turn-based combat before, this basically means that you have to take turns with the AI before you are able to attack again. For example, if you have a team of four characters, they will each have a turn, and then you will have to wait for the enemies to attack first before taking control of them again. 

What I like most about the combat in One Piece Odyssey is that each character is playable and specializes in different types of combat. The main character, Luffy, is quite powerful with his fists, so he’s good at close-ranged melee combat. 

However, there is a catch to the combat that might annoy some gamers. At the start of the game, every character is overpowered, and they have access to ALL of their skills and abilities. In a massive twist, every character is stripped of their powers early on in the game. This is due to a mysterious girl thinking the main characters are evil, so she makes them powerless. 

Another slight annoyance is that you cannot dodge enemy attacks like you can in Super Mario RPG. If an enemy attacks the group, all you can do is stand there and hope they don’t kill the whole party off! That being said, you can still collect potions or use magic to replenish lost health if the party is dying. 

If you are feeling really lazy, you can even opt to tell the AI to play through the combat sequences. I only advise you to do this if you don’t feel like grinding or levelling up. The AI isn’t very useful against hard bosses because you have to come up with your own strategies to come out on top. 

The party is also limited in using their special attacks until they collect enough TP points. TP points are earned only if you use lots of standard attacks. It’s recommended that you save up on TP points before a boss fight because you need special attacks to finish off bosses. After all, they have larger health bars. 

Even though One Piece Odyssey uses turn-based combat, I am happy that the game does not feature random battles. If you have played older Final Fantasy games, you may have noticed enemies attacking you can any time when you are roaming dungeons and the open world. Thankfully, you can see enemies roaming around in One Piece Odyssey, so you can choose your battles. 

There aren’t many negative things I can say about One Piece Odyssey aside from some of the battles being difficult. As I said in my review last year, the enemy I hated the most in this game was the very annoying Banana Gators! 

Anyway, if you own a Nintendo Switch and love RPGs, I think it’s worth picking up One Piece Odyssey. The game’s anime graphics look great, and it performs fairly well on the Switch. I don’t think it’s worth buying a second time for existing owners unless you want to play a portable version of the game. 

Verdict: 8.0/10