Summary
Anime hasn’t always been the most popular object of viewing pleasure, but over the past few years, the genre has taken leaps toward becoming mainstream entertainment. The road hasn’t been an easy one, but with the quality of the renowned “Big Three”, combined with the efforts of comparatively newer titles likeDemon SlayerandAttack on Titan, anime has successfully become a staple of contemporary media. In light of this newfound popularity, there’s a gap in the gaming industry thatOne Piece Odysseyrecently tried to take advantage of. Bandai Namco received praise forOdyssey’s adventures that slightly differed from the source material, and given that theOne Piecestorylineis still forging ahead, there’s room for a sequel to further the developer’s success.
BeforeOne Piece Odyssey’s release in early 2023, a few notable attempts had been made to translate the escapades of Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat crew into a video game setting. Bandai Namco’sPirate Warriorsfranchise was perhaps the most successful, but there was still a sense of a missing X-factor that truly embodied theOne Piecespirit in the gaming industry. EnterOne Piece Odyssey, whose storyline was engineered by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the anime pirate universe. AlthoughOdysseytook players on a journey that spanned some of the major arcs in the plot, a sequel is needed to encapsulate the full tale of Luffy and the gang.
A Sequel Would Neatly Tie One Piece Odyssey’s Loose Ends
One Piece Odyssey Needs to Visit More Locations
One ofOne Piece Odyssey’s strengths lay in its gradually unraveled storyline, beginning with the initial battle against Del Kong to recreations oflocations with rich lore such as Arabasta, Marineford, and Water Seven, to name a few. The JRPG was an admirable initial attempt to explore the One Piece franchise without sticking to the confines of the well-known original story. Although the execution of its mechanics left a bit to be desired and may have dampened the overall experience to an extent,Odysseylaid a solid foundation for a sequel to spring from.
For starters, canonically,One Piece Odyssey’s setting is presumed to occur sometime between Dressrosa and the Whole Cake Island saga; sinceSanji’s history as a Vinsmoke family memberis known to the crew. To fulfill its storytelling requirements,Odysseytouched on most major arcs leading up to the new world. However, a fan favorite in Sabaody Archipelago – the site of the Straw Hat’s first significant defeat and return from their two-year training time skip – was conspicuously missing from the game’s locations. A site of such importance inOne Piece’s tale shouldn’t have been absent fromOdyssey, and a sequel could fix that.
Newer Characters and their Stories Could Spark Interest in a Sequel
Additionally, theOne Piececanon material has since crossed into full-blownclashes between Luffy and two of the old Yonkos. The Whole Cake Island arc was centered around rescuing Sanji from his forced arranged marriage to Charlotte (Big Mom’s daughter) and the crew fought against some of the Yonko’s most powerful captains.Odyssey’s most recent canonical enemy is Donquixote Doflamingo, whose tale is three sagas behind the manga’s current plot.
A sequel would bringOdyssey’s tale up to date withOne Piece’s current meta. The Emperors are regarded as the strongest people in theOne Pieceuniverse, and players would love to go toe-to-toe with them in anOdysseysequel for a chance to use the fabled Gear Fifth. Apart from the battle prospects, a sequel toOne Piece Odysseycould also bring interactions with allies who have risen in popularity in the last few years.
Zou’s Dogstorm and Cat Viper immediately come to mind, along with the rest of the Land of Wano’s legendary Akazaya Nine samurai that dominated the recently concluded saga’s proceedings. The storytelling potential of a crossover between the allies was teased inOdyssey’s feature of Rosinante and other beloved side characters, and a sequel could explore it even further through the Straw Hats' newfound affable friends. Even as aSwitch version ofOne Piece Odysseyis in the works, Bandai Namco should be more than willing to give the franchise another go in a follow-up game.
