In the world of anime-game adaptations, few IP have seen more releases thanOne Piece. Eiichiro Oda’s long-running pirate-themed adventure series has gotten a whopping 56 video game adaptations, with no doubt more to come. Oda has predicted that theOne Piecemanga will be wrapped up by next year, and if this holds true, then fans could be in for a completeOne Piecegaming experience at some point in the near future.
It’s hard to say exactly what sort ofOne Piecegames the coming years have in store, as the franchise has been adapted into everything from classic JRPGs and straightforward beat-em-ups to mobile pay-to-win titles andDynasty Warriorclones over the past three decades. In other words, just about anything is possible when it comes toOne Piecegames, and although the IP’s controlling parties may be tempted to stick with what works, a bit of experimentation could yield great results. Luckily, there may already be a solid blueprint in place for the nextOne Piecegame, coming from an unexpected source.
A One Piece Game Could Learn from Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
Fall 2021 saw the release ofthe most ambitiousGuardians of the Galaxygame ever made. Though some initially wrote it off as anotherMarvel’s Avengers,Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxycould not be more different: it’s a single-player, story-driven, linear game focused on intimate character work and setpieces. The game’s impressive visuals and solid combat are worth commending, but its real draw is its charming, well-written cast and dialog.
While it’s not an RPG in the traditional sense,Guardians of the Galaxyputs a premium on RPG-style NPC interaction, encouraging players to connect with the crew of the Milano starship through optional dialog exchanges.Guardians' solid storyis supported by its gameplay: players can only directly control Starlord, but they can command their other teammates, lending the game a sense of narrative synergy and balance, offering the fantasy of a space-faring ship captain, tasked with leading a ragtag group of misfits.
Guardians of the Galaxy’s Team-Based Structure Is a Perfect Fit for One Piece
This balance between story and gameplay, specifically with the player in a leadership role, seems like the perfect framework for aOne Piecegame. It’s easy to imagine aOne Piecegame where players assume the role of Luffy while commanding the rest of the Straw Hats. By extension, the Straw Hats' ship could be a hub world of sorts, serving the same purpose asthe Milano inGuardians of the Galaxy; players, as Luffy, could talk to companions, bond with them, and start side quests from the ship, before traveling to an island for more in-depth gameplay.
Another obvious source of inspiration for this system would be theMass Effectseries, but those games are more about recruiting characters before bonding with them, whileOne Piecegames usually have the crew already assembled.
Speaking of in-depth gameplay, having Luffy as the sole playable character could make for a combat system that ismore robust than in otherOne Piecegames. Luffy could have access to his own progression systems, gear, and dedicated mechanics, while other characters could be used for special abilities or strategic powers, much like inGuardians of the Galaxy.
IfOne Pieceis indeed coming to a close in the near future, then this sort of game could be the ultimate way to experience the series' story in the interactive medium. Once all is said and done, some studio will no doubt want to pursuea definitiveOne Piecegame, andGuardians of the Galaxy’s story and gameplay dynamic could be the best path to this goal.
