Highlights

  • Anime's rise in popularity has led to successful games like One Piece Odyssey, filling a gap in the gaming industry.
  • A sequel to Odyssey could tie up loose ends in the storyline and explore more locations crucial to the One Piece universe.
  • The introduction of newer characters and stories in a potential sequel could spark interest and align with the current meta of the manga.

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 like Demon Slayer and Attack 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 that One Piece Odyssey recently tried to take advantage of. Bandai Namco received praise for Odyssey's adventures that slightly differed from the source material, and given that the One Piece storyline is still forging ahead, there's room for a sequel to further the developer's success.

Before One 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's Pirate Warriors franchise was perhaps the most successful, but there was still a sense of a missing X-factor that truly embodied the One Piece spirit in the gaming industry. Enter One Piece Odyssey, whose storyline was engineered by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the anime pirate universe. Although Odyssey took 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.

Gol D. Roger and Luffy similarities
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A Sequel Would Neatly Tie One Piece Odyssey's Loose Ends

One Piece Odyssey Needs to Visit More Locations

One of One Piece Odyssey's strengths lay in its gradually unraveled storyline, beginning with the initial battle against Del Kong to recreations of locations 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, Odyssey laid 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; since Sanji's history as a Vinsmoke family member is known to the crew. To fulfill its storytelling requirements, Odyssey touched 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 in One Piece's tale shouldn't have been absent from Odyssey, and a sequel could fix that.

Newer Characters and their Stories Could Spark Interest in a Sequel

Additionally, the One Piece canon material has since crossed into full-blown clashes 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 bring Odyssey's tale up to date with One Piece's current meta. The Emperors are regarded as the strongest people in the One Piece universe, and players would love to go toe-to-toe with them in an Odyssey sequel for a chance to use the fabled Gear Fifth. Apart from the battle prospects, a sequel to One Piece Odyssey could 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 in Odyssey'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 a Switch version of One Piece Odyssey is in the works, Bandai Namco should be more than willing to give the franchise another go in a follow-up game.