One Piece Odyssey is a JRPG based on the popular anime and manga series One Piece, which might make some players wonder if they need to be familiar with the story to enjoy the game. The title revisits several popular arcs, which include Marineford, Dressrosa, Alabasta, and Water 7/Enies Lobby. Unlike in the original storyline, the whole Straw Hat crew will be present in the "memories", which could mean that the events could turn out differently than in the manga.
One Piece Odyssey's plot follows the same trajectory as the manga's, with the crew discovering a new island and getting dragged into an unexpected adventure. Fans can explore Waford using several playable characters in One Piece Odyssey, which consist of every Star Hat crew member except for Jinbei, implying that the game's story could be placed before the Wano Country arc. The lack of playable Jinbei could also be because of the game's production schedule, with some rumors suggesting that One Piece Odyssey has been in development since 2019.
Players Should Read One Piece Manga Or Watch The Anime Before Playing One Piece Odyssey
One Piece Odyssey will celebrate One Piece's 25th Anniversary and seems to be mainly marketed toward fans of the series. Since One Piece Odyssey uses the manga and anime's story, having some knowledge about their plot could prevent players from getting confused. Players do not need to catch up to the latest manga chapter or anime episode, but they should at least finish the Dressrosa arc, which ends in chapter 801 or episode 746.
Players Will Appreciate One Piece Odyssey's Story More After Watching The Anime
Players may appreciate One Piece Odyssey's story more if they've read the manga or watched the anime. One Piece's creator said that One Piece Odyssey could rival the series' movies, and it seems that the game could evoke the same emotions that fans feel when watching the original storyline. Since One Piece Odyssey touches on many emotional arcs, like Marineford, players could only fully understand the weight of these events after experiencing the canon narrative.
If players do not particularly care about the story, they could decide not to read or watch One Piece, which could be an intimidating title to get into due to its length. It could still be a fun JRPG game that players could enjoy without having extensive knowledge about the series, however, especially since One Piece Odyssey's hands-on previews have been promising. By playing the game, players could even become interested in jumping into the long-running series and replaying the game with a new set of eyes. Players are still recommended to read the manga or watch the anime if they want to have a deeper appreciation for One Piece Odyssey's plot during their first playthrough.
