Review for One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition. Game for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 21/12/2017
There is a lot of risk in adapting a comic or manga into a videogame experience. It is a delicate mediation between fan-service (which in itself already attracts a slice of consumers), solid gameplay and an interesting structure. While there are no complete solutions, the winning formula in most cases seems to be to marry two relatively successful models on both sides. So let's talk about Pirate Warriors 3 (One Piece: Kaizoku Musou 3 in Japan), released about 3 years ago for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita and now available to us in edition One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition for Nintendo Switch. On the third try, after a tepid first chapter and a second one that told a questionable filler story, hopefully the experience has been refined to perfection, so we want to examine the most recent proposal from Omega Force, Koei Tecmo and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
In memory of Gol D. Roger we hoist the sails and set sail, let's go on an adventure!
Romance Dawn
It would be a futile exercise to trace the entire history of One Piece, which boasts more than eighty numbers and has been running since 1997. For newbies it is highly recommended to immerse themselves in the fantastic (in every sense) world of pirates created by Eichiiro Oda, to enjoy the experience to the full. For the fans, however, we are in already known territory, with one addition in particular that can only please: One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition it traces history in full to almost the present (from East Blue to the Dressrosa saga), so at least from the point of view of fan-service we are on the right path. It must be said, however, that many details of the story are left out, and therefore there are holes here and there which, although they do not constitute a problem of logical understanding, still suggest that it is a sin. After all, it would have been difficult to get all that material into a single title, so to fill the gaps, we can rely on the manga and the anime.
Considering we're in Dynasty Warriors format, what we have is a lot already, and that's okay. We add to this the fact that it is possible to access cut-scenes that recall the highlights of the episode / chapter in which you are, all by carrying out precise actions (which can be controlled in the menu during the game), which usually are the same as that that particular character in the series. These are highly appreciated additions as they show respect and consideration for the reference material.
Dynasty Pirates v.3.0
Let's start by saying that, as regards the gameplay, basically we retrace already known paths: as happens in all the so-called Musou (Dynasty Warriors and the like) most of the time will be spent on a battlefield divided into sections by doors or barriers, to access open spaces, galleries and so on.
The battlefield is marked by zones of influence of one's own and opposing armies, in which hordes of hundreds of soldiers / henchmen will face each other who will fall like flies in front of the divine and phantasmagoric power of the character that is controlled (regardless of his strength in the reference material), to then satisfy a series of criteria - usually indicated at the beginning of the battle but available at any time from the game menu - that will lead to victory in that particular battle. Beyond themed objectives and unlockable cut-scenes, as we have already noted in the gameplay there is nothing new, but everything works well and adapts the reference material in an interesting way.
The action basically follows the same rules as the Warriors genre, so we won't waste time explaining the basics. The innovations of the turn have been inserted in the form of the Kizuna Rush: with it you can join in the fray with allied characters (up to 4) who will add to the combos of the PC for a devastating effect, which varies greatly depending on the allies chosen. By hitting the opponents, a dedicated bar will fill up allowing the Kizuna Rush. Through the button for the special attack, during the Rush you can launch special combined attacks (depending on the number of participants) that will wipe out the opposing hordes, and will cause massive damage to level bosses such as commanders, making us also get some upgrade coins and extra characters.
It goes without saying that the Kizuna Rush offers more flexibility in using the powers of various characters than previous titles in the series.
There is a lot to do in the course of the individual levels, with numerous conditions to be met, in addition of course those needed to win the battle, so as to obtain objects for the advancement of the parameters of the various PCs and collectibles for the Gallery. Here, perfectionists will have bread for their teeth: coins depicting characters and items from the series will reinforce the values of attack, life, special attack bar and so on, while the Skill Posters offer varied passive abilities specific to each PC.
The game modes present are the following:
- The story mode Legend Log, which retraces the adventure of Luffy and his crew.
- The free fight mode Free Loginstead, it allows the use of any character in the levels already unlocked during the campaign, selectable at will.
- We also find the Dream Log, which features original adventures and battles with the same functionality as the Free Log.
- Finally we then find the modality Online in which you can clash with other players and rise in the rankings, participating in quick battles or creating custom matches.
Even during normal levels, in case of difficulty, it will be possible to request an SOS to get online help from other people who can collaborate with us, or alternatively you can tackle the stages simply using a local multiplayer. There remains the Gallery where you can consult glossaries and much more of what concerns the world of One Piece.
Oh, what a beautiful life, what a beautiful indeed, the life of the bucanier, up and down the sea I want to go, I like the pirate's mestier ...
The fast-paced action of Dynasty Warriors combines very well with the exuberance and comedy of One Piece. Seeing the crazy and colorful abilities of his characters used against the enemy hordes is very satisfying. The whole is presented with a lot of dignity, thanks to a cel shading that evokes the cartoon drawn, combined with a beautiful development in three dimensions that gives life, in a pleasant way to the eye, to these colorful characters. The One Piece outline injects something more than the usual Warriors iteration, offering a kind of magic to the battlefields, compared to its peers and predecessors who usually lack definition compared to the PCs.
Musically, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition features some new tracks from previous chapters, along with greatest hits and some remixes. There are many sounds that will be familiar to anime fans and serve as a proper side dish to the on-screen pirate madness. Add to this the always excellent Japanese dubbing, to keep 100% the spirit of the original work.
There were no major technical hitches, but it must be said that sometimes the amount of things happening on the screen could be confusing, and the camera controls are not particularly well suited for providing relief. But this is the B side of the coin, and it's something that has been carrying the Warriors genre with it since its opening, and has never spoiled the party, at least for the fans. Excellent longevity then, which will make us stay tens and dozens of hours glued to the screen, thanks to the complete story and many activities.
Finally, speaking of the innovations that have been made to this Deluxe Edition for Nintendo Switch compared to the normal edition, essentially it is the exact same game but with the native addition of all the DLC previously released, so several extra levels and many alternative costumes for characters. The action is fluid in both dock and laptop mode, however it is impossible for 2 to play using the Joycons placed horizontally, but you will need to use two different controllers.
There is no two without three, for better or for worse. With One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition, Tecmo Koei, Omega Force and Bandai Namco have taken a step forward compared to the past, and with this Deluxe Edition it is also accessible to Switch users and enjoyable in portable mode. It's far from perfect, but the result of their recent efforts is solid, respects the reference material, and above all else it's fun. Fans and newbies will be satisfied.
► One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Deluxe Edition is an Adventure-Action-Musou type game developed by Koei Tecmo Omega Force and published by Bandai Namco Koei Tecmo for Nintendo Switch, the video game was released on 21/12/2017
