Gaming

One Piece Odyssey Hands-On: Open world, tactical battles

Designed like a true JRPG, felt like it too

Published

on

It dawned upon us that BANDAI NAMCO is known for having a string of One Piece video games out there. Across multiple systems, the franchise mostly hosted a ton of role-playing games and some fighting games here and there. This time around, the company is looking for some way to merge the two themes into the next generation.

One Piece Odyssey is the fruit of their labor, and is initially designed to be a “fully-fleshed out JPRG” by their standards. Their new, next-gen optimized title brings together all the role playing mixed with turn-based combat. All in an ideally open world setting. Of course, the stars of the show include your favorite characters from the popular anime itself!

We got a chance to try this game out for ourselves at the Thailand Game Show 2022. Here’s what we think about this upcoming JRPG:

The Straw Hat Pirates journey into the unknown

In One Piece Odyssey, you join the Straw Hat Pirates in an adventure to a mysterious island called Waford. Legend has it that it’s a place where no journeyman has ever come back, as a wild storm covers the island and all nearby areas. During the Thailand Game Show preview, we even got a preview of one of the areas you can visit, Alabasta.

No One Piece game is complete without the full force of the Straw Hat Pirates as some of your favorite characters are here. From Monkey D. Luffy to Chopper, everyone has a role to play especially in a more open world setting. Of course, it wouldn’t be an adventure without some back and forth banter within the crew, especially with the members you take with you. I only wished that the banter didn’t take up 60% of the time you spend playing the game.

Much like any open world game, you also get your fair share of main and side quests with the rest of the crew. With these, you get to explore some of the areas in a whole new way and even discover some secrets to help clear the storm. Visually, everything looked detailed enough and designed well against the One Piece art style.

Turn-based combat with some rock-paper-scissors

As a Japanese RPG, there’s no better way to express it than through turn-based, command-focused combat. For One Piece Odyssey, this comes in the form of enemy Encounters throughout both main and side quests that are usually done with groups of enemies. Much like all other JRPGs, each character comes with their own set of attacks designed for either combat or support.

In a rather unique twist, Encounters come with enemies in which you are either strong or weak against. Think of it like playing Pokémon but with One Piece characters and enemies, which I honestly found pretty cool. Instead of going into every battle and just keep attacking, there’s an added layer of strategy added to it. At the end of each Encounter, your crew members earn XP and even level up to gain some strength and attribute boosts.

Also, as an additional combat mechanic, you can even initiate attacks that deal damage within an area-of-effect and can heal other members, given the open world setting. This is honestly good when dealing with hordes of enemies during specific Encounters. Although, this is only available for a specific set of characters, so choose wisely.

Need more plot details

The thing though is, well, the short demo we played during the Thailand Game Show 2022 didn’t really provide much details on the full story. Somehow, the gang found themselves already within the island areas, fighting a storm that clouds the whole area. Also, there are a bunch of new characters you will meet along the way.

As revealed during the TGS 2022 festivities, One Piece Odyssey comes with the arrival of Lim and Adeo, two mysterious characters with their own sets of abilities. Although, it’s quite unclear as to what their intentions are for the Straw Hat Crew. Hopefully, more details will be revealed soon.

Overall, One Piece Odyssey serves up a promising title for JRPG fans and even One Piece fans alike. I honestly enjoyed the short time experiencing this game, from the exploration to the combat mechanics. If anything, I can give the amount of dialogue in between loading and cutscenes a pass despite how much of your time is consumed by it.

You might have to wait a while for the full game as One Piece Odyssey will be available January 2023 for both modern and next-gen consoles plus the PC.

Related Topics:

Gaming

GTA VI pre-loading now available on PS5, Xbox

Get ready for Leonida

Published

on

November 10, 2026

By

Players who digitally pre-ordered Grand Theft Auto VI can now pre-load the game ahead of its launch.

Rockstar Games confirmed that pre-loading is available to all digital pre-order customers. Those who purchased the code-in-box version can also begin downloading once they receive and activate their codes.

The announcement also reveals new performance details for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

GTA VI targets 30fps on consoles

Rockstar says Grand Theft Auto VI was built from the ground up for the current generation of consoles.

The game targets 30 frames per second on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

According to Rockstar, this approach allows the game to maintain the visual fidelity and density of Leonida’s environments.

The developer says it is pushing both platforms to their limits to bring the game’s expansive world to life.

PS5 Pro gets exclusive visual enhancements

PlayStation 5 Pro players can expect additional graphical improvements.

These include enhanced image clarity through PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) and ray-traced shadows exclusive to the PS5 Pro.

The PS5 version also features integrated DualSense haptic feedback, with adjustable settings for accessibility.

Rockstar is also highlighting improved spatial audio through Tempest 3D Audio and faster loading times on PlayStation consoles.

Cloud gaming and Remote Play support

Grand Theft Auto VI will also be playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

The cloud version will use Xbox Series S graphics settings. However, performance may vary depending on internet speeds and other streaming conditions.

The game will also support Remote Play on both PlayStation and Xbox.

Alongside the announcement, Rockstar released a new video featuring “Blood in Your Eyes” by Tove Lo, taken from Grand Theft Auto VI: The Album.

Players can visit the official GTA VI website for more information.

Continue Reading

Gaming

Nintendo eShop launches in the Philippines

Digital games, now local

Published

on

November 10, 2026

By

Switch 2

Nintendo Switch owners in the Philippines can finally access Nintendo’s digital storefront and online subscription service.

Nintendo Singapore and Nintendo Co., Ltd. announced the Philippine launch of Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online on November 10, 2026.

Nintendo eShop lets players purchase digital games and additional content directly from their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch consoles. Players can also download free demos of selected titles.

Meanwhile, Nintendo Switch Online unlocks online multiplayer, classic games, cloud save backups, and other membership benefits.

Nintendo eShop makes digital purchases easier

Nintendo eShop is an online storefront accessible directly from Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch consoles.

Players can browse major releases, indie games, and digital-only titles. They can purchase games and download them straight to their consoles.

The storefront also offers free demos of selected games. Players can try these titles before deciding to buy them.

Nintendo Switch Online brings multiplayer gaming to the Philippines

Nintendo Switch Online lets members play compatible games with friends and family over the internet. Players can also connect with others around the world.

Supported titles include Mario Kart World, Nintendo Switch Sports, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and Pokémon LEGENDS Z-A.

Membership also unlocks several additional features:

  • Nintendo Classics: Play over 200 classic games from the NES, Super NES, and Game Boy libraries. Selected titles support online and local multiplayer through the Play while Sharing feature. Players can also use Suspend Points and Rewind.
  • GameChat: Nintendo Switch 2 owners can talk with friends and share their gameplay screens through GameChat.
  • Nintendo Music: Listen to music from Nintendo games anytime, anywhere.
  • Save Data Cloud: Automatically back up save data from supported games online. This helps players recover their progress if something happens to their console.

Expansion Pack unlocks more classic games

Players who want more retro games can subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

This membership adds classic games from the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo 64 libraries. Nintendo Switch 2 owners also gain access to Nintendo GameCube games.

Nintendo Switch Online membership plans and pricing

Nintendo offers Individual and Family memberships for both subscription tiers.

A Family membership supports up to eight Nintendo Account holders under one plan. Members can share access to online play, Nintendo Classics, and other services.

Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack is available through a 12-month membership.

For the complete list of Philippine membership plans and pricing, visit the official Nintendo Philippines website.

Continue Reading

Accessories

Is it comfortable to sleep on a Secretlab Atlas?

You can grab the chair now through Secretlab’s 11.11 sale!

Published

on

November 10, 2026

By

The biggest reason to get an ergonomic chair is to stay comfortable while working or playing all day. But how about getting that well-deserved siesta after lunch or falling asleep on your chair after a long day of gaming?

The new Secretlab Atlas is more than just a chair for when you’re busy. It’s a perfect chair for dozing off and taking it easy.

Today, you can grab the Atlas and everything else from Secretlab to complete your workstation during Secretlab’s 11.11 sale on Shopee. You can enjoy discounts of up to PhP 9,300. You can also stack and save vouchers of up to PhP 1,500, plus additional vouchers from Shopee. Once purchased, customers can grab free gifts worth up to PhP 7,500. Finally, it’s free shipping!

Continue Reading

Trending