One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is finally out, and after playing it both on PC and Nintendo Switch for more hours than we'd like to admit, we finally have the time to write about it. However, there are two problems with this game: it's the fourth entry in the Pirate Warriors saga, and it follows one of the longest manga/anime series of them all, so it definitely sounds intimidating when you know nothing about Luffy and friends, right? But fear not, because it's still one of the most fun anime games you'll find!
If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It
Pirate Warriors 4 follows exactly the same formula as the previous games. Here you play as Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates (after a few missions, you can unlock some villains too!), fighting hordes of random enemies while conquering zones and doing sidequests. Instead of an action-adventure RPG, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a musou game, a relatively niche genre that's both challenging and fun.
This time, the story takes 6 arcs from the manga/anime and adapts them for a simpler yet interesting plot, taking away all the unnecessary fluff in favor of a 100% arcade experience. From Alabasta to Wano Country... who needs to watch 800+ anime episodes (from season 4 to season 20) when you can go through it while enjoying some button-mashing sessions?!
And if we mention these arcs, we also have to mention some of the enemies you’ll be facing, because beating up hundreds of unnamed goons is fun, but never as satisfying as going against Big Mom, Blackbeard or Donquixote Doflamingo. And don't worry if none of these names ring a bell for you! One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 takes the time to guide you through the story.
Attack on Pirate Titan
When we say it's almost the same as the preceding games, we don't mean it in a bad way, but we also have several new features. One of them is the new Titan system, that allows you to fight huge characters that, thanks to their tremendous size, are more difficult to defeat. Although gimmicky, it's a nice change because once you dominate your character and level it up, some fights become relatively easy, but these behemoths will certainly make you adjust your strategy.
Once you beat these beasts, you can even unlock them and play with them in the post-game! And trust us, there's nothing like going back to the first levels and trying to break your records with Big Mom on your side.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to this game, you can experience the amazing journey of the most famous pirates in the manga/anime universe, without even having to devote yourself to hundreds of anime episodes. If you're new to One Piece and it all feels too overwhelming, maybe the Pirate Warriors saga could help you digest all these adventures. And if you know a thing or two about One Piece but you're still not up to date with Eiichiro Oda's masterpiece, then you definitely need to play it! Just try not to destroy your controller with all the button-mashing!
Author: Rod Locksley