One Piecehas had many games over the course of the franchise, yet only one of the games in the long-running franchise can definitively claim that it has an open world.One Piece: World Seekeris a third-person game where players explore a new game-exclusive island outside the game’s canon. While the game takes place inOne Piece’s New World, it features secondary characters from multiple arcs, including the Vinsmoke Brothers, Crocodile, and Trafalgar D. Law, with characters like Sabo and Charlotte Katakuri available in the game’s DLC.
However, the game received criticism upon release for having Luffy as the only playable character, a shallow combat style, repetitive side quests, a lackluster island, and for separating the Straw Hat pirates. A newOne Pieceopen-world game should not only look at whatWorld Seekerdid right, buttake notes fromOne Piece Odyssey, which allowed gamers to play different Straw Hats while exploring a JRPG world. Though the game’s world may not have been open, many have argued that the setting ofOdysseyis more interesting thanWorld Seeker.
Another issueOne Piecegames faceis their need to have a unique story with new allies, enemies, and a new island to introduce. A game that is more grounded in the franchise’s story has a plethora of characters and islands to expand upon, with one overlooked character who could spice up gameplay.
Spoilers for Fish-Man Island arc ahead
Mermaid Princess Shirahoshi Fits Right Into an Open-World One Piece Game
Shirahoshi is the youngest daughter of King Neptuneand the mermaid princess of the Ryugu Kingdom. Locked up for most of her life, Shirahoshi longs to explore despite the constant threat of Vander Decken IX and Hody Jones to her kingdom. Acting as the Straw Hats main ally during the Fish-Man Island arc, it is eventually revealed that Shirahoshi is the current incarnation of the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, allowing her to summon and control Sea Kings at will. Over the course of the arc, Shirahoshi goes from a hidden princess, unable to control her powers, to a valuable and benevolent ally.
Though Shirahoshi has been featured in a handful of games before, most of these installments are mobile and arcade games and often don’t feature Shirahoshi in a significant role. This is an incredible waste of her potential in gameplay, considering the great power she holds asone of the three reincarnations of the Ancient Weapons. In a hypothetical open-world game, players could ask for assistance from Shirahoshi while traversing the wide seas of the Grand Line. Players that make negative choices could face the wrath of her Sea Kings and affect gameplay going forward.
Shirahoshi’s role in aOne Piecegame is more likely to be an ally than a playable character, as the Fish-Man Island arc was first released in 2011. Though she may not be a prevalent character in the franchise’s story currently, speculation suggests thatshe could be the key toOne Piece’s Final Saga. Therefore, she should have just as important a role in the franchise’s games.
Another great way to include Shirahoshi in upcoming installments would be to make her a recruitable passive NPC. Though she may be ambivalent upon first meeting, after doing side-quests and gaining Shirahoshi’s favor, players could use her as a main ally in the game’s hypothetical final battle. Overall, Shirahoshi isone of manyOne Piecesupporting charactersthat could act as a powerful NPC, and will hopefully be utilized more substantially in games going forward.
One Piece Odyssey
WHERE TO PLAY
A new RPG from the hugely popular manga and anime series ONE PIECE, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the series!The famed pirate, Monkey.D.Luffy, better known as Straw Hat Luffy, and his crew the Straw Hat Pirates, are sailing across the New World in search of the next island and the next adventure that awaits them.But during their voyage they are caught in a storm and shipwrecked. They find themselves washed up on a lush tropical island surrounded by constantly raging storms…Separated from his crew, Luffy sets off on a grand, new adventure to find his friends and escape the island!Dangerous new enemies, terrifying forces of nature, and more await them!Play as various members of the Straw Hat Pirates in a classic RPG set in the world of the popular ONE PIECE anime!
