ONE PIECE: PIRATE WARRIORS 4
- March 26, 2020
- Koei Tecmo
- 30h median play time
Despite some frustrating design choices, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 makes some welcome additions to the One Piece story and the simple yet enjoyable combat, making for a great entry in the saga.
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is an anime-inspired hack and slash game that offers various playstyles, including local multi-player, co-op, and PvP. With a good story, wonderful gameplay, ingenious graphics, and outstanding music, it brings the One Piece anime to life. However, be prepared for grinding. The game includes a character pass and offers a Deluxe Edition for a more enhanced experience.
Reviews
- story1,520 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" is a condensed retelling of the anime and manga, primarily covering major arcs from Alabasta to Wano, but it skips many significant storylines and character developments, leaving fans wanting more depth and detail. While the game features engaging cutscenes and enjoyable gameplay, it is criticized for its lack of comprehensive storytelling, making it less suitable for newcomers unfamiliar with the series. Overall, it serves as a fun experience for fans but falls short in delivering a complete narrative.
“Overall, this game is a fantastic blend of epic battles and immersive storytelling that both fans of the series and newcomers will enjoy.”
“What I love most about this game is how faithfully it adapts the story from the manga and anime.”
“The game does an excellent job of blending storytelling with gameplay, offering both newcomers and longtime fans a chance to experience the epic journey of the Straw Hat Pirates.”
“The story is crap.”
“The story jumps right in the middle of a story arc a hundred chapters in the story.”
“The shortness of the main story mode (the 'dramatic log') is somewhat covered for by the extra stages of the 'treasure log'.”
- gameplay704 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" is generally praised for its fast-paced, hack-and-slash mechanics that are both accessible for newcomers and satisfying for veterans. While many appreciate the improved combat systems, character variety, and the introduction of aerial combos, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive and that the game lacks depth in terms of story arcs and mission variety compared to its predecessor, Pirate Warriors 3. Overall, it is considered a solid entry in the musou genre, particularly for fans of the One Piece franchise.
“The gameplay is where Pirate Warriors 4 truly shines.”
“Whether you're mowing down hordes of enemies with Luffy's gum-gum techniques or unleashing Zoro's powerful swordsmanship, the combat mechanics are intuitive yet deep enough to satisfy both newcomers and veterans alike.”
“One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 absolutely knocks it out of the park with its amazing gameplay mechanics and speed, not to mention different skills for you to customize your favorite character with your favorite abilities instead of the locked 2 special attacks you had in previous ones.”
“The gameplay and customization are definitely a step up from Pirate Warriors 3, but holy crap the mission variety is a major step down.”
“Like any Warriors title, the gameplay is repetitive, the story is meh at best, and there is little variety.”
“To say One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is bad is an understatement, even if it cuts content in favor of gameplay.”
- graphics382 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" have received generally positive feedback, with many praising the vibrant cel-shaded art style that effectively captures the essence of the anime. While some users noted issues with optimization and compatibility on lower-end systems, the overall visual quality is considered a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, featuring fluid animations and detailed character models. However, a few players expressed disappointment, feeling that the graphics did not fully meet the expectations for a 2020 release.
“The visuals in Pirate Warriors 4 are nothing short of stunning.”
“From the vibrant, cel-shaded art style that perfectly captures the essence of Eiichiro Oda's iconic characters to the fluid, dynamic animations during combat, every frame is a testament to the craftsmanship of the developers.”
“The game's colorful and vibrant visuals capture the essence of the One Piece anime and manga, making it a treat for fans of the series.”
“Before buying, make sure your graphics are compatible with this game or you would have just wasted your money like I did. I wasted 2 hours of my life trying to get this game to work, and it doesn't. Not only that, but no one who made this game for Steam directly helps with the graphics launch issue; rather, people who have played it don't help much either.”
“The only thing that kind of disappointed me was the graphics for a 2020 game, because I can compare it to DBZ Kakarot, which released in the same year.”
“Graphics are not spectacular, but they are what they are.”
- music130 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in "Pirate Warriors 4" is generally praised for its energetic and nostalgic soundtrack, effectively enhancing the action-packed gameplay and evoking the spirit of the One Piece universe. However, some players note that the music can become repetitive and lacks variety, with missed opportunities for incorporating more iconic tracks from the anime. Overall, while the soundtrack is a highlight for many, there are criticisms regarding the additional music DLC and the absence of original compositions for certain scenes.
“The soundtrack of Pirate Warriors 4 perfectly complements the action-packed gameplay, with memorable tunes that evoke the spirit of adventure and camaraderie found in One Piece.”
“From stirring battle themes to emotional character moments, the music enhances the overall experience and immerses you deeper into the world of pirates and warriors.”
“The music slaps; every one of the tracks fits the theme at hand.”
“The music and sound design can also feel repetitive and lacking in variety, detracting from the overall experience.”
“The storyline is exactly the same as the anime and it is annoying to watch with happy background music playing all the time and very robotic conversation.”
“It's insulting how they made the original soundtrack from the franchise as DLC.”
- grinding113 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily emphasized in user reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of hours to level up characters and collect resources. While some find the grinding enjoyable and a core part of the experience, others express frustration with its repetitive nature and lack of clear objectives, leading to potential burnout. Overall, the game is described as very grindy, appealing primarily to those who enjoy such gameplay mechanics.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game is pretty grindy, so it can get really easy to burnout, which is what happened to me.”
“And as for me after completing the main story and some of the other content I can safely say that I did enjoy my time playing the game... but there is something I need to address about the game... first, on how grindy the game is for maxing a character... most warriors games are very grindy but the way they changed the level system on this takes that grindiness to a whole new level.”
“Leveling characters can be a bit tedious, because the game's coin system makes you grind more than just a few battles to get the rarest of coins.”
- replayability88 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Replayability in "Pirate Warriors 4" is a mixed bag; while the game offers multiple modes and a variety of characters, many players feel it lacks depth due to the absence of several beloved story arcs from previous installments. The new treasure log mode provides some replay value, but it can become repetitive, and the overall incentive to replay is diminished by the lack of character progression and grinding mechanics. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, many fans express a desire for more content and playable characters to enhance long-term engagement.
“With multiple game modes, including a compelling dramatic log mode and an engaging treasure log mode for replayability, there's no shortage of content to explore.”
“Each character has a unique playstyle and special moves, providing variety and replay value.”
“Overall this game packs around 16-20 hours of storyline gameplay, the replay value of this game is very good as well.”
“But once you do 100% it, there's not much of a reason to go back and play the game. There's practically no replayability, which is fine as this is mainly a story game, but I wish there was some.”
“I found the story to be easy with no replayability, unlike the 3rd game where you had to grind for coins/items.”
“No point in playing the story again because there are no real objectives, just time and kills. They cut out the dream log completely, which was the best thing in PW3 because it had such huge replay value.”
- humor60 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, with players finding the character interactions and absurd scenarios—such as juggling NPCs and the quirky take on the Wano arc—hilarious. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of the gameplay and cutscenes, which resonate well with fans of the One Piece franchise. However, some players note that the repetitive missions can detract from the overall humor experience.
“It's bizarre and unintentionally hilarious at the same time.”
“Their move sets are hilarious and true to their presentation in the anime more or less.”
“Sanji with sky walk awakening and keep jingling Katakuri non-stop is both hilarious and insanely fun.”
- stability40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is generally positive, with many players reporting smooth performance on various systems, including Steam Deck and high-end PCs. However, some users have noted occasional bugs and glitches, particularly during animated cutscenes, which can detract from the experience. Overall, while there are some stability issues, they are often overshadowed by the game's enjoyable gameplay and nostalgic appeal.
“Fun game and runs great on my Steam Deck, was well worth the sale price I paid for it.”
“It at least runs great on a Ryzen 3600X and RTX 2080.”
“Everything looks great, sounds great, and runs great.”
“It's not a super in-depth game and can be buggy at times, but it is just a really satisfying, sit back and relax game where you can just destroy thousands of enemies.”
“Glitches, especially in animated cut scenes.”
“Troubleshooting had me downloading shady software which really shouldn't be required given this game is over $60.”
- optimization35 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report satisfactory performance and smooth graphics even on lower-end PCs, others highlight persistent performance issues and poor keyboard and mouse controls. Despite being a notable improvement over previous titles, the port still suffers from some optimization flaws, particularly during cutscenes and with AI behavior. Players recommend tweaking settings for better performance, but caution that the game may not be worth the full price due to these issues.
“It's super cool to be in the One Piece world in this way, and it's really nice to play a Warriors game with good performance.”
“Performance is surprisingly amazing as well.”
“The graphics and game performance are better than the previous generations.”
“There are a few performance issues and the keyboard and mouse controls are horrendous.”
“Just like PW3, they messed up this port as well, although it's only in the performance.”
“The port has some issues with videos, controllers, and optimization, and the game lacks some content in comparison with its predecessor.”
- emotional26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its stirring music and impactful character moments, which enhance immersion and evoke strong feelings. However, some players criticize the execution of emotional subplots and cutscenes, arguing that they often lack depth and fail to convey the intended emotional weight. Despite these criticisms, many find the overall experience to be touching and capable of eliciting genuine emotional responses, reminiscent of the source material's most memorable scenes.
“From stirring battle themes to emotional character moments, the music enhances the overall experience and immerses you deeper into the world of pirates and warriors.”
“I'm only 3 hours into the game, but I can tell you now that the story is immersive and wholesome.”
“Honestly, it made me cry to play this game and the cutscenes made me actually cry.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players perceiving the DLC offerings as a potential cash grab, particularly due to the limited storyline content in favor of adding numerous characters. However, many fans appreciate the game's depth and express gratitude towards the developers for not heavily exploiting the fanbase, suggesting that dedicated players can still find significant value and enjoyment.
“I feel that removing the amount of storyline they did for the sake of adding a plethora of characters, which most people won't ever touch, whilst also robbing us of the opportunity to see explored arcs post-Dressrosa feels like OPW is quickly turning into the new Call of Duty to cash grab on the fanbase every few years.”
“While it may seem like a cash grab for some of the DLC with a couple of maps for a few things, I can definitely see that anyone who is invested in a character or heavily invested in the anime will pick this game up and enjoy it for many hours.”
“I am not anywhere near done, so I don't know the full list of characters compared to OPW3. I am hoping it's added rather than taken away.”
- character development6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by the impressive attention to detail in character design and dynamic environments, which enhance the overall gaming experience. While the graphics are considered average, the character design stands out as great, and gameplay improvements for most characters further enrich their development.
“The attention to detail in character design and the dynamic environments contribute to an engaging and visually appealing gaming experience.”
“Graphics are okay, character design is great, and finally the gameplay is improved for most characters.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its seamless integration with the "Dynasty Warriors" gameplay, effectively capturing the essence of the One Piece universe. Reviewers highlight the fluent combat and beautiful animations as key elements that enhance the overall experience, contributing to a perfect atmospheric setting.
“Fluent combat, beautiful animations, and not to mention, a perfect atmosphere.”
“As far as 'Dynasty Warriors' type of gameplay goes, this is as good as it gets and it fits the One Piece atmosphere nicely.”
Critic Reviews
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 Switch review | Switch Re:port
One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 brings a lot of good additions to the franchise but it has far too many technical and camera issues to be a must play right now.
60%One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 Review – One Versus Many
Despite some frustrating design choices, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 makes some welcome additions to the One Piece story and the simple yet enjoyable combat, making for a great entry in the saga.
80%One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 review
A rare innovative Musou game, with tons of content but a handful of issues. If you can wrestle the camera into submission, and especially if your One Piece fan, One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 is full of treasure once you dig past its flaws
75%