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
- story763 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story in "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it significantly abridges the original narrative, skipping major arcs and reducing others to brief summaries. While the game covers key events from the Alabasta arc to Wano, it lacks depth and detail compared to its predecessor, "Pirate Warriors 3," which offered a more comprehensive retelling of the One Piece saga. Fans of the series may enjoy the gameplay and character roster, but newcomers might find the condensed story difficult to follow without prior knowledge of the anime or manga.
“Overall, this game is a fantastic blend of epic battles and immersive storytelling that both fans of the series and newcomers will enjoy.”
“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 mode is captivating and the combat is intense and satisfying.”
“The main story is a bit short but the treasure log has a lot to do!”
“The story mode is short and skips over a lot.”
“The story follows the manga/anime, but it only covers a few, big arcs such as enies lobby, impel down or the whole cake island arc.”
- gameplay349 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" is widely praised for its fast-paced, intuitive combat mechanics and improved fluidity compared to its predecessor, Pirate Warriors 3. Players appreciate the diverse character roster and unique abilities, which enhance the hack-and-slash experience, although some note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. While the game excels in mechanics and visuals, many reviewers express disappointment over the omission of key story arcs and characters, suggesting that the overall content could be more robust.
“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.”
“But if you don't know anything about One Piece, or you don't particularly like the musou style of gameplay, you probably can find something you'll enjoy more.”
“Like any Warriors title, the gameplay is repetitive, the story is meh at best and there is little variety.”
“The gameplay is almost exactly the same as PW3, but with a few added mechanics to make combos more fluid and thus more fun.”
- graphics188 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4" have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the vibrant cel-shaded art style that captures the essence of the anime and manga. While some users noted minor performance issues and compatibility concerns with certain hardware, the overall visual presentation, including character models and animations, is considered a significant improvement over previous titles in the series. 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.”
- music64 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in "Pirate Warriors 4" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the nostalgic and energetic soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, evoking the spirit of the One Piece series. However, some players noted that the music can feel repetitive and lacks variety, leading to moments where it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are calls for more original compositions and concerns about the additional music DLC being overpriced.
“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.”
“Musically, the game sounds good, with the addition of the anime soundtrack being a bit nostalgic and perfectly fitting for this game.”
“The game's music and sound design can 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.”
- grinding57 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as tedious and time-consuming, particularly for leveling up characters and collecting resources. While some players find enjoyment in the grind and the combat mechanics, many express frustration over the repetitive nature and the necessity of extensive grinding to unlock character abilities and achievements. Overall, the game is seen as very grind-heavy, which may lead to burnout for some players.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Grinding for tokens to increase character stats so that you can play new characters on harder stages is a big chore.”
“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 its other content I can safely say that I did enjoy my time playing the game... but there are some things 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 of those games to a whole new level.”
- replayability43 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The replayability of Pirate Warriors 4 is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety of characters and game modes like the treasure log and dramatic log, many feel that the absence of previously playable arcs and a lack of grinding incentives diminish long-term engagement. Although there are numerous missions and collectibles, the overall sentiment suggests that once players complete the game, there is little motivation to return, especially compared to its predecessor.
“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.”
“Endless replayability: with loads of missions, challenges, and collectibles, Pirate Warriors 4 offers endless replay value.”
“Replayability isn't very strong here, as you can't tune your stats or anything.”
“But once you do 100% it, there's not much of a reason to go back and play the game, to be honest. 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.”
- humor31 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both intentionally and unintentionally funny, particularly in its unique take on the Wano arc and character interactions. Many reviews highlight the comedic aspects of character abilities and the absurdity of certain scenarios, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of the One Piece franchise. Overall, the game's humor adds a lighthearted charm that enhances the gameplay, despite some repetitive mission structures.
“It also has a funny 'game original' take on the Wano arc because the game came out when it was just getting going, so they made up their own version of how it could go, which is kind of fun in its own way.”
“No Enel, so minus points, but murking Chopper with 2 moves as Whitebeard is hilarious.”
“Their move sets are hilarious and true to their presentation in the anime, more or less.”
- stability20 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance on various systems, including Steam Deck and high-end PCs, there are notable issues with bugs and glitches, particularly during animated cutscenes. Some users experienced frame drops and required troubleshooting that involved downloading additional software, which detracted from the experience. Despite these concerns, the game is generally considered enjoyable and runs well enough for casual play.
“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.”
- optimization17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives 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, there are still complaints about the game's mechanics and AI affecting performance. Players generally agree that with some tweaks, the game can run well, but it may not meet the expectations of those familiar with the developer's history of optimization problems.
“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.”
“I expected a poor performance, but with a few tweaks, it should run fine at 20 fps.”
“But still, I expected all the performance issues to have been fixed by now, but I guess they don't care anymore.”
- emotional13 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 that deepen immersion, though some players feel that certain emotional subplots fall flat or lack depth. While there are touching scenes that resonate with fans, particularly in the context of beloved characters, the execution of cutscenes can sometimes disrupt the emotional flow, leaving players wanting more coherence and weight in pivotal moments. Overall, the game evokes strong feelings, with some players reporting it brought them to tears, reflecting the emotional richness of the source material.
“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.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that the DLC offerings, which include a few maps and characters, may come off as a cash grab. However, others appreciate the game's depth and express gratitude that it doesn't exploit fans excessively, suggesting that it offers good value for dedicated players invested in the franchise. Overall, while concerns about content removal for monetization exist, many still find the game enjoyable and worth the investment.
“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, while 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.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted by impressive character design and dynamic environments, enhancing the overall gaming experience. While the graphics are considered average, the character design stands out, and gameplay improvements for most characters contribute positively to player engagement.
“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.”
- atmosphere2 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, featuring fluent combat and beautiful animations that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers note that it perfectly captures the essence of the One Piece universe, contributing to an immersive and enjoyable environment.
“As far as 'Dynasty Warriors' type of gameplay goes, this is as good as it gets and it fits the One Piece atmosphere nicely.”
“Fluent combat, beautiful animations, and not to mention, a perfect atmosphere.”
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%