One Piece

Adapting an anime into a video game can be quite hard, especially since you have to somehow adapt all the narrative and story of an entire series and also add gameplay, without making it just a recreation of the show. And even though this is arguably easier with shonen anime, One Piece is a really long anime, it's actually still going after a thousand episodes. So, how do you turn this all into a game with no subtitles? Well, let's talk about it.

About the game

One-Piece for the Game Boy Advance was developed by Dimps Corporation and published by Bandai exclusively for the American Market. This game is centered in the East Blue Saga of the anime, being a loose adaptation of course. Join Luffy and his crew in one of the first arcs of the anime. Adventure awaits in the sea.

Platformer

The GBA was an excellent console for platformer games, and the same formula used in this game was later adapted by other anime games like Naruto Ninja Council, in which levels and abilities are used similarly. In One Piece you only get to play as Luffy, through six levels that consist of three stages each, one platformer part, one hybrid part that includes exploration and battle, and one "versus" stage which is more like a fighting game and works as boss battles.

Pros:

• Nice visuals
• Fun gameplay
• Great design

Cons:

• Short
• No replay value

Luffy and his crew have been looking for the One Piece for years, so much so that the series released games all the way back on the Game Boy Advance. This 2D platformer captures the charm and the quirkiness of the manga and anime series, condensing the first arc of the saga in a neat package that's perfect for One Piece newcomers.

Though a bit limited considering its age, Dimps did an outstanding job with the Game Boy Advance hardware. The result is a game that oozes with that peculiar charm of One Piece, while also delivering an entertaining platforming experience that younger players will love.

Mostly recommended for die-hard One Piece fans, this hidden gem is a treasure trove of neatness for Game Boy Advance collectors looking to play some forgotten games the platform has to offer.

Sailing the East Blue

This One Piece game adapts the events of the East Blue arc of the series. That means players can expect to see characters like Buggy, Kuro, and some Marine admirals hunting for aspiring pirates. The story is somewhat limited, though. Don't expect this to be an apt replacement for the anime in the same way One Piece Pirate Warriors 4 can be.

Also, for keen-eyed collectionists, you might notice the sprites and overall gameplay look extremely similar to another One Piece game. That's because this is a "remake" of sorts of One Piece Grand Battle: Swan Colosseum. Still, even if not wholly original, the Game Boy Advance is noticeably more powerful than the WonderSwan Color, resulting in a much more fluid gameplay experience.

Speaking of gameplay, the game is an action platformer that lets players change characters at will. Each member of the Strawhat Pirates comes with unique abilities fit for solving all sorts of scenarios, from Luffy's Gum Gum powers to Zoro's three swords techniques.

Gum Gum Vistas

One Piece stays true to the anime and the world created by Eiichiro Oda. The graphics are simple and effective, conveying the sense of being on a grand adventure on the seas just like the series does. Unfortunately for anime purists, the game introduces some censorships used for the 4Kids dub of the anime.

Visually, One Piece is not exactly groundbreaking. Games like Shaman King: Master of Spirits and Naruto Ninja Council do a better job with their sprites. Still, One Piece holds its own with a color palette that looks great even on the original GBA's non-LED screen.

Onwards to Adventure

Considering the game was released late into the GBA's lifecycle, One Piece shows just how formidable Nintendo's advanced portable was. One Piece conveys the spirit of the series perfectly, despite its limitations. Still, some extra content and replayability would have made the experience all that memorable.

As it is, One Piece is better enjoyed as a museum piece: a monument to how far One Piece has reached as a series. If you're aching to play One Piece Odyssey, give this one a go first. The experience once you play the latest One Piece title will be eye-opening.

Pros

• Captures the look and feel of One Piece
• Responsive platforming that isn't too challenging
• Great boss battles

Cons

• Basic level design
• Not enough replay value
• Only adapts the first parts of the One Piece story