Developer: Koei Tecmo Games
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Tested on: PS5
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (PS5) – Review
It’s already been five years since we had our first run-in with One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece’s spin-off Warriors title. Back in 2020, we thoroughly enjoyed the experience and concluded that it was a well-rounded package with great story sequences and engaging gameplay segments, all while respecting the source material. Now, after a very long wait, we sadly didn’t get a direct sequel, but a proper upgrade of this very entertaining Warriors title. For this revisit, we’ll not dive into all the specifics, and we recommend reading our original in-depth review by clicking here. Even though it has been a while, we really loved playing through this one and its additional content again.
To give a bit of a recap of what to expect, without having to repeat everything from our original review: One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 is a title in the same vein as Dynasty Warriors, albeit with the One Piece universe as its focal point. You’ll play through different stages, where you’ll have to conquer bases, defeat key characters from the series, and ultimately come out on top with your allied forces. The game currently offers a standard campaign mode, but also additional scenarios to play through. The game’s flashy, hectic combat can be experienced locally with a buddy, which is always a plus. There is quite a bit of (re)play value here, as there are so many stages to play through and so many characters to level.
You’ll be able to play through the story mode, which unlocks characters as well as levels for free play. If you blast through the story mode too quickly, you’ll have the Treasure Log and additional content revolving around specific characters to play through. There is more than enough content here to keep you occupied for many hours to come. Of course, the typical issues are present here, such as some missions may feel a bit repetitive, and not every character feels as strong as the next one. This is not something that’s uncommon for Warriors games, but luckily, there are so many characters to choose from that you’re certain to find the pick of the litter that complements your play style. Characters can, of course, be levelled, so if you want to do that for all the available characters, there’s even more content to plow through. Having a buddy join in on the fun here is recommended.
Truth be told, the main changes compared to the original are graphical enhancements, the power to render and spawn more units on the battlefield, and reduced loading times. The release also coincides with that of the latest character pack, namely the Future Island Egghead Pack, which shows that the game is still actively being supported, five years after its initial release. It also became clear rather quickly that this ‘new’ release wasn’t a simple cash grab, as the enhancements are truly noticeable here. We did very much notice the improved loading times and the polished graphics. The game has never looked better, and there have also been improvements when it comes to the attack effects. Having no slowdowns with many more enemies is also a plus, as Warriors games tend to become more hectic and fun when there are more and more enemies swarming you.
Conclusion
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 was just as amazing as it was the first time around, but now we had the chance to experience the game again with additional content, improved graphics, and faster loading times. This truly feels like the definitive version of Pirate Warriors 4, and it’s certainly worth the free upgrade if you already own the game, or it’s a great time to finally pick this one up. The game offers all the key components for a great One Piece game: enjoyable combat with cool-looking recreations of iconic moves from the anime, respect for the source material, great story sequences, and the option to play with a buddy locally.
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