One Piece: Burning Blood
Overview -
'One Piece' is the best-selling manga of all time and has been adapted into video game form many times, mostly of the brawler variety. 'One Piece: Burning Blood' is the first game in the series from Spike Chunsoft, whose previous work includes 'Etrian Mystery Dungeon' and 'Danganronpa'.
Video Review
'One Piece: Burning Blood' nails the anime look perfectly, and its artwork hovers somewhere between hand-drawn and cel-shaded. Dramatic explosions and comic-like exclamations punctuate each heavy attack. Little words pop off from the characters when they move or strike, and the screen in general is very busy in a good way. The characters are here in all of their bizarre style, like Sengoku with the seagull perched on his head and Brook the dapper calaca. It doesn’t control as well as it looks - there are hitbox and framerate problems, not to mention the confusing block controls.
Audio Review
The dialogue is 100% rapidfire Japanese; no English dubbing here, no sir. It adds authenticity but also makes it less accessible. The sound effects are as awesome and nutty as the character models, and the stringy score matches the seafaring theme.
Final Thoughts
'Burning Blood' is pure fan service through and through, and there’s nothing wrong with that. People who don’t watch/read the source material are going to remain thoroughly confused, but there’s still some enjoyment to be had in its wacky fighting and over-the-top style. If you’re not a manga fan and are looking for a fighter with tight mechanics, accurate hitboxes and a deep bench of combos, best keep looking.
