One Piece Grand Gourmet offers a surprising departure from the franchise's usual action titles, delivering a pixel-based restaurant simulator. According to a review by Anime News Network, the game successfully captures the feel of a classic retro simulator, making it a worthwhile experience even for players who are not deeply familiar with the series' lore.
A Non-Canon Culinary Adventure
The premise places Luffy and Sanji on a version of the Baratie restaurant that contradicts the series' timeline. The game is set well after the time skip and during the Grand Line period, far removed from the Baratie's original appearance in East Blue. The reviewer notes that the game handwaves this discrepancy much like a filler arc or film would, allowing it to divert from established canon without requiring deep franchise knowledge from the player.
Players control a customizable robot character who cannot speak but efficiently runs the back-of-house operations for the floating restaurant, accompanied by a talking duck. Sanji assists with the new Baratie's decision-making, while Luffy embarks on timer-based adventures to gather ingredients, meet customers, and trigger events.
Management Mechanics and Tutorials
Rather than forcing manual management in the style of Overcooked, the game focuses on broader decisions. Players choose where to place new buildings, set menu items, and send Luffy on expeditions. The overall goal is to help the Baratie earn more money than a rival "fake" Baratie, which gradually unlocks more areas of the world.
The review points out that the game can be overwhelming at first, with the first hour delivering a non-stop torrent of tutorials that introduce new mechanics before previous ones are fully grasped. However, once the tutorials slow down, the rhythm of the daily timer system begins to click and make sense.
Nostalgic Customization and Cameos
Each unlocked area features characters from various story arcs. While the main Straw Hat crew is oddly absent for a significant portion of the game, numerous side characters make appearances. The game embraces time shenanigans without explanation, featuring characters like Koby and Helmeppo as they appeared over 20 years ago, and even bringing dead characters to visit the restaurant.
The customization options allow players to build their own Baratie, design meal sets, choose plate decorations, and set the general decor. RPG elements ensure that these choices impact how the restaurant operates. The game also offers sidequests and reasons to revisit cleared areas, using exclamation marks in the menus to indicate incomplete zones. According to the reviewer, the experience feels very much like a forgotten SNES or GBA game.
Final Verdict
Anime News Network concludes that One Piece Grand Gourmet is highly successful at delivering an old-fashioned simulation game wrapped in a franchise theme. While the reviewer questions whether the branding might deter some players, they note that the game might not have existed without it. Ultimately, it is highly recommended for fans of simulation games and restaurant RPGs, even if it might not appeal to players who are strictly looking for traditional action-oriented franchise titles.
This article was written by AI from reporting by animenewsnetwork.com.
