One Piece: Unlimited World Red

age 13+

Vibrant anime produces appealing, action-packed RPG.

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Platforms: Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Price: $49.99
Genre: Role Playing

What parents need to know

Positive messages

The game's typical good-vs.-evil story line delivers the message that the "good guys" always triumph, you can do anything you set your mind to, and, no matter how much the odds are stacked against you, you can accomplish your goal if you keep trying.

Positive role models

During the course of the game, players encounter several allied characters who can join their team. Every character exudes positive qualities, as the group works together to conquer evil with selfless abandon.

Ease of play

The game has two key components: exploration and combat. Players spend the bulk of their time wandering through colorful villages and terrain. There also are real-time battles, which involve quick thinking and reflexes as well as mastering the button combinations for each character's set of attacks. The game increases in difficulty as players progress, providing a natural learning curve as preparation for more challenging enemies.

Violence

Combat is a focal point, but the depiction of violence is unrealistic. Hand-to-hand combat attacks are highlighted with bursts of color. Most players are likely to be interested in the whimsical attacks that can be used (magic spells, spring-loaded boxing gloves, and so on), which can result in bigger effects and explosions. Animations during combat are comical, with characters being flung into the air from seemingly innocuous attacks or puffing up like a balloon to deflect an incoming strike.

Sex

Some female characters wear revealing outfits, exposing cleavage. Also there are some suggestive comments made by male characters; for example, one character says he wants to "take a peek at" a female character's "panties."

Language

Language includes the words "bastard" and "ass."

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Some characters are depicted with cigars or cigarettes in their mouths. But there's no extended dialogue about smoking, nor is there any player interaction with this content.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that One Piece: Unlimited World Red is a role-playing game based on the anime TV series One Piece, yet it demonstrates a little more edgier content. Players take on the role of Luffy, the show's main character; as the game progresses, Luffy fights enemies and recruits other altruistic characters to help make the world a better place. Battles can become frenetic at times, but the combat is always toned down by bright bursts of color, unrealistic flourishes in character animations, and attacks that are very cartoonish in nature. There are several scantily clad female characters with exposed cleavage, and background characters are sometimes seen with cigars or cigarettes in their mouths. Within the game's extensive dialogue, there's a fair amount of mild swearing -- "ass," "bastard" -- along with some suggestive comments, including one about a male character who wants to peek at a girl's underwear.

What's it about?

ONE PIECE: UNLIMITED WORLD RED follows the story of a group of fearless young adventurers who embark on an arduous quest to rid the world of evildoers. Led by a character named Luffy, the group battles an unending onslaught of rough characters: bullies, henchmen, pirates, and notorious evil masterminds. Players will explore all kinds of towns and environments, with dozens of hours' worth of character interaction and side stories.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

One Piece: Unlimited World Red aims to appeal to fans of the related anime series, One Piece, and it really delivers. From the distinctive art style to the impressive list of playable characters, players will find themselves fully immersed in the game's universe. And players who are fans of role-playing games but have never seen the cartoon series can easily become attracted to this franchise and this game.

The battle system is well-designed, with enough complexity to make it engaging for seasoned players but without being so nuanced and intricate that casual gamers are left unfulfilled. Even the less exciting parts of the game -- where players simply navigate around sweeping towns and environments -- have interesting and quirky twists. For example, players can use a magic piece of bubble gum to swing around buildings and objects like they're Spider-Man. Unlimited World Red is a really good role-playing game in its own right, and those who know how well it fits into the One Piece universe will have even more to appreciate.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about the violent content in One Piece: Unlimited World Red. Is violence OK when it's used in pursuit of noble goals, or is it not?
Did you notice any of the characters smoking cigars or cigarettes? Why do you think the developers felt the need to include this?
Talk about working on a team. How important is it to collaborate and work with teammates? Discuss the need to help teammates if they're struggling with tasks.

Game details

Platforms:	Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita
Price:	$49.99
Pricing structure:	Paid
Available online?	Not available online
Developer:	Namco Bandai
Release date:	July 8, 2014
Genre:	Role Playing
ESRB rating:	T for Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco

This review of One Piece: Unlimited World Red was written by

Mark Raby

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

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