One Piece: Grand Gourmet Review

One Piece: Grand Gourmet offers a unique take on the One Piece universe, allowing players to build and manage a restaurant crewed by the Straw Hat Pirates. The game focuses on Sanji's culinary skills, taking players from the early Romance Dawn days in the East Blue to the latest arc in the manga and anime. Players start with a small, barebones restaurant and must build it up by feeding hungry customers, earning cash to expand the space with more tables, attractions, and decorations.

This allows for a wide range of customization, as players can draw inspiration from various islands and incorporate elements from across the series into their decor. However, despite the enticing concept, the execution falls short in several areas. The restaurant design is more focused on cramming every available space with furniture rather than creating a comfortable dining environment.

Cluttered areas remain profitable, despite their unsightly appearance. Additionally, the food preparation system, while offering a variety of dishes to create, lacks the finesse required to make planning meals enjoyable. Players can easily optimize for maximum profit by using the automatic meal tool, making the process feel repetitive and uninspired.

While there are some interesting attractions and creatures to interact with, they ultimately serve as passive money-makers without much impact on the overall gameplay experience. As a long-time One Piece fan, the game provides a treat to see beloved characters reunited, but it also poses a risk for those who haven't kept up with the series.

With subtle references to future storylines and potential spoilers scattered throughout, it may be best to approach the game with caution if you plan to experience the full One Piece narrative through other mediums.