In the story of One Piece Odyssey, Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates find themselves in a huge storm at sea and shipwreck on the mysterious island known as Waford.  One Piece Odyssey is a brand-new turn-based RPG featuring new characters and monster designs produced by Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece.

At our recent preview event One Piece Odyssey producer Katsuaki Tsuzuki framed the main theme of the game as a “Story of bonds, spun by memories”. It was also important to the developer team to create an “RPG that allows players to explore and adventure in the world of One Piece”.

Today, we’re excited to share ways that players will be able to strengthen bonds in the game and harness each characters’ unique skills as they immerse themselves in the One Piece world Tsuzuki and the rest of the team have created.

(Be warned, pirates, minor story spoilers ahead!)

Battle system

To start, we’ll cover the battle systems in the game and how the unbreakable bonds forged in battle are essential to beat your enemies. 

Tsuzuki: “In action games, it is necessary to focus and understand how to control a single character in each battle, to get that sense of satisfaction. However, One Piece as an IP has plenty of fascinating characters already in the “Straw Hat Crew”, so for our players to enjoy the unique charms of each and every one of them, we adopted a turn-based command battle as the battle system of our choice.”

Generally, RPG turn-based games have players set up all characters and locked in before executing the turn. However, One Piece Odyssey takes a different approach.

Tsuzuki: “We adapted a rock-paper-scissors element as its basic tactics, while also randomly positioning the characters into multiple areas. This is so that players can switch between various registered characters—and challenge them to make full use of each character’s unique abilities and skills to defeat the enemies at hand. This system provides a variety of situations they will face each time, which brings a fresh perspective on the combats they’ll endure along the way.”

In most combat encounters, the Straw Hats will scramble into different combat areas with the enemies, and up to four crew members will engage the enemy while the rest remain in reserve. Straw hats can be called in from reserve and may reposition freely as long as they have an action remaining. At times, the positioning of enemies may be challenging for your line up if more support-oriented crew members are rushed and surrounded by elite marines.  Since you’ll have the ability to switch between characters on your roster, you’ll be empowered to consider combat positioning, effectiveness type, Bond Arts, and potential secondary objectives in any combat encounter.

Effectiveness type

The Straw Hat crew and enemy NPCs are categorized into effectiveness types: Power, Speed, and Technique. Where Power is more effective against Speed type enemies and less effectiv

After taking a deeper look at the magic parkour , combat , and things to do in Athia, we’re excited to present the Forspoken Gameplay Showcase.

Ella Balinska, the actor who performs as Forspoken’s protagonist, Frey Holland, reveals new gameplay content showcasing Frey’s high-intensity battle with Tanta Sila, an encounter with a very powerful Breakbeast, and an ominous introduction to a never-before-seen character, Tanta Olas.

Additionally, we receive an exciting look at the next-gen immersion experience provided by playing Forspoken on PlayStation 5.

Want to see this new content for yourself? Check out The Forspoken Gameplay Showcase below:

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Read on to discover more details on the amazing Forspoken Gameplay Showcase content, but please note this article contains minor spoilers for Forspoken’s story.

Frey’s journey & battle with Tanta Sila

After being mysteriously transported into the mystical land of Athia, Frey has little else on her mind outside of surviving in her corrupted, dangerous new surroundings and returning home to New York City.

However, her motivations to return to her hometown are quickly pushed aside after Frey discovers that Olevia, a little girl she developed a special bond with during her time in Athia, has been murdered in an attack by Tanta Sila, a once benevolent matriarch of Athia turned maddened and cruel.

Frey is heartbroken, enraged, and finds herself driven to avenge Olevia’s death and defeat Tanta Sila once and for all.

To describe this magical showdown as intense would be an understatement – Frey’s conviction and mastery of her new abilities are tested against Sila’s overwhelming strength in a fight reminiscent of a gorgeous fireworks show.

Speaking of glorious b

Starting December 13, Los Santos Drug Wars injects a new psychoactive strain of chaos into Grand Theft Auto Online on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

Head straight to Blaine County and join up with old pal Nervous Ron and a new band of out-of-state misfits on a mission to put their stamp on the Los Santos psychedelics trade. Fight off an unlikely coalition of wealthy hippies and trigger-happy bikers while cooking up potent hallucinogenics — in elaborate labs or out of your own massive rolling chemistry set — in the opening chapter of an expansive new two-part story update for GTA Online.

Caution: Los Santos Drug Wars contains a range of wild side effects, including a new business enterprise to operate, new vehicles and missions, and experiential upgrades. And this is just the first dose — be prepared for lots more exciting events, including some jolly holiday hijinks, significant story and gameplay updates, and much more to come.

Email us at PSPodcast@sony.com!

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On this week’s show, the gang talks early Game of the Year predictions, shares a few of their gaming highlights from 2022, and says goodbye to one of the Podcasts’s regular hosts. Spoiler: It’s me. So long, and thanks for playing!

Stuff We Talked About

• Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion
• Neon White
• God of War Ragnarök
• Destiny 2
• A Plague Tale: Requiem
• Our predictions on Game of the Year

The Cast

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Los Angeles has fallen. The once glamorous hangout of the rich and the famous is now overrun with the undead, and the city is under strict military quarantine. Nothing gets in. Nothing gets out. 

You’re the new star in this treacherous tinsel town (which the locals have dubbed HELL-A), and everyone wants a piece of you — both alive and undead — so be prepared to fight an onslaught of zombified Los Angelinos as you attempt to get out of Dodge.

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Slay with total brutality

The good news? You’re a natural at this slaying gig. Get ready to decapitate, mutilate, eviscerate, and obliterate any zombie that dares get in your way. The combat system will have you chaining together attacks, blocks, dodges, and special abilities to suit your unique playstyle so that you can slay with maximum efficiency and in style.

You’ll also be utilising the environment to your advantage. Puncture a barrel full of caustic liquid and drop-kick a zombie into the spillage to watch the flesh melt and drop off their skeleton revealing their rotten innards. Nasty.

We sure didn’t skimp on the special effects budget: Dead Island 2’s unique gore tech, F.L.E.S.H (Fully Locational Evisceration System for Humanoids), makes the act of slaying a bloody beautiful affair. Whether it’s your first or 100^th time, you’ll be in awe of the level of disgusting detail on offer.

Should you ever need a break from sending the undead to their final resting place, there’s an entire city to explore with lots of sweet loot up for grabs, and if you look hard enough, you may just find some answers about the shady goings-on that have turned LA into a flesh feasting freak fest.

The prop department is packing heat

During these trying times, weapons are a slayer’s best friend. Whether you’re into slicing, dicing, battering, shattering, or even gouging your reanimated foes, you’ll be able to find the tool for the job somewhere in HELL-A. 

Swords, bear claws, sledgehammers, hunting knives, brass knuckles, and maces are just a fraction of the types of weaponry you’ll find littered throughout the city.

But if you don’t fancy getting brain and bone fragments on your outfit — or have had enough of stale zombie breath — you can pick those suckers off from afar with a whole arsenal of ranged weaponry: grab yourself a handgun, shotgun, ca

Last week, we asked you to travel to the far reaches of space to share celestial and exploratory shares using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights: 

crisg_art shares Jacob peering out of his space suit in Callisto Protocol.

coalabr14 shares Cal approaching a ship on a red planet in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.

DexM_ds shares a reaper ship approaching a damaged planet in Mass Effect Legendary Edition.

MostlyVp shares a ship that jets towards a blue planet, with lightstreams along the right side in No Man’s Sky.

justinphotomode shares Selene surrounded by blue glowing particles in Returnal.

Philt43_Yewone shares Ratchet staring out into a purple floating debris field with Clank on his back in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week? 

THEME: God of War Ragnarök – Photo Mode
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on December 14, 2022

Next week, capture the beauty and danger of the Nine Realms using God of War Ragnarök’s newly released Photo Mode. Share Kratos and Atreus’ most epic moments using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available for pre-order! Jedi Cal Kestis returns in this third-person adventure from Respawn Entertainment, spanning both new and familiar locations across the galaxy. Follow Cal’s desperate fight to protect the galaxy from impending darkness as he is pushed to the edge physically and mentally by the Empire. Cal faces threats old and new with friends by his side as he takes a stand as one of the last remaining Jedi in the galaxy. How far will he go to protect who and what is most important to him?

Picking up five years after Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Cal is no longer a Padawan and continues to grow as a Jedi. But with the looming threat of the Empire at every turn, Cal is lucky to have his trusty droid BD-1 at his side along with a cast of fresh and familiar faces to aid him on his adventures. Whether it’s the new grappling hook or mounts that enable fresh ways to adventure and reach new heights, Cal is more equipped than ever to face what’s ahead of him.

Combat is getting refreshed too, with all-new advanced combat stances that allow players to forge their own fighting identity as Cal. From Dual Lightsabers for lightning-fast duels to the Crossguard stance that readies Cal for tough new enemies, there are even more ways for every player to define how they play.

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It’s time to reveal the top downloads for PS5, PS4, PSVR, and F2P in November. God of War Ragnarök earned the top spot for PS5 across US and Europe, with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II claiming a similar win in the PS4 charts, while Warzone 2.0 grabbed top honors in the F2P charts.  

Check out the full chart listings below! 

PS5 Games

PS4 Games

PS VR Games

We’re excited to reveal Final Fantasy XVI will release on June 22, 2023, with pre-orders for the digital Standard and Deluxe editions go live today at PlayStation Store!

Final Fantasy XVI is an epic dark fantasy world that takes place in the realm of Valisthea—a land blessed in the light of the Mothercrystals, and where peace falters as the spread of the Blight threatens to destroy their dominions. The fate of the land is decided by the Eikons, mighty summoned beasts, and their Dominants, men and women who have been blessed with the ability to call upon and wield them. 

This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.

Jump into action-packed battles with impressive Eikonic powers

As the first full-fledged Action RPG in the Final Fantasy series, designed for the PS5, Final Fantasy XVI features unique battle systems where you can fight, not only utilizing Eikonic powers woven into your swordplay, but also controlling Eikons yourself! Switch between Clive’s Eikon skills one after another in speedy real-time action battles and participate in dynamic battles taking on the role of an Eikon as they clash against each other. You’ll spot some of the new systems we’re introducing in the game in the trailer above. You can learn more about them below and discover how they’ll help you fight fire with fire (among other elements)!

Titanic clashes

When rival Dominants come head to head, epic battles between their Eikons ensue!

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Wild Hearts is a unique twist on the hunting genre where technology gives you a fighting chance against massive beasts infused with the destructive power of nature. These beasts are called Kemono, and have fused with natural elements over time, modifying their environment to accommodate their needs, much to the despair of the people of Azuma. What caused them to turn their might and desperation on this once peaceful land isn’t known, but they must be stopped and only a hunter of great skill and cunning will stand a chance. You are that hunter.

When fighting these giant beasts you won’t be limited to wits and weapons – you also possess the power of Karakuri, ancient technology you must master and wield to turn the tide of battle with these foes. Use the Karakuri to discover weak spots or gain a new attack angle. Some will help you set up defenses against the Kemono’s worst attacks, giving you the opportunity to take them down.

It’s important to know that each Kemono has both strengths and weaknesses that wise hunters will take note of well before the hunt begins. In this article, we will be discussing one of the most powerful and beautiful enemies you will face in Wild Hearts. One with radiant plumage, a deafening roar, and an unquenchable anger that rages with the heat of a furnace.

The Bird of Auspice is said to have lived for many centuries now…

The majestic Amaterasu has captured the imagination of the people of Azuma for centuries. This winged beast with its fiery plumage is both captivating and terrifying. It draws its power from the life energy around it in combination with its apparently boundless fury. Once sufficiently angered and powered up all hunters should take cover or risk being within range of its explosive attack. Carefully observe the color of this great beast’s plumage if you wish to avoid such an attack. The redder it appears, the closer you are to its most dangerous aspect.

When facing an Amaterasu, you will need to beware of more than just its sharp beak and talons, even its feathers can end your hunt prematurely. Your attacks must focus on bringing it down to the earth by striking its wings or using a harpoon to pin it precisely where you want it. Search for this challenging prey in the direction of the setting sun amongst the grassy plains and desolate, ruined temples of the west. It is most striking at dusk when the autumn leaves and pampas grass swirl around its desolate temples.

Once the hunt is finished the Kemono will also provide you with the materials you need to craft items such as stronger armor. The more you hunt, the more materials you will gather, and the bigger the prey you can face next.

You can choose to hunt alone and savor all the spoils by yourself, or in a pack (with up to two other players) enabling you to expand your battle plans and special missions.

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