This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc
Though the arc only began this September,One Piece’s Elbaf arc already has a rich setting and characters that would translate perfectly to a video game adaptation. The island’s Norse-inspired setting, features, and characters, have given fans a rough idea as to how the arc will play out. With a few chapters released already, it’s easy to surmise what aOne Piecegame adaptation of the Elbaf arc would be like.
Officially beginning withChapter 1126 of theOne Piecemanga, the Elbaf arc has already thrown members of the Straw Hat pirates into some sticky situations. With the crew split in half and a bunch of allies in tow, the Straw Hats have quite the adventure ahead of them.
Elbaf’s Plot So Far
Ina LEGO-like land,Nami and Usopp awaken with slight amnesia, unsure of how they ended up in a place they learn is called Big Stein castle. After a short but terrifying battle against a giant cat and porcupine, the Straw Hats realize they are tiny compared to the giants and gods of Elbaf Island. After two chapters, the Monster Trio, Nami, and Usopp realize they are in a fake recreation of Elbaf constructed by the Sun God.
The Straw Hat pirates quickly destroy and escape the fake world.Swearing vengeance after the Straw Hats’ destructionand battle against the giant snake Hyllmungandr and a giant crow, the Sun God does not manage to get into a fight with the pirates. Instead, the five Straw Hats escape and discover that the Sun God is actually Road of the New Giant pirates, a member strongly against the alliance between the two crews. Nami uses Zeus to zap Road, leaving him temporarily immobile before the Straw Hats finally venture forth to what they hope is actually Elbaf Island.
How Elbaf Island Could Be Adapted to Video Games So Far
These few chapters already act as a great introduction to Elbaf and could hold the same purpose in a video game adaptation.A quick fight on “Elbaf Island”could act as tutorial game play, with players first waking up as Nami in Big Stein castle, not knowing their location. After finding Usopp, game play could begin in earnest with a fight against the cat and porcupine acting as a tutorial for the hypotheticalOne Pieceinstallment’s fighting mechanics.
Playing as Luffy, Zoro, or Sanji could follow similar game play.The Monster Trio is reintroducedinto the chapter by saving Nami and Usopp from the outrageously large animals. Perhaps Nami and Usopp’s power sets won’t work against these creatures in a tutorial and the Monster Trio’s introduction could act as a way for players to learn how their power sets work. This would also follow canon, as both Nami and Usopp are overdue for power ups.
Introducing the Sun Godfurther into the tutorial could act as a way to set up the game’s overall narrative. Considering the alliance between the Straw Hat and New Giant pirates, Road’s interference will undoubtedly cause more drama throughout the Elbaf Island arc.
Escaping from Road’s clutches could be another opportunity for players to betterunderstand Nami’s abilities specifically, as her navigational skills are the main reason the crew were able to escape from his fake world. Perhaps a new compass to act as a special MacGuffin for the title could be beneficial.
There are plenty of other ideas brewing for an Elbaf Island video game adaptation, especially with the Straw Hatsalmost evenly divided among Yggdrasil’s nine realms. With the manga on a break shortly, fans will just have to dream of what aOne Piecevideo game installment revolving around the Elbaf Island arc could entail.
One Piece
Cast
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
