If you've ever wanted to swing from a mast like Luffy or throw a punch as hard as Zoro, this GBA game nails that One Piece energy. You start off with just Luffy, stretching your way through basic brawls, but pretty soon you're recruiting the whole crew—each with their own weirdly satisfying moves. Nami's staff combos feel way better than I expected, and Usopp's slingshot actually comes in clutch against some of the trickier enemies.

The pixel art holds up surprisingly well, especially when Luffy's grin fills half the screen after landing a perfect Gomu Gomu no Pistol. And yeah, it follows the early arcs of the story, but the real fun is in the little details—like how Sanji's kick animations change depending on whether you're fighting or just messing around in taverns. Just don't get too comfortable with the combat; those Arlong Park boss fights will wreck you if you button mash.

It's got that classic GBA jank in places (why does climbing sometimes feel like wrestling with a greased rope?), but honestly, that just adds to the charm. By the time you're sailing toward Loguetown with your full crew, you'll forget you're holding a tiny purple rectangle.