Not just Myths, One Piece might be drawing inspiration from RPG games

Modified Oct 25, 2024 23:30 GMT

Not just Myths, One Piece might be drawing inspiration from RPG games (Image via Toei Animation, A-1 Pictures, & Madhouse)

While One Piece has unlimited lore based on different mythologies and other anime series, inspiration from RPG games in Eiichiro Oda's masterpiece is unheard of. However, anime drawing inspiration from RPG games are present with the biggest example being Sword Art Online where Kirigaya Kazuto plays the role of Kirito inside a game.

Fortunately, this article will divert from the usual inspiration and explore inspirations from One Piece that could be taken from RPG games. It all started in chapter 1128 when the fake Sun God (who in reality was Road), who had set up an RPG-type world where Luffy and his crew played different roles, appeared. Additionally, there were also some other hints in the Elbaph arc.

Disclaimer: This article contains potential spoilers from the One Piece manga series and has the author's opinion.

Exploring the RPG games' inspiration in One Piece

Monkey D Luffy as seen in Elbaph arc (Image via Shueisha)

RPG games, which stand for Role-Playing Games, are games in which players assume the roles of in-game characters and interact with other players who are also doing the same in a fictional universe. Some of the most popular anime series inspired by such games include Sword Art Online and Overlord.

While One Piece has some hints of inspiration from these types of games, the start of Elbaph arc takes the cake for having the most hints in it. The Elbaph arc commenced with some Straw Hat Pirates finding themselves inside a LEGO castle on Elbaph island wearing new outfits.

Later, the Straw Hat Pirates escape the castle and learn that they are trapped inside a doll house that a fake Sun God built. Moments before the Sun God arrived at his room, the Straw Hats smashed the castle and were on their way to escape the room.

The fake sun god as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

All of this happened in One Piece chapter 1128 which was coincidently titled RPG, meaning that the Straw Hat Pirates were playing different roles inside the castle. Moreover, as every RPG game also has a game master, the fake Sun God played this role because he controlled everything in the room, be it his servants or the castle (which he built).

The role-playing part also fits the fake Sun God, who in reality was Road, a New Giant Pirates member, playing the role of a deity. RPG games take place in fictional worlds that are mostly inspired by myths, fitting well with Elbaph arc's inspiration from Norse mythology (Yggdrasil tree).

Loki as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Lastly, the biggest inspiration from RPG could be the devil fruits as hinted in Loki's past. Loki killed his father which gave him a legendary devil fruit. In RPG games, whenever a character is killed it drops an item, with the rarity of the dropped items increasing with the level of the killed character.

Loki's father could be a strong man (in RPG game terms: a character of high level) which could be why he left behind a legendary devil fruit (in RPG game terms: a high-level item).

Final thoughts

The inspiration from RPG games also runs in the entire story of Eiichiro Oda's masterpiece as every arc showcases the Straw Hat Pirates on a different quest, different versus battles, and so many other aspects. However, take this article just as a form of entertainment because it is not officially confirmed by the canon material.

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Edited by Sreerupa Das