When One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 launched in 2020, it brought the chaotic energy of the Musou genre together with the beloved One Piece universe. Five years later, the game remains relevant thanks to consistent updates, new character additions, and now a full upgrade for current-generation consoles. We’ll take a look at the latest “Future Island Egghead Pack” DLC and the next-gen version to see if the game still holds up in 2025, covering the new playable characters, performance improvements, and whether longtime fans or newcomers should give it another look.

The Musou genre typically sees games fade quickly as new titles arrive, but Pirate Warriors 4 has maintained its player base through regular content drops and technical improvements. The game built its reputation on screen-shaking special moves, endless enemy hordes, and the signature destruction that defines the genre. The combination of speed updates, character additions, and the new console upgrade has breathed fresh life into what many assumed was a finished product.

Character Pack No. 7: The Egghead Roster

The “Future Island Egghead Pack” introduces three new playable characters from the Egghead Arc: Rob Lucci in his CP0 form, the Seraphim S-Snake, and Jewelry Bonney, captain of the Bonney Pirates. This DLC releases alongside the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game, which bring enhanced visuals, improved performance, and increased enemy counts. Players who own the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One versions can upgrade to the new console version at no additional cost.

Rob Lucci (CP0) – Sky Type

Rob Lucci returns in his CP0 outfit as a Sky Type character, and his design shows a clear understanding of what makes Pirate Warriors 4 combat work. In his standard human form, Lucci functions as a ranged fighter, using air pressure attacks to control space. His regular combos send cutting air waves through enemy groups, allowing players to build special meter without engaging directly. His charge attacks deliver focused strikes that work well against tougher opponents.

The transformation mechanic defines Lucci’s playstyle. When he shifts into his Leopard-Human Hybrid Form through Full Force Burst, he grows larger, moves faster, and gains dark Haki-enhanced attacks. His wide-range air blast clears large groups of standard enemies effectively. As a Sky type, his Leopard form excels at juggling enemies with sweeping tail attacks and claw strikes.

Lucci’s aerial combat feels more responsive than other Sky Type characters. His ground combos grant temporary attack buffs that carry over into air combos, creating a smooth combat flow. His Awakened Form from the Egghead Arc maintains the Sky type classification while providing the attack boost and access to this version’s exclusive Musou attack. While he follows the pattern of other DLC characters that reimagine existing roster members, this version of Lucci stands out as a well-executed character design.

Jewelry Bonney – Power Type

Jewelry Bonney joins as a Power Type character, using abilities from her manga appearances called “Distortion Future.” This power lets her transform her body into alternate versions of herself, granting giant limbs and stretchy attacks similar to Luffy’s Gear Third techniques.

Bonney’s gameplay centers on self-buffing and form changes. Many of her strong attacks enlarge specific body parts. She can sweep a massive muscular arm across the screen to knock enemies back or extend her arm into an oversized fist for long-range linear attacks that break enemy armor meters efficiently. Her signature Musou attack features her calling out “Otou-san!” (Father!), summoning Bartholomew Kuma to fire a screen-clearing laser beam.

The implementation of Bonney’s character has limitations. Her Devil Fruit’s defining ability—manipulating the age of opponents—doesn’t appear in her moveset. No attacks weaken enemies or alter their age. Instead, the developers focused on her stretching abilities and pipe-based attacks. Her combat techniques from the Egghead storyline appear but largely mirror Luffy’s existing moves. Given the unique nature of her Devil Fruit power, her moveset feels like it could have been more distinct.

S-Snake – Technique Type

S-Snake, a clone-based weapon derived from Boa Hancock, operates as a Technique Type character. She possesses Hancock’s Devil Fruit power combined with Pacifista laser abilities. Despite her small size, she deals significant damage, primarily from range. Her Lunarian wings provide a core gameplay mechanic. After landing sufficient combo hits, the wings ignite, unlocking additional moves and enabling petrification attacks that turn enemies to stone for shattering. This effect remains active throughout her Full Force Burst duration.

Her combat style alternates between petrifying enemies with pink heart attacks and destroying them with powerful lasers. She can charge energy in her hands for a massive beam that clears straight lines across the entire map, making it her primary tool for breaking enemy armor from distance. Despite her smaller frame compared to giants like Kaido, S-Snake still stands notably taller than standard enemies. Her fighting style essentially combines Boa Hancock’s abilities with laser beams and explosive attacks.

Next-Generation Console Performance

The current-generation console update delivers noticeable improvements to the gameplay experience. Performance gains represent the most significant change. The previous versions experienced frequent slowdown during large battles, but these issues are largely resolved, allowing uninterrupted combo execution. The smoother performance makes the game feel faster and more responsive to inputs, finally matching the visual intensity of the combat.

The visual presentation holds up well. Character models appear sharper, effects display more vibrancy, and the game maintains stability even during crowded battle sequences. Explosions, particle effects, and environmental details now appear without causing performance drops.

However, the upgrade has shortcomings. Stage environments, while large and colorful, lack fine detail. Repeating texture patterns reveal the game’s age. Some older character models look noticeably dated compared to recently added characters. There appears to be a visual bug affecting certain effects. Fire from Usopp’s combos and ground-breaking effects sometimes fail to display, leaving empty black spaces where the visuals should appear.

The camera system remains problematic. During combat, the camera doesn’t consistently track the character, causing visibility issues during boss encounters. This occurs even when using the lock-on function.

The DLC pack includes three additional costumes. Lucci receives a “Battle Mode” outfit that exposes his torso, while S-Snake gets an outfit without her rocket boots that includes a new animation.

Verdict

The next-generation console upgrade and “Future Island Egghead Pack” give Pirate Warriors 4 renewed relevance. The core appeal—overwhelming enemy hordes with flashy attacks—benefits significantly from the technical improvements. The performance gains alone enhance the combat’s addictive quality, making this the best the game has performed.

The character pack offers solid content for fans. While Jewelry Bonney’s moveset represents a missed opportunity for more unique mechanics, the other characters succeed. Rob Lucci provides a well-designed character update, and S-Snake introduces an enjoyable and effective playstyle. The continued content releases five years after launch demonstrate strong ongoing support.

The game has persistent issues. The camera creates genuine frustration during intense boss battles, and some level designs show their age. These problems are minor compared to the combat’s entertainment value. They don’t significantly diminish the experience but remain noticeable.

For players who have stopped playing, the performance improvements and new characters provide sufficient reason to return. For those who haven’t experienced Pirate Warriors 4, this represents the optimal version. The level of care given to a 2020 release in 2025 is noteworthy, demonstrating that engaging gameplay can sustain a game well beyond typical lifespans.