Octopath Traveler II [First Impressions]
By: Mithrandiel
Well, after a delightful appetizer in the form of the recent Sea of Stars demo, JRPG fans should be prepared to eat very well with the arrival of Octopath Traveler II .
The original Octopath Traveler was a breath of fresh air for gamers yearning for a return to the classic design of the RPGs in the SNES era. Utilizing a refined version of retro graphics and pixelated sprites known as “HD-2D”, Octopath Traveler provided players with 8 different heroes to choose from. You would pursue their respective narrative, picking up allies along the way. Once you completed one story, you could complete others. Interestingly, characters didn’t explicitly interact with one another, instead vaguely offering to tag along without much (if any) impact on their respective comrades.
Its sequel, Octopath Traveler II, appears to generally follow the same structure, but with a refinement and polish to the respective narratives that makes it nearly impossible to put down.
At the heart of any good RPG is a well-balanced and fun combat system. Octopath Traveler II checks that off the list largely by re-introducing its previous combat mechanics: the “Break” and “Boost” systems. “Breaking” an opponent requires players to utilize weapon and elemental -based weaknesses to stun their enemy, with the “Boost” system meant to increase damage output with multiple attacks. A great example of a system that’s easy to learn and difficult to master, Octopath Traveler II’s combat keeps players engaged and rewards strategic gameplay.
While not explicitly a combat mechanic, “Path Actions” are also a major element of Octopath Traveler II. Each character has different things that they can do to NPCs in the various towns during the daytime hours or at night.
My main character on my first play through, a samurai prince named Hikari, can duel people during the daytime hours in order to learn new skills. At night, he can offer bribes to get information. Each of the 8 characters has this versatility, which ultimately provides you with a staggering amount of options whenever you arrive at a new town.
Personally, I’m a big fan of robust inventory systems. Being able to go into a new town and spend all the money that you have earned crushing enemies for the last hour is extremely fulfilling, and Octopath Traveler II allows you to do just that. With a variety of options when it comes to weapons, armor, accessories and more, you’ll always find something to spend your hard-earned cash on.
The combination of 2-D graphics and computer enhanced environments create some lush aesthetics that really draw players in. This is complemented by a superb soundtrack that will no doubt having you hunt it down on Spotify or Apple Music (sadly, not live yet on either platform…)
Seeing the beauty of this game makes me want a Xenogears remake even more. Funnily enough, Square Enix put out a poll not too long ago asking fans what they’d like Team Asano (the group responsible for the Octopath games, as well as Triangle Strategy) to work on next. That would be my vote - twice!
Perhaps the strongest element of Octopath traveler II so far has been the individual character narratives. The writing is extremely well done, with well paced character arcs and storylines that run the gamut of emotions. From tragedy and heartbreak to triumph and elation, the player is subjected to an immersive experience, no matter which route they decide to pursue first.
My journey with Octopath Traveler II has just begun, but with fantastic visuals, a superb soundtrack, addictive combat and a broad world to explore, I’m confident this will be a memorable adventure.
