OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2

I played and loved the first game, but OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2 may very well be one of the greatest JRPGs that I have played over the last decade! This had such a tough act to follow, such a tough act that I will admit that I thought there was no way that this could live up to those expectations. Not only does this live up to those high expectations, I do not see how anyone could say that the first game was better than this! It is a thrilling and emotional adventure that I am sure I will play through many times over the years. Hell, I even bought a copy for the Switch and the PlayStation!

The Loveable Eight

Like the last game, OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2 has eight characters to play as. Each character has their own intro and a few story chapters that explain their specific story. These are all done very well and are quite varied. For example, Partitio is a merchant who wishes to get rid of poverty, Ochette is a brave hunter on the hunt for these legendary beasts and Angea wants to become a star, just like her mother. Each of the eight stories and characters is interesting and compelling. I legit never found any of the story stuff in the game boring and that is just so impressive when you consider that there are essentially eight very different characters in the game.

Two’s Company

One new feature in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2 as far as the story goes is the cross-over missions that are like side stories/side quests. These will pair a specific set of characters and give you a bit more interaction. You can have four party members in your main party, but outside of the main character whose story you are working on, there is not a ton of interaction. These new cross-over missions manage to give the characters more time to shine together and it is something that I thought was cool and very well done. It just adds even more lore to the stories and makes you care about the characters at a deeper level.

Combat For The Ages

The combat in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2 is near perfect when it comes to turn-based JRPGs. It is the kind of thing that I feel is quite intuitive. You have to break your enemy's armor before you can start dealing out heavy damage. It has the system where you have to use the right attacks to target an enemy's weakness and you also have a boost ability that will build up and let you unleash some very heady damage. The combat here is fantastic, it may not be the most intricate or complex that I have experienced in a JRPG, but this manages to be deep, but not at the expense of being fun or off-putting. While the random encounter rate may still be a tad high, as the combat was so fun and easy to get into, I did not actually mind.

Breathtakingly Beautiful

One of the reasons that the first game caught many people's attention was the visuals and OCTOPATH TRAVELER 2 offers more of that modern retro design. The pixel art here is stunning, each character boasts a ton of personality and the way they move is incredible. The camera is quite dynamic in the way that it swings around and the various locations that make up this new setting are all very detailed and have lots of little things that catch your eye. I know that this modern 3D high-end pixel art style has been done to death at this point. However, I can hand on heart say that there are not many games that come close to doing it as well as what this one does.

Pros:

• I liked how each of the eight characters' stories is all about them at the start
• The cross-over missions are awesome
• Combat is easy to figure out and a lot of fun
• This is some of the best pixel-art I have ever seen

Cons:

• If for some reason you hated the first game, this will not win you over
• I honestly cannot think of anything that I disliked in this game!

Octopath Traveler 2 is the sequel to the instant classic by the same name that was released in 2019. Even though this game is mainly a sequel, all the protagonists are new, and they all have their own story and set of special skills. Keeping its signature visual style de 3D-2D graphics and hand-made style, the game is pretty similar to the original at least in looks. The game retains the signature turn-based combat system, and path actions of the original, while adding some new features such as day and night cycles and latent powers. But does Octopath Traveler 2 live up to its predecessor's legacy? Let's find out.

A World of Stories

One of the main attractions of Octopath Traveler 2 is its storytelling. The game allows you to choose any of the eight characters as your starting point, and then recruit the others along your journey. Each character has four chapters that focus on their personal goals and challenges, ranging from revenge to redemption. The stories are not directly connected, but they do share some themes and locations.

The stories are well-written and engaging, with memorable characters and twists. Some of them are darker than others, dealing with topics such as war, plague, betrayal, and death. Others are more lighthearted and humorous, involving romance, friendship, or adventure. The game also has plenty of side quests that flesh out the world and its inhabitants.

However, one drawback of this structure is that it can feel repetitive at times. Each chapter follows a similar pattern: you arrive at a new town, use your path action to gather information or items, enter a dungeon or arena, fight a boss, and watch a cutscene. The game also does not have much interaction between the main characters outside of optional banter scenes called travel banter. It would have been nice to see more development of their relationships and personalities.

A World of Beauty

Another highlight of Octopath Traveler 2 is its stunning presentation. The game uses a unique style called HD-2D that combines pixel art with 3D effects and lighting. The result is a gorgeous blend of retro charm and modern polish that creates a sense of depth and immersion. We’ve seen more of this visual style becoming popular lately, another game that makes an excellent use of this visual style is Live A Live.

The game also has an amazing soundtrack composed by Yasunori Nishiki that perfectly captures the mood and atmosphere of each scene. The music ranges from epic orchestral pieces to soothing piano melodies to catchy folk tunes. The voice acting is also well-done for most characters (although some accents can be questionable).

The game also introduces a new feature called day/night cycle that changes the appearance and behavior of towns and NPCs depending on the time of day. You can switch between day/night mode anytime by pressing a button (except during story events). This adds some variety and realism to the exploration.

Review: 7.5/10

Octopath Traveler 2 is a beautiful and engaging JRPG that follows eight different characters and their personal stories. The game has a stunning 3D-2D art style, a strategic turn-based combat system, and a rich world to explore.

Pros:

• Gorgeous graphics and music
• Eight compelling stories with memorable characters
• Deep and rewarding battle system

Cons

• A bit repetitive
• Lack of chemistry between characters

The next chapter in Square Enix's revolutionary 2D-HD JRPG series is back and better than ever with Octopath Traveler 2. Featuring the same charming visual as its predecessor, but with some much-needed refinements made to the core gameplay and some other gameplay mechanics, this is the way these games are meant to be played!

While the first game in the Octopath Traveler saga had its fair share of issues, the sequel aims to rectify the wrongs and set things right for a prospective franchise. For the most part, it succeeds. However, a few hiccups might need to be addressed down the line if this series aims to become the next Final Fantasy.

Redefined Combat

Something that a few RPG enthusiasts noticed about the first Octopath Traveler is that the combat seemed rather simplistic, even for a turn-based RPG. Sure, games like Persona 5 have never been celebrated for their innovative gameplay, but there's a limit to how basic your game can be before it starts boring players.

Thankfully, Octopath Traveler 2 addresses these complaints by introducing the Latent Power gauge. Each character has access to special skills they can only use once their Latent Power bar is full, and they refill this meter by taking or delivering damage. It's a similar concept to Final Fantasy VII's Limit Breaker, and it certainly makes battles feel a bit more engaging in this sequel.

All in a Day (or Night)'s Work

An interesting new mechanic introduced in Octopath Traveler 2 involves its day and night cycle. Each town you come across has different shops and townsfolk that change locations depending on the time of the day. Think of something like The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

However, here's where things get interesting: players can change the time of day at will, with a single button. That means that you'll have to evaluate risk vs. reward scenarios constantly, as the night offers considerably better rewards at the cost of more dangerous enemy encounters.

The visuals remain nearly unchanged from its predecessor, but the new day and night dynamic cycle also means that some locations exhibit some truly gorgeous lighting effects that simply were not possible to notice in the prequel.

Advances in Storytelling

Beyond the cutesy look of its character sprites, the Octopath Traveler series has always had some rather dark storylines. From unspeakable abuses to gory murders, the dialogue in some parts of the original Octopath Traveler was enough to send a shiver down someone's spine.

Octopath Traveler 2 continues its predecessor tradition of showing the most unexpectedly dark storylines ever conceived in a JRPG, but this time, the characters at the center of these stories feel much more realistic than before. The writing quality has improved to a level that seems to be steadily approaching Final Fantasy standards. Not something like Cloud vs. Sephiroth, but maybe something more like Final Fantasy XV, perhaps.

Pros

• The 2D-HD visual style is as gorgeous as ever
• Surprisingly mature storyline and characters
• Vastly improved battle system

Cons

• Some characters – particularly the female ones – still lack some depth compared to other JRPGS