It’s often the case when we express that a game offers ‘more of the same,’ it’s articulated with a tinge of distaste. Such a phrase implies that the new release isn’t much different from its predecessor – perhaps it boasts minor changes but those don’t truly reinvent or transform its original essence. We’ve frequently recommended you to reconsider buying a title, if it mirrors its previous version too closely. However, ‘more of the same’ isn’t always a disappointment; at times it’s a delightful surprise. This holds true for Octopath Traveler 2, the sequel to the contentious JRPG that first graced our gaming world in 2018.
If you found joy in playing Octopath Traveler, then the second chapter of this saga is a must-play for you. Interestingly, there might have been certain aspects of the first game that you didn’t necessarily favor, but it’s worth noting that the sequel might surprise you with its improvements. The parts you didn’t enjoy in the first game may be the ones you come to appreciate in the second.
We’ll explore this in greater depth in our review of Octopath Traveler 2. You’ll come across several comparisons with the first game, since the sequel remains true to its roots, essentially providing ‘more of the same.’ Yet, there’s also a certain beauty in that, as it often serves as a second chance – an opportunity for the game to improve upon the areas that players felt needed enhancements or changes in the original.
A Freedom-Filled Beginning: Octopath Traveler 2
When you dive into Octopath Traveler 2, you’re greeted with an exciting sense of freedom. However, if you’re familiar with the previous game, Octopath Traveler, the recent release by Square Enix might not throw you any curveballs. The developers have relied on the tried-and-true formula and gameplay that was established in the original game.
As soon as you start playing, a large map unfolds in front of you, teasing the grandeur of the world you’re about to explore. Soon enough, you’re introduced to the first of the eight heroes and you get a chance to delve into their individual stories.
The Eight Heroes and Their Unique Stories
Each character in Octopath Traveler 2 is intricately crafted with a unique narrative, giving you an intimate glimpse into their lives. To put it simply, it’s a delight to journey alongside each one. The developers have skillfully breathed life into eight distinctive personas. Initially, it might seem challenging to weave these disparate narratives together, but persistent JRPG fans will relish the final tapestry where all the threads converge in an intricate ending.
A noteworthy achievement of the developers is the pacing and narrative of the game. Right from the start, you don’t feel an overwhelming burden of a grand quest to save the world. Instead, every character unravels their rich, multifaceted story, each with varying levels of gravity and importance.
Embarking on Diverse Adventures
I began my journey as Hikari, the prince of the Ku nation, a land ravaged by prolonged warfare. As a young warrior, Hikari yearns for peace and ventures out to find like-minded individuals. Then there’s Agnea, a small-town girl aspiring to be a star dancer, just like her late mother. Partitio, a former victim of poverty, now endeavors to eradicate it from the world. You’ll also meet Castti, a pharmacist on a journey of self-discovery, and Osvald, a man seeking revenge after a long, unjust imprisonment.
Furthermore, you’ll encounter Ochette, a huntress trying to avert a catastrophic event threatening her home, and Throné, a thief longing for a violence-free life. Lastly, the story of Temenos, a cleric and inquisitor, felt the least engaging to me.
A World Full of Diverse Characters
These brief character summaries capture the essence of Octopath Traveler 2: a game brimming with diverse characters, each with their unique journeys. The game doesn’t revolve around one ultimate villain. Instead, each character faces their own challenges and decides to bring about change.
Not every plot carries the same weight, and there are times when the narrative feels dragged out. However, I appreciate how the developers build up the suspense leading to the climactic final act. This point in the game is particularly challenging, and the last boss proves to be one of the toughest opponents in this genre.
Unforgiving Battles and Exploration
The game is unforgiving in its battles, pushing you to hone your skills and not to make mistakes. There is an element of grinding, but it’s eased by the introduction of a ship that allows you to explore previously inaccessible areas. Here, you’ll encounter optional opponents or bosses, enhancing your overall gaming experience.
An Excellent, Familiar Battle System in Octopath Traveler 2
What I find truly captivating about Octopath Traveler 2 is its non-linear storytelling approach. The game doesn’t dictate a preset sequence of events. Instead, it opens with your chosen character’s story, after which you’re free to traverse the expansive world. Along the way, you’ll meet other heroes eager to share their tales.
The writers don’t enforce a requirement to explore every character’s backstory, and you can just add a new warrior to your squad if you wish. However, I’d suggest investing a few extra hours to fully immerse yourself in each unique adventure. This way, you gain a deeper understanding of all the intertwined plots and can comprehend the characters better.
The Idea of “Crossed Paths”
The developers have introduced an innovative feature, termed “crossed paths.” These are additional chapters where two characters recount their experiences, providing a wealth of extra insights into the game world and its inhabitants. These shared narratives help bind the group together and serve a purpose akin to optional conversations.
Day and Night Abilities of Characters
In Octopath Traveler 2, each character possesses unique action-abilities to be used in the game world (outside of combat). Intriguingly, characters have different abilities for day and night. Using these abilities can lead to meaningful consequences such as acquiring new items, learning new skills, or even sullying your team’s reputation, thereby influencing your journey.
For instance, Hikari can challenge townsfolk to duels, learning new attacks or extracting additional information. Throné can incapacitate opponents at night or pilfer items from them, while Castti can provide healing to those he encounters. You have the freedom to alter the time of day in the game, which can be crucial, as you might only encounter some NPCs under specific conditions.
Familiarity in Duels
When it comes to duels, Octopath Traveler 2 continues to follow the traditional turn-based combat system. At the start of each encounter, your task is to discover the enemy’s weakness to a particular weapon or element, which can then be exploited to destroy their shield and launch powerful attacks.
The duels are indeed riveting, as you must not only identify the opponent’s weaknesses but also strategize on how to exploit them effectively. The enemy’s appearance doesn’t always hint at their vulnerabilities, hence using diverse attacks to identify the right approach becomes crucial. A welcome addition to the battle system is “hidden skills,” which can amplify your attacks, dealing more damage within a single turn.
Consistency in Combat
In terms of combat, the developers have opted for consistency over drastic change. This decision should please fans of the original game, where battles were arguably one of its strongest features. The sequel follows in the footsteps of its predecessor, which is a good thing. If you felt something was lacking in the previous game’s combat, chances are it remains unchanged here.
However, due to the intensity of some duels, particularly boss fights, they can last up to 30 minutes. And a loss after such a prolonged battle can be a bitter pill to swallow. Nonetheless, it is this adherence to the tried and tested combat formula that resonates with the ethos of Octopath Traveler 2 and justifies why this title is worth your time.
The Enchanting HD-2D Style of Octopath Traveler 2
One of the hallmarks of Octopath Traveler 2 is the freedom it offers to players from the get-go. You can wander across the expansive world at your leisure. However, a word of advice based on my experience: tread carefully in regions teeming with formidable enemies. Your experience level is paramount, and it is safer to roam familiar territories. This way, you can gradually bolster your team, amass experience points, and enhance your gear.
Character Skills and Second Jobs
Every hero in Octopath Traveler 2 brings unique skills to the table, related to their respective classes. But, as the game progresses, your characters will unlock secondary jobs, increasing their capabilities. This feature introduces an additional layer of strategic freedom, allowing you to tailor your team to tackle specific adversaries effectively.
A Grand World Full of Adventures
Octopath Traveler 2, the latest offering from Square Enix, presents a vast world teeming with side quests at every corner. The world of Solistia is packed with optional dungeons to explore. Each of your heroes can obtain legendary weapons and potent EX abilities. If you wish to uncover all the secrets this world holds, prepare yourself for a gaming marathon lasting over a hundred hours.
The developers have ensured that the plot of Octopath Traveler 2 stands independently of its predecessor. So, even if you haven’t experienced the first game, you can still fully enjoy the adventures of the sequel.
The Charm of HD-2D Graphics
The game employs a unique HD-2D graphic style, a signature trait carried forward from the first part. The visuals have been elevated to another level, featuring more intricate details, a refined color palette, and enhanced visual effects during combat sequences. The game’s aesthetic appeal has been significantly amplified compared to the first installment.
Accompanying the stunning visuals is a delightful soundtrack. The tunes, though typical for the genre, add a touch of charm to the gaming experience, making Octopath Traveler 2 a feast for both the eyes and ears.
Striding Ahead: Improvements in Octopath Traveler 2
As a sequel, Octopath Traveler 2 does not just offer more of the same. Instead, it leverages the experience gained from the first installment, refining its gameplay and combat system. Acquire, the developers, took feedback from fans seriously, addressing some rough edges and rectifying the issues related to balance that were present in the first game.
They smoothed out the difficulty curve and introduced novel mechanics to make turn-based combat more complex and engaging. But, for those who enjoyed the intense challenges of the first game, fear not, Octopath Traveler 2 still packs a punch with its challenging dungeons and secret bosses.
Refined Visual Experience
The philosophy of doing better extends to the game’s presentation as well. Playing Octopath Traveler 2 on Nintendo Switch is an incredible experience. Despite occasional frame drops when the battlefield gets busy or during quick transitions from day to night in detailed scenarios, the slowdowns are barely noticeable and don’t detract from the overall gaming experience.
In comparison, the demo on PlayStation 5 exhibited some flaws that are more noticeable. For instance, the game runs at a lower frame rate of 30 frames per second on the Nintendo hybrid console, and dynamic shadows are missing in certain environments. These issues might seem significant, but they are mitigated by the game’s suitability for handheld play.
On the vibrant OLED screen of the Switch, with its sharp and vivid colors, the pixel art comes alive, exhibiting the exceptional work of Square Enix’s artists. They’ve made significant strides in lighting and effects, packing each scenario with a plethora of details. The smaller maps that separate the populated centers are also more linear and meaningful, lacking the superfluous dead ends present in the first game.
The Power of Small Details
The game’s technical aspects, though already commendable in 2018, have reached a new level of excellence in terms of artistic direction. It’s the small but impactful details that truly elevate the gaming experience. Camera movements and zooms add dramatic flair to the fights and cutscenes. The dynamic environmental features, like clouds drifting over fields or flashes of lightning during a storm, immerse players in the game’s narrative, adding a sense of solemnity.
Accompanying these visual treats is the phenomenal soundtrack by Yasunori Nishiki. The music, with its extraordinary range of instrumental sounds, is a clear improvement from the first Octopath Traveler.
Octopath Traveler 2 exhibits an abundance of tiny, thoughtfully implemented details, which collectively showcase the passion poured into this sequel. It’s a testament to the lessons learned from the first game, which felt more like an experimental venture into HD-2D RPGs. In contrast, Octopath Traveler 2 stands as a “real deal” in the genre, a clear indication that Square Enix hit the mark with this installment.
The Review
Octopath Traveler II
Octopath Traveler 2 retains the charm of its predecessor, providing 'more of the same' in the best possible sense. Its engaging non-linear storytelling, freedom-filled gameplay, and intricate narratives of the eight heroes are a delight to explore. The game's combat system, based on its original formula, is challenging yet rewarding, and the unique HD-2D visual style accompanied by a delightful soundtrack enhances the overall experience. Significant improvements in the gameplay and combat system are evident, with the developers taking feedback from the first installment into account. The game performs excellently on Nintendo Switch, despite some minor frame drops, offering a vibrant and immersive handheld play. While some narrative elements might feel dragged out, the overall gaming marathon promises over a hundred hours of exploration and excitement. In short, Octopath Traveler 2 is a worthy sequel, delivering a satisfying blend of familiar elements and refined enhancements that are sure to captivate both veterans and newcomers to the series.
PROS
- Engaging Non-Linear Storytelling: The game provides a unique non-linear approach to storytelling, creating an immersive experience for players.
- Detailed Character Narratives: Eight distinct heroes, each with their own unique narrative, add depth to the gameplay.
- Improved Gameplay and Combat System: Significant enhancements have been made based on feedback from the first installment, making combat more complex and engaging.
- Visually Appealing: The game's unique HD-2D visual style has been elevated, providing a stunning and immersive aesthetic experience.
- Enhanced Soundtrack: The delightful soundtrack composed by Yasunori Nishiki enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Significant Content: The game provides a gaming marathon lasting over a hundred hours with numerous side quests and hidden content to explore.
CONS
- Lengthy Battles: Some battles, especially boss fights, can last up to 30 minutes which might feel tedious to some players.
- Narrative Pacing: At times, the narrative might feel dragged out, reducing the overall pacing of the game.
- Frame Drops: Although minor, occasional frame drops can be noticed when the battlefield gets busy or during quick transitions from day to night.
- Minor Graphics Issues: On PlayStation 5, some flaws are more noticeable, such as lower frame rates and missing dynamic shadows in certain environments.
- No Major Innovations: The game strongly follows its predecessor's formula, which might disappoint players expecting major changes or innovations.
