Octopath Traveler II Review – Here I Go Again On My Own

By Anthony Doty Last updated Mar 16, 2023

Octopath Traveler II on Nintendo Change

In 2018, the Nintendo Change was gifted a stellar timed unique within the type of Sq. Enix’s Octopath Traveler. It boasted a rock-solid battle system, attractive visuals, a lilting soundtrack, and numerous hours price of content material. It was, and stays to this present day, one in all my favourite video games on the hybrid console.

Having spent a big period of time with its successor brings a whole lot of feelings, proving to be a distillation of every little thing that made the primary title good, and but, nonetheless falling quick in lots of the similar methods. Attempting to unpack easy methods to really feel about that’s in the end a query of what you actually need from a sequel, and it’s one which I’m nonetheless pondering the reply to.

First, let’s hash out the basics. As alluded to in our preview, Octopath Traveler II is a self-contained follow-up to the runaway success JRPG from yesteryear. You choose one in all eight protagonists, journey the continents and assemble the remainder of the workforce, working collectively in turn-based battles as every character continues their very own story, chapter by chapter.

These characters are, for probably the most half, simply as stable because the heroes from the unique. The animalistic hunter Ochette is especially endearing, and the cleric Temenos’ whimsical method to theology is well-written. In fact, a few of their motivations are clearly extra compelling than others; the grizzled scholar Osvald is looking for revenge for the homicide of his household, whereas the dancer Agnea is in pursuit of fame. Why Osvald would humor her by becoming a member of forces is way past me (5 years in jail made him hanker for a little bit of glitz?), however we’ll circle again to story interconnectedness afterward.

Similar to Octopath Traveler I — for higher or worse, we can be referring to that recreation rather a lot — each character’s checkpoints are dotted across the map, which is smart from a gameplay entrance whereas rendering the narrative movement considerably inconsistent, particularly if it’s been some time because you explored a specific hero’s development. All eight tales are satisfying in their very own manner when you overcome this hurdle, although they do are inclined to dip into the properly of double-crosses a bit too typically. To wit; you’ll expertise a whole lot of “curse your sudden however inevitable betrayal” moments.

The battle system revolves round two main ideas; enemy weaknesses and Increase Factors (BP). Every of the protagonists comes outfitted with both one or two totally different weapons, in addition to a spread of elemental skills. Must you hit an enemy with an assault it’s weak to, its Protect Factors will cut back by one. When that worth reaches zero, you’ll Break the foe, leaving it unable to behave on the following flip and rendering your entire assaults crucial for that length of time.

Picture Supply: Sq. Enix through Twinfinite

Attempting to guess what an enemy is perhaps weak to is a part of the enjoyable, and as soon as you already know what they dislike, you possibly can benefit from these Increase Factors. Each flip, you’ll add yet one more BP to your characters (with a most of 5). Utilizing these BP means that you can unleash a number of weapon strikes in a row, as much as 4 at a time. This manner, you possibly can hack by Protect Factors at a sooner clip, although it takes an additional flip earlier than your BP will start stocking once more after use.

New to the method are Latent Powers; a particular capacity distinctive to every character tied to a gauge that fills upon receiving harm, or Breaking foes. The thief Throné receives one other motion in the identical flip, whereas the warrior Hikari briefly features entry to a contemporary vary of highly effective assaults, and so forth.

These function a welcome addition for probably the most half, nevertheless there’s a disparate hole of their worth that shortly turns into obvious. Temenos can exploit a weak spot with any weapon kind, whereas Agnea is ready to assault all targets along with her subsequent blow. Contemplating she will now dish out the overpowered Ruinous Kick to a number of enemies — which naturally Breaks defenses anyway — she usually leaves the clergyman within the mud.

The fight system is complicated and nuanced, with alternatives so as to add a secondary class to every character and different such wrinkles, and mastering it’s a satisfying, engrossing course of. That is very true the additional you progress within the recreation, the place highly effective bosses will check your grey matter with their assault patterns.

It’s all introduced within the HD-2D visuals that stay bewitching to this present day, having attained a stage of close to perfection. Octopath Traveler I had an over-reliance on focus pulls and a local shadow bordering aesthetic that made environments really feel considerably restricted of their scope, a difficulty which has been overcome within the years since. The suitably immersive soundtrack, alternatively, is equally as much as the duty, with a functionality to nonetheless shock: I didn’t anticipate to listen to an electrical guitar and saxophone duet in Partitio’s theme, however as soon as it kicked in, I yee-hawed my dang coronary heart out.

The animations are extra fleshed out and fluid, and it’s downright invigorating to see a boss character blown up right into a hulking, menacing risk when you’ve engaged with them in mortal fight. If you’d like an instance of what sprite work ought to seem like, it is rather a lot this, plain and easy.

The encompassing places are vibrant and engaging, and a few are even fairly breathtaking. The structure of New Delsta makes it really feel because it ought to; the glamorous huge metropolis, whose skinny veneer of opulence belies a seedy underbelly of poverty and crime.

Octopath Traveler II New Delsta — Picture Supply: Sq. Enix through Twinfinite

There are additionally a whole lot of beautiful little particulars sprinkled all through. When one character Breaks an enemy, the following one to behave will thank them, or categorical concern after seeing a comrade maintain massive quantities of harm. Choosing a completely BP-charged approach will trigger the digital camera to swoop throughout the battlefield in a dynamic method because it’s unleashed. This recreation has such a definite persona to it, and it’ll shortly work its manner into your coronary heart.

The feel and appear of Octopath was by no means actually the issue, although. The largest query is little doubt whether or not the protagonists play any position in one another’s tales, and the unlucky reply is not any, they don’t. Because the heroes begin their main storyline arcs, minimize scenes can be introduced as if that they had been travelling solo the entire time. I felt prefer it was Octopath Traveler’s biggest weakness again in 2018, and it’s again to estrange me as soon as once more.

The story correct, as alluring as it could be, stays eight anthologies that function independently of each other, and that’s an absolute disgrace. It’s a constant subject with Octopath’s design philosophy, whereby you technically may progress by the whole thing of 1 protagonist’s story earlier than bothering with the others, however the stage cap would make this mundane and impractical.

If we have now that superficial barrier of the grind in place, why can’t we have now subsequent chapters locked behind the development of different storylines, so as to interweave these tales? Are these eight folks simply that disinterested in one another’s lives?

There are post-cutscene dialogue alternatives that you would be able to set off referred to as Journey Banter, and so they do alleviate the ache considerably. Listening to the solid bounce off each other is pleasant, I simply want that it really impacted the overlying narrative. You may go a complete playthrough with out ever bothering to partake in these interactions, must you so select.

The function I used to be most trying ahead to in Octopath Traveler II are the newly launched Shared Paths, which pairs two of the characters in their very own adventures. On paper, that is precisely what I wished, however in software, it seems to be considerably underwhelming.

Every of the Shared Paths, although pleasurable in their very own manner, are facet tales that don’t affect issues a lot come what may. They’re extra like expanded Journey Banter than their very own chapters, and once more, chances are you’ll elect to move them over completely; successfully the JRPG model of anime filler.

Octopath Traveler II Hikari and Agnea Shared Path — Picture Supply: Sq. Enix through Twinfinite

The introduction of Shared Paths was Sq. Enix’s alternative to intertwine lore, and take away the sensation of isolation that plagued the unique. As a substitute, they’re utilized mildly — virtually timidly — as a nicety slightly than a necessity, and as soon as once more, main plot beats proceed as a monologue, slightly than an ensemble.

With that stated, Octopath Traveler II’s best flaw is that it performs issues far too secure, performing like an enhanced model of the sport that got here earlier than it as an alternative of a singular, can’t-miss expertise. There are canoes (and afterward, a full galleon) that you should utilize to traverse the waterways of the world, and a day/evening mechanic that adjusts the gameplay in a number of minor methods, however in the end, every little thing it provides is a shiny bauble on the in any other case equivalent construction of the unique.

On the one hand, that can doubtless serve the established fan base simply positive; they didn’t mess with one thing that labored completely properly within the first place, giving us extra of the identical. Critically, nevertheless, you possibly can clearly level to the acquainted drawbacks; the narrative that proceeds alongside oblivious to the very vacationers partaking of it, and a considerably repetitive gameplay loop of arriving at a city, coming into a dungeon, and combating a boss.

Octopath Traveler II Garnet — Picture Supply: Sq. Enix through Twinfinite

These items had been glossed over — and sure, the Shared Paths are a enjoyable diversion that provide an additional sprint of camaraderie — leaving us with what’s in the end a souped up version of a recreation we’ve already performed earlier than.

In a vacuum, Octopath Traveler II is superior to its predecessor in virtually each manner, with enhancements throughout the board. In case you had been into the primary one, you’ll virtually assuredly love this one, too. To reward it on this manner is partially backhanded, nevertheless, because it fails to eke out its personal legacy in any manner, form or type.

I favored it again in 2018, and positive, I prefer it in 2022, as properly. It could be disingenuous to not extremely suggest it to JRPG followers, or single-player avid gamers usually. However make no mistake; ought to a 3rd entry spring forth, I can be anticipating one thing definitively new and distinctive. Name it egocentric if you happen to should, I simply wish to see the true Latent Energy this franchise holds.