When Square Enix first revealed Project Octopath Traveler in Fall 2017, it instantly entranced me with its distinctive HD-2D visuals and promise to revive the forgotten style of basic turn-based JRPGs. Call me a cussed purist, however I’ll all the time favor wealthy sprite work over even probably the most photo-realistic polygons. I used to be certain to like it, no matter what the expertise in the end turned out to be.
It launched on the Nintendo Switch just a few brief months later, in July 2018, and turned out to be just about the whole lot I had hoped for. Octopath Traveler garnered close to common acclaim, although its detractors decried its considerably spinoff and predictable gameplay loop. It proved to be an honor to these halcyon Super Nintendo and PlayStation video games it imitated, with out ever approaching the identical heights in its personal proper.
Fast ahead virtually 5 years later, and we’ve been handled to a myriad of attractive, fascinating titles crafted in the identical type. 2022 introduced us each the turn-based technique effort Triangle Strategy and a retooled model of mid-90s JRPG Live a Live, and by now, Square Enix has perfected the HD-2D aesthetic (however tragically, not the refined artwork of titling).
It’s been a very long time between drinks within the Octopath universe, and with Octopath Traveler II now in our palms, there’s a newfound sense of strain not fairly so obvious in its predecessors. We’ve seen what this franchise can do, so probably the most urgent query is what lengths the staff have gone to, to raise it to even greater ranges?
The second you boot Octopath Traveler II up, you might be certain to really feel a way of familiarity. Its orchestral rating and vibrant locales are simply as whimsical as ever; with the latter receiving a big improve from the unique. You in all probability received’t discover it till you place the 2 side-by-side, however even with the identical artwork path, the richness of Octopath II’s textures makes the primary title look virtually washed out as compared.
From there, you understand the drill. Choose considered one of eight protagonists to begin with — sure, the primary letter of their names does nonetheless spell out the phrase Octopath — and uncover the main points of their previous. Without somebody as instantly affable as Alfyn leaping out at me, I elected for Partitio primarily based solely on his unmatched ranges of swag. Coincidentally, he turned out to even be a rustic bumpkin identical to the apothecary from Clearbrook, suggesting that I’ve a particular kind.
Without revealing an excessive amount of, Parti’s story particulars his life because the son of a silver miner on the wild frontier, all the best way again to his childhood years. The story itself is appropriate with out essentially feeling groundbreaking, however once more, the presentation is solely stellar. Major occasions play out with a time lapse mechanic that’s so damned efficient, it’s virtually hypnotic.
Once you’ve began the journey correct, you’ll drop proper on again into the stream of gameplay and not using a single hitch. Octopath’s battle system stays rock stable, highlighted by enemy weaknesses that may be exploited to the purpose of beautiful them for the following spherical, and a number of assault alternatives that stack when unused.
The large addition right here is Latent Powers you can unlock in direction of the top of every hero’s introductory chapter. Breaking foes or taking harm fills up a gauge, and activating the ability will yield some type of huge profit for a single flip. Partitio instantly maxes out his Boost Points to dish out as many hits as doable, whereas the dancer Agnea will have the ability to strike all enemies with assaults that usually solely deal with one. Each of those methods are fascinating and helpful, although the velocity at which the gauge fills up could make them considerably overpowered when you think about their scope.
Once Parti had thwarted the dastardly villains plaguing his city, it was time to set off for a brand new horizon. Just like the unique, you might be free to discover the world map as you see match, and in addition identical to the unique, your rapid locations will doubtless be in direction of the cities housing the opposite playable characters. Venturing out additional leaves you weak to getting OHKO’d by highly effective monsters, plus you received’t have the ability to proceed within the story till you’ve the related character who wants to go to the areas off the overwhelmed path.
If it sounds as if I’m referencing the primary Octopath Traveler so much, it is because of the truth that this recreation may be very a lot beholden to the requirements it set. It’s a totally standalone story set in a unique land, however for probably the most half, you’ll be doing extra of the identical. There is a day/evening mechanic that swaps character path actions (parley you possibly can conduct with NPCs, akin to shopping for gadgets or interrogating them for information), whereas additionally making the roads extra harmful within the twilight hours. It’s neat, and but, type of the identical as nicely, by doubling your out there actions.
My sense of this recreation to date has been that it understands what labored, and it’s not about to reinvent the wheel; for many people, it’s in all probability offering precisely what we wished, which is identical core gameplay, upgraded and offered with a brand new coat of paint.
Scanning over Square Enix’s official submit on 8 issues it’s worthwhile to find out about Octopath Traveler II reveals that, even internally, its predominant options are enhancements, reasonably than improvements. They’re all appropriate and welcome, however for probably the most half, it nonetheless looks like I’m taking part in the identical recreation I used to be half a decade in the past. Point #7, on character interplay, is probably going the most important plus, and one that we are going to circle again to within the closing assessment.
There continues to be much more for me to do but, and the way the narrative evolves could show the true barometer of my impression of the sport. Once I’ve had a greater likelihood to wring out the land of Solistia for all it’s price, I’ll know for certain whether or not it stands head and shoulders above the journey that happened all these years earlier than it.
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