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

Octopath Traveler II on Nintendo Switch

In 2018, the Nintendo Switch was gifted a stellar timed unique within the type of Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler. It boasted a rock-strong battle system, attractive visuals, a lilting soundtrack, and numerous hours value of content material. It was, and stays to at the present time, one among my favourite video games on the hybrid console.

Having spent a major period of time with its successor brings lots of feelings, proving to be a distillation of the whole lot that made the primary title good, and but, nonetheless falling brief in lots of the identical methods. Trying to unpack 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 observe-as much as the runaway success JRPG from yesteryear. You choose one among eight protagonists, journey the continents and assemble the remainder of the staff, working collectively in flip-primarily based battles as every character continues their very own story, chapter by chapter.

These characters are, for essentially the most half, simply as strong because the heroes from the unique. The animalistic hunter Ochette is especially endearing, and the cleric Temenos’ whimsical strategy to theology is effectively-written. Of course, a few of their motivations are clearly extra compelling than others; the grizzled scholar Osvald is in search of 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 are going to circle again to story interconnectedness in a while.

Just like Octopath Traveler I — for higher or worse, we might be referring to that sport lots — each character’s checkpoints are dotted across the map, which is sensible from a gameplay entrance whereas rendering the narrative stream 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 approach when you overcome this hurdle, although they do are likely to dip into the effectively of double-crosses a bit too typically. To wit; you’ll expertise lots of “curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal” moments.

The battle system revolves round two main ideas; enemy weaknesses and Boost Points (BP). Each of the protagonists comes geared up with both one or two totally different weapons, in addition to a spread of elemental talents. Should you hit an enemy with an assault it’s weak to, its Shield Points will cut back by one. When that worth reaches zero, you’ll Break the foe, leaving it unable to behave on the subsequent flip and rendering your entire assaults vital for that period of time.

Octopath Traveler II Partitio — Image Source: Square Enix through Twinfinite

Trying to guess what an enemy is likely to be weak to is a part of the enjoyable, and as soon as you understand what they dislike, you’ll be able to benefit from these Boost Points. Every flip, you’ll add yet another BP to your characters (with a most of 5). Using these BP lets you unleash a number of weapon strikes in a row, as much as 4 at a time. This approach, you’ll be able to hack by way of Shield Points at a quicker 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 potential 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 beneficial properties entry to a recent vary of highly effective assaults, and so forth.

These function a welcome addition for essentially the most half, nevertheless there’s a disparate hole of their worth that rapidly turns into obvious. Temenos can exploit a weak spot with any weapon kind, whereas Agnea is ready to assault all targets together with her subsequent blow. Considering she will be able to now dish out the overpowered Ruinous Kick to a number of enemies — which naturally Breaks defenses anyway — she sometimes 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. This is particularly true the additional you progress within the sport, the place highly effective bosses will check your grey matter with their assault patterns.

It’s all offered within the HD-2D visuals that stay bewitching to at the present time, 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 need an instance of what sprite work ought to appear to be, it is vitally a lot this, plain and easy.

The surrounding areas 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 large metropolis, whose skinny veneer of opulence belies a seedy underbelly of poverty and crime.

Octopath Traveler II New Delsta — Image Source: Square Enix through Twinfinite

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

The feel and look of Octopath was by no means actually the issue, although. The greatest query is little doubt whether or not the protagonists play any position in one another’s tales, and the unlucky reply isn’t any, they don’t. As the heroes start their main storyline arcs, lower scenes might be offered as if that they had been travelling solo the entire time. I felt prefer it was Octopath Traveler’s greatest weak spot 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 way of 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’ve that superficial barrier of the grind in place, why can’t we’ve subsequent chapters locked behind the development of different storylines, to be able to interweave these tales? Are these eight individuals simply that disinterested in one another’s lives?

There are submit-cutscene dialogue alternatives which you could set off referred to as Travel 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 can go a whole playthrough with out ever bothering to partake in these interactions, must you so select.

The characteristic I was 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 utility, it seems to be considerably underwhelming.

Each of the Shared Paths, although satisfying in their very own approach, are facet tales that don’t affect issues a lot in some way. They’re extra like expanded Travel Banter than their very own chapters, and once more, you could elect to go them over totally; successfully the JRPG model of anime filler.

Octopath Traveler II Hikari and Agnea Shared Path — Image Source: Square Enix through Twinfinite

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

With that mentioned, Octopath Traveler II’s biggest flaw is that it performs issues far too protected, appearing like an enhanced model of the sport that got here earlier than it as a substitute of a singular, can’t-miss expertise. There are canoes (and in a while, a full galleon) that you should use to traverse the waterways of the world, and a day/evening mechanic that adjusts the gameplay in just a few minor methods, however in the end, the whole lot it provides is a shiny bauble on the in any other case an identical construction of the unique.

On the one hand, that can probably serve the established fan base simply wonderful; they didn’t mess with one thing that labored completely effectively within the first place, giving us extra of the identical. Critically, nevertheless, you’ll be able to 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 preventing a boss.

Octopath Traveler II Garnet — Image Source: Square Enix through Twinfinite

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

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

I appreciated it again in 2018, and certain, I prefer it in 2022, as effectively. It could be disingenuous to not extremely advocate it to JRPG followers, or single-participant avid gamers basically. But make no mistake; ought to a 3rd entry spring forth, I might be anticipating one thing definitively new and distinctive. Call it egocentric for those who should, I simply need to see the true Latent Power this franchise holds.