Eight individuals stroll right into a bar and work together with one another barely extra.
Sq. Enix revisiting Octopath Traveler after just a few years feels somewhat bit like a victory lap over the success of HD-2D video games. When Octopath Traveler was revealed in 2017 after which launched in 2018, the distinctive model made it stand out, conjuring visions of ‘90s JRPGs in a high-def approach. Because the recreation’s debut, Sq. Enix trotted out the HD-2D search for various different video games, whether or not it was the tactical stylings of Triangle Technique or the gorgeous remake of Stay A Stay. Now, after almost 5 years, Octopath Traveler II hits the scene, promising marked enchancment over the unique whereas nonetheless attempting to the touch on the identical magical retro-inspired really feel. For probably the most half, this sequel succeeds at bettering on the unique, however in some spots, it highlights a few of the weaknesses of the primary recreation with out dramatically bettering the expertise.
Octopath Traveler II options eight new playable characters, full with their very own tales, that each one settle roughly into the archetypes of the unique’s eight characters. A number of the characters really feel very totally different, just like the warrior Hikari, a prince caught in a endless warfare he doesn’t wish to take part in, whereas the warrior from the unique was Olberic, an previous knight from a misplaced kingdom. Others, not a lot, just like the hunters who each have quests to discover a uncommon monster or three. That being stated, the forged is excellent with distinct tales. Twists and divulges all through the tales hit the appropriate notes, amplified by the generally overserious however at all times superb voice appearing. I’m an enormous fan of the scholar Osvald, who begins off in jail for his first two chapters and has a compelling quest for revenge after being framed for the homicide of his spouse and daughter. Castti the amnesiac apothecary would possibly hit on some memory-loss tropes, however the way in which the sport presents her gradual reminiscence return is basically neat. Even when a few of the tales are form of foolish, like Partitio the service provider attempting to get cash to finish poverty or the dancer Agnea attempting to get well-known, there’s a superb steadiness between drama and reduction. A number of the plots are stronger than others, however nothing is unhealthy. There’s selection within the codecs of a few of the tales the place there are a number of locations to go for every chapter, making the person tales really feel quite a bit longer than they had been within the authentic. The pacing is sweet, not often requiring the extent of grinding I needed to do within the first recreation.
One of many complaints concerning the authentic was the truth that not one of the forged interacted with one another and that’s sadly nonetheless the case right here. Their particular person tales don’t contain the opposite celebration members. You sometimes have some optionally available celebration banter, however most of these really feel like alternatives to make jokes or asides, not likely including to something significant. The most important try at fixing this are Shared Paths, which put two of the characters collectively in their very own quest. Largely, these are considerably throwaway filler aspect tales. One of the best factor about them is how they make use of two character’s talents in attention-grabbing methods. The Shared Paths appear to share an analogous destiny as crusing. In the midst of the world, there’s a big sea that, effectively, you barely work together with till the late recreation. You should purchase your individual ship and discover at your leisure, however all the sea content material is pushed off till late within the recreation. Alongside that, there’s a “Ultimate Chapter” ready for you on the finish of everybody’s quests, however whereas the extra direct method of concluding the general story is a marked enchancment from the semi-hidden finale of the unique, it nonetheless doesn’t come collectively in a approach that makes up for the handfuls of hours earlier than that the place everybody has their very own tales. The finale brings the gang collectively in a approach that makes me extra pissed off that the previous 50 hours had been so disparate.
Whereas the ending won’t totally repay, the adjustments to fight and the way you work together with the world have expanded in significant methods. The fight system continues to mix Shin Megami Tensei’s Press Flip battle system with Sq.’s previous work on the Bravely sequence into one thing that’s harking back to these two however wholly its personal. Every character is distinct, whether or not it’s Temenos’ cleric being centered on therapeutic or Throné’s thief emphasizing daggers and pace. In case you performed Octopath Traveler, this battle system can be acquainted, however the adjustments deepen the variability and make characters extra attention-grabbing to make use of. You’ll be able to as soon as once more combine and match secondary courses to assist customise your builds, however now there’s extra individuality within the Latent Powers and fight affect of the Path Actions. Latent Powers are particular strikes which might be constructed up by breaking enemies and taking harm. They supply significant battle boosts, akin to Partitio getting a full slate of motion factors or Hikari getting to drag from a listing of devastating assaults. Together with that, each character now has two Path Actions, which add to their fight selection as effectively. For instance, the hunter named Ochette can seize beasts and use them in battle in addition to together with her daytime Path Motion known as Provoke. That’s when she will be able to use her beasts to beat up townspeople. Her nighttime Path Motion is Befriend, the place she may give townspeople meat and get them to hitch her in battle. Each single hero has a pair of Path Actions now, although like earlier than they match right into a handful of sorts, whether or not it’s buying gadgets, gaining battle assist, or simply placing an individual face down within the floor.
All of those new prospers really feel like they may overcomplicate a stable battle system, nevertheless it all matches collectively elegantly. As you typically have to vary your celebration as much as progress by way of every character’s story, I had a great deal of enjoyable mixing and matching courses and tools to strive to ensure my varied four-party groups would complement one another effectively. Having these additional talents and powers did an important job at making this course of extra participating with a greater potential for selection.
One of many joys of the daytime and nighttime Path Actions is that this recreation additionally provides the flexibility to, with the press of a button, change the time of day. It’s a neat impact, seeing the solar rise and fall, and it’s a good way to focus on how a lot the visuals have improved since 2018. HD-2D has come a great distance and whereas the visuals sometimes have some wonky lighting, the standard of the presentation is extra in keeping with Triangle Technique and Stay A Stay, exhibiting more energizing digicam angles and a superb number of locales. Whereas I’m excited by the visible enhancements, I’m somewhat letdown by the soundtrack. The sequel has a excessive bar to hit since its predecessor has among the finest new soundtracks of the previous few years, however Octopath Traveler II’s setlist doesn’t have the identical memorable earworm qualities of the unique. In no way is it a foul soundtrack; it’s simply merely good, and I don’t foresee it being the form of soundtrack I nonetheless hearken to periodically 5 years later like I do with Octopath 1.
On the entire, Octopath Traveler II is soundly an enchancment on the unique, nevertheless it’s been fairly a very long time since that first recreation and the affect of the visuals and concepts aren’t as contemporary as they as soon as had been. This recreation is not going to resolve the problems individuals who bounced off the primary recreation wish to see solved, because the tales are nonetheless disconnected and dungeons principally quantity to straight paths with treasure chests dotted alongside the way in which. Nevertheless, for those who actually loved Octopath Traveler and wish a greater, improved model of the fight and general exploration, Octopath Traveler II will ship that in spades. This can be a robust RPG that I loved my time with, nevertheless it’s not a daring new step ahead. As an alternative, it reasonably iterates on an pleasurable method to good success.
