Octopath Traveler II (Computer)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): February 24, 2023
- Release Date (EU): February 24, 2023
- Publisher: SQUARE ENIX
- Developer: ACQUIRE Corp. & SQUARE ENIX Team Asano
- Genres: JRPG
- Also For: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Game Features:
The advent of steam-powered technologies and far-reaching sea-faring vessels across the land of Solistia has ushered in a new, vibrant era. Amidst the teeming cross-continental activities, eight travellers originating from various parts of Solistia set out to travel the land with diverse aims ranging from achieving stardom to restoring peace in their home country. Which path will you follow and who will you take along?
A story of crossing paths
While Octopath Traveler II is the second mainline entry to the franchise, it is a standalone title with new characters and a new setting; hence adequate for newcomers to the series. That said, what recurs is a similar narrative structure where the game offers you the choice to start the game as one of the eight playable characters.
Your chosen character will become your main party member but you will still encounter the other travellers along your journey. When you do, you will be offered the choice to take them in your party as well as to learn their backstory. Toggling the latter will put you in control of that newly-met character from their starting point in the game up to the point they meet your main character.
Being a newcomer to the series myself, this narrative design felt quite striking and original. It gets you to experience first hand the different stories and perspectives of your party members who would otherwise be mere NPCs in traditional JRPGs. The result is an interesting mix of personal stories that are really colourful and on different scopes but all well told and relatable.
However, since the stories of the characters are individual ones, they don’t intertwine in a satisfactory way with the main plot that you are following. Engaging in the individual stories separates the characters from each other and they don’t all seem to have a vested interest in each other. This is because having the other travellers join your party and playing their stories is optional (but recommended!).
Octopath Traveler II does introduce the new Crossed Paths feature where some travellers’ stories merge and attempts to address this issue. But the interactions are limited to those combined story segments and don’t extend throughout the main plot, which would have made for a more compelling experience. Nevertheless, each character remains original with well-rounded arcs in their own merit.
The stories of the eighth travellers are depicted in gorgeous HD-2D aesthetics and are accompanied by professional voice acting and wonderful soundtrack throughout. The HD-2D visuals are always a treat by merging retro-looking sprites with HD environments that pack a 3D spin. It delivers a nostalgic feeling that yet holds a contemporary touch.
Eight characters, eight different approaches
Octopath Traveler II brings back the strategic, turn-based combat system of the first entry to the series that are interspersed between the exploratory segments. You’ll have a range of attack, defence and special skills at your disposal from your 4-person party, but you have to be more strategic in their use. Enemies that you’ll encounter all have a weakness based on certain attack types that you have to identify. This adds a layer of welcome challenge to encounters which offer a fair challenge as you test your mettle by trying out different physical or elemental attacks for the best outcomes.
While the discovered weaknesses of recurring enemies are displayed in subsequent encounters, it’s another story for boss fights. These will require the whole trial-and-error process which can be tasking and require re-runs. This adds to the need to grind which occasionally recurs throughout and can be divisive, like the trial-and-error aspect of combats.
As you welcome new party members, it’s not just different combat styles that you get to manage but also new exploration skills through the returning Path Actions feature. For example, the amnesiac apothecary Castti can retrieve information from NPCs while the exiled prince Hikari can spar with townsfolk.
Octopath Traveler II adds a new spin to Path Actions by enabling different abilities based on the time of day. At night, for example, Castti is able to heal townspeople while Hikari can bribe people for information. Some of these abilities are just different flavours across different members but they offer an interesting dynamic to exploration.
The Day/Night cycle, which can be instantly toggled with the RT button, also influences the combat. You’ll encounter stronger enemies at night but emerging victorious from those encounters will be more rewarding. Some skills are also available at different times of the cycle as well which adds a fresh twist to combat.
Same same, but different entry to the Octopath Traveler series
If you’ve played the first Octopath Traveler, then this second instalment will sound familiar and will be familiar to play. That’s one of the main gripes I heard of the game but I don’t find it personally off-putting. It’s probably because I’m new to the series myself but playing it safe isn’t bad per se.
In fact, Octopath Traveler II makes the effort of including some welcome additions in both the combat and narrative design to mix things up such as the Day/Night system, sea-bound encounters and Crossed Paths. These might not blow your socks off by reinventing the wheel and this might be a let-down if you were expecting a wholly different experience. However, Octopath Traveler II does deliver a compelling, expansive experience that will keep you hooked for several dozens of hours.
Octopath Traveler II | Launch Celebration Trailer
Verdict
- Interesting narrative design
- Gorgeous HD-2D aesthetic
- Strategic turn-based combat
- New combat and narrative features
- Playable characters’ plot don’t intertwine in a satisfying way
- Occasional need to grind
- Trial-and-error approach to combat can be divisive
