Octopath Traveler II Evaluation – Evaluation

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 method. 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 Reside A Reside. Now, after almost 5 years, Octopath Traveler II hits the scene, promising marked enchancment over the unique whereas nonetheless making an attempt to the touch on the identical magical retro-inspired really feel. For essentially the most half, this sequel succeeds at enhancing on the unique, however in some spots, it highlights among the weaknesses of the primary recreation with out dramatically enhancing the expertise.

Octopath Traveler II options eight new playable characters, full with their very own tales, that every 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 battle he doesn’t need 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 mentioned, the solid is superb with distinct tales. Twists and divulges all through the tales hit the fitting notes, amplified by the typically overserious however at all times excellent voice appearing. I’m a giant 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 may hit on some memory-loss tropes, however the way in which the sport presents her sluggish reminiscence return is absolutely neat. Even when among the tales are form of foolish, like Partitio the service provider making an attempt to get cash to finish poverty or the dancer Agnea making an attempt to get well-known, there’s an excellent stability between drama and aid. A number of the plots are stronger than others, however nothing is unhealthy. There may be selection within the codecs of among 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 nice, hardly ever 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 solid 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 elective celebration banter, however most of these really feel like alternatives to make jokes or asides, probably not 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. The perfect factor about them is how they make use of two character’s skills in fascinating methods. The Shared Paths appear to share the same 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 buy your personal 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 “Last 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 method 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 method that makes me extra annoyed that the previous 50 hours had been so disparate.

Whereas the ending won’t totally repay, the modifications 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 collection into one thing that’s paying homage 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 the event you performed Octopath Traveler, this battle system will probably be acquainted, however the modifications deepen the range and make characters extra fascinating to make use of. You may 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 influence of the Path Actions. Latent Powers are particular strikes which can be constructed up by breaking enemies and taking injury. They supply significant battle boosts, equivalent to Partitio getting a full slate of motion factors or Hikari getting to tug from an inventory 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 along 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 can provide townspeople meat and get them to affix 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 objects, gaining battle help, or simply placing an individual face down within the floor.

All of those new prospers really feel like they could overcomplicate a strong 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 verify my varied four-party groups would complement one another effectively. Having these additional skills and powers did a fantastic job at making this course of extra partaking 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 spotlight how a lot the visuals have improved since 2018. HD-2D has come a good distance and whereas the visuals sometimes have some wonky lighting, the standard of the presentation is extra in keeping with Triangle Technique and Reside A Reside, displaying more energizing digital camera angles and an excellent 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 the most effective new soundtracks of the previous few years, however Octopath Traveler II’s setlist doesn’t have the identical memorable earworm qualities of the unique. On no account is it a foul soundtrack; it’s simply merely good, and I don’t foresee it being the form of soundtrack I nonetheless take heed 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 influence of the visuals and concepts aren’t as recent as they as soon as had been. This recreation won’t clear up the problems individuals who bounced off the primary recreation need to see solved, because the tales are nonetheless disconnected and dungeons largely quantity to straight paths with treasure chests dotted alongside the way in which. Nevertheless, in case you actually loved Octopath Traveler and wish a greater, improved model of the fight and general exploration, Octopath Traveler II will ship that in spades. It is a sturdy 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 system to good success.