So what did other critics think? Here’s a summary of some of the reviews so far:
People in Pocket tactics gave the game a nine out of ten, calling it “an utterly sublime JRPG experience” and one of the best of its kind on the Switch:
“If you like the first entry, a number of clever improvements mean there’s a very good chance you’ll love Octopath Traveler II. It’s still a big and traditional JRPG adventure, so get ready for nearly 100 hours of battle-driven gameplay and a deep, intricate story . However, with dynamic visuals, addictive combat, and a deep and interwoven story involving all eight of your characters, Octopath Traveler II is the ultimate JRPG experience and is now one of the best of its kind on Nintendo Switch.”
Game Informer awarded Octopath Traveler II an 8.5 rating, also labeling it an “excellent” follow-up:
“Octopath Traveler II does what a great sequel should. Instead of breaking new ground left and right, it improves on the original in almost every way and feels more confident about the stories it tells. There’s still room for improvement in some of its sharper areas, but Octopath II is an incredible achievement all around.”
Nintendo World Report he said it was a significant improvement over the original, but didn’t think it was as fresh:
“Octopath Traveler II is a solid improvement over the original, but it’s been a long time since that first game and the impact of the visuals and ideas aren’t as fresh as they were. This game isn’t going to solve the problems people who bounced from the first game want to see solved, because stories are still disjointed and the dungeons are mostly flat paths with treasure chests scattered along the way. However, if you really enjoyed Octopath Traveler and want a better, improved version of the combat and overall exploration, Octopath Traveler II will deliver in spades. This is a strong RPG that I enjoyed, but it’s not a bold new step forward. Instead, it moderately repeats an enjoyable formula to good effect.”
AND Dexerto gave the game a perfect score, giving it five out of five:
“…This sequel represents the very pinnacle of the genre and reminded us why games like this are so celebrated and timeless. Octopath Traveler 2 is about getting lost in small stories that connect to a larger, epic story – a bit like The Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones in that regard. It’s also a game that lets you flex your strategic muscles while playing on your nostalgia, all while providing something new.”
Are you looking forward to the release of Octopath Traveler II next week on Switch? Comment below.
