There was something special about the kind of pixels that painted the fantasy worlds we visited during the 16-bit era. And to think that thirty years later we’d be nostalgic for it and use words like “retro” to describe that kind of graphic style. In this day and age, the contrast between the most technically advanced graphics and the path of the Octopath Traveler games is highly differentiated. But fortunately there is room for both. Especially when it’s as well done as it is here, and it’s largely thanks to the visuals that this sequel shines in its own light. While many new installments strive for giant leaps in technique and realism, Octopath Traveler II flirts with nostalgia. But not without effectively using various visual novelties.
I love JRPGs and I love the graphical style the developers used in their predecessor and now of course they continue in this sequel. I think a lot of my fascination has to do with the fact that everything also seems to have a natural course. Because where something as simple as characters are heavily pixelated, their animations remain crisp and vibrant. Add to that details like the technically beautiful water, atmospheric lighting, particle effects, and the fact that everything is sharp and high definition. It’s like the pixel graphics of the past meet today’s technological advances. I’ll talk more about how the visual effects really add value to this adventure in a moment.
Basically, this game is the life story of eight characters. As in the first game, you determine where your story begins by choosing the character that you find most interesting and who will become an integral part of your future party. Fear not, you will also discover the stories of the other characters along the way. All heroes have very different personalities and their reasons for embarking on their journey vary greatly. We meet from a warrior to a doctor, walk through a dancer and five other characters, each with their own reasons for venturing out into the wide world. Again, it’s noticeable that the developers aren’t trying to change too much from the predecessor, since these professions are the same as the eight that made up the set in the first part. If there’s one major criticism of this sequel, it’s that things can feel too safe. There are some new features, though, and without shaking the basics, they’re welcome additions. For example, you can switch from day to night at any time with the push of a button and thus change the environment and make certain skills only available at a certain time of day.
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Other innovations were also added, such as the characters’ crossing paths in short stories called “Crossroads”, where two characters simply share a shorter story. One of the biggest criticisms of the first game was that the characters’ stories weren’t intertwined enough, and unfortunately that’s a weak point here too. Having eight different stories is smart in a lot of ways, especially when they’re so different. But unfortunately, the feeling of a gang going on an adventure together is somewhat lost as the focus is on each character rather than cooperation. It would have been nice if they managed to unite the characters a bit more for a possible third part. I understand the idea of telling everyone’s journey, but once you start a chapter with one character, everyone else becomes secondary. They’re there, but they’re completely ignored in the story itself. It would have been more effective if a character had to find one or more of the other protagonists, for example, and string everything together a bit.
Another downside is that as you jump from one story to the next, the world it all takes place in is a bit odd in its presentation. You can participate in a character’s story that takes them to a certain place, and then empathize with another when a character arrives in a city you’ve already been to. While there are many locations, the fact that the same location is used for multiple characters makes exploration a little lost. One way to fix this would have been to simply save some cities for later in the game for specific characters.
Thenarrative is also somewhat irregular and incoherent in general, but there’s also something nice about being able to give up a character’s story if, for example, you encounter a boss that seems too difficult for you. By switching heroes and exploring a different location, you can level up the characters you used in the other story so hopefully they’ll be strong enough for the challenge when you return to the one you temporarily left behind. Simply visit one of the game’s many inns to start a new story, or pick up one you left off and hopefully continue.
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Solistia, the world where the adventures take place, is a colorful setting where the distances between major locations never seem particularly long. However, the variety is astounding, with classic desert and snowy landscapes, and most importantly, impressive forests. But it’s the bustling towns and small towns that are worth visiting. It’s a shame the characters get stuck in place like nods to old games, but other than that it manages to feel like you’re really arriving in a bustling metropolis. There are more modern elements, but it still feels like classic fantasy in every way.
Octopath Traveler II is a very classic JRPG in every way. There are random battles and turn-based battles, and most of them Content is very familiar, for better or worse. That doesn’t mean there’s a lack of sophistication though, as there are plenty of challenges here and it’s important to know how best to tailor your party and ensure you have the right gear at all times. The game features everything from classic weapons to spells, and the importance of mixing and matching offensive and support items shouldn’t surprise those who frequent the genre.
The formula is very similar throughout the adventure. There are many dialogues at the beginning of the new chapter each hero, which usually ends in a fight against a boss. Each enemy has multiple weapons or magic as their weak point, and once you land enough hits you’ll breach their defenses and be able to deal real damage. Each turn, your heroes will receive a new upgrade point that you can save so your character can dish out more or stronger hits. Breaking through the enemy’s defenses will also cause them to lose their next turn, giving you a chance to deal more damage or restore some health. The game gets tactical in a way turn-based battles sometimes aren’t, and this is all about constantly thinking ahead and playing to your characters’ strengths. The bosses also look menacing and you have to be prepared for several fights that take time. I find the combat brilliant, even if it’s the same kind we’re used to from JRPGs, but its features keep it engaging throughout and I never sigh out loud like I might in other games when it comes time for a turn-based round is… against enemies. The developers managed to find a good balance between tactics and sophistication.
In addition to these countless turn-based battles and boss fights, the main goal is of course an adventure, an epic journey, and here you have to be prepared for a lot of dialogue. All eight stories are far from equally compelling, but there are many that stand out. I personally liked the adventures of the merchant Partitio and that of a magician named Osvald who is out for revenge. Those two stories seemed to have the best shots, and the flashbacks are also used very effectively to add depth to the stories. There are also some great encounters with other characters that you come across, but like I said, I miss the connection between the eight heroes as I don’t have much interaction between them, which is a shame.
I started the text talking about the visual effects, and it’s not surprising that they became the focus of attention. Because the graphic style of the game is also one of the main reasons for my crush. I’m aware that it might sound superficial, that the graphics aren’t the most important thing, etc. But there’s no denying how charming it is. Though it looks charming in pictures, it’s in motion where it shines. Aside from the magical pixels that paint everything perfectly, there are two things that stand out: the way each environment is packed with detail and the way the past and present blend together. In terms of detail, everything is brilliant, from the tiny fluttering butterflies, to the way a bird sits in the foreground of the screen, to the stunning embellishment of each room. Few times has an inn or armory had so much charm in one game. Added to this is the way light is used to create a magical atmosphere. Because if there’s one thing Octopath Traveler II manages, it’s feels like you’re on a fairytale adventure. Other things I would like to commend about the graphics are how perspective and depth of field are used effectively despite the two dimensional surface to really enhance the visuals. The game is simply unmatched in many ways and with a little more tricks it creates something unique.
To this must be added the great music. From epic arrangements to jazzy tones that further lift the atmosphere. I like deep piano tones accompanied by atmospheric strings. The voice actors are also very good, so both the graphics and the sound are just brilliant.
Octopath Traveler II has vacillated between several different scores during my playtime, all at the high end of the scale. I might find the game too safe, and it certainly has some downsides that I don’t want to ignore. My personal fascination with this type of game, this type of adventure, could easily overshadow everything, and it did for the first few hours when everything seemed new and exciting. Most of what I expected from this sequel has arrived, and again it looks so pretty and is so damn cozy. A perfect storybook adventure in so many ways.
Every time I start the game I feel like I’m embarking on a wonderful, epic adventure, and Octopath Traveler II really is perfect for delivering an amazing adventure in one of the most beautiful worlds in gaming. But it’s not a perfect game. Despite the fact that I loved it so much, I have to be honest and say that the downsides detract a bit from the quality of the experience. But luckily, you can be passionate about something without having to be completely flawless.
