A classic JRPG, mostly for the better - Octopath Traveler II review
Octopath Traveler II feels like something I could have played in the ’90s, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. Sure, the HD-2D pixel graphics are a little advanced for the Super Nintendo, but it has everything I loved about JRPGs of the past: strategic turn-based combat, a sprawling world map just begging to be explored, charming towns, (mostly) loveable characters, and a soundtrack that’s nothing short of spectacular. Most importantly, it has a grand, sweeping story.
Unfortunately, the game also has features that feel like relics of the past. I don’t always mind random encounters, but the encounter rate in Octopath Traveler II can be frustratingly high, especially when you’re low on health and searching for a save point. Speaking of save points, they’re the only way to record progress. Boss fights feel like an endurance match, difficulty spikes are abrupt, and grinding for XP is necessary to avoid party wipes.
That’s not to say that Octopath Traveler II is lacking in modern amenities or quality-of-life features. An on-screen minimap makes it easy to track objectives, but those who prefer a more classic experience can disable that helpful tool with the push of a button. After visiting a town, you can fast travel to that location at any time, which came in handy, especially when I was low on healing items or wanted to make some quick changes to my party.
While I enjoyed the original Octopath Traveler, the sequel is also a big step up from its predecessor. The visuals are better than ever, and characters are now fully voiced. Core gameplay mechanics are mostly unchanged, but there are lots of subtle enhancements that make for a better experience. Every character now has a Latent Power, a Limit Break-like ability that unlocks during combat. Every Latent Power is unique and designed to complement that character’s skills. One character can take an extra turn, while another gains access to superpowered attacks.
Octopath Traveler II also makes great use of its new day and night system. Changes in lighting highlight the game’s gorgeous visuals, but they also impact gameplay in interesting ways. Stronger enemies come out at night, and available quests vary based on the time of day. Some of the party members’ non-combat abilities even change as the daylight fades. For example, the merchant Partitio can purchase goods from NPCs during the day and hire them at night, which temporarily allows them to fight alongside you during battles. I was never stuck waiting for the sun to move through the sky either; if I wanted to take an unavailable action, I was able to move time forward with ease.
While these features are intriguing, the most notable improvements involve the game’s narrative. Like the original, Octopath Traveler II has eight protagonists, each with their own storyline. I started my journey with Throné, a thief/assassin that longs to leave her life of bloodshed behind. Soon my path converged with other characters, like exiled prince Hikari, escaped convict Osvald, and Agnea, a small-town girl with big-city dreams. Every character is compelling, but I was especially fond of Castti, a kindhearted amnesiac who may have forgotten a bloody mass murder.
I thought the character stories in the first Octopath Traveler were slightly repetitive, but that’s not an issue here. Each tale varies in pacing, tone, and even genre. When I played as Ochette, the always-hungry beast girl, I felt like I was enjoying an all-ages adventure story. Inquisitor Temenos’s chapters, in contrast, spun a dark murder mystery yarn.
Even though the individual stories are distinct, party members feel more connected. In the first Octopath Traveler, characters primarily interacted through brief Party Banter skits. Banter is still here in the sequel, but there are also Crossed Paths chapters, which are side stories pairing up two party members. These chapters are a welcome opportunity for characters to play off each other and connect on a deeper level.
While I loved the character-driven stories, some of my favorite story moments in Octopath Traveler II didn’t involve the main cast at all. Several party members have abilities that let them gather information from NPCs. These abilities are occasionally used to progress quests or the main storyline, but they can also be used for no reason at all. Nearly every NPC you encounter has their own backstory to be discovered, and though these tales are only a paragraph long, they manage to say a lot with a little.
Every time I visited a new town, I spent an absurd amount of time interrogating its residents. In one town, I chatted with an elderly woman who gave up a dance career after a leg injury. In another, I met an aspiring playwright madly in love with his lead actress. Non-player characters in RPGs often feel like a backdrop, but here, they’re part of a living, breathing world.
It’s details like this that motivated me to keep playing, even when I lost progress or had to restart a long boss fight. Octopath Traveler II occasionally frustrated me, especially in the early hours of the game when I hadn’t yet assembled a full party. I didn’t always love the endless enemy encounters, but even when the game was at its most aggravating, I was never tempted to walk away.
Initially, I thought that Octopath Traveler II was overly reliant on dated JRPG mechanics, but as I progressed through the game, I settled into a rhythm. I constantly scanned the map for save points and recorded my progress at every opportunity. When I spotted the telltale signs of an upcoming boss fight, I started grinding so my characters could gain a level or two. Before long, the game’s tedious qualities didn’t feel tedious at all.
Octopath Traveler II is a fantastic game in its own right, but it’s also a reminder of why I fell in love with RPGs in the first place. Whether I was triumphing over a boss or seeing a Game Over screen for the umpteenth time, I was always thinking about what I wanted to do next. Perhaps I’d finish a sidequest or visit an unexplored region of the map. Maybe I’d investigate a deserted village or search for theater tickets. Once the game got its hooks in me, it dominated my thoughts, even when I wasn’t playing.
The old-school design choices aren’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to put up with long boss fights and some level grinding, you’ll reap endless rewards. Even if you were lukewarm on the original game or skipped it entirely, Octopath Traveler II is a sequel that’s worth playing.
SCORE: 4 STARS OUT OF 5
PLAY IF YOU LIKE:
• Golden age JRPGs, especially games from the Super Nintendo and PlayStation era. Octopath Traveler II really captures the qualities that made titles like Chrono Trigger, Suikoden, and Live a Live classics.
• Variety. Since you’re constantly switching between storylines, there’s always something new to look forward to. In addition to its ever-changing story, Octopath Traveler II continually introduces new gameplay mechanics, like secondary jobs. Playing through the main story and side quests should keep you busy for more than a hundred hours.
• Exploration. The world map is massive, and once you play through the game’s first chapter, you can explore to your heart’s content. There are countless secrets to uncover, from hidden dungeons to bonus jobs to shrines that unlock new class skills. You’ll occasionally stumble into an area with high-level enemies, but since you can see an area’s Danger Level on screen, you can avoid nasty surprises as you wander. Octopath Traveler II is absolutely breathtaking, so if you appreciate exploration, you’ll want to see every inch of its beautiful world.
💬 Are you ready to relive the golden age of JRPGs? Let me know if you’ll be adventuring with Octopath Traveler II’s eight characters or plan to sit this journey out.
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