Devastated that this game wasn't given a nomination at the Game Awards GOTY selection. Especially for its soundtrack, which they absolutely killed it with.
Yes it should have been nominated for best RPG. Instead Lies of P got nominated which I don't understand how that game is an RPG. Octopath traveler 2 most underrated game of 2023
Honestly, it doesn't deserve to be nominated. I played the first game and I REALLY didn't like it because of the lack of interaction between party members breaking my immersion, the extremely bare bones stories, the tedious combat, and the "unique" structure of the game just screwing up the pacing immensely. The only reason I paid $60 for the first game was because the demo made an amazing first impression and I really loved the art style and I ESPECIALLY loved the music. It's just such a shame that this game, which has one of my top video game soundtracks of all time, happens to be mid in the aspects that matter most. It's easily the most overrated game of all time. The second game has all of the first game's problems. That is reason enough as to why it doesn't deserve a nomination, let alone an award. If it deserves any award, it's for music. Honestly, if any JRPG deserved to be nominated for 2023, it was Trails into Reverie. Though that game was technically released in Japan in 2020, it didn't come to the West until 2023. That game was genuinely amazing - but I can see why it wasn't nominated. You literally have to play 9 whole games before Reverie to understand the plot.
As a 34yr old who has been playing RPG's since 8yr. This game and art tugs at my heart in such a way that feels nostalgic. Your review got me pumped to go get it.
I didn't play the first Octopath because, while I was enthralled by the appearance, I was put off by what I heard about the storytelling. But I played the demo for Octopath 2, and this was made 100% to appeal to me, a guy who was obsessed with Final Fantasy 6 when I was 10.. They know what they're doing. I'm probably going to buy this.
One of the best things they did was make it possible to see all travel banter in the journal so you don't miss out on potential conversations between party members because you don't have a certain character in your party at a specific time.
I love that Square Enix still makes these types of games, there's a special feeling tou get while playing them. Especially when they are well made like this
I loved the first, but wow, they absolutely killed it on the second. It’s all the good from the first, but like 10x better. I stopped mid way through hogwarts to play this and now can’t go back to hogwarts until i finish it.
@@seapanther53it’s not required as it’s a completely different story, aside from a few Easter eggs and such in the second. If you want to end up playing both I recommend playing the 1st one before the second bc the second one is so much better then the first so if you play the second one first then the first game will seem way too inferior. Sorry if that was confusing lol
i didn’t enjoy hogwarts legacy i found the combat boring and stuff outside the hogwarts castle bland but this game is amazing to me so far and ive only been playing the demo version ive always found jrpg superior to western rpgs
late answer but yeah, they're set in the same world but octopath traveler 2 is set in a different continent. Based on one of the special quest NPCs, octopath 2 seems to be set far into the past of of Octopath 1(cus that npc is dead in Octopath 1, he's younger in octopath 2). They have the same mythos/religion though but the big bad guy in their lore are different.
A small thing that i really love that they added in the game is that enemies actually have animations for their attacks. It really adds to the battles!!
I played 6 hours straight when the official game drops ans WOW!!! BOY this game is ADDICTING!!! You can't even decide which city or dungeon explore first! I completed the Chapter 3 of Throne and OMG!!! Her story keeps becoming more intriguing!!! 🤩
I bought my switch for the first Octopath. That game is still one of the best RPGs I’ve played in 20 years. This one just expanded the experience. This is going to be my game of the year for sure.
Octopath Traveler 2 is a grand classic. It is a game that revives the passion we had for Final Fantasy, something Final Fantasy has lost. Octopath brings it to the table and it hits the emotions really big.
Its just nostalgia, man. FF has not lost any of its passion, it just hasn't been pixel art or just barely 3D (FFIX) since 2000. FF is still great, and FFXVI will be amazing as well. But Team Asano's games (Bravely series, Octopath, Triangle Strategy) are specifically just trying to bring back that SNES-like style of RPG with modern visuals. Its beautiful. But yeah seriously, trust me FF is still good. Totally fine to flock to Octopath with nostalgia though.
@@zerosolis6664 I’d say it’s more mixed than that, and you can’t dismiss square enix’s lackluster previous FF games and other games in recent years. Ther`s been too many misses that have tarnished the brand. Even Yoshi P the lead director of FFXVI says that he intends to bring back the high expectation that every FF release is something special. That’s something that existed from VI to X where every release was huge and received high marks from reviewers and gamers. Where you are right is that Square seem to have got their act together recently for 16 (let’s hope) and 14 is fantastic. The others have been below the high standard set by previous FFs. FF should keep innovating the battle system but the story and characters in recent ones has been below standard. OCT2 is high quality and has what Square do best which goes beyond nostalgia as new fans discover it.
@@makasete30 I can and I will dismiss the implied notion that XII and XIII are lackluster FF games, that's just your opinion, even if many agree. I value both quite highly for various reasons, but in the end they are both intricate games that established a new direction forward. 15 and 7 Remake and I am sure 16 as well build upon the evolutions in gameplay made in 12 and 13. They didn't tarnish the brand in any way whatsoever.
@@zerosolis6664What FF represents to each of us is completely subjective. I agree 100% with them that Final Fantasy has lost its way as a series, and Octopath has truly taken the reins in a spiritual sense. For me it has very little to do with nostalgia, and just great story-telling, fun battle mechanics, and a believable world that's engrossing to explore. The only part of this that is nostalgia-related is some aspects of the art style, and even that is largely different than the games we grew up with. But of course, my opinions and experiences are my own, just as yours are yours. *All of our views on this are subjective and it's fine to disagree.*
I havent been so emotionally invested in a game since I played Hollow Knight and the first Ori game! The art in OT2 is so unbelievably amazing it is hard to put into words and the stories are so captivating. What a game!
I had no prior knowledge of this channel, and the OPT2 review brought me in. This was a wonderful, well-organized video. I’ll be subscribing and stayed tune for future uploads.
hunter is such an improvment not having to recapture favored monsters over and over because of small summon limits, it encourages me to use weaker monsters instead of the first game where i never used it much beyond caits and later boss fights, would really never use them in a random battle. auto capture on monster kill is genius and if it ever gets annoying you can turn if off any time as often as you want without hasseling you with constraints.
I'm glad OT2 is getting the attention it deserves and I'm also glad to hear it address most of the issues people had with the first game. Maybe next game they'll be about six MCs for better character interactions.
Excellent review! I think in most cases I agree with you on backup characters not getting exp but for me personally it works for Octopath. I like playing through a set of 4 stories and then a second set of 4 stories so being able to do that organically with 2 parties feels nice. I agree with just about everything else though!
I've started with Osvald and man immediately I got hooked on the characters and story wow wow wow. Love this game! Started with the three hour demo but instantly bought the whole game with no regrets
Octopath Traveler became a shocking favorite for me back in 2018, the characters, music and graphics were super beautiful and just drew me in. I'm sad that they didn't add more of intersecting stories but I'm sure as heck ready to engage again!
There's Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes coming up soon. Looks similar to Octopath Traveller with the HD-2D art style. Plus it also has multiple protagonists just like Octopath. Might be one to watch when it comes out in a couple of months.
Do you need to have certain characters be a certain level, or do you need to preform side objectives or sidequests to unlock them? I'm not sure how that works. (Picked up the game 3 days ago)
This game is going on the back burner for me as I have a ton of games I'm playing and books I'm reading. But I'm very much looking forward to checking this out eventually.
This was a perfect review, pros and cons, acknowledged where you came from in regards to the first game, and just really focused on how the game improved. Cause that's, to me, the most important thing to consider here, is the improvement. This game is Octopath 1, on steroids. They said, "ok, we have X number of years to make this game, what can we improve on in the time we have, GO" And they f*cking did it. The team that worked on it probably had a strict deadline and had to decide what to improve on and how, and if we are so blessed, and if we get a third entry, I truly believe they will do what they can to up their game even further. This game is a product of so much dedication and love and I personally will pour hours and hours and hours into it. 11/10 This game was made for people like me and I'm going to go jump into bed with my Switch and a charger and will not be seen for the next 60+ hours ✌️
I played octo 1 and absolutely loved it despite not completing it. HD2D art from square enix is phenomenal. The soundtrack is great too and the combat was fun. I’m excited to play octo 2 thanks to this video review. Well done Matty. I genuinely wish as a Pokémon fan that this art style was the direction that series evolved into. I can’t emphasize enough how well I think Pokémon would benefit from a return to their 2D roots and charm
Best review by far. I wasn’t a big fan of the first, so I wasn’t even thinking about this, but you made key points that changed my mind to at least try the demo, and now I’m hooked.
Great review .. I have never played many games from square enix (Only one Final Fantasy game only). I am more of a Diablo, Last of Us, God Of War.. Sports game person. It was a little skeptical on playing this, so I downloaded it on all of my platforms , PC, PS5 and switch and gave the demo a try on all of my systems, took a little getting used to , but man.. did I get "hooked", fantastic game.. This game comes close in terms of replay value as my all time favorite Zelda, Breath of the Wild.
HD 2D remake of FF6 and chrono trigger would be lovely. Especially with full voice acting. I’m incredibly pumped for Sea of Stars the demo blew me away.
I'm glad you waited to post your review Matty because the details you talk about are mentioned in very few reviews. It feels like you actually played the game to completion unlike the other "journalists" out there who post for clicks. Also Matty IGNs reviewer complained about the final boss fight being very difficult requiring many hours of grinding, can you speak to this at all?
Yes. As I said toward the latter part of the review, the game's design where you can only have 4 party members without any backups getting XP inherently forces grinding. That said, I expected this after the first game and made sure the party didn't fall behind. There are tricks like using the dancer's Bewildering Grace to hit a big XP bonus or that rare cat encounter, but otherwise you're going to have to grind a decent amount.
I feel like partitio is the best character to tie the other travelers together because his motives seem like the coherent path to bring them all together.
For the character interactions with each other, the snipets you can watch during chapters are way too hidden imo, you have to press start/option when it poops up top right. It feels like they want to push some interactions but did not pinpoint how yet. There is even a discussion in an inn where Throné/Oswald/Ochette/Hikari plan a heist and then it skips to after the heist, almost like they lacked the time to actually setup a 4 character chapter. Hopefully this point will be addressed in a 3rd game.
Just finished this game today and wow! Completely blown away. The music is the best I’ve heard in a video game. The only story I didn’t care as much about was Agnea’s but it wasn’t bad.
Great review! I can't wait to get home and play it. One question though in regards to the lack of character interactions. In one of the character trailers, they talked about the Crossed Path questlines where 2 character would share a story. And it seemed like there'd be multiple instances of it since the preview showed "part 1". I was hoping it'd alleviate how separated and individual the characters seem. Did you encounter it since you didn't mention it in your review?
You have me so stoked to play this game I ALMOST put off Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. Almost. I am so excited to play it, though. What platform do you recommend playing Octopath Travelers 2 on?
What they really need to do is just add a post game dlc storyline. All of the characters are now together….raise the level cap, add a few more jobs…and there you go…people that want the cohesion can have it.
But it would be " Too grindy ", People can't grind and don't want to . dlc might be a thing tho bexause there is that one part of the map that we can't explore and it trigger me
I enjoyed the first one, wasn’t perfect, but the grind killed me towards the end and I never finished it. I know this is gonna be just as grindy and heard the final boss is a real pain so I’m gonna wait to get it used. I just don’t have the patience anymore. The random battles should have been gone or at least give us an option to explore without random encounters on. When I was playing jrpgs in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I could grind because I was younger. I’m 34 now. I’m over it
Ngl Don’t mind the grind tbh. There were good videos online for Octopath 1 when it came it reduce it a good amount. So if they do the same it wiIl it will be better tbh. But I get what ur saying tho
If you keep Cyrus in your party his first passive skill that’s unlocked is Evasive Maneuvers which limits random encounters. I never equipped that skill because I enjoy the grind, it prepares you for the bosses.
Seriously? No one is gonna mention my dude, Partitio? I really didn't give him much thought at all, but after realizing how samey and tedious the other characters' conflicts and personalities were, I started just skipping thru a lot of the dialogue. But then Partitio enters and I am thoroughly endeared by this character; he seems the most genuine sort of salt of the earth character, i love everything he does and says. And man does he start paying dividends with extra XP and JP. Leagues ahead of Tressa from the first one. I'd say he has no business being this compelling of a character, but "business" is his bread and butter 😆
The only disappointment is that the physical Copy doesn’t have artwork on the inside like the first game did. But honestly this new game is incredible just like the first!
Aw man, that's a bummer. I loved that about the first game's packaging, especially since the boxes no longer include any type of pamphlet or printed material that boxes for older game consoles did-- so, the artwork on the interior cover just added that little extra something special to the packaging. As someone who likes to collect physical copies of console games that I really love (and books too), this has been one of my major gripes with the packaging of Switch games (and increasingly with other consoles, as physical ownership seems to be something that developers are attempting to phase out, unfortunately for collectors).
I picked up on that as well. It's a very minor thing for me since I keep all my cartridges in a separate place and never open the original boxes. It does make one wonder why they didn't include artwork in this second release.
Im currently midway story wise, I never played the 1st Octopath traveler. But i absolutely already love the 2nd game so much lol. The music always fits perfectly to the thing that currently happens, it has awesome rpg gameplay, and I absolutely adore the artstyle. It is even fairly Grim and brutal for a game that is rated 12. Especially the Thorne story, many things are hidden in dialogues so that younger player wouldn’t understand it. But they make it usually pretty clear when u read stuff in between basically, or read the personal information on NPC. Made me feel depressed sometimes, I rly wanted a way to help the person in Thorne story line…….. But so far it’s just an amazing game, and all storylines are pretty awesome, Favorites so far for me, Cassti,Thorne,Osvald and Ochette.Ochettes is just rly happy tomeboyish and joyful story in comparison to most others,thats why it’s included. U can’t just keep doing storylines that make u cry
Did they FINALLY implement an auto play button for the dialogue? I would like to sit back and just watch a cutscene play out instead of having to hit a button after every single sentence.
Did they fix the stories not overlapping and it feeling like 8 solo experiences that happened to have a trail of people behind them? Always loved the artstyle but the JRPG genre is eating so well the last few years I don't have it in me to play through another octopath if they don't rectify that. edit; bummer; also the notion that gaining a boat is a fun new idea for a jrpg is wild >_
There are some crossovers/banter, but not the cohesive storyline that I think fans were hoping for. Each of the individual stories are excellent IMO, so I care less this time around. That said, if they miss the mark on a couple of stories which is very possible then that framework can come crumbling down.
i don't think octopath traveler is the concept some people are looking for, because it doesn't NEED to be. octopath is not concerned with telling ONE story but eight different stories in a sort of anthology format. the paths may intersect at some points and there may be one unifying theme or threat tying them together, but i think that so long as people keep coming into octopath with this mindset and not accepting it for what it is - a playable anthology - they'll be constantly disappointed. but i promise that the experience really isn't less enjoyable just because the stories do not come together into one narrative. i don't think this game is any less enjoyable than the latter concept we could have gotten, but as a fan of the series and the fact they're doing something different and unique, to have octopath work with eight stories that eventually intersect into one narrative just wouldn't...feel like octopath anymore. in fact that feels like the very predictable and very mainstream thing to do. best thing i can say is to take octopath 2 for what it is and enjoy the fun gameplay, visually stunning worlds, gorgeous music, memorable characters, and enjoy the ride.
Just wanted to say that I tried this game out after watching this video and I've discovered what might be one of the best RPGs I've played recently. Great video, keep it up! :)
The thing about Alfyns story much like Tressa (and Partitio), is that he has no real destination. He is are merely setting out on an adventure where as the other characters have a final destinations. Alfyn sets out to help other people wherever that may be. And Tressa sets out to become a traveling merchant. And there is beauty in that simplicity. For me at least. As for Olberic, I like to compare that story to Castti’s. They are both setting out on their journey to find themselves and as chance has it. They both end up saving a city or a kingdom. However I can agree that the execution of Olberics story could have taken a different approach.
I also had a crash where my ps5 completely shut down, and its a new console. The crash happened during the cutscene for the next chapter with Osvald. Fans immediately, for unknown reasons started to spin like crazy and the console shut itself down without any warning.
Took me this long to start it. Now I've grown to love this game beyond any other. It's absolutely perfect imo. Oh and my Osvald is also an inventor lmao
As someone who absolutely adored the first game and was faintly hoping every Nintendo Direct for a sequel to be announced, when it finally happened my expectations were pretty dang high, and it somehow managed to surpass them with a cast I adore just as much as the original and general improvements across the board, this game is an absolute blast and a strong contender for my favourite game of all time.
The shouldve had 8 in the party like the mobile game. Or send the not in party members on side missions. Better yet like in ff6 have multiple party groups that have to help each other out to get through a map area.
I loved Octopath 1 and I really loved 2 as well. There was one story in OT 1 (Primrose) that made me had my kids wait until they were a little older so my youngest is playing OT 1 now and I just finished OT 2. I'll say, alot of the noted upgrades I think are probably from two things, one more experience in the HD-2D style (sprite work had basically been a lost art by the mid 2010s) and more development money. OT 1 was basically a skunk project at Square and ran on a shoestring budget conpared to most Square offerings. You can tell that Octopath 1's success lead to more resources for the second game that allowed for Octopath 2 to have basically more everything.
Just want to ask. 1. How’s the grinding? It was obnoxious in the first game. 2. How’s the bosses health bloat? It was egregious in the first game, especially in endgame. 3. In relation to point 2, do we still need specific build to get over certain bosses or it’s a case of free for all?
30 plus hours in and at 29% lol. It's amazing. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this game, but this is everything I could've hoped for to scratch that PS1 jrpg itch. No need to rush remasters and remakes to that extent if they can make high quality jrpgs like this. Unreal.
I'm just stoked to have a new turn based combat fantasy game. Every franchise that used to do it so well (Final Fantasy, looking at you) seems to have veered sharply away from it and I never got into it. I much prefer being able to take a breath and plan my tactics out and when it goes off it just feels so satisfying
It's wild, I mean I love action RPG games and all but when I was a kid I wanted turn based series to turn action based and now as an adult I look back and man I miss turn based, I appreciate action rpgs still but turn based games just idk feel more like art usually and the strategy and tactics elements is more enjoyable to me then reflex based muscle memory gaming action gives ya. Like DQ11,Fire emblem three houses,persona and now Octopath are some of my favorite games.
I did not feel I needed to grind at all. Instead of jumping all around the map after first visiting a town, at least for the first four chapters, I take the long route to a destination, doing chapters as I go along the path. The battles I encounter ended up being more than enough by the time I got to the last chapters of the last two characters. Plus, there are multiple ways of increasing the amount of EXP you earn from battles to make for even less grinding.
The first one was my favorite Game Pass game until I played The Rift Breaker. I beat both of those and I will say, Octopath Traveler has IMO the best game soundtrack ever.
I remember struggling to understand how to play Octopath Traveler cause I am new to the turn-based genre. Really hoping OT2 will be more beginner friendly 🤞🏻
It….kinda isn’t. If anything it is more complex and still very punishing. Best way I can recommend to have the fewest problems? Do NOT enter an area or boss fight if you are significantly under-leveled. All areas have “risk levels” posted when you enter them. Try to adhere to what the game suggests or it’s gonna be pretty hard
Hold up!! I will be having zero slander for Olberic The Unbending Blade here my guy!!! That great man did not defend his king and country just to have his best friend betray him for another nation’s benefit and lose everything just to have a mere peasant belittle his valiant deeds with such contempt.
honestly the best description to gave Octopath Traveler 1 is "Theatric" everything plays like some sort of theater, from how the characters perform, the music, the static camera as if you're basically the audience Octopath 2 basically trying to shake everything up to be more "Cinematic" with far more camera movement, more characters animation, more practical effects, etc
Your critic of the grindy nature was given a solution with the night cycle, you get more Xp & Jp fighting at night to reduce the time to level up different characters.
My biggest concern is the money in the game. After getting more characters, I had to use exploits to keep up with equipment costs and job changes. How is it in this game because things were high in the first game.
praying that in the 3rd game, they remove random encounters and the grind as that the only thing that preventing me from buying. Random encounters and grinding is such a outdated mechanic that I really get confused why it's still in modern RPGs, having overworld enemies and party exp for those not in battle are needed.
i think it's probably because octopath is purposely trying to recreate the same feeling / experience as games of old, it's not really supposed to be an entirely modern rpg... but i hate random encounters too! which is why evasive maneuvers skill from the scholar's class is a must for me. honestly if the gameplay in this game wasn't as fun as it is, i flatout wouldn't play it because of the random encounters. i think the good gameplay makes it work, though.
Played the demo and did hikaru and castes prologues and man I was blown away. The music is incredible the combat action are just great and the areas are gorgeous with the day and night cycle. It’s coming tomorrow it will be a nice game to play for a couple months. I loved the first one but I put it down and then I restrared then I out it down for person 5 and then never picked it up again
My copy did not arrive until 2 days ago, but as a voracious RPG guy since I received FFI at original release, I’ve spent so much time just being mesmerized by everything in this one. Beautiful and amazing work!
Minutes into playing the demo with Ochette the huntress as my toothsome ringleader, I was smitten, shaking down my good pal to spot me the loot to buy in right away. It's a great evening cool down game which beckons many hours of enchanting play thanks to its charming graphics and narrative. (Water is especially well rendered.) I love the wizened action, will all its "wrinkles". The crazy thing is I only truly got into it once I'd unlocked all companions, the last being the whimsical Agni, and started pursuing further chapters whilst fully discovering the World map. The grinding isn't too bad; it's light compared to most games. You've also got to love the temper tantrum the unpicked companion throws at the beginning.🙃
I 100% completed the game (all trophies) on PS5 a few weeks ago. I loved this game. Despite a single playthrough or 100% the game taking a long time, I still find myself wanting 'more'. I wish there was a harder difficulty or a new game +. Recently found out that Steam has a mod for a harder difficulty to add some replayability. Legit considering buying that.
So one issue I had with the first game is that the character stories felt disconnected. I don’t so much mean that the characters weren’t talking to each other, but more that their stories barely even felt like there were taking place in the same world. I’d like if there were just some subtle connecting elements between the stories, nothing major, but something to make the each character story feel somewhat relevant to the others. Did octo II improve on this at all?
Appreciate the brilliant and thoughtful work that went into this review, especially after IGN’s disappointing take. Clearly it’s an improvement over the original, yet it receives a lower score from IGN. I get it doesn’t innovate, but neither did God of War Ragnarök over 2018’s release, yet it still receives a 10. Regardless, thumbs up for treating Octopath Traveler 2 as the artistic work it is!
I got this friday for my birthday (it released on my birthday lol) and so far I'm loving it, I've only played a little, but I started as Hikari, and loved the opening chapter for him. After playing some of the first game and just sort of falling out of love with it, I am so ready for this one
I really enjoy your thoughtful game reviews. Your insightful review of Octopath Traveler 2 has also got me pumped to go get this game and try it for myself. Cheers!
There is a balance to grinding in this game. The enemies don't level with you like elder scrolls. If your "benched" characters got exp while not using them they would be way over leveled when you decide to do their chapters. So while grinding out your current line up of lvl 50 characters for their respective chapters your not over leveling your benched lvl 30 characters.
Devastated that this game wasn't given a nomination at the Game Awards GOTY selection. Especially for its soundtrack, which they absolutely killed it with.
The music is the best I’ve heard in a game. Huge snubbed!
Yes it should have been nominated for best RPG. Instead Lies of P got nominated which I don't understand how that game is an RPG.
Octopath traveler 2 most underrated game of 2023
Square enix logic : you no Final Fantasy, you no get award nominated
I know right, at least for best soundtrack. Absolutely a crime big time
Honestly, it doesn't deserve to be nominated. I played the first game and I REALLY didn't like it because of the lack of interaction between party members breaking my immersion, the extremely bare bones stories, the tedious combat, and the "unique" structure of the game just screwing up the pacing immensely. The only reason I paid $60 for the first game was because the demo made an amazing first impression and I really loved the art style and I ESPECIALLY loved the music. It's just such a shame that this game, which has one of my top video game soundtracks of all time, happens to be mid in the aspects that matter most. It's easily the most overrated game of all time.
The second game has all of the first game's problems. That is reason enough as to why it doesn't deserve a nomination, let alone an award. If it deserves any award, it's for music.
Honestly, if any JRPG deserved to be nominated for 2023, it was Trails into Reverie. Though that game was technically released in Japan in 2020, it didn't come to the West until 2023. That game was genuinely amazing - but I can see why it wasn't nominated. You literally have to play 9 whole games before Reverie to understand the plot.
As a 34yr old who has been playing RPG's since 8yr. This game and art tugs at my heart in such a way that feels nostalgic. Your review got me pumped to go get it.
this game is a breath of fresh air… its just been mediocre slop for past 3 years
same here on all counts boss.
If you like old school JRPGs, I recommend Final Fantasy IV and V and Dragon Quest V. Its available on mobile also.
@@_CrimsonBladetriangle strategy was pretty decent
I didn't play the first Octopath because, while I was enthralled by the appearance, I was put off by what I heard about the storytelling. But I played the demo for Octopath 2, and this was made 100% to appeal to me, a guy who was obsessed with Final Fantasy 6 when I was 10.. They know what they're doing. I'm probably going to buy this.
One of the best things they did was make it possible to see all travel banter in the journal so you don't miss out on potential conversations between party members because you don't have a certain character in your party at a specific time.
YOU CANNOT MISS OUT ANYMORE?
That is huge for me. This game is quickly becoming more beloved than the original
This game is such a homage to old school 16-bit rpg’s. They’re hard, they don’t hold your hand, I love it, this game is amazing.
Indoor know on which point OPTC2 was hard. But still a great game ❤
And full of secrets and hidden discoveries, which OT1 didn't have.
It's actually closer to the 32-bit era of RPGs when you really look at it.
I love that Square Enix still makes these types of games, there's a special feeling tou get while playing them. Especially when they are well made like this
I loved the first, but wow, they absolutely killed it on the second. It’s all the good from the first, but like 10x better. I stopped mid way through hogwarts to play this and now can’t go back to hogwarts until i finish it.
Do you recommend playing the first one first?
@@seapanther53it’s not required as it’s a completely different story, aside from a few Easter eggs and such in the second.
If you want to end up playing both I recommend playing the 1st one before the second bc the second one is so much better then the first so if you play the second one first then the first game will seem way too inferior. Sorry if that was confusing lol
i didn’t enjoy hogwarts legacy i found the combat boring and stuff outside the hogwarts castle bland but this game is amazing to me so far and ive only been playing the demo version ive always found jrpg superior to western rpgs
@@cheddarsunchipsyes8144so it's like final fantasy with different histories and characters in each game?
late answer but yeah, they're set in the same world but octopath traveler 2 is set in a different continent. Based on one of the special quest NPCs, octopath 2 seems to be set far into the past of of Octopath 1(cus that npc is dead in Octopath 1, he's younger in octopath 2). They have the same mythos/religion though but the big bad guy in their lore are different.
A small thing that i really love that they added in the game is that enemies actually have animations for their attacks. It really adds to the battles!!
I played 6 hours straight when the official game drops ans WOW!!!
BOY this game is ADDICTING!!!
You can't even decide which city or dungeon explore first! I completed the Chapter 3 of Throne and OMG!!! Her story keeps becoming more intriguing!!! 🤩
I hear you, I played all weekend and couldn't sleep because the music was playing in my head.
@@Peanutfiendsblog Throne's story is the most fucked up story i have experienced in a good way bar none.
@@mrlacksoriginality4877 Yeah it's like that show Dollhouse almost. It's creepy AF.
I bought my switch for the first Octopath. That game is still one of the best RPGs I’ve played in 20 years. This one just expanded the experience. This is going to be my game of the year for sure.
I finished this a few weeks ago, its easily in my top 5 games of my life. Its brilliant.
The OST in 1 was incredible so I’m really looking forward to 2!
Octopath Traveler 2 is a grand classic. It is a game that revives the passion we had for Final Fantasy, something Final Fantasy has lost. Octopath brings it to the table and it hits the emotions really big.
Its just nostalgia, man. FF has not lost any of its passion, it just hasn't been pixel art or just barely 3D (FFIX) since 2000. FF is still great, and FFXVI will be amazing as well. But Team Asano's games (Bravely series, Octopath, Triangle Strategy) are specifically just trying to bring back that SNES-like style of RPG with modern visuals. Its beautiful. But yeah seriously, trust me FF is still good. Totally fine to flock to Octopath with nostalgia though.
@@zerosolis6664 I’d say it’s more mixed than that, and you can’t dismiss square enix’s lackluster previous FF games and other games in recent years. Ther`s been too many misses that have tarnished the brand.
Even Yoshi P the lead director of FFXVI says that he intends to bring back the high expectation that every FF release is something special. That’s something that existed from VI to X where every release was huge and received high marks from reviewers and gamers.
Where you are right is that Square seem to have got their act together recently for 16 (let’s hope) and 14 is fantastic. The others have been below the high standard set by previous FFs. FF should keep innovating the battle system but the story and characters in recent ones has been below standard.
OCT2 is high quality and has what Square do best which goes beyond nostalgia as new fans discover it.
@@zerosolis6664 Well said.
@@makasete30 I can and I will dismiss the implied notion that XII and XIII are lackluster FF games, that's just your opinion, even if many agree. I value both quite highly for various reasons, but in the end they are both intricate games that established a new direction forward. 15 and 7 Remake and I am sure 16 as well build upon the evolutions in gameplay made in 12 and 13. They didn't tarnish the brand in any way whatsoever.
@@zerosolis6664What FF represents to each of us is completely subjective. I agree 100% with them that Final Fantasy has lost its way as a series, and Octopath has truly taken the reins in a spiritual sense. For me it has very little to do with nostalgia, and just great story-telling, fun battle mechanics, and a believable world that's engrossing to explore. The only part of this that is nostalgia-related is some aspects of the art style, and even that is largely different than the games we grew up with. But of course, my opinions and experiences are my own, just as yours are yours. *All of our views on this are subjective and it's fine to disagree.*
I havent been so emotionally invested in a game since I played Hollow Knight and the first Ori game!
The art in OT2 is so unbelievably amazing it is hard to put into words and the stories are so captivating.
What a game!
I had no prior knowledge of this channel, and the OPT2 review brought me in.
This was a wonderful, well-organized video. I’ll be subscribing and stayed tune for future uploads.
hunter is such an improvment not having to recapture favored monsters over and over because of small summon limits, it encourages me to use weaker monsters instead of the first game where i never used it much beyond caits and later boss fights, would really never use them in a random battle.
auto capture on monster kill is genius and if it ever gets annoying you can turn if off any time as often as you want without hasseling you with constraints.
I'm glad OT2 is getting the attention it deserves and I'm also glad to hear it address most of the issues people had with the first game. Maybe next game they'll be about six MCs for better character interactions.
If they lowered the MCs to 6 then SE would have to rename the game to Sexopath Traveler
@@suigeneris886 My therapist thinks I’m a sexopath
Do you need to have playec the first one?
@@fernandozavaletabustos205 no completely different world
@@ShiroDawn Thank you for answering!
Excellent review! I think in most cases I agree with you on backup characters not getting exp but for me personally it works for Octopath. I like playing through a set of 4 stories and then a second set of 4 stories so being able to do that organically with 2 parties feels nice. I agree with just about everything else though!
As someone who played the original, I am NOT shocked this one turned out really good
I've started with Osvald and man immediately I got hooked on the characters and story wow wow wow. Love this game! Started with the three hour demo but instantly bought the whole game with no regrets
Got an early copy 11 days ago and I agree, it's another amazing entry in the series. Better than the already excellent first one!
Nice! Amen to that.
Is it a direct sequel or is it it's own story? Can you enjoy it without playing the first one?
@@snake098765 It is its own story. So i definitely recommend getting it. It is like a direct upgrade from the first one
How did you get an early copy
i thought the first one was better
Octopath Traveler became a shocking favorite for me back in 2018, the characters, music and graphics were super beautiful and just drew me in. I'm sad that they didn't add more of intersecting stories but I'm sure as heck ready to engage again!
Need more games in this art style from other developers
square has more in the works, I believe FF tacts and maybe FF3. In this style anyway.
@@killval849 Dragon Quest 3 also i believe.
We need more games with pong style graphics
There's Eiyuden Chronicles: Hundred Heroes coming up soon. Looks similar to Octopath Traveller with the HD-2D art style. Plus it also has multiple protagonists just like Octopath. Might be one to watch when it comes out in a couple of months.
ooooh baby some dragon quest in this style.
No joke, this is the best video review I have ever seen in my life. Kudos, Matty!!
I'd argue the character interactions/stories being interwoven is much better in this game with the addition of crossed path chapters!
Do you need to have certain characters be a certain level, or do you need to preform side objectives or sidequests to unlock them? I'm not sure how that works. (Picked up the game 3 days ago)
Your review has been the most insightful one so far!
This game is going on the back burner for me as I have a ton of games I'm playing and books I'm reading. But I'm very much looking forward to checking this out eventually.
This was a perfect review, pros and cons, acknowledged where you came from in regards to the first game, and just really focused on how the game improved. Cause that's, to me, the most important thing to consider here, is the improvement. This game is Octopath 1, on steroids. They said, "ok, we have X number of years to make this game, what can we improve on in the time we have, GO" And they f*cking did it. The team that worked on it probably had a strict deadline and had to decide what to improve on and how, and if we are so blessed, and if we get a third entry, I truly believe they will do what they can to up their game even further. This game is a product of so much dedication and love and I personally will pour hours and hours and hours into it. 11/10 This game was made for people like me and I'm going to go jump into bed with my Switch and a charger and will not be seen for the next 60+ hours ✌️
I hope they never change the main theme for the Octopath games. It has become one of the most iconic themes in gaming after one, now two entries.
I played octo 1 and absolutely loved it despite not completing it. HD2D art from square enix is phenomenal. The soundtrack is great too and the combat was fun. I’m excited to play octo 2 thanks to this video review. Well done Matty. I genuinely wish as a Pokémon fan that this art style was the direction that series evolved into. I can’t emphasize enough how well I think Pokémon would benefit from a return to their 2D roots and charm
based take, i agree completely about Pokémon. it died with the 3d change
Best review by far. I wasn’t a big fan of the first, so I wasn’t even thinking about this, but you made key points that changed my mind to at least try the demo, and now I’m hooked.
What parts of the first did you not like? I'm kind of curious
Thank you for all the reviews you do Matty! I look forward to all your reviews!
Great review .. I have never played many games from square enix (Only one Final Fantasy game only). I am more of a Diablo, Last of Us, God Of War.. Sports game person. It was a little skeptical on playing this, so I downloaded it on all of my platforms , PC, PS5 and switch and gave the demo a try on all of my systems, took a little getting used to , but man.. did I get "hooked", fantastic game.. This game comes close in terms of replay value as my all time favorite Zelda, Breath of the Wild.
HD 2D remake of FF6 and chrono trigger would be lovely. Especially with full voice acting. I’m incredibly pumped for Sea of Stars the demo blew me away.
Matt ur reviews are absolutely excellent.
The unique maps that allow me to explore without spoiling something is kinda the thing that sold me on the game
I'm glad you waited to post your review Matty because the details you talk about are mentioned in very few reviews. It feels like you actually played the game to completion unlike the other "journalists" out there who post for clicks.
Also Matty IGNs reviewer complained about the final boss fight being very difficult requiring many hours of grinding, can you speak to this at all?
Yes. As I said toward the latter part of the review, the game's design where you can only have 4 party members without any backups getting XP inherently forces grinding. That said, I expected this after the first game and made sure the party didn't fall behind. There are tricks like using the dancer's Bewildering Grace to hit a big XP bonus or that rare cat encounter, but otherwise you're going to have to grind a decent amount.
I feel like partitio is the best character to tie the other travelers together because his motives seem like the coherent path to bring them all together.
For the character interactions with each other, the snipets you can watch during chapters are way too hidden imo, you have to press start/option when it poops up top right.
It feels like they want to push some interactions but did not pinpoint how yet. There is even a discussion in an inn where Throné/Oswald/Ochette/Hikari plan a heist and then it skips to after the heist, almost like they lacked the time to actually setup a 4 character chapter.
Hopefully this point will be addressed in a 3rd game.
This game is beautiful and the stories are genuinely good
Just finished this game today and wow! Completely blown away. The music is the best I’ve heard in a video game. The only story I didn’t care as much about was Agnea’s but it wasn’t bad.
The backup characters still not leveling sucks but I'm excited to play!
Great review! I can't wait to get home and play it. One question though in regards to the lack of character interactions.
In one of the character trailers, they talked about the Crossed Path questlines where 2 character would share a story. And it seemed like there'd be multiple instances of it since the preview showed "part 1". I was hoping it'd alleviate how separated and individual the characters seem. Did you encounter it since you didn't mention it in your review?
There are 4 crossed paths with 2 parts each. There is also a final chapter.
You have me so stoked to play this game I ALMOST put off Zelda Tears of the Kingdom. Almost. I am so excited to play it, though. What platform do you recommend playing Octopath Travelers 2 on?
What they really need to do is just add a post game dlc storyline. All of the characters are now together….raise the level cap, add a few more jobs…and there you go…people that want the cohesion can have it.
But it would be " Too grindy ", People can't grind and don't want to . dlc might be a thing tho bexause there is that one part of the map that we can't explore and it trigger me
I enjoyed the first one, wasn’t perfect, but the grind killed me towards the end and I never finished it. I know this is gonna be just as grindy and heard the final boss is a real pain so I’m gonna wait to get it used. I just don’t have the patience anymore. The random battles should have been gone or at least give us an option to explore without random encounters on. When I was playing jrpgs in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I could grind because I was younger. I’m 34 now. I’m over it
Thats exactly me haha. I only have like 3-4 characters all at their chapter 4s. Them secret dungeons are brutal but fun too except the grinding lol.
it's what squenix always does. giving you tons of grind make up for the lack of real content... all of their games are grindy af
Ngl Don’t mind the grind tbh. There were good videos online for Octopath 1 when it came it reduce it a good amount. So if they do the same it wiIl it will be better tbh. But I get what ur saying tho
Play Chained Echoes, its the solution to all Your problems
If you keep Cyrus in your party his first passive skill that’s unlocked is Evasive Maneuvers which limits random encounters. I never equipped that skill because I enjoy the grind, it prepares you for the bosses.
Seriously? No one is gonna mention my dude, Partitio? I really didn't give him much thought at all, but after realizing how samey and tedious the other characters' conflicts and personalities were, I started just skipping thru a lot of the dialogue. But then Partitio enters and I am thoroughly endeared by this character; he seems the most genuine sort of salt of the earth character, i love everything he does and says. And man does he start paying dividends with extra XP and JP. Leagues ahead of Tressa from the first one. I'd say he has no business being this compelling of a character, but "business" is his bread and butter 😆
I’ve waited five long years and I’m taking today off to binge some OT2! Dig how you pronounce Enix correctly btw
This my friends is excellence in motion. Thanks for the fantastic and genuine review!
The only disappointment is that the physical Copy doesn’t have artwork on the inside like the first game did. But honestly this new game is incredible just like the first!
Aw man, that's a bummer. I loved that about the first game's packaging, especially since the boxes no longer include any type of pamphlet or printed material that boxes for older game consoles did-- so, the artwork on the interior cover just added that little extra something special to the packaging. As someone who likes to collect physical copies of console games that I really love (and books too), this has been one of my major gripes with the packaging of Switch games (and increasingly with other consoles, as physical ownership seems to be something that developers are attempting to phase out, unfortunately for collectors).
Oooof that hurts Hurts to hear, time to get it digitally
I picked up on that as well. It's a very minor thing for me since I keep all my cartridges in a separate place and never open the original boxes.
It does make one wonder why they didn't include artwork in this second release.
The STEELBOOK version did have beautiful artwork on the inside but the regular physical copy has nothing
@@zach177 good to hear! My steelbook is still on the way. BestBuy didn't have it in stock at the store. It was a free preorder, so no complaints.
Olberic's story was existential and great! He's my main character, and I thoroughly enjoyed his story.
Wrong game but true
Im currently midway story wise, I never played the 1st Octopath traveler. But i absolutely already love the 2nd game so much lol. The music always fits perfectly to the thing that currently happens, it has awesome rpg gameplay, and I absolutely adore the artstyle. It is even fairly Grim and brutal for a game that is rated 12. Especially the Thorne story, many things are hidden in dialogues so that younger player wouldn’t understand it. But they make it usually pretty clear when u read stuff in between basically, or read the personal information on NPC. Made me feel depressed sometimes, I rly wanted a way to help the person in Thorne story line……..
But so far it’s just an amazing game, and all storylines are pretty awesome, Favorites so far for me, Cassti,Thorne,Osvald and Ochette.Ochettes is just rly happy tomeboyish and joyful story in comparison to most others,thats why it’s included. U can’t just keep doing storylines that make u cry
Did they FINALLY implement an auto play button for the dialogue? I would like to sit back and just watch a cutscene play out instead of having to hit a button after every single sentence.
If I remember correctly in the demo you can press R to switch to autoplay
Yes there is autoplay if u press L or R
@@fairmonkey4786 Thank you!
@@dabblerofmost 👍
It was in the first as well if I remember correctly…
Did they fix the stories not overlapping and it feeling like 8 solo experiences that happened to have a trail of people behind them?
Always loved the artstyle but the JRPG genre is eating so well the last few years I don't have it in me to play through another octopath if they don't rectify that.
edit; bummer; also the notion that gaining a boat is a fun new idea for a jrpg is wild >_
There are some crossovers/banter, but not the cohesive storyline that I think fans were hoping for. Each of the individual stories are excellent IMO, so I care less this time around. That said, if they miss the mark on a couple of stories which is very possible then that framework can come crumbling down.
Yeah wish there were more interaction
@@retrorebound8887 Cheers brother, fingers crossed one day we get some bioware-esque party banter and connections
i don't think octopath traveler is the concept some people are looking for, because it doesn't NEED to be. octopath is not concerned with telling ONE story but eight different stories in a sort of anthology format. the paths may intersect at some points and there may be one unifying theme or threat tying them together, but i think that so long as people keep coming into octopath with this mindset and not accepting it for what it is - a playable anthology - they'll be constantly disappointed.
but i promise that the experience really isn't less enjoyable just because the stories do not come together into one narrative. i don't think this game is any less enjoyable than the latter concept we could have gotten, but as a fan of the series and the fact they're doing something different and unique, to have octopath work with eight stories that eventually intersect into one narrative just wouldn't...feel like octopath anymore. in fact that feels like the very predictable and very mainstream thing to do.
best thing i can say is to take octopath 2 for what it is and enjoy the fun gameplay, visually stunning worlds, gorgeous music, memorable characters, and enjoy the ride.
Just wanted to say that I tried this game out after watching this video and I've discovered what might be one of the best RPGs I've played recently. Great video, keep it up! :)
I really want to try these games. Love the art style.
There is a 3 hour demo if you want to try it first 😎
The thing about Alfyns story much like Tressa (and Partitio), is that he has no real destination. He is are merely setting out on an adventure where as the other characters have a final destinations. Alfyn sets out to help other people wherever that may be. And Tressa sets out to become a traveling merchant. And there is beauty in that simplicity. For me at least. As for Olberic, I like to compare that story to Castti’s. They are both setting out on their journey to find themselves and as chance has it. They both end up saving a city or a kingdom. However I can agree that the execution of Olberics story could have taken a different approach.
Nice job Matty! I’m looking forward to playing this game.
I also had a crash where my ps5 completely shut down, and its a new console. The crash happened during the cutscene for the next chapter with Osvald. Fans immediately, for unknown reasons started to spin like crazy and the console shut itself down without any warning.
Took me this long to start it. Now I've grown to love this game beyond any other. It's absolutely perfect imo. Oh and my Osvald is also an inventor lmao
This channel is amazing. He has an uncanny knack of loving games I find average, and hating games I love. Awesome channel for making decisions
LOL
9 days in and I've got 130 hours played. If that doesn't tell anybody everything they need to know about the game idk what will tbh
As someone who absolutely adored the first game and was faintly hoping every Nintendo Direct for a sequel to be announced, when it finally happened my expectations were pretty dang high, and it somehow managed to surpass them with a cast I adore just as much as the original and general improvements across the board, this game is an absolute blast and a strong contender for my favourite game of all time.
Retro rebound has become my go to review channel CRACKED vids thanks for giving this content
The shouldve had 8 in the party like the mobile game. Or send the not in party members on side missions. Better yet like in ff6 have multiple party groups that have to help each other out to get through a map area.
Unchained echoes. You can use up to 8 parry members any time. Can freely move them in and out each turn. Great RPG besides...
@@godless1014 besides what? I love chained echoes so far
I loved Octopath 1 and I really loved 2 as well. There was one story in OT 1 (Primrose) that made me had my kids wait until they were a little older so my youngest is playing OT 1 now and I just finished OT 2.
I'll say, alot of the noted upgrades I think are probably from two things, one more experience in the HD-2D style (sprite work had basically been a lost art by the mid 2010s) and more development money. OT 1 was basically a skunk project at Square and ran on a shoestring budget conpared to most Square offerings. You can tell that Octopath 1's success lead to more resources for the second game that allowed for Octopath 2 to have basically more everything.
Just want to ask.
1. How’s the grinding? It was obnoxious in the first game.
2. How’s the bosses health bloat? It was egregious in the first game, especially in endgame.
3. In relation to point 2, do we still need specific build to get over certain bosses or it’s a case of free for all?
I've always wished they woul make the characters slightly larger with a change in details in battles like they do with enemies
Way better review than IGN!! That guy just said it was basically the same game. He didn’t go over all the changes like you did
30 plus hours in and at 29% lol. It's amazing. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this game, but this is everything I could've hoped for to scratch that PS1 jrpg itch. No need to rush remasters and remakes to that extent if they can make high quality jrpgs like this. Unreal.
I'm very excited for this game! Haven't gotten it yet but I plan on it real soon!
I'm just stoked to have a new turn based combat fantasy game. Every franchise that used to do it so well (Final Fantasy, looking at you) seems to have veered sharply away from it and I never got into it. I much prefer being able to take a breath and plan my tactics out and when it goes off it just feels so satisfying
It's wild, I mean I love action RPG games and all but when I was a kid I wanted turn based series to turn action based and now as an adult I look back and man I miss turn based, I appreciate action rpgs still but turn based games just idk feel more like art usually and the strategy and tactics elements is more enjoyable to me then reflex based muscle memory gaming action gives ya.
Like DQ11,Fire emblem three houses,persona and now Octopath are some of my favorite games.
Should try chained echoes if you haven't
Octopath traveler is top tier
I did not feel I needed to grind at all. Instead of jumping all around the map after first visiting a town, at least for the first four chapters, I take the long route to a destination, doing chapters as I go along the path. The battles I encounter ended up being more than enough by the time I got to the last chapters of the last two characters. Plus, there are multiple ways of increasing the amount of EXP you earn from battles to make for even less grinding.
The first one was my favorite Game Pass game until I played The Rift Breaker. I beat both of those and I will say, Octopath Traveler has IMO the best game soundtrack ever.
I got bored of it, but im glad you enjoyed it.
I remember struggling to understand how to play Octopath Traveler cause I am new to the turn-based genre. Really hoping OT2 will be more beginner friendly 🤞🏻
It….kinda isn’t. If anything it is more complex and still very punishing. Best way I can recommend to have the fewest problems? Do NOT enter an area or boss fight if you are significantly under-leveled. All areas have “risk levels” posted when you enter them. Try to adhere to what the game suggests or it’s gonna be pretty hard
I highly recommend Final Fantasy 10 as that was my introduction to turn-based RPG's and it sealed my love for the subgenre.
@@MegaMann14 I have it in my backlog! Is it beginner friendly?
@@MissBubbles yes
@@spiderdude2099 true, being 2-3 level under the recommended one, you're in for a tough but fun time :D
Hold up!! I will be having zero slander for Olberic The Unbending Blade here my guy!!! That great man did not defend his king and country just to have his best friend betray him for another nation’s benefit and lose everything just to have a mere peasant belittle his valiant deeds with such contempt.
18:00 You are a great reviewer man!
If you want to see them interact, play the game after you get everyone and complete their stories. It's like a whole other story opens up.
honestly the best description to gave Octopath Traveler 1 is "Theatric" everything plays like some sort of theater, from how the characters perform, the music, the static camera as if you're basically the audience
Octopath 2 basically trying to shake everything up to be more "Cinematic" with far more camera movement, more characters animation, more practical effects, etc
Your critic of the grindy nature was given a solution with the night cycle, you get more Xp & Jp fighting at night to reduce the time to level up different characters.
Already some guides out on how to catch high level monsters to make them your grinding chess pieces too lol.
My biggest concern is the money in the game. After getting more characters, I had to use exploits to keep up with equipment costs and job changes. How is it in this game because things were high in the first game.
lol , git gud scrub .
praying that in the 3rd game, they remove random encounters and the grind as that the only thing that preventing me from buying. Random encounters and grinding is such a outdated mechanic that I really get confused why it's still in modern RPGs, having overworld enemies and party exp for those not in battle are needed.
i think it's probably because octopath is purposely trying to recreate the same feeling / experience as games of old, it's not really supposed to be an entirely modern rpg... but i hate random encounters too! which is why evasive maneuvers skill from the scholar's class is a must for me.
honestly if the gameplay in this game wasn't as fun as it is, i flatout wouldn't play it because of the random encounters. i think the good gameplay makes it work, though.
Completely agree. I absolutely loved the art style, but I returned the first one to Steam when I realized how many random battles there would be.
Played the demo and did hikaru and castes prologues and man I was blown away. The music is incredible the combat action are just great and the areas are gorgeous with the day and night cycle. It’s coming tomorrow it will be a nice game to play for a couple months. I loved the first one but I put it down and then I restrared then I out it down for person 5 and then never picked it up again
My copy did not arrive until 2 days ago, but as a voracious RPG guy since I received FFI at original release, I’ve spent so much time just being mesmerized by everything in this one. Beautiful and amazing work!
More voice acting, more interaction, quests where two party members will team up for a common goal, better graphics…. Everything is better.
Does the dialogue get any better/more mature? I'm like half an hour in and the dialogue is written like a cartoon made for children.
Minutes into playing the demo with Ochette the huntress as my toothsome ringleader, I was smitten, shaking down my good pal to spot me the loot to buy in right away. It's a great evening cool down game which beckons many hours of enchanting play thanks to its charming graphics and narrative. (Water is especially well rendered.)
I love the wizened action, will all its "wrinkles". The crazy thing is I only truly got into it once I'd unlocked all companions, the last being the whimsical Agni, and started pursuing further chapters whilst fully discovering the World map. The grinding isn't too bad; it's light compared to most games. You've also got to love the temper tantrum the unpicked companion throws at the beginning.🙃
I 100% completed the game (all trophies) on PS5 a few weeks ago. I loved this game. Despite a single playthrough or 100% the game taking a long time, I still find myself wanting 'more'. I wish there was a harder difficulty or a new game +.
Recently found out that Steam has a mod for a harder difficulty to add some replayability. Legit considering buying that.
You should play Xenogears. Tragic, epic, beautiful story, nothing like it. Was m 2D/3D and would actually make for a beautiful looking HD2D remake
So one issue I had with the first game is that the character stories felt disconnected. I don’t so much mean that the characters weren’t talking to each other, but more that their stories barely even felt like there were taking place in the same world. I’d like if there were just some subtle connecting elements between the stories, nothing major, but something to make the each character story feel somewhat relevant to the others. Did octo II improve on this at all?
Crossed paths stories with two party members are smaller stories with direct interaction between the characters
Octopath Traveler is my favorite game ever. Super hyped for OT2
Appreciate the brilliant and thoughtful work that went into this review, especially after IGN’s disappointing take. Clearly it’s an improvement over the original, yet it receives a lower score from IGN. I get it doesn’t innovate, but neither did God of War Ragnarök over 2018’s release, yet it still receives a 10. Regardless, thumbs up for treating Octopath Traveler 2 as the artistic work it is!
The ign legit skipped over story and didn’t even mention cross path stories
I got this friday for my birthday (it released on my birthday lol) and so far I'm loving it, I've only played a little, but I started as Hikari, and loved the opening chapter for him. After playing some of the first game and just sort of falling out of love with it, I am so ready for this one
Bruh olberic avenged his Kings death….
I really enjoy your thoughtful game reviews. Your insightful review of Octopath Traveler 2 has also got me pumped to go get this game and try it for myself. Cheers!
There is a balance to grinding in this game. The enemies don't level with you like elder scrolls. If your "benched" characters got exp while not using them they would be way over leveled when you decide to do their chapters. So while grinding out your current line up of lvl 50 characters for their respective chapters your not over leveling your benched lvl 30 characters.
I know I am a year late but one of your biggest critiques i think is an actual good mechanic to keep it challenging and fun.
I hope the character sprites in Octopath Traveler 3 look as good as the boss sprites.
Metroid Prime Remastered and Octopath Traveller 2 releasing the same week, 2 days apart, is enough to shock anyone.
What a review! Great job, Matty! Buying the game TODAY!