Which Octopath Should You Play First?

With Octopath Traveler 2 being out for roughly a month, I figured it would be a good idea to discuss whether you should start with the newer title or go to Octopath Traveler 1 as your entry into the series. Hopefully, with this video, it will give you a good idea of what to expect from both titles.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Start
00:34 - What Octopath 1 Does Well
03:35 - The Better Entry
04:17 - Octopath 1 or 2?
04:37 - Octopath Traveler 2
07:53 - Octopath Traveler 1
10:30 - Final Thoughts

#OctopathTraveler2 #OctopathTravelerII #OctopathTraveler

[ninjakirby]

Reasons to play octopath 1: Primrose
Reasons to play octopath 2: Ochette

Therefore just get both :)

[jgrif]

I've played both, and I can say that if you haven't yet played the first one, just play Octopath 2. Octopath 2 is an improvement over it's predecessor in every way I can think of. If you REALLY love Octopath 2 and if you are still jonesing for more content like it, then play the first one.

[FCXmaster]

I played both and loved them. This series deserves more love. I really want them to make a third one.

[AraumC]

If you start with 2, you can’t really go back to 1 unless you REALLY loved 2 and just want more. If you’re willing to put more time into it, if you’re a big JRPG fan, start with 1.

[MohdAmirulHafiz]

Start with 1. Because 2 will exceed your expectations after playing 1

[__BlacklotuS__]

I played 2 first loved it so much got the first one and currently playing it

[NightaYuu]

I am currently completing the Ch3s in Octopath II, so I am far from finished. It is so enjoyable and I would recommend it over the first one for sure. Pretty sad to say, in my Switch friends list I saw many people starting the first game and maybe quitting before reaching the mid game, according to the play time. One thing I miss from Octopath I, however : the game felt more like a, ,travel'', a little journey. I adore Agneas story for that reason, the other stories are pretty grand in contrast. In the first one, it felt like a huge breath of fresh air compared to all of the RPGs with epic tales. Tressa, Alfyn, and Ophilia start out their travels for the reason of doing (mostly) exactly that - traveling. It is very nice to have something lighthearted, yet not boring.

[MrFindlay]

I am playing the second one now and I love it so much. I will be buying the first one when it drops on a sale.

[calyxatlas]

I got 2 first because both games were full price and I assume 1 will go on sale sooner 😅 Thanks for the info! I'm loving 2 so far but eventually want 1 since I enjoy solo-running these kinds of games

[kindredzpirit]

Definitely 1 if you're an RPG fan. 2 is a better start for a wider demographic because is more accessible in dificulty, has easier and faster grinding, and improves in a lot of things that were disliked from 1 for some of those people.

[pvfpinto]

Started with the 2, and the game is amazing. Will see if going to the 1st. Until now the game isn’t hard and I like difficult games. Great video

[lewiss]

Pros and Cons for both

Octopath I

+Easy to start and learn
+Very cosy start in most chapters and get you invested immediately
+Teaches you how to use Path actions
+A lot more free and open as you can just make a dead sprint for every corner of the realm with nothing but random encounters to stop you
+More well hidden secrets
+Finding job shrines and bonus dungeons can be fun and rewarding
+The “hidden” bosses are both challenging, rewarding and handled better overall
+Primrose’s Entire storyline
-Very Formulaic with every chapter having an obligatory dungeon and boss at the end
-Little Character interaction
-The overarching plot can be easy to miss
-Some character’s abilities are less useful than others (e.g. Olberic’s boosting defence is made completely obsolete when you get Tressa who can side step any physical attack anyway)
-Can be much more challenging and difficult for newcomers to the series
-Final dungeon is hidden behind a vague side quest with a gauntlet of 8 bosses before you can challenge it with no save point before the fight

Octopath II

+Easy to start and learn
+Major and Minor Quality of life improvements (battle speed, auto dialogue, etc.)
+Narrative intertwines in a way that is easier to understand
+Immediately gets you invested in every storyline
+Overall quality of every story is improved and have better execution
+Save point before final boss and no fear of having to fight 8 bosses just to face the final boss again
+Easier for beginners
+Latent Powers add a new layer of strategy
+Environments look incredibly pretty and are overall more memorable (New Delsta, *[REDACTED SPOILER]* ‘s Island, Canalbrine, Ku and Cropdale to name a few)
+Boats now make things more interesting (new secrets)
+Bonus Party Members for Chapter 1’s where a support character may struggle (e.g. Temenos gets Crick)
-Some characters cannot beat the game entirely alone like in the original
-The extra jobs are a bit underwhelming compared to the ones in the original
-Gathering the travelers is more difficult this time
-The job classes being applied to multiple party members can make some bosses far to easy to cheese
-The job shrines aren’t consistent in where they are scattered (some within a town, others out in the wild)

[songsofachilles]

OCT 2 really changed my life as a gamer, it was such a special experience and was a 10/10 for me from the story, gameplay, characters, soundtrack, and graphics. I picked up OCT 1 recently on sale because I wanted more Octopath Traveler and tbh if I had played Octopath 1 first I don't even know if I would've finished it or ever played 2. I saw someone once say that OCT 1 felt like a proof of concept for OCT 2 and I couldn't agree more. I would obviously expect a second installment to improve graphically and gameplay mechanics-wise to it's predecessor but I've actually found several elements of OCT very tedious from certain QoL elements, long verbose cutscenes, feeling much more grind-y, and generic trope-y stories. At it's heart it is still Octopath and the format is largely the same, but it's been difficult to get excited about after playing 2. I will still finish the game (I'm about 3/4 of the way through), but it's definitely a downgrade from 2. I would put it at a 6 or 7 out of 10 whereas OCT 2 was an instant 10/10, can't put it down, for me. I'm not sure how much my OCT 1 experience and lense is colored by how overwhelmingly positive my OCT 2 experience was, though. My two cents is to start with OCT 2. It's an incredible gaming experience that I would implore everyone who likes RPGs to try. Then, if you loved OCT 2, pick up OCT 1 on a 50% off or more sale.

[nerdzone]

I'd say don't give too much attention to people saying that playing 2 first will ruin 1 for you. That's really not the case. If you liked 2 chances are you will like 1 as well. Both Octopath Travelers are amazing games and are my number 1 and 2 favourite JRPGs. Yes, 2 is superior to 1 but 1 is still better than literally every other JRPG I played. Even if you don't rank them as high yourself, you will definitely going to enjoy both games in their own right. Saying that playing OT2 will ruin playing OT1 is like saying playing Suikoden 2 will ruin playing Suikoden or Star Ocean 2 is going to ruin Star Ocean for you. It won't. Yeah, one is clearly better than the other but both are great in their own rights.

[enerjak]

Thanks for this. I was just debating on which one I should buy with my next paycheck.

[Idkwhtpsipto]

I am playing one right now and am enamored ! I just got my full party at 5 hours, which used to be how long it took me to leave Midgar . I can’t wait to play the heck out of 1 and then get 2 ! 😃😃

[drakoan]

I played 2 first and absolutely loved it, I then played one and felt it was a fair bit jankier. So depending I would say 2 is the better game but going backwards will reduce your enjoyment of 1

[toxica]

i played with one and preferred one over the 2nd, i enjoy the experience of fulfilment beating the hidden boss that unlock the hidden class than in 2 where you can just rush to the items straight but that's just me

[AleksandarIvanov]

I didn't think I would like the game (I am not an OT1 player) when I tried the demo on a whim.
50hrs in I love it so much and I am not even half way done 😊

[Tuinuiski]

I wanted to start with OT2 but accidentally bought OT1 because I was careless when buying online and selected the wrong game 😅 No regret though, really enjoying it. I will no doubt buy OT2 too!