Octopath Traveler II Nintendo Switch Review - Is It Worth It?

May the sacred flame guide you... or something like that

Octopath Traveler II will be available on Nintendo Switch on February 24th, 2023

#RPG #NintendoSwitch #Review

[Brianwns]

I really loved how Octopath 1 basically advanced classic turn based combat and brought it to the modern era. Really looking forward to this game.

[unstablesun]

I'm not usually a jrpg guy but I got the demo on PS5 and absolutely love it. I started with Temenos who is hilarious!

[dachking]

I loved the original, and this one looks like it only improves on the things people complained about before. It also comes out on my birthday so yeah I love Octopath I’m glad it’s a full-on series now, looking forward to that sweet sweet music!

[LucciClubStudios]

So excited for this game I’ve been waiting all month for this one

[everythingisbizzaaaaaro]

This is gonna be loooong week. Can't wait til the 24th.

[zennvirus]

It's interesting to see how Team Asano used what they learned with the Live A Live remake in here. If you played LAL there are a lot of little details that one can say "yes, they took X from LAL and improved to use it in OP2". Examples would be the enemy sprites. They are as detailed and un-pixelated as those from LAL with simple animations for them. Many of the biomes give a certain "LAL" vibe (you even got 'Wild West' and 'Edo' biomes). SFX too. They are more polished and detailed versions of LALs.
All this is the perfect mark of the old Squaresoft's design policy: build a 'system' up to it's most perfect form.
That's what Squaresoft did during the Snes, PS1 and PS2 eras.
Basic system of Final Fantasy 4 was used as the template for Mystic Quest, Live A Live and Final Fantasy 5. With subsequent games adding more polish and new complexity to the next (Mystic Quest being the simples upgrade's of the bunch, Live A Live introducing individual 'scenarios' and carry-on functions aside from the battle system, and FF5 really going to town with its many maps that experienced important changes). Then they made Final Fantasy 6 and Treasure of the Rudras, both made with the same new system, but ToR re-implementing the individual scenarios of LAL; only this time they made it so the 3 main scenarios were actual parallel scenarios, taking each protagonist to different locations and even maps (plus all the many changes that happen to those maps throughout the story), before all three converging on the fourth and final scenario en route to the ending.
My point is that Team Asano clearly has a process/roadmap in mind, and each new iteration incorporates what they've learned on the others (most of it), plus new improvements. The telling signs of that are the Cross-Path scenarios. They are clearly experimenting, and likely in Octopath Traveler III we'll have a proper interconnected, overarching story (I hope). More so if they do the Treasure of the Rudras remake in between since, as stated before, that one is essentially the template/practice run they need in order to achieve Octo's ultimate form.
I sincerely hope that's the case. This lil' emerging franchise deserves it.

[christopherddrew]

The thing I really liked about OPT1 that is also part of OPT2 is I find it respects my time. I have loved RPG's for almost 30 years now, and some of my favourite classic JRPG's need to be played for a few hours at a time to feel like I have accomplished anything, and I don't often get that kind of gaming time anymore.

OPT lets me play for 30-60 minutes and I can generally complete a chapter in a story, or rob a town blind, or explore a side area. This game is great is small bites, and fun in long sessions.

I think I remember reading an interview when OPT 1 launched that keeping play time in mind was part of the reason they went with the 8 path route. I like that the characters are a bit more interconnected, cheering each other on and the introduction on shared story lines, while maintaining the bite sized stories. I'd give the game a solid 9.5/10 if not 10/10

[TheLonelyGoomba]

This game really snuck up on me. No idea it was out so soon.
Really my concern is the difficulty curve being crap again. Which I guess I'll have to wait and see what the player base has to say on that. Other than that, looks good.

[makasete]

I’d love to see FF6 done with HD2D ….but square seem to neglect it (the pixel remaster could have been so much more) and chrono trigger for some reason.

[calvinmatthews]

Glad to hear that OT2 overall improves on the first game. Which is all that you look for in a sequel. Hope it sells just as well too.

[darienb]

The main two things that made me drop Octopath Traveler 1 was how grindy it got and how disconnected everyone's stories are. It looks like they did attempt to make the party feel more connected with sub-stories and callouts in battle. Party chemistry is one of the biggest things I look for in RPGs (which is something the Bravely Default games did so well), so I hope it's at least a little better here.

[james]

Looks like one of the best jrpgs of the decade

[mrjoeyb]

see i dont get why people bash it for being too similar. why do they have to deviate from what works? what people like is this and it should stay this.

[relax.review]

In OT1, I always use Scholar job to reveal enemies weakness in battles😁

[cjaustria]

Playing Octopath 1 right now. Will be getting this soon 100 percent.

[juneroughs]

really excited to get this game although i still haven't finished Engage... i'm just happy that they are continueing to improve the 2d-hd style in every new game released using this style.

[sparrow]

Just finished the game for the first time, and it's officially my favorite video game ever; I cannot reccomend it enough

[themac]

My biggest question is that I’m wondering if the final boss of this game is once again a mix convoluted side quest with an unimpactful ending and not even voice acting. That was honestly my biggest issue with the first game.

[Urlastnerve]

This is going to be my favorite week in rpg gaming in the past few years. First we are getting one of my favorite games ever Legend of Dragoon coming to the PS5 and then Friday we are getting this great game. My free time is completely booked now 😂

[keeysOST]

I never played the first one (only did the demo.)
Guess I'll have to get to it before getting into this one. Love the pixel art style.