The goal and hope of any game is that, once it manages to get a sequel, its next iteration is built on what people love, cherish what it does, and so on. got it right and corrected anything that didn’t seem quite right. Original Octopath tourists is a lovely game, but often experimental in its implementation and implementation. With Octopus Traveler 2Square Enix and Acquire’s series and its characters were allowed to grow and branch out in new, critically acclaimed directions.
As with its predecessor and as indicated by the title, Octopus Traveler 2 tells the story of eight different characters, each embarking on great journeys. Some of these are like fairy tales, with dancer Agnea wanting to see the world and young hunter Ochette developing her role as a staunch protector. The story of the amnesiac apothecary Castti or the missionary investigator Temenos searching for the truth may sound like more traditional JRPG stories. We also have darker stories of people being betrayed, abused, and seeking freedom with scholar Osvald and the Throne thief. Basically, every facility is not only covered, but pretty well covered.
While Octopath touristsplot and characters are fine, it can feel like the sequel’s cast has even more definition and depth. We still have very diverse experiences, with happier characters like Agnea and Partitio existing alongside the darker stories Osvald and the Way of the Throne tell. I feel like I understand these people better, empathize with them more, and want to support them in a way that I didn’t with some of the original cast members. How to tell stories so that they seem more recognizable and engaging. Not to mention some may find it easier to connect with this entry’s hunter, Ochette, than the original’s H’aanit due to the dialogue decisions.
Since there are different routes, Octopus Traveler 2 treats its stories in a novel way. You start with a character and go through the first leg of their story. After that, the next chapters appear in different continents on the world map. You can then either directly pursue the rest of their path, or choose to stop at the others’ current locations to add them to your pool of playable characters, review the chapters their first and also have the option to see their full story. There’s a lot of freedom, with everything clearly laid out and taverns allowing you to easily swap allies and choose allies or choose a story to witness. Likewise, the game is very specific about whether you’re ready or not for the next region or sequence of events, with warnings telling you about recommended levels.
Since we’re tracking eight unique individuals with different roles, this also means that they have their own path of action for use outside of battle day and night, as well as talents. specials and hidden powers in the game’s turn-based battles. The nature of these abilities tends to fall into certain categories. Castti, Hikari, Osvald, and Temenos are all able to get information from people in different ways, with Investigations, Bribery, Scrutiny and Coercion respectively. You can also carry someone around, to use them in battle or to complete side quests, with Agnea’s Allure, Ochette’s Befriend, Partitio’s Hire, and Temenos’ Guide doing the same. They are organized in such a way that no matter who you have on your party, you will have access to the same types of abilities and be able to pursue things like characters, items, knowledge , location or skill access in various ways. That might mean needing to change the time of day to access said abilities, but that can be done with the click of a button to change the Actions on the path that you can use used, as well as make certain enemies or NPCs appear.
For in battle, these actions can help people feel valued. These are slightly traditional turn-based battles. a little Brave default its essence, in that you can “enhance” the power or number of hits of an attack, if you have enough mana charged. Your goal is to break enemies by targeting their weak points, so that you can stop them from taking turns and deal more damage to them. Depending on the character’s main job and side job, different types of skills will be available. (For example, a cleric’s or scholar’s side job would allow the use of magic.) Some people may prove to be more useful than others, due to circumventing limitations like the latent Powers involved. more powerful attacks than usual. For example, Throne’s allows her to act twice, while Temenos has an easier time breaking an enemy’s shield points even if it’s not normally weak to that type of attack. It all makes people feel like they’re carrying weight, though you can add that secondary layer to them and like you’ll need them around in specific situations.
It’s a relief to see more interactions between Octopus Traveler 2characters admit that yes, they know each other and can support each other with their special abilities. This still doesn’t always make for a more traditional JRPG-like experience. We don’t see people in every step involved in each other’s lives. Yes, you can get a prompt to press a button and witness a brief interaction between two people when they are in the same group and in the same location. There are also some pop-up connections. However, the inclusion of the new Crossed Paths storyline is a much appreciated addition. I especially like the Temenos and Throne and Agnea and Hikari related stuff.
But what really surprised me about Octopus Traveler 2 how much richer the sequel feels. It’s a lavish game with unexpected attention to camera angles, lighting, and music. It’s extremely cinematic and dynamic. Even just wandering the streets as you go from space to space sends people in the foreground and background, moving about all sorts of signs. The art is perfect. Sometimes the use of daylight can almost distract some elves, but even so, it’s extraordinary to see the depth, size, and detail that emerge as you explore the stars. home, roam the world and encounter enemies.
Octopus Traveler 2 unfolds with the promise of adventure and journeys that show how characters develop and shape the world, and transport you to a world of luxury as you help individually and along the way, make Solistia a better place. There’s so much potential here, everyone can choose how they approach it all. More importantly, it’s accessible, ensuring everyone can appreciate the stories Square Enix and Acquire will tell.
Octopus Traveler 2 will be available for Switch, PS4, PS5 and PC on February 24, 2023. Demo available.
