Octopath Traveler 2's early moments are special, regardless of the chosen path. Developed by Square Enix and Acquire and published by the former, the pixel-art JRPG sequel feels like a positive, iterated experience based on lessons learned by the first title. It's still early into the game - barely a dozen hours of play thus far - but through multiple character first chapters and some fun, tactical combat, it's safe to say Octopath Traveler 2 has recaptured the magic of its predecessor.
For those unfamiliar with the series' baseline setup, Octopath Traveler 2 follows the stories of eight characters as their tales intersect. There's a flexibility in how the player sets up their party, as they choose one character first, then explore a map that labels other potential recruits in different directions. The game then unfolds in two directions: a broader world story that touches on each character's respective journeys, and smaller, honed looks at the party's own personal goals and adventures.
It's a smart system that's tough to pull off, but so far, Octopath Traveler 2 is doing it well. Selecting Hikari, the warrior, began with a tragic tale that felt much more grand than some other options. Partitio the merchant's story followed, and it felt like a remarkable difference in terms of scope; while Hikari's journey will determine the fate of a nation, Partitio's is rooted deeply in a small town's struggle under capitalism. The capacity for Octopath Traveler 2 to tell both of these stories and tell them well is definitively part of the appeal of its structure, so it's reassuring to see early hours pay off these small investments already with some nice emotional beats.
Of course, Octopath Traveler 2 is much more than its stories, fascinating though they may be. JRPG tactical combat is another hallmark of the first game, and that returns here in all its glory. In fact, early fights felt just the right level of balanced - not as difficult as some of the first chapters in Octopath Traveler sometimes felt, but never too easy to clear without strategy. They're also better introductions to each character's combat mechanics and overworld map talents, which switch based on a day/night cycle that is fully under the player's control.
The day/night system definitely shakes things up on a small level, but it's not necessarily a game-changer. Essentially, each character now has two skills they can use while exploring instead of one, and they shift based on the time of day. Hikari, for instance, can challenge people to duels during the day to acquire certain skills; at night, he can bribe people for information, attempting to unravel mysteries or find items that were previously hidden on the map. It's fun, but it's rarely complicated, at least in the early going.
Still, the fact there are these newer systems to complement what's already a fun, thoughtful JRPG experience wrapped in gorgeous, eye-popping pixel art is enough. Octopath Traveler 2 doesn't need to reinvent the wheel - its first release didn't either, though it was ground-breaking for its savvy integration of modern systems into retro aesthetic. All it needs to do is improve upon what was already an excellent entry into its genre, and while it's too early to confidently assert that it does, Octopath Traveler 2's early hours are clear indicators that the potential is there.
Octopath Traveler 2 releases on February 24, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PC, and PlayStation 4. Screen Rant was provided with a digital Switch copy for the purpose of this preview.
Source: Nintendo of America/YouTube
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Octopath Traveler 2
- Summary:
- Square Enix welcomes players to the world of Solista with Octopath Traveler 2, which will release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Consoles, and PC. This sequel to the 2018 game will star eight new heroes players will switch back and forth with a new day and night system. Different stories play out at different times of the day and the eight heroes will meet sooner than they had in the original entry. The day and night mechanic will also significantly impact the gameplay, as certain path actions and combat abilities will change depending on if the sun or moon is prevalent. Octopath Traveler 2 will once again feature the iconic HD-2D art style which places pixel art characters in a 3D drawn environment. The game will release on February 24 2023.
- Franchise:
- Octopath Traveler
- Platform:
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC
- Released:
- 2023-02-24
- Developer:
- Square Enix Business Division 11, Acquire
- Publisher:
- Square Enix
- Genre:
- RPG
- ESRB:
- T
- Prequel:
- Octopath Traveler
- Mode:
- Single-Player
