![]() ![]() Obtaining gear, skills, and licenses are still important as ever as they can turn a wholesome tavern dancer into a heartless pyromaniac who can hit a Peacock strut, and they’re further amplified by Latent Powers. The “Break” and “Boost” system returns, swapping out turn-based and ATB (active time battle) combat for a pirouette of skill and experimentation that’s crafted for a single purpose: to discern an enemy’s weakness and exploit it. And rest assured, Octopath Traveler II’s battles aren’t for the weak. Those incidental discoveries interpolate varying layers of user-driven exploration and they never feel insignificant in lieu of the series’ infamous combat mechanics. Every anecdote shades in a relevant narrative thread – even the “Aggravated Woman” in New Delsta who hides behind a tree in broad daylight as she prefers to “spend every waking hour” watching the man of her dreams go about his day.Įvery character, big and small, has purpose. Every townsperson and secondary character has a story worth scrutinizing, whether it’s an elderly man who spent weeks burying the deceased of a village or a famous musician who has found solace in playing the violin on the street corner after years of being confined to performing in a theater. There are side quests, shared stories, and an entire sailing subspace with shipwrecks, optional bosses, and unique dungeons only accessible by sea, and in terms of lore, the writers never make compromises. The sequel’s new day and night cycle coexists with additional path actions, one for day and one for night, and being able to toggle between them with the press of a button can provide different opportunities and more difficult adversaries - both in-town and in-battle. The similarities never get in the way of Octopath Traveler II’s accessibility because Square Enix has always had a passion for world-building. Partitio gives off big Yellowstone vibes. Especially since roles like a Blacksmith, Chef, or Musician would be better suited for a world keen on new technologies. Their own identities and voiceover work - which can be flipped between English and Japanese at will - shroud repeated path actions, skills, and sub-jobs, but it obstructs Octopath II from being the standalone title that producer Masashi Takahashi wants it to be. And then there’s Osvald (Scholar), a “revenge dad” with a raging eternal flame in his breast. Partitio (Merchant) is a chirpy Kevin Costner-type who won’t shut up about goats or onions. Agnea (Dancer) is destined to be a star and symbol of hope. ![]() Castti (Apothecary) is a castaway with retrograde amnesia. Hikari (Warrior) is a young lord bent on bringing peace to a nation (and inner demons). Ochette (Hunter) is a wildling obsessed with the Night Of The Scarlet Moon. Temenos (Cleric) is an Inquisitor marred by a tragic incident. For better or worse, Throné (Thief) is a Blacksnake determined to free herself from her own cycle of bloodshed. As the heart of the Brightlands, New Delsta is a steampunk town defined by theaters, parlors, and 19th century architectural movements Hinoeuma’s Ryu mirrors Japan’s Edo period with intricate castles and tiger-kissed skies Winterbloom is Game of Thrones’ Castle Black minus the wights and even Cropdale and Oresrush aim straight for the eyes as isolated, 16-bit illustrations of the Rocky Mountains and the American Wild West.Īlthough each region of Solistia is rich with color, history, and a lived-in sense of community, it struggles with differentiating itself from Orsterra as the eight protagonists repurpose the same roles. It’s a realm with eastern and western societies divided by busy sea routes and moral differences, and each central location is a breathtaking Super Nintendo-inspired diorama that demands exploration. Whereas Octopath Traveler detailed the inner workings of Orsterra, a fictional medieval-inspired landscape pitted by religion and desensitized manipulation, Team Asano’s Octopath Traveler II condenses the world of Solistia into a modern depiction of a fictional Industrial Revolution. ![]() Structurally, it’s very much a role-playing triumph. Octopath Traveler II has a sprawling narrative surrounding eight individual journeys. ![]()
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