Nice RPGs reside or die by the ultimate chapter. What’s constructed over the course of a protracted journey could be rewarded with momentous revelations that depart an enduring mark, or could be marred by clichΓ©s that kill one of the best concepts. I performed Octopath Traveler 0 for over 100 hours, about 80 of which fairly good The entire thing has fairly just a few ups and downs, however it actually rises to greatness within the last 20 hours or so. Though it could sound too daunting, you may see that it’s a important time funding. However what you get in return is one thing solely a sport of this scale can obtain, making good use of the assorted story branches and stunning you one after the opposite as you strategy its wild conclusion. Octopath already had an important turn-based fight system, however this model provides some distinctive quirks to make it contemporary, because the HD-2D artwork fashion as soon as once more delivers its signature model of modernized nostalgia. And with a wonderful soundtrack that superbly frames massive and quiet moments alike, Octopath Traveler 0 exhibits that the collection can and has pushed the style to new heights.
Octopath Traveler 0 is primarily a repackaging of the cell sport Octopath Traveler: Conqueror, which is a prequel to the unique work. However by taking away the microtransactions and gacha components used to recruit celebration members, and introducing some crucial additions to the story and gameplay, it turned a full-fledged RPG worthy of this vast launch. I am just a little shocked although this We’re excited to have it exist on this format, particularly for the reason that sport is constructed as a conventional RPG, as soon as mobile-only. As a result of for those who did not, you would be lacking out on a few of your favourite moments from current video games.
Nevertheless, it isn’t all the time a easy paved street. I additionally wasn’t too stunned, as a 100-hour sport has loads of room for valleys between peaks. What held me again most for the primary half or so was the story, and whereas I wasn’t anticipating probably the most superbly written screenplay or the deepest character research, I discovered among the dialogue and plot beats to be fairly shallow. Comically evil villains have been created for the satisfaction of defeating the boss, however I by no means discovered all of them that convincing as characters when their unabashed cruelty and easy lust for energy are the principle hooks with out a lot nuance. However regardless of the inconsistent high quality of its storytelling, Octopath Traveler 0 nonetheless runs at tempo and by no means lingers on one thread for too lengthy.
That is primarily as a result of construction of the principle quest. After a tragic prologue during which your hometown is burned to the bottom, you’re given three story branches to trace down the trio of villains accountable. These three paths, with themes of energy, fame, and wealth, converge in a conclusion that represents roughly the primary half of your complete story (roughly 40 hours). Additionally, do not let the pretend credit score roll idiot you, as we have not seen a lot of Octopath Traveler 0. It is then break up into three new questlines that revisit these themes, re-exploring comparable territory, however with larger stakes as Octopus’s world turns into extra concerned and our understanding of it deepens. Within the land of Orstella, warring kingdoms and corrupt spiritual organizations with extra betrayal than loyalty start to face larger penalties because the story unfolds and the story strikes into full swing.
Fairly than attempting to construct eight separate tales for every character that must run in parallel, the sport is ready to inform a extra cohesive story by weaving collectively themes, centering customized characters, and elevating key figures as wanted. The silent protagonist might appear to be a typical Chosen One, however because the story revolves all over the world’s eight rings that grant divine powers, the clichΓ©d setting turns into a strong basis for a deeper message. Octopath Traveler 2 was an enormous success with its solid of eight, making it one in all my favourite video games of the previous decade, however this variation of tempo is a great transfer. Sadly, it implies that a lot of the 30+ celebration members you may recruit by way of sidequests really feel fairly disposable, however the ensuing dissonance is well worth the trade-off.
And like lots of Octopath Traveler 0’s seemingly frivolous options, its roster in the end issues within the grand scheme of issues. There is a purpose why I wished to incorporate as many of those characters as potential, and this paid off in surprising ways in which left even me, who has performed nearly each main JRPG underneath the solar, utterly dumbfounded. This can be a highly effective instance of how this sport could make you care about seemingly mundane issues in hindsight and create necessary moments. It most likely may have benefited from trimming the minor components (significantly those who run into problematic tropes and naive politics), however the time you spend alongside the principle questline builds an intimate understanding of the individuals who embody Orstella and the leaders you critically work with.
I will not give away any particular spoilers, however when you attain the “last” questline, Octopath Traveler 0 picks up steam and does not let up. It felt like I used to be enjoying an entire new sport. Dungeons turn out to be extra complicated, boss fights turn out to be more durable, characters’ tales come full circle, and their motivations begin to make extra sense. Whereas many tales depict complicated, sympathetic villains and antiheroes, the true antagonist of this story represents an extremely considerate, absolutely realized, heartbreaking, and intense exploration of this archetype. I used to be shocked by the revelations therein. That is as a result of each the gameplay mechanics and the music are used as storytelling units to color the large image with out having to elucidate it out loud, and are primarily based on issues that really feel actual. The extra I peel again the layers that make the ultimate chapter so shifting, the extra this story sticks with me, even after 106 hours and the credit roll on the zero-exclusive true ending.
I am on document as saying that Octopath Traveler 2 has my favourite turn-based fight system of all time. It shines right here too, however for a barely totally different purpose. The Enhance and Break system offers the standard dynamics of hitting elemental affinities much more depth to plot methods to develop your turns. The guessing sport of discovering enemy weaknesses is usually a bit tedious, however when you get that half labored out, it is plenty of enjoyable to plan your assault primarily based on flip order to defeat your enemy and intention for a giant hit. Construct increase factors for every celebration member so as to add further hits or enhance the efficiency of your spells, permitting you to plan your turns upfront. And as I lined up all these variables, coping with the specter of highly effective bosses that would impose highly effective standing illnesses or wipe out celebration members in a single flip, I felt like a genius tactician. Octopath might stimulate our nostalgia with its HD-2D retro-style visuals, however the collection continues to set a excessive bar for turn-based fight techniques in trendy video games.
This time, the celebration composition is sort of totally different. It’s because there are all the time 8 energetic celebration members (4 within the entrance row, 4 within the again row). My roster consists of effectively over 30 characters, in order that’s an enormous quantity to course of and handle. The fundamentals of Octopus’ fight system are acquainted, however matching character duos to the columns they occupy is a singular layer of technique that enables for lots of flexibility. And so they all individually construct increase factors, permitting you to dish out massive hits extra typically and keep a extra brisk tempo in fight in comparison with earlier entries. Nevertheless, particular person character depth is sacrificed as every celebration member (aside from the protagonist) solely has one job to progress by way of, however not less than you may be taught expertise for particular jobs and equip them to different characters to diversify their moveset.
Whereas I assumed the character development in Octopath Traveler 2 was extra significant, particularly because it tied into the person tales, Octopath 0 supplies a welcome change of tempo that hits the turn-based highs that made the collection so particular. The slow-motion, cinematic digital camera cuts for Max Enhance assaults and every celebration member’s limit-breaking turn-around nonetheless thrill me, and as soon as the motion begins, they provide the fight a visible aptitude that actually distinguishes the HD-2D fashion. The tactical concerns required to dish out injury far past the gentle restrict of 9,999 require effort and foresight that is not spelled out, however determining easy methods to grasp these techniques and mechanics your self is simply as satisfying as it’s essential to have an opportunity in late-game battles. Random encounters all through dungeons and the overworld could be overwhelming, however their tedium pales compared to the satisfaction of getting a break, utilizing your full potential, and conquering a boss you needn’t defeat.
Its turn-based fight helps most of the A-plots I’ve already praised, however there’s additionally a B-plot that revolves across the rebuilding of the homeworld of Wishvale. Within the strategy of bringing this metropolis again to life narratively, you are truly rebuilding it utilizing a city-building system much like Fallout 4 and Ni no Kuni 2. It is possible for you to to gather crafting supplies naturally and construct properties, shops, and decorations inside sure parameters on a grid-based format. This can be a enjoyable aspect exercise, with tangible advantages that come from recruiting new buildings and new residents, comparable to reductions on store costs, self-sufficient materials circulation, and a coaching floor for inactive celebration members to proceed leveling up. City constructing initially appears non-compulsory and never very deep, however it turns into virtually important because the story progresses, particularly given the story’s broader message about what house means to you and the individuals you care about. And seeing the town you’ve got assembled within the background of a cutscene is a heartwarming contact, and a small emotional reward in itself.
This questline’s story is usually a little tacky at instances, however its coronary heart is in the appropriate place because it will get sentimental about what it takes to rebuild after dropping the whole lot. As with its predecessor, the way in which poverty shapes individuals and the way they transfer from nothing to one thing stays a outstanding motif, and it makes an attempt to talk clearly about these matters, even when its message typically fumbles. Simply as branching questlines finally converge in an affordable manner, the city-building system and accompanying story tangibly enrich the principle quest. Having the survivors take the required actions to choose up the items and supply reminiscences of their homeland’s previous conveys Octopath Traveler 0’s overarching theme of preserving humanity extra authentically.
After greater than 100 hours, I typically look again on this journey with tearful eyes. Its common message and star character actually resonated with me and supplied a perspective on how tragedy modifications individuals. It is felt most strongly once you pay attention again to your favourite songs with a soundtrack that evokes that emotion. Sequence composer Yasunori Nishiki has a singular fashion that could be very well-suited to this style, however once you analyze the musicality of his work, particularly right here in Octopath Traveler 0, he is an absolute lunatic. The boss battle theme is a rock orchestra (typically backed by operatic vocals and a choir) with rolling strings, horns, and drums that can make you are feeling like you may run by way of partitions. Hell, even the common battle theme at the start hits exhausting. It is also there within the gentle metropolis themes that spherical out the entire thing, and within the particular motifs that punctuate key moments and construct into probably the most impactful songs. Twice in the course of the late-game boss combat, I used to be utterly surprised by the sounds I used to be listening to and needed to put down the controller, then decide it up once more and use the ability of music to information me to victory. Sure, Yasunori Nishiki deserves to be talked about alongside the GOAT.