This review contains spoilers
Someone will have to explain me why this game wasn't nominated to best RPG of the Year and Soundtrack of the Year
I already loved the original Octopath Traveler so I was really excited to finally play OTII after so many good impressions and reviews. I honestly didn't expect to like it that much more than OT but the truth is that it improves on so many ways that it's hard to actually recommend playing the first one now.
Octopath Traveler II is honestly one of the best JRPGs that I have played in the last 15 years and I have played a lot of them, it has everything to become an instant classic in the coming years and it's an absolute crime that this game isn't celebrated more.
Combat wise, I loved the inclusion of the Latent Powers. During my playthrough, a few times I was on the verge of wiping out but these powers came in clutch at the right time to turn the tides of the battles and that made me feel a rush that I haven't felt while fighting bosses in JRPGs for a very long time.
I also really liked what they did the story structure in this game. While I loved many of the Traveler's stories in OT1, in Octopath Traveler II I was hooked with every single story, even Agnea's. I was smiling hard when I reached the ending and everything came together because that was one of my, and many others, complaint about the first game. The campfire scene was amazing, they actually made the cover from the game a scene and even placed them in the same order as the cover, that was a great touch. The epilogue absolutely destroyed me. Of all places they could've played the main theme, they chose this one. I was almost in tears while hearing the song and Agnea's speech. Always treasure the moments you spend with your friends, family and loved ones. Always.
The "Crossed Paths" stories were amazing, I loved them all. I loved the pair dynamic everyone had going on and how it helped to flesh them out a little bit more. My favorite pair was definitely Temenos and Throné. Perhaps my favorite characters from this game.
I'm also glad that they didn't stick to 4 chapters only and gave some travelers more breathing room to flesh out their stories with 5 chapters.
I had my suspicions about Kazan right off the bat and I was proven correct but I was honestly shocked to learn about Ori, sister Mindt and, I'm sure there are subtle pieces of dialogue that foreshadow their true nature though.
The soundtrack was amazing (as expected) but as of now, I think OT1 has the superior OST. Maybe as I hear more of it I'll like it more, who knows.
I'm really excited about the future of the series, if they somehow improve on OT2 then they could be crafting something truly magical here.
The ending left me wanting a Team Asano game with a more traditional story structure though, if they make it I have no doubts that it's going to be amazing.
"Walk astride to the dawn."
I already loved the original Octopath Traveler so I was really excited to finally play OTII after so many good impressions and reviews. I honestly didn't expect to like it that much more than OT but the truth is that it improves on so many ways that it's hard to actually recommend playing the first one now.
Octopath Traveler II is honestly one of the best JRPGs that I have played in the last 15 years and I have played a lot of them, it has everything to become an instant classic in the coming years and it's an absolute crime that this game isn't celebrated more.
Combat wise, I loved the inclusion of the Latent Powers. During my playthrough, a few times I was on the verge of wiping out but these powers came in clutch at the right time to turn the tides of the battles and that made me feel a rush that I haven't felt while fighting bosses in JRPGs for a very long time.
I also really liked what they did the story structure in this game. While I loved many of the Traveler's stories in OT1, in Octopath Traveler II I was hooked with every single story, even Agnea's. I was smiling hard when I reached the ending and everything came together because that was one of my, and many others, complaint about the first game. The campfire scene was amazing, they actually made the cover from the game a scene and even placed them in the same order as the cover, that was a great touch. The epilogue absolutely destroyed me. Of all places they could've played the main theme, they chose this one. I was almost in tears while hearing the song and Agnea's speech. Always treasure the moments you spend with your friends, family and loved ones. Always.
The "Crossed Paths" stories were amazing, I loved them all. I loved the pair dynamic everyone had going on and how it helped to flesh them out a little bit more. My favorite pair was definitely Temenos and Throné. Perhaps my favorite characters from this game.
I'm also glad that they didn't stick to 4 chapters only and gave some travelers more breathing room to flesh out their stories with 5 chapters.
I had my suspicions about Kazan right off the bat and I was proven correct but I was honestly shocked to learn about Ori, sister Mindt and, I'm sure there are subtle pieces of dialogue that foreshadow their true nature though.
The soundtrack was amazing (as expected) but as of now, I think OT1 has the superior OST. Maybe as I hear more of it I'll like it more, who knows.
I'm really excited about the future of the series, if they somehow improve on OT2 then they could be crafting something truly magical here.
The ending left me wanting a Team Asano game with a more traditional story structure though, if they make it I have no doubts that it's going to be amazing.
"Walk astride to the dawn."