In an industry dominated by cinematic open-world epics and competitive online shooters, Square Enix dared to dream big in 2018 – reviving the golden era of Japanese roleplaying games with Octopath Traveler, a Nintendo Switch exclusive that evoked Super Nintendo classics like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger.
Beneath the eye-catching “HD-2D” visuals that blended retro pixel art with polygonal flair lies the soul of a true JRPG. With its eight intriguing heroes, an intimate party-based adventure, strategic turn-based combat and traveling across a fantasy realm filled with treasures and dangers at every corner, Octopath Traveler is best described as a "love letter to JRPG purists” according to Producer Masashi Takahashi.
While Octopath caught the attention of over 2 million players as a Switch exclusive in its first year, does its turn-based formula still appeal to new audiences in 2023? What about fans longing for classic JRPG storytelling – will the unconventional non-linear narrative stand the test of time? As I picked my controller back up four years later to revisit Orsterra, I’m delighted to report that Octopath Traveler, ported perfectly to Steam in June 2019, not only still delivers a marvelously refined RPG experience, but reveals hidden depths that cement its rightful place amongst JRPG royalty.
Enter a Storybook World: The Artistic Vision of Octopath
Octopath Traveler greets players with a lush, storybook depiction of Orsterra straight out of 90’s Squaresoft. The developers at Tokyo RPG specialists Acquire, collaborating with the Octopath team at Square Enix, embraced the technical constraints of “2D HD” – creating sprite-based characters that feel tangible and expressive, animating seamlessly against backdrops bursting with depth and charm.
Every village, castle and forest pops with color and specificity. The advanced lighting adds vibrancy whether it’s the tropical palette of Sunshade’s seedy taverns or winter’s soft glow over Flamesgrace’s frost-bitten cathedrals. As you guide your party across sprawling plains, through precarious mountain passes and into dimly-lit dungeons beset by beasts, the storied framing pulls you into this serene storybook fantasy.
Dynamic camera angles and cinematic close-ups add energy during conversations. The puffs of snow your party trudges through or luminescent wisps guiding your steps underground accentuate the environments with immersive touches. Impressively scaled bosses loom large thanks to depth-enhancing 3D effects – making triumphs feel truly heroic. From peaceful pastoral towns to the dark depths of monster lairs, Octopath conjures a world brimming with perilous adventures from the storied JRPG tradition.
Pairing this painterly world is an orchestral soundtrack led by Avenger’s composer Yasunori Nishiki. Sweeping arrangements that evoke Celtic sounds or medieval minstrels during Olberic’s valorous tale, exotic Middle Eastern melodies underscoring Primrose’s desert revenge tragedy and melancholy piano themes channeling H’aanit’s hunter upbringing are cleverly woven motifs matching both characters and setting.
Having demonstrated their talents on earlier Square Enix soundtracks, the all-star team of composers produce one sumptuous track after another – perfectly complementing the locales you’ll explore and battles that await. For fans who grew up with the rousing, emotionally resonant scores of 90s JRPGs like Chrono Trigger or Xenogears, Octopath’s masterful soundtrack alone sparks nostalgia.
Breaking Down Octopath’s Addictive Combat Systems
With Octopath Traveler’s enduring artistic vision established, how does it fare as an actual game experience for both newcomers and RPG veterans? The singular highlight is undoubtedly its refined turn-based battle system – continuing Square’s strong legacy innovating compelling combat.
On the surface, battles will feel warmly familiar to anyone who dueled monsters in classic Final Fantasy. But Octopath builds on these foundations with elegant modernizations. The Break and Boost systems add immensely satisfying risk-reward mechanics for both strategic planning and reactive tactics.
Enemies have shields with varying Break Points – hit their elemental weakness enough times like using Cyrus’ lightning spells on an aquaphobic foe, and you’ll smash through to Break them – leaving the enemy dazed and vulnerable. Time your strikes between their attacks and you can land multiple hits before the wounded monster retaliates.
Conversely by spending Boost Points earned each turn, you can “charge up” multiple attacks, spells or heals in advance for a devastating chain once the enemy is Stunned – but leave yourself temporarily unable to act afterwards. Mastering when to apply steady pressure or hold back for the perfect moment creates constant tension – amplified further on bosses with patterns to decode.
Adding more possibilities is the Job System – an iconic staple since Final Fantasy III. Each adventurer has their basic class from warrior to thief, but equipping additional vocations opens up new weapons, stat boosts and especially crucially – expanded skillsets. Want Primrose the dancer to assist with healing between showstopping Kick attacks? Make her an Apothecary too. How about scholarly Cyrus wielding a spear as a Merchant subclass for flexibility? Every new job both increments your party’s capabilities but also refreshes the combat mechanics to discover on each playthrough.
It all combines into immensely gratifying and demanding battles demanding your focused decision-making. When to play it safe or risk overextending? Can you recover enough health before the enemy unleashes their next barrage? Have you analyzed hidden weaknesses mid-fight to gain an advantage? Every moment engages your concentration against dangerous foes who can quickly overwhelm the unprepared. Ultimately overcoming relentless beasts, bandit lords and mystical guardians through shrewd gambits is supremely rewarding.
Add in optional side dungeons with challenging Late Game monsters and the gruelling Gauntlets of progressively stronger waves for the endgame, and Octopath Traveler offers one of the most compelling and customizable combat systems in modern RPGs back in 2018 that still holds up tremendously now. Strategy fans will adore the demanding battles while the retro visuals soften the learning curve for newcomers.
Embarking on Eight Epic Adventures
While the artistic presentation and combat depth satisfies, what about the actual narrative adventures you’ll embark upon? This is perhaps Octopath Traveler’s most unconventional design choice that divided some critics and players. Rather than one interwoven story with the cast interacting as tradition demands, Octopath instead tells eight standalone tales.
After selecting one of the eight as your protagonist, you’ll embark on their personal journey while recruiting the others along the way. While there are light connections as their objectives align, the game doesn’t force relationships between the heroes. JRPG fans expecting a traditional band of heroes joining forces may be disappointed. But there are merits to this structure most evident upon replay.
By maintaining mostly separate character arcs, Octopath Traveler essentially offers eight stories in one that can each stand alone for variety and freshness between repeated playthroughs. Craving a somber medieval drama following religious politics? Choose devout Ophilia on a pilgrimage embroiled in church intrigue. In the mood for a lighter escapade of silly misadventures across the seas? Set sail with cheerful merchant Tressa meeting quirky pirates and messy mermaids.
While conversations between your assembled team would have provided endearing banter, the isolated focus lets you fully commit to whichever protagonist’s motivations hook you at that moment without distraction. Square Enix wanted unfiltered access to whichever narrative seemed most appealing rather than enforcing detachment from a fixed viewpoint hero. In replaying Octopath Traveler since 2018, I found myself captivated by different character’s struggles and backstories simply based on mood, appreciating how each voice stands unique.
That diversity of tones and genres across the eight stories, all beautifully written with fully realized arcs of growth for each hero delivered through hours of meticulous dialogue and cutscenes, succeeds tremendously. From Primrose’s tragedy-led bloodthirsty vengeance to Alfyn’s uplifting acts of compassionate justice as you determine your team’s ethical code, I grew to care deeply for this endearing ensemble cast mostUnable to render video. Battalion 1944 is a first-person shooter set in World War 2. It features competitive multiplayer modes and period-authentic maps, weapons, and audio effects. The graphics are vibrant and smooth, with good attention to detail in the models and environments.
Gameplay is skill-based, with mechanics like recoil and gun handling attributes to master. There is also strategic depth with elements like support roles, equipment selections, and bombsite objectives that mimic Counter-Strike.
Reviews praised Battalion 1944 for effectively capturing the look and feel of old-school FPS games with a higher level of graphical fidelity enabled by modern game engines. The solid gunplay and movement gives it a satisfying, visceral core gameplay loop.
However, there have been concerns post-launch around limited content variety, matchmaking issues, lack of progression incentives, and other factors that have depressed the player population over time. Updates since release have aimed to address these shortcomings.
Overall, Battalion 1944 nails its core World War 2 FPS experience and has potential for longevity with further content and features. For budget-conscious FPS fans, it offers a solid competitive multiplayer shooter, though premium games like Call of Duty or Battlefield currently have an edge in production polish, features and player activity at the moment. With continued improvement and support it may grow its niche as a higher-skill alternative. RPG purists hankering for fleshed out backstories and emotional catharsis through charmingly written dialogue.
A Complete Experience With Lasting Power
4 years after first embarking on Octopath Traveler, over 40 hours immersed across multiple playthroughs exploring every sidequest that rewards with better gear or reveals more about beloved party members, I’m still in awe this major 2018 JRPG release has resonated so strongly half a decade later in an unforgiving gaming landscape quickly leaving untouched games in the dust.
Octopath Traveler succeeds not only as a beautiful playable diorama reviving 16-bit RPG sensibilities with cutting edge graphics and sound design, but by integrating the job switching and weakness breaking mechanics creates a combat system with immense depth to satisfy the most hardcore min-maxing strategists. The non-linear storytelling might seem unorthodox but fosters replayability.
On top of the solid launch package, Square Enix has supported the title with quality of life updates, a mobile prequel expanding the mythos, along with ongoing merchandise from soundtrack vinyl releases to apparel collaborations keeping buzz alive. Most notably, the upcoming Octopath Traveler II announcement assures the IP will continue maturing within the publisher’s stacked lineup.
Sitting in 2023 amongst lavish open world adventures like Elden Ring or sci-fi shooters like Halo Infinite, Octopath Traveler stands uniquely as the premier traditional turn-based JRPG experience modern gaming offers. And not just some retro throwback cashgrab but a meticulously crafted, visually arresting and mechanically gratifying adventure true to its 16-bit inspirations, refined gracefully for a new generation.
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| Visuals | 10/10 |
| Audio | 10/10 |
| Gameplay | 9/10 |
| Content | 8/10 |
| Longevity | 9/10 |
| Overall | 9/10 |
I haven‘t even touched on fascinating postgame dungeons letting you fight the different final bosses back to back or New Game+ allowing transformed replays. Octopath Traveler promised a modern reimagining of Super Nintendo era JRPGs – and Square Enix alongside Acquire delivered an instant classic deserving attention for years forthcoming. Any fans of classic turn-based RPGs owe it to themselves to embark on this grand adventure.