Octopath Traveler II Review (Jedo)
In a time when many great works of fiction (TV, Anime, Manga, etc) see their potential cut short due to budget constraints or limited marketing runs, there is an increased appreciation for stories that are told fully (and expertly) to their conclusion. Octopath Traveler II is such a game in which 8 incredible stories are individually told to fruition, then coalesce into an epic journey to win back tomorrow.
Playing through OT2 is akin to watching 8 great anime mini-series that combine many of the best parts from my favorite shows. There were brief moments that had me thinking along the lines of... "Ahh that definitely gave me a Sengoku Basara vibe" or "Maybe this is what Arslan's story would have looked like if he didn't need a game, 8 seasons, and a movie to develop his character and win back his nation" or maybe even "Yeah Luffy! That meat do be lookin' good!!". The point is that within these 8 stories is something for everyone and chances are, that something is a story that's told with great care and detail. They even have a proper detective in there! This game belongs to a very exclusive list of games in which I actively refuse to skip any part of the story. Popcorn is highly recommended for your first playthrough.
As you can probably guess from my huge blurb above, the game has a substantial story. Despite this, the game does not skimp out on RPG and combat elements. OT2 is a refreshing game in which the abundance of choice is actually fun rather than overwhelming. It's possible to get lost in all the options and spend hours upon hours deciding on how to build your characters for an upcoming fight. While there is no apparent difficulty setting, you can mold your experience based on the constraints you place on yourself, your approach to the story, and your team-building efforts.
Let's not forget the music! OT2 probably has the best use of music (and of course some of the best tracks) to dramatic effect. The game knows when silence is appropriate and when to ramp up the OST. Oftentimes during serious conversations, they let the ambient sounds do the heavy lifting to allow the player to focus on the meat of the conversation. Small details such as the crackling fire during a campfire or the howling wind during a painful conversation really elevate a lot of scenes in this game. Add to that the epic and dare I say even motivational tracks that ramp up as moments of tension start to peak. All the small things combined definitely sets OT2 apart from its peers.
I knew from the moment I finished all the first character chapters that OT2 had an all-star cast of VAs!! From the voice of Dio all the way to the original voice of Lucy Heartfilia and Haruhi Suzumiya (Aya Hirano), I knew I would listen intently to all of the characters' lines. From an absolute cuteness standpoint, nothing will ever trump the execution of Ochette's iconic lines.
All of the above culminated in a truly breathtaking 100+ hour experience. I took my time, explored every corner of the world, and even tried to note down my adventures by means of a guide. This game has so much to offer and if I ever had to describe a game that had "soul", this would be it. Buy OT2 so you too can appreciate this masterwork!