Octopath Traveler II Reviews
"New heroes, same old paths."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
As an ode to '90s JRPGs, there's no doubt that Octopath Traveler 2 has chops. Its aesthetic and combat system are perfectly judged to recall the old while feeling new. The fragmented nature of its eight separate plotlines, however, means the world and its characters lack coherence and room to escape simple archetypes, while the stories themselves lack sufficient nuance to hold the attention.
Despite my frustrations with the limited ways that Octopath Traveler II improves upon the original, at its core the game still scratches an itch that no other game can satisfy. I still spent more than 50 hours in the world of Solistia, exploring every part of the map I could and seeking out new stories to immerse myself in...For those who lament the modern state of Final Fantasy, or want something that feels truly inventive in its design compared to many cookie-cutter AAA games, Octopath Traveler II is a journey well worth taking.
A title such as Octopath Traveler II comes with its own charm, but the turn-based battle system with different types of jobs allows for some great gameplay. Adding in a beautiful world to explore and a great soundtrack to enjoy, this title is a must-play.
Octopath Traveler II is a very well finished game, with a beautiful realization and music. But the game is also a bit lazy and feels like a big DLC of the first game.
Review in French | Read full review
A competent and entertaining faux-retro Japanese role-player but apart from the new characters almost nothing has changed since the first one.
Octopath Traveler 2 is a very enjoyable JRPG sequel that feels a little too safe and familiar.
Octopath Traveler II is a mixed bag. Most of it is good, and fans of turn-based JRPGs will enjoy the game, but it can be a difficult sell if you aren’t willing to overlook some of its major faults.
However, if you really enjoyed Octopath Traveler and want a better, improved version of the combat and overall exploration, Octopath Traveler II will deliver that in spades. This is a strong RPG that I enjoyed my time with, but it's not a bold new step forward. Instead, it moderately iterates on an enjoyable formula to good success.
Octopath Traveler 2 makes a number of improvements to the original, yet it is still an extremely similar game — for better and for worse.
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II is a JRPG with a lack of direction in its story that's mostly saved by its fun job system and battle mechanics.
Octopath Traveler II is a small but noticeable gem, just like its predecessor, too bad that it indulges in past flaws without really improving them.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Octopath Traveler 2 is a sequel that pays heartfelt homage to the ’90s JRPGs cherished by many gamers. It successfully recreates the visual and auditory magic of that era while introducing some new gameplay elements. However, it also relies heavily on familiar tropes and recycles mechanics, which may disappoint those seeking a more innovative experience. The storytelling is a mixed bag, with some compelling character arcs overshadowed by the lack of a cohesive narrative thread. Nevertheless, for fans of classic JRPGs and those yearning for a nostalgic trip down memory lane, Octopath Traveler 2 offers a familiar, if somewhat conservative, journey into a beloved gaming era. With its strengths and weaknesses, it presents an opportunity for players to embark on a personal journey of exploration and nostalgia, forging their unique path through a world of pixelated wonder.
Octopath Traveler 2's changes manage to uphold what made the first game enjoyable, while adding some new bells and whistles to make it feel like a step forward.
Octopath Traveler II has some faults in the execution of the intertwined story and character interactions. However, the game’s satisfying combat system and the flexibility of its job and party system make it an excellent game to play and it manages to improve upon the original game in nearly every way. Square Enix has created a retro-inspired RPG that innovates while still capturing the spirit and adventure of classic games from the SNES era.
Octopath Traveler II manages to bring everything together in the end, and the 50+ hours you’ll spend getting through the main missions certainly won’t feel wasted. Whether this will be crowned best RPG at year’s end is debatable, but it’s a damn good game all the same and well worth playing.
If you loved Octopath Traveler or are just a fan of expansive JRPGs, Octopath Traveler II is for you. Its cast is appealing and varied, even if the accompanying shifts in tone and stakes between each character's storyline can feel jarring at times. The combat is also a joy, rewarding experimentation and customisation, despite the amount of level grinding required later in the game. If you want a fun, if familiar-feeling, JRPG that will last you a while, Octopath Traveler II will absolutely do the trick.
When all is said and done, and the eight storytellers have finally found a way to make their narratives line up and come together to deliver the exciting finale, Octopath Traveler 2 makes for a satisfying night at the bar. It’s full of pathos and excitement that pushes you forward, and the gameplay is tight and enjoyable. You can’t help but wish it was a little more well-structured, but seeing how the storytellers learned so much from their previous attempt, it’s hard not to look forward to the tales they’ll tell next time.
When compared to the original, Octopath Traveler II is largely more of the same but better.
Octopath Traveler II doesn't reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Instead, it dives deeper into what made the first game so much fun. It doesn't hold up quite as well as the original, but it's still an excellent JRPG to play!