Fun fact: the concept of eight different protagonists each one with their own story actually was a concept that was used in Square's Japan only title called Live-A-Live
@@starscorpia4005 Saga Frontier for PS1 had 7 protags because the eight was removed for time and money constraints. However not all protags could join on any particular run so that the story for the current main was not diluted. Had hundreds of hours back in the days much more than FF7.
Highly recommend checking out Bravely Default and Bravely Second. Those games have random encounters but you can turn them on or off (or adjust their frequency) freely anytime. Also the first game has a godly soundtrack.
Something you should take into account with this game is the intended design philosophy. The game was specifically designed to just be played for a couple hours at a time right before bed. Most of your non post game issues tie into that design philosophy. A confusing aspect of this game is that you cant eliminate random encounters at all. This game was made by the Bravely Default Team, and BD actually gave you the ability to double or eliminate your encounter rate from the beginning of the game in the options menu at any time.
Now that the remake of Live A Live is out I feel like that game was the inspiration of what Octopath traveler was because the game focuses on 8 main characters
I haven't finished Octopath Traveler, but I lost interest due to a bunch of reasons. But I feel like one of them is that the story and padding caused me to eventually fall out of it. I never finished Therion, Tressa, and Cyrus' stories. Since, well...by that point, I got bored of everything the game offered. Plus, the dynamic stories involving people all around the world and eventually having them all grow as people due to the game's themes. This is why I love Tales of and some Final Fantasy games I've played. I played those games to see them grow and enjoy the themes the writers put forth. Octopath didn't do that. And it's sad. Because there's so much about this game I love. I agree, Zaffre. This game needs a sequel, and if it features the same characters with a fully done main story allowing party banter with full voice acting? A perfect improvement over the original.
I agree that more party interaction would have helped but I disagree with you on the overworld and dungeons just because this game actually has an overworld which soooooo many games lack nowadays! did you ever get the four secret classes? I don't recall you mentioned those. I also really like the "field skills" in this game compared to the atrocious ones in xenoblade 2 if you know what I mean!
The final dungeon is doable at late 50, I did it with 4 characters being LV55 and the 4 others 59, people that say you have to grind to LV70 have either miss what you can do with the gameplay or were to lazy to think and thought grinding was the only way right away.
I actually think the ost-game dungeon was very much worth doing, it's nowhere near as hard as it sounds, but at the same time it expects you to use all eight characters, which I thought was cool. It's also story-wise very significant, showing how the true villain has somehow been involved with each characters story at one point or another. It's also not too hard to reach the necessary level if you just fight a couple of the rare cat enemies. I think you were definitely missing out on a satisfying finale!
Personally I loved the true final boss it felt like great final test of your mastery of the mechanics (aka overheal for the win). I will agree it is a grind especially because the fight forces you to use every character so if you have been only using a main team four sorry that won’t fly. Also the reward sucks you get an item that prevents random encounters at a time when you don’t need it. However the fight is incredibly well designed for where you are at that point in the game. Plus the music is awesome easily one of my favorite tracks in the game It has two parts “The One They Call The Witch” and “Daughter of The Dark God.” I especially love the second part it sounds like an epic rock opera and stands easily among some of the best pieces Square has produced. I will definitely be paying attention to any games that feature Yasunori Nishiki as the composer in the future.
Is 60 FPS necessary for a turn-based RPG? I understand why it would be an issue for a game with timing in mind but with turn-based games the actions are static, the only thing the framerate will affect is the smoothness of the animations.
not really, hence why i'm fine with it. it just looks so smooth when traversing the overworld and in terms of the attack animations in general. i'm just a stickler for that kinda thing
Octopath was the first game I ever got the collector's edition for - this game was so lovely and I miss it all the time. The OST is forever my favorite across every jrpg I've played, and the characters were so memorable. In retrospect, the game should have had oh so much more, and the fact the mobile game is jp only makes me so infuriated (pls don't do this to me sqenix we have enough of this from bamco), but it was still such a good game with a cast that really resonated with me. God I love this game
Great review as always. Gonna have to listen to the OST now. Might snack this one from some sale, but good to know I'm not going into it without too high of expectations. Seems solid game overall though, but with very clear ups and downs. As a Tales fan, random encounters and very little party banter though... yeah, that one hurts a bit, not gonna lie :'D
This video was great and I agree that Octopath Traveler needs a sequel because this game leaves a lot to be desired and it has potential. Besides Pokemon with its random encounters, Chrono Trigger on the DS and Mario rpgs turn-based combat has always turned me away for years until Persona and Dragon quest 11 changed on how turn base combat can be fun. Also random encounters nowadays are a really dated mechanic and this is why I always prefer action rpgs because I feel like I'm in control and don't have to worry about RNG or grinding just to have the better numbers than my opponent. Keep it up Zaffre your reviews are getting better :)
I never bought a single game soundtrack before in my life. And I bought Octopath Traveler's. Bought the 4 CD original soundtrack, the Break & Boost CD, and the Break & Boost Extend CD. That's how much I like it. Not only the soundtrack, but I also love the battle system and the job system. It's sad to see this all brought down by the eight completely separated mini stories that never go together in a single epic adventure with all of them "together" as a real party. They should've made the secret dungeon/quest longer (maybe some chapters long) and as part of the main story. Leaving it as an optional dungeon doesn't give the same feeling, especially if you don't even know about it to go chasing the necessary side quests.
The time reason is bullshit since most FF games are about the same length as the Xenoblade games or even shorter depending on the entry. As for the other 2 reasons... Did you even look into the more recent FFs that don't have turn based combat and random encounters? Like 12? The 13 trilogy? (I'm not a big fan of this one myself but...) 15? Hell even Type-0, Crisis Core or Dirge of Cerberus (ok some of them have random encounters but you're not a kid anymore). Also the Tactics games are there too. Oh and since it's my 2nd favorite game ever I still recommend FF10 against all odds. What I'm trying to say with all this... You have no fucking idea just how much you're missing on (even if none of them are perfect by any means but nothing is anyway right?).
I understand what you mean about turn based RPGs. When I was younger I loved them, but then, after playing a few, they all felt the same. Now, when I play turn based RPGs I look for unique features.
I also wish there would have been more character interactions! It was criminal with such interesting characters that we didn't get more party banter. I attempted to level up to 70 but there really isn't any easy way to do this in the game. Ended up just putting it away afterward. The only game where combat never felt like a chore was Eternal Sonata for me. Even in Tales games, I tend to avoid monsters as I near the end of the game.
honestly i feel like my favorite combat systems are at their *most* fun near the end since that's when you've got all your tools available and a good grip on combat, so that's a surprising take on the tales series but to each their own! sucks that there's no real way to grind up to level 70 quickly in this game, but ah well i was kinda over the game when i finished the character chapters anyway so maybe it's a blessing in disguise...? wish this game stuck the landing better than it did tbh
@@ZaffreRevolution personally my way of grinding levels is too use Primrose's ability with random effects with 4BP, allowing you, if you're lucky, to have X2, X5 or even x100 Xp bonus. Probably shaved off a few hours of grinding, but it's still a lot.
I beat galdera being in the late 70's. It took me 5 times to beat it, each time being hugely time consuming, but when I did beat it, knowing that if that last hit didnt kill it, i would've been killed and had to do it all over again, it was extremely satisfying.
It's kind of hilarious how often you talk crap about a game for so long and then in the end you say you "love the game." It seems like a VERY common theme in your videos. Hence why you would share your opinion on the game in the first place. Great video, regardless. I am almost wanting to step into this game at this point. Thank you.
i've kinda noticed this tbh. it was a weird reviewer trap i was falling into where it feels like you have to mention every little thing you don't like for the sake of looking competent and as if your standards aren't low but i'm trying really hard to avoid that and focus more on the positives while maintaining a professional and high-standards-esque aura. i have a new video coming out this friday and i really hope that comes across better
11:45 100% agreed. The soundtrack tends to be the best part of any game that was made with at least the tiniest amount of love and even a lot of games made without any. It just shows how much a good musician cares about their music and nothing else
i got it on switch. now got it on pc. and oh boi. 4k 60 masks those graphical artifacts caused by the swaying camera during battle A WHOLE LOT! the game looks so much cleaner
Hey Zaffre ! Great vid ! I was thinking, can you do one about Grandia 1 and 2 when you have the time ? There's a remastered bundle for the switch with both games, it would be nice to see you review them =)
You’re missing out. The end of the game was the best part. I guess turn based games aren’t for you. I couldn’t put it down and it’s in my top 5 games of all time. Vesperia is your favorite game though, so we obviously have very different opinions haha. You must have lowered the encounter rate too frequently, because I never once had to grind and I beat the final dungeon on my first try.
I share your opinion about turn based battle systems, I played some Final Fantasy games in the past but none of them was that amazing & Dragon Quest was worse, so if the battle system is as basic as was in the 80s I pass on it. Only when a turn based RPG has something unique about it did I love it, like Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi, Shadow Hearts trilogy, Radiant Historia, Bravely Default & Octopath Traveler. Very good review, I loved this game so much & I think a sequel with new 8 character where they address characters interaction & few QoL adjustments would be great, also they should delete that bullshit about the ending dugeon & its boss rush just to get the true ending! I've been trying to tackle it but I'm not sure anymore lol. Just add a harder final dungeon, no need to be on a 30+ levels over your current level & please no boss rush.
I never played a game like this in my early days of ps2 but definitely seems nostalgic of the not knowing what I'm doing in a game but having fun with it even if I'm stuck at one spot & never finish the game.
Hmm. I bounced off of this one while playing the demo. My favorite turn-based RPGs are from the PS1, PS2, and 3DS era and the look of this game feels like a SNES game; I was a Sega Genesis dude.
2:49 Don't worry Zaffre. I haven't beaten any Final Fantasy game either. Though I also haven't beaten any Xenoblade game... or Tales of... In fact, I think the only JRPGs I have beaten are a couple Pokemon games, some Mario & Luigi games and Persona 5 Royal... Does Miitopia count? I suppose FE: Three Houses would count (though that's a bit of a special case with that also being a strategy game).
Of all the games and fictions I've encountered, this one is the ONLY one that got me into it's fanfiction. Amazing as the story is, my one complaint is there wasn't enough character interaction within the party. It's like the character who's story you're currently playing is the only one that exists at any given time. Party Banter just wasn't enough. I wanted MORE of the characters, because I think they're all amazing and relatable in some way. I've also never finished a FF game...well, other than 7 (twice!), but I finished this one! (only once though...) Ty for sharing your take! Enjoyed watching it 😊
Okay. Not saying you are wrong because of the job system combat can be REALLY different for individual playthroughs but I not once thought of battles to be to long. But to be fair that probably had the reason that I had the time of my life building a team that one shots everything once I break their defense... And I mean everything. I used a few rounds to set up, break the shield and boom let loose. I also found multiple builds that make that possible. So things didn't really get stale
I've also never completed an FF game. I really don't like ATB. I've had a loooottt of people get on me for saying the only FFs I want to play are XII and XIII.
Hey Zaffre this was a really well done review it made me realize this might not be my type of game and that’s okay. You should check out legend of heroes trials of cold steel series I feel that series does turn based combat very well.
I think I minded less as a lot of the issues with the game gone unnoticed during playing, but going in retrospective myself all of the issues you mentioned are things I can agree with. It is a good game but also could have been so much more
this game is amazing as a complete package. but it has a lot of weird aspects to it that hinder it. i say this a turn-based / job-based / final fantasy / bravely default superfan too.
Doesn't like random battles and doesn't like turn-based combat.....so you don't like JRPGs. You're a child with no attention span who needs to mash buttons to feel like you're doing something. Got it.
![Gunna - HIM ALL ALONG [Official Visualizer]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HiCxoDeo0hc/mqdefault.jpg)
Fun fact: the concept of eight different protagonists each one with their own story actually was a concept that was used in Square's Japan only title called Live-A-Live
and that game managed to tie in the 8 stories a bit better
@@starscorpia4005 Saga Frontier for PS1 had 7 protags because the eight was removed for time and money constraints. However not all protags could join on any particular run so that the story for the current main was not diluted. Had hundreds of hours back in the days much more than FF7.
This game has too many best girls I can’t chose someone help
Highly recommend checking out Bravely Default and Bravely Second. Those games have random encounters but you can turn them on or off (or adjust their frequency) freely anytime. Also the first game has a godly soundtrack.
Yes man. The two Bravely games on 3DS is amazing
Something you should take into account with this game is the intended design philosophy. The game was specifically designed to just be played for a couple hours at a time right before bed. Most of your non post game issues tie into that design philosophy. A confusing aspect of this game is that you cant eliminate random encounters at all. This game was made by the Bravely Default Team, and BD actually gave you the ability to double or eliminate your encounter rate from the beginning of the game in the options menu at any time.
Now that the remake of Live A Live is out I feel like that game was the inspiration of what Octopath traveler was because the game focuses on 8 main characters
I haven't finished Octopath Traveler, but I lost interest due to a bunch of reasons. But I feel like one of them is that the story and padding caused me to eventually fall out of it. I never finished Therion, Tressa, and Cyrus' stories. Since, well...by that point, I got bored of everything the game offered. Plus, the dynamic stories involving people all around the world and eventually having them all grow as people due to the game's themes.
This is why I love Tales of and some Final Fantasy games I've played. I played those games to see them grow and enjoy the themes the writers put forth. Octopath didn't do that. And it's sad. Because there's so much about this game I love. I agree, Zaffre. This game needs a sequel, and if it features the same characters with a fully done main story allowing party banter with full voice acting? A perfect improvement over the original.
I agree that more party interaction would have helped but I disagree with you on the overworld and dungeons just because this game actually has an overworld which soooooo many games lack nowadays! did you ever get the four secret classes? I don't recall you mentioned those. I also really like the "field skills" in this game compared to the atrocious ones in xenoblade 2 if you know what I mean!
yeah i got all 4 secret classes and they're broken as hell but a lot of fun!
The final dungeon is doable at late 50, I did it with 4 characters being LV55 and the 4 others 59, people that say you have to grind to LV70 have either miss what you can do with the gameplay or were to lazy to think and thought grinding was the only way right away.
I actually think the ost-game dungeon was very much worth doing, it's nowhere near as hard as it sounds, but at the same time it expects you to use all eight characters, which I thought was cool. It's also story-wise very significant, showing how the true villain has somehow been involved with each characters story at one point or another. It's also not too hard to reach the necessary level if you just fight a couple of the rare cat enemies. I think you were definitely missing out on a satisfying finale!
Personally I loved the true final boss it felt like great final test of your mastery of the mechanics (aka overheal for the win). I will agree it is a grind especially because the fight forces you to use every character so if you have been only using a main team four sorry that won’t fly. Also the reward sucks you get an item that prevents random encounters at a time when you don’t need it.
However the fight is incredibly well designed for where you are at that point in the game. Plus the music is awesome easily one of my favorite tracks in the game It has two parts “The One They Call The Witch” and “Daughter of The Dark God.” I especially love the second part it sounds like an epic rock opera and stands easily among some of the best pieces Square has produced. I will definitely be paying attention to any games that feature Yasunori Nishiki as the composer in the future.
Is 60 FPS necessary for a turn-based RPG? I understand why it would be an issue for a game with timing in mind but with turn-based games the actions are static, the only thing the framerate will affect is the smoothness of the animations.
not really, hence why i'm fine with it. it just looks so smooth when traversing the overworld and in terms of the attack animations in general. i'm just a stickler for that kinda thing
@@ZaffreRevolution That's understandable.
Dude I was just thinking about getting to this one. Perfect timing thank you sir
Octopath was the first game I ever got the collector's edition for - this game was so lovely and I miss it all the time. The OST is forever my favorite across every jrpg I've played, and the characters were so memorable. In retrospect, the game should have had oh so much more, and the fact the mobile game is jp only makes me so infuriated (pls don't do this to me sqenix we have enough of this from bamco), but it was still such a good game with a cast that really resonated with me. God I love this game
Great review as always. Gonna have to listen to the OST now. Might snack this one from some sale, but good to know I'm not going into it without too high of expectations. Seems solid game overall though, but with very clear ups and downs. As a Tales fan, random encounters and very little party banter though... yeah, that one hurts a bit, not gonna lie :'D
May try this eventually, but my backlog is already massive.
I feel you. Its definitely worth it though, especially for the gameplay, music and visuals!
This video was great and I agree that Octopath Traveler needs a sequel because this game leaves a lot to be desired and it has potential. Besides Pokemon with its random encounters, Chrono Trigger on the DS and Mario rpgs turn-based combat has always turned me away for years until Persona and Dragon quest 11 changed on how turn base combat can be fun. Also random encounters nowadays are a really dated mechanic and this is why I always prefer action rpgs because I feel like I'm in control and don't have to worry about RNG or grinding just to have the better numbers than my opponent. Keep it up Zaffre your reviews are getting better :)
I never bought a single game soundtrack before in my life.
And I bought Octopath Traveler's. Bought the 4 CD original soundtrack, the Break & Boost CD, and the Break & Boost Extend CD. That's how much I like it.
Not only the soundtrack, but I also love the battle system and the job system.
It's sad to see this all brought down by the eight completely separated mini stories that never go together in a single epic adventure with all of them "together" as a real party.
They should've made the secret dungeon/quest longer (maybe some chapters long) and as part of the main story. Leaving it as an optional dungeon doesn't give the same feeling, especially if you don't even know about it to go chasing the necessary side quests.
My boyfriend and I looove this game. It was really fun comparing what class we attributed to each character!
The time reason is bullshit since most FF games are about the same length as the Xenoblade games or even shorter depending on the entry.
As for the other 2 reasons... Did you even look into the more recent FFs that don't have turn based combat and random encounters? Like 12? The 13 trilogy? (I'm not a big fan of this one myself but...) 15?
Hell even Type-0, Crisis Core or Dirge of Cerberus (ok some of them have random encounters but you're not a kid anymore).
Also the Tactics games are there too. Oh and since it's my 2nd favorite game ever I still recommend FF10 against all odds.
What I'm trying to say with all this... You have no fucking idea just how much you're missing on (even if none of them are perfect by any means but nothing is anyway right?).
I understand what you mean about turn based RPGs. When I was younger I loved them, but then, after playing a few, they all felt the same. Now, when I play turn based RPGs I look for unique features.
I also wish there would have been more character interactions! It was criminal with such interesting characters that we didn't get more party banter. I attempted to level up to 70 but there really isn't any easy way to do this in the game. Ended up just putting it away afterward. The only game where combat never felt like a chore was Eternal Sonata for me. Even in Tales games, I tend to avoid monsters as I near the end of the game.
honestly i feel like my favorite combat systems are at their *most* fun near the end since that's when you've got all your tools available and a good grip on combat, so that's a surprising take on the tales series but to each their own! sucks that there's no real way to grind up to level 70 quickly in this game, but ah well i was kinda over the game when i finished the character chapters anyway so maybe it's a blessing in disguise...? wish this game stuck the landing better than it did tbh
@@ZaffreRevolution personally my way of grinding levels is too use Primrose's ability with random effects with 4BP, allowing you, if you're lucky, to have X2, X5 or even x100 Xp bonus. Probably shaved off a few hours of grinding, but it's still a lot.
I beat galdera being in the late 70's. It took me 5 times to beat it, each time being hugely time consuming, but when I did beat it, knowing that if that last hit didnt kill it, i would've been killed and had to do it all over again, it was extremely satisfying.
It's kind of hilarious how often you talk crap about a game for so long and then in the end you say you "love the game." It seems like a VERY common theme in your videos. Hence why you would share your opinion on the game in the first place. Great video, regardless. I am almost wanting to step into this game at this point. Thank you.
i've kinda noticed this tbh. it was a weird reviewer trap i was falling into where it feels like you have to mention every little thing you don't like for the sake of looking competent and as if your standards aren't low but i'm trying really hard to avoid that and focus more on the positives while maintaining a professional and high-standards-esque aura. i have a new video coming out this friday and i really hope that comes across better
11:45 100% agreed. The soundtrack tends to be the best part of any game that was made with at least the tiniest amount of love and even a lot of games made without any. It just shows how much a good musician cares about their music and nothing else
really good video Zaff
Bland & bare-bone, yes, that's why I couldn't get into it as much as I love the presentation
i got it on switch. now got it on pc. and oh boi. 4k 60 masks those graphical artifacts caused by the swaying camera during battle A WHOLE LOT! the game looks so much cleaner
Hey Zaffre ! Great vid ! I was thinking, can you do one about Grandia 1 and 2 when you have the time ? There's a remastered bundle for the switch with both games, it would be nice to see you review them =)
I’ve been playing this game, I’m only like 14 hours in but dude this is a good game
Lmao says a lot about jrpgs when 14 hours doesn’t let you cover your opinions on the game
31:24 "and this feeling is unique to Octopath Traveler"
Bravely series: Am I a joke to you?
The art is awesome.
You’re missing out. The end of the game was the best part. I guess turn based games aren’t for you. I couldn’t put it down and it’s in my top 5 games of all time. Vesperia is your favorite game though, so we obviously have very different opinions haha. You must have lowered the encounter rate too frequently, because I never once had to grind and I beat the final dungeon on my first try.
I share your opinion about turn based battle systems, I played some Final Fantasy games in the past but none of them was that amazing & Dragon Quest was worse, so if the battle system is as basic as was in the 80s I pass on it. Only when a turn based RPG has something unique about it did I love it, like Paper Mario, Mario & Luigi, Shadow Hearts trilogy, Radiant Historia, Bravely Default & Octopath Traveler.
Very good review, I loved this game so much & I think a sequel with new 8 character where they address characters interaction & few QoL adjustments would be great, also they should delete that bullshit about the ending dugeon & its boss rush just to get the true ending! I've been trying to tackle it but I'm not sure anymore lol. Just add a harder final dungeon, no need to be on a 30+ levels over your current level & please no boss rush.
Romancing Saga was a huge influence on this game
I never played a game like this in my early days of ps2 but definitely seems nostalgic of the not knowing what I'm doing in a game but having fun with it even if I'm stuck at one spot & never finish the game.
Hmm. I bounced off of this one while playing the demo. My favorite turn-based RPGs are from the PS1, PS2, and 3DS era and the look of this game feels like a SNES game; I was a Sega Genesis dude.
2:49 Don't worry Zaffre. I haven't beaten any Final Fantasy game either. Though I also haven't beaten any Xenoblade game... or Tales of... In fact, I think the only JRPGs I have beaten are a couple Pokemon games, some Mario & Luigi games and Persona 5 Royal... Does Miitopia count? I suppose FE: Three Houses would count (though that's a bit of a special case with that also being a strategy game).
As someone that love JRPGs and specially Turn Based JRPG I also have never beat a Final Fantasy, but just because I hate the ATB systems
Of all the games and fictions I've encountered, this one is the ONLY one that got me into it's fanfiction. Amazing as the story is, my one complaint is there wasn't enough character interaction within the party. It's like the character who's story you're currently playing is the only one that exists at any given time. Party Banter just wasn't enough. I wanted MORE of the characters, because I think they're all amazing and relatable in some way. I've also never finished a FF game...well, other than 7 (twice!), but I finished this one! (only once though...) Ty for sharing your take! Enjoyed watching it 😊
you have so many favorite soundtracks that they are not favorites anymore
Okay. Not saying you are wrong because of the job system combat can be REALLY different for individual playthroughs but I not once thought of battles to be to long. But to be fair that probably had the reason that I had the time of my life building a team that one shots everything once I break their defense... And I mean everything. I used a few rounds to set up, break the shield and boom let loose. I also found multiple builds that make that possible. So things didn't really get stale
I've also never completed an FF game. I really don't like ATB. I've had a loooottt of people get on me for saying the only FFs I want to play are XII and XIII.
Saga Frontier on the psx was the first jrpg that I played that had multiple party paths. A lot of them. Also by Square.
Hey Zaffre this was a really well done review it made me realize this might not be my type of game and that’s okay. You should check out legend of heroes trials of cold steel series I feel that series does turn based combat very well.
I think I minded less as a lot of the issues with the game gone unnoticed during playing, but going in retrospective myself all of the issues you mentioned are things I can agree with. It is a good game but also could have been so much more
Oh my gosh this video reminded me this is in my backlog
this game is amazing as a complete package. but it has a lot of weird aspects to it that hinder it. i say this a turn-based / job-based / final fantasy / bravely default superfan too.
An FF game with customization? Sounds like X-2 and 13-2
We won’t get a sequel
Have you play the app?
Squenix??
Jokes on you I've played mario sports mix that's close to FF
...right?
I should try a turn based rpg that isn't pokemon
Cool
Doesn't like random battles and doesn't like turn-based combat.....so you don't like JRPGs. You're a child with no attention span who needs to mash buttons to feel like you're doing something.
Got it.
Uhh no that's not what he's implying lol.