i saw people saying: “you should skip the first one to play OT2” but the magic of the first one makes the second one that much better. there’s so many nods to the first game in 2 (including big things) that i wouldn’t appreciate as much if i didn’t play 1. seeing Balogar and Winnehild (as Hild) mentioned through Agnea’s skill, inquiring a guy who is saying what was on the mural at the end of cyrus’ chapter 4 only to find a certain tome in his house, and even seeing the names Mikk and Makk in a boss fight. while at the moment i 100% think 2 is better than 1, there’s a certain comfort in 1 that i enjoy
honestly there is a different appeal between the two the second game holds a much better narrative, but the first game's world is so much more open and free; the second game has a lot of points that are blocked by story or level in order to have a more captivating narrative this is neither a good or bad thing, but it's definitely a big difference between the two games also octopath 1 has an award for beating the game with a single traveler, while the second one does not (i can attest through personal experience - throne's final boss is a pain in the ass solo), which tells me the game is designed less for interesting challenge runs than the first game is, but time will tell on that front
@@thegreatgario3478 what run in OT one is able to be done solo? as far as i know, even speedruns recruit at least 3 characters (i would guess Tressa, but Esmeralda's Five Strikes attack means Tressa has has to take 5 hits, which uhhh... good luck lol)
@@questrequested9171 every character can be finished without recruiting any other character; it's difficult but doable, especially when secondary classes are taken into account every boss can be defeated with every single character without secondary jobs except for Darius; Cyrus and Alfyn have no means to stop his 25% party removal without items or access to daggers you can look up SULLLA on his personal website for octopath solo run throughs where he finishes every character's chapter with a single party member (killing off the rest of the party), if you want to see how (i've personally done this with Primrose, Therion, and H'aanit) it's a pretty mechanically rich game that allows for that sort of gameplay, if you're patient with it
Hey I have a quick question. I already bought 2 but have never played the first one but I don’t want to wait too long to start the second one. Is there a way you’d recommend that I could get the most out of 2? Like is there a video you’d recommend on YT that has the cut scenes or a good rundown of the story and anything I’d want or need to know before I start the 2nd one? I’ll eventually get to the first one someday, I just have a long backlog of games but I’m so excited to play this one! Thanks so much!
@@SwedePotato314 Fortunately there is no story connection between the first and second game outside of vague references, much like a Final Fantasy game and it's sequels. You can play the games in either order and get the most out of them. :)
@@ella_komiya I love Partitio too, I just think Tressa is THE iconic Octopath character. Partitio is a huge gameplay upgrade and has a more unique theme, but the fact Tressa looks like a recolored merchant and has the greatest character theme in video games makes her top him for me. Basically, Partitio is actually better, I'm just bias.
@@stovenven tressa all the way. Both merchants are about hope but something about tressa and young girl exploring the world for the first time is so good
Love them both, but ngl, having Tressa as a a main Protagonist is amazing because of her ability to just FIND MONEY. That said... Everything Partitio says to Agnea makes my heart squeal.
@@stovenven I like this. Tressa was my main character, and I prefer the skillsets of others. But Man when I think Octopath shes the FIRST character that comes to my mind
I do like how they added cross path quests in 2 so there is more interaction with the party members and when a character does well in combat other party members praise or when injured bad they express concern.
@@aleximose1302 Only halfway. The improvements with characters speaking to each other, while nice, don't exactly occur in story contexts and thus characters, in their own story cutscenes, will not be accompanied by the other 7 fellow travelers.
IMO, I am okay with their own distinct story now (with replayable travel banter but hope they voice-over in next one) hope we have more class, an instant change party and instant banter for unactive member (no need to end chapter to see it all) and maybe a bit smaller but more frequently cross-quest.
So much of what you said in your closing thoughts on this game resonated with me. I’d kinda fallen out of love with gaming at the time as well, picked up Octopath because it felt so reminiscent of the games I loved most as a kid. And then couldn’t put it down until I beat it. But not just beat it… seen as much of it as I could. Great review!
The surprise on my face after I finished watching the video and went to hit the like button and saw that you only had under 70 subs. the level of video quality for this small channel is INSANE. If I didnt know any better I would’ve guessed the video came form a channel that had atleast 100k subs. You got yourself a new subscriber. I would subscribe 100 times if I could. Looking forward to a potential new video talking about Octopath’s sequel in the future (:
Oh god miguel… the one boss that made my „I don‘t actively *build* my party, I level“ ass go and actually check the shops for equipment because I was too frustrated… still felt with more patience I could have defeated him tho! XD
My main gripe with Octopath 2 is they took away a majority of the sparkly effects on snow and sand, and water. Not sure why they took it off. It was so unique. I went into the snow lands a few days ago eager to see the sparkly snow, but it didn’t have that effect anymore. It’s just a hint of glitter. But other than that, seeing this video makes me really see the improvements! I love it.
I think it’s more of a thematic change. The winterlands in OT2 serves as a harsher, more somber version of the frostlands from the first game. The music reflects this as well. It’s fitting for Osvald’s chapter 1.
This game, as imperfect as it is, still offers an incredible and worthwhile experience! The sense of freedom to go wherever you want, fight whoever or whatever you want, or experience any story in any order that you want is unlike a lot of games. The design of Octopath Traveler makes it feel like I'm on my own, personalized adventure! It's similar to a Pokemon anime adventure. You might have a particular goal you're striving for but on the way, you may pick up this character or continue that character's story. Hell, perhaps do a side quest or go check out this dungeon and loot everything in it. This game - this series - has such a nice pick up and go flow that it feels like a genuine adventure. I'm always running into something along my path and just... do it. I even enjoy majority of the character stories, as simple and cliche as they are. The characters - especially our eight travelers - are pretty likable alongside their side characters. There's heart in these stories, even though most of the time they aren't reinventing the wheel. I loved Olberic's re-discovery to pick back up his sword, Therion learning to trust people again, Tressa growing up a little and figuring how she'll set her mark on the world, etc. Most of them are engaging in their own way and the variety in tone and story concepts is astounding! I love that this series never sticks to one thing! What's even better, it makes me appreciate the improvements in Octopath Traveler 2! The storylines are more interesting, character interactions are a little bit better, the game looks even more beautiful than ever, the music still slaps. All this while keeping the spirit - improving on said spirit - set up by the first game. This series has a lot of potential to be beautiful. In fact, I say it already is...
All games are imperfect, do we really need to say that. Ironically, we tend to mostly talk about how a game isn’t perfect when it comes to Japanese games, and not so much with western games.
Speaking of Omar, i tried bewildering grace three times on him to try to get more exp. I ended up healing him to full health everytime and never got the extra xp buff. 💀
I loved it mostly for how it's story was handled. Most RPGs put the whole "Save the World" plot at the focus with the individual stories on the side along the way. Meanwhile, Octopath Traveler puts those individuals to the main focus of the story, with the whole "Save the World" plot that connects them in the background through side quests.
I honestly love that. After finishing a story, the world won't turn great. People are still poor or greedy, monsters still roam around and the othet traveler stories are probabably not beaten yet. It gives it a sort of realism and makes it less over the top.
This is genuinely a beautiful review. This game will be in my top 10 forever, but I can tell you part 2 is even better. I’m going to be sad once it’s all over. Great review my friend!
I found Omar to be hard but not as challenging as a particular bastard *cough* Miguel. But yes, the music absolutely slaps and it really helped motivate me to continue trying even when it seemed impossible.
I know the party might seem absent, but honestly, I was glad for that. It let my imagination take over. It led me to write a fan fiction that people actually enjoy, and is still developing, and growing. I'm actually working on a fan fiction for OT2, as well, and for once, I have an Ace character, and one that is so broken that he'll never love again... I think if the party were more involved, or fleshed out, I never would have thought of doing any of this. The travel banter is so brief, that it gives off a spark... And a spark is all it takes for my tinderbox of a mind to explode. Plus... The only music I need to focus on while writing is the OST.... Love the video tho, I could really feel the love and passion... Plus you finally realizing the animals at the end was VERY cute.
This game is so special for me too, I cried when you explained how you not interested in gaming anymore and I felt that but this game saved me, thank you.
I was a broke college student when this game released. I pirated it, played, finished Primrose's story and I just stopped. It felt so wrong to play this illegally. After 3 years, I bought this game (and my first switch) using my first pay and finished it.
What I liked about this game is it just offers you a lot of freedom. Freedom in how you want to use the path actions, the variety of the path actions, the job system and battle system I think is very polished. Personally I didn't mind that the stories were simple and stand alone because I got that impression from the trailer so I got what I expected. The final dungeon and boss was a really nice surprise though. But if you for example want to risk your life in an area too high for your level just to book it to a town and convince some extremely buff grandpa to join your party? Go for it. Want to gamble on an 8% chance of stealing a weapon that will make you the Hulk for a while? Also go for it. The alchemist is the strongest version of alchemy I've seen in any game though. It's actually an ultra busted class. For people who want a singular story I kind of wonder if there's a way for them to keep the same structure but actually have stuff woven together well.
I've honestly been hella reluctant to finishing Octopath Traveler. Idk why I just cheerish what it has and I don't wanna just finish the journey yet. And now that OT2 out, man. This game just sends me into a peaceful state of happiness everytime I open it. Eventually I'll actually finish the game when I have the heart to do so :' )
4:16 never thought of the environment sounds. watching this video just showed how much I loved this game and how much the second game has improved upon the formula of the first!
I found this game incredibly difficult in the beginning hours... because I failed to realize that I can boost more than once. And also, my starter was Primrose. So essentially I was getting walled by bats in the tutorial dungeon because of my low defenses and hp coupled with damage output which I have unintentionally limited myself.
I can’t believe I was a moron for the longest time when I played it myself. I had an understanding of most things but I was scared of the job system, I thought it was gonna change my primary job and make me start over aside from levels, when I found out that wasn’t the case, I started having so much more fun since I wasn’t locked to just the basic jobs set to the four male characters. Hell, I had coverage of every element and weapon type once I found out, which sorta brings back the classic JRPG feel. The game doesn’t hand you everything on a silver platter, you gotta discover some things for yourself, even if you potentially ignore a tutorial on accident- Once I beat the game’s true final boss, I’m definitely purchasing Octopath 2 and experience the wonder of fresh Octopath all over again (Also underrated channel, take my sub and have a good day)
2018 me had no idea what he was getting into when he got this game. I got out of pure curiosity. I wasn't a huge rpg guy at the time and didn't care for xenoblade or persona or any of that at the time and the more I think about it, the more I realize octopath was kind of the gateaway for me into the vast world of amazing 100 hour RPG's. This game is magical and I could not put it down either and while I don't have as much time as I did then, I am really enjoying 2 just as much if not more and I hope you have fun with it as well. Also no way you have only 100 subs??? You're getting a new sub from me! 10/10 video
The power of OT1 and OT2's soundtrack is empowering. The fact that it can give such deep emotions means the game was deffinatly done right, like the battle system was probably build weak because they wanted to make a game that was basically a visual novel.
Had my eye on the OT1 (and OT2!) for a while and was very happy to see both drop in GamePass. Now playing through the first one on Steam Deck and really enjoying it
I'm glad I'm not the only one who shared this opinion. Octopath 2's soundtrack certainly is not bad, and is just as enjoyable and masterfully crafted as the first. There's just something missing about it that doesn't resonate with me as well as the first game's soundtrack did. Granted, the game is still very new. Maybe with time, I'll grow to appreciate the second game's soundtrack more.
You reminded me how much I love Octopath Traveler. I kind of forgot about this game until I saw this in my recommended. This was my first JRPG, and I loved every second of it. I think my critical brain shys away from it because its flaws, and for all intents and purposes, this game is mid. That being said, I think it holds a special place in my heart. That music alone triggers something deep within me. I can still stand my the music being this game's single greatest contribution to the world. Thanks for this video. P.S. Tressa is the goat
This was a great retrospective, but seriously go play Octopath 2 right now and start making a review of it! You'll enjoy it a lot, it only manages to improve upon the formula the original had. The boss sprites even have different sprites throughout a boss battle depending on their moves they're using and the phase they're in, it's astonishing and the stories and characters are even better than the original.
People don't realize, or just refuse to accept that it's impossible to have characters' stories be connected and dynamic while still maintaining this level of freedom (which is OT's whole premise in the first place). OT2 "improved" on it a bit, but the core problem stays the same. You are just made to have this illusion of connection through the fabric of prescripted crossed paths and inbattle dialogues. I absolutely don't rate OTs' stories highly. They are obviously boring as fck, but I also understand why it is like that and have no problem enjoying the game still.
Your ending comment about your passion and excitement coming back made me cry :( I'm glad the game brought that back for you like it did me, Octo-Path wonderful
He's so powerful, and having Tressa in your party makes him broken. Boost Cyrus, and then use boosted Donate BP to donate Tressa's BP to Cyrus so he can attack boosted again. Repeat every couple of turns. I think I had less problems with bosses than other people did (based on the comments here). I started the game with Ophelia, then got Cyrus, then Tressa, and I feel I got lucky with that progression. I ended up using those three throughout the whole game with the fourth slot being a rotating slot for the current story.
i watched 5 minutes of this game and bought it right after. I then proceeded to watch my brother beat the game before I could because he loved this game way more than I ever thought. Watching it was just as enjoyable as playing it, plus I got to enjoy it with my little brother
Your ending speech of this video resonated with me.... perhaps it was me growing kinda old now that it seems gaming so much was a waste of time.... but yet this game managed to spark back my interest of completing a game fully.... which not many games managed to do that for me these days
I feel that regardless of how you feel about the narrative approach of Octopath, you could not deny that they actually had a strong vision and did the best to achieve it. You really should not think of this game's story as a story but as a compendium. It does not aim to have a grand narrative but to have some bits that everyone will enjoy. Some of the stories you cited as boring and dull are my highlights. Cyrus is hands down my favourite character and his story was most interesting to me. Ophilia was up there and honestly Therion was the most boring one. That is its craft. It does not aim to make what most RPGs do and that might be why it was so unappealing to most gamers narrative-wise. But what you see from a character is what you get. It is perfectly valid if you would like to pick 3-4-5 of the stories and disregard the rest. The game will obviously not shine as bright as if you did everything, but will not lose that much (compared to most other RPGs). I would have liked a more organic approach (as in Romancing SaGa 3 for example) but appreciate Octopath Traveler for what it tries and does - a story that could be enjoyed in relyable small bits, challenging and thoughtprovoking battle system (if you do not gather all characters and overlevel yourself in the process), a few characters that you would not care for but a few others that you will adore. I feel as if very few people enjoyed this narrative structure (me somewhat included) because we are used to something else and we yearn for something else as a biproduct of what we are used to. However, if there is a game that happened to introduce new audience to RPGs, that might be the one. Outliers tend to do that.
Octopath 1 was such a gem of a game. I played it relentlessly until I beat it. The music (bought the OST cause it's that good), visuals, and combat are some of the best I've ever encountered (Almost on par with XC2 and XC3) I just started Octopath 2 last weekend and I'm hooked all over again. I am loving the changes to the character interactions with one another and the music paying homage to the first but still being unique and new is so enjoyable
This video was fantastic. I was wondering what words could describe the way this game captured my attention in a way that many other titles haven't in the last few years but you nailed it.
it being a turn-based game i think does not necessarily make it need to be played on higher FPS or resolution and i think the look of it suits the N.Switch very well.
This game truly is special. Then We have games like forspoken that have the big graphics and marketing and flop hard. The difference between a game with a soul and a game without
Crazy how no ones talking about how great and high quality this video is, from the timing to the tiny cuts it’s honestly one of the best videos I’ve seen in awhile.
currently playing octopath 2 and I feel like the music isn´t near as good as the music in 1, somehow I also like the character and story in 1 more then in 2, but I only played their chapter 1 yet, we will see how it goes. The balancing seems better in 2 and also some abilities feel better and the visuals are even better
Before you read this if at all, I'm sorry it's so long. I haven't talked about this game with anybody because none of my friends play it 🫠 Yeah, I also feel SOME of the music isn't as good. I think the regular battle music is better. There is one good chapter boss music that I think is better for THIS game. It's like the 2nd game's Decisive Battle 2 (Not saying it sounds the same, but has the same feel and great sound). I should probably listen more closely, but the character-exclusive music build-ups for chapter bosses are better in the 1st. Now the characters... I LOVE Castti (Probably because I love apothecaries and caught feelings, at first sight, 😳), but Ochette has to be the coolest. Ochette would probably be my most used character if Castti wasn't locked, since she was my first character, and I didn't have to level up other characters. Throné's story is probably the best with Osvald's being the most interesting. Temenos as a character is probably one of my favorites. He's so unintentionally funny and I just like his story. Hikari is an in-between for a good story and a good character. Agnea and Partitio's stories make sense I guess, but I think they are lackluster compared to the 1st game's stories. I might change my thoughts later as I have only done half of the chapter 2s. As you probably know, some characters have multiple parts for a chapter. I'm curious about the EX skills since I haven't gotten to them yet. Hopefully, they have a cool animation. I somehow haven't been spoiled with how it looks. I like the boost aura more in 2 and how full boost turns the camera. Makes it feel stronger. Lastly, I don't wanna use the secondary job system because I don't want to end up confining a character to the tavern. I like them all honestly. I do like changing clothes though... I guess we'll see.
Yeah I am currently playing 2 right now. And I really like it. I noticed all the improvements, but the music is not quite as good as 1. There were many songs in 1 that really moved me, but in 2 not so much.
Love the first one, have yet to play the 2nd more than the demo. Felt the same though and I could hardly be bothered with the demo but I don't think I was in the mood for it at the time lol. I will come back to it and buy it later when it's cheaper. I'll probably be in the mood next time.
I kinda liked the simplicity and 'average life' tone of the stories. Why shall wr always save the world and cgallenge the gods? Lets just become better person, thats a big step itself for most of us.
09:27-10:25 pure epic! Really i enjoy this moments like you, and i think aloot of people here to. For Light, for Treasure, for redemption, for truth, for freedom, for revange, for master, for Succor... amazing.
Enemies scale in level don't they? I can't remember but I think I grinded hard and then couldn't advanced farther later cuz my other members were too weak lol
One thing I also appreciate it is that the bosses in this game actually present a major challenge to overcome. Instead of just being damage sponges, the bosses actually have almost raid boss like mechanics that will seriously mess up, if not kill, your party if you aren’t ready to handle them. The fact that they also have really jacked up health pools also makes it feel like a really epic fight!
Ending the video off with what I think is Haanit’s theme is really fitting. Kind of gives the same vibe of the jazz version of Departure that played in HxH
I’m playing this game for my first time currently and my FIRST chapter 2 I chose to do was Tressa’s. I’m going to over level so much to have a chance at beating Omar
An incredible review, dude. Loved your voiceover, editing, and gameplay. And completely agree, both the music and the ambiance of the game is spectacular. The combat being repetitive isn't something that I agree with personally. Only because of how I play these games. Mostly they are to relax and unwind, so I don't mind something being repetitive, especially because it soothes me to get into a nice rhythm with the game and just enjoy getting stronger and progressing through the story.
I really loved Octopath Traveller 1 but I felt so... Frustrated with the hell of a grind you have to do in order to complete the true ending and the games doesnt have an easy way to lvl up and no before you say it, spamming the stupid dance in hopes for a x100 exp isnt easy
i always find the 1st one to be better than the 2nd one, i never had the will to finish 2nd one and always find it to be boring, maybe its because of the modernize world which feels out of place.
I loved how you created this video in such a way that you made me.. idk.. empathized(?) you because we shared similar experiences. I also went through a time when I lost my child-like curiosity & wonder; and only played games for 30 mins like you said. I also have just recently gotten back my love for gaming again. And what do you know, Octopath was one of them~
You say the stories are simple and thus not as great, but I find that even the simplest of stories have merit if executed correctly, and Octopath certainly executed it very well
I completed it on Xbox when it came to Game Pass two years ago and now I'm waiting for my PS4 copy of 2 to arrive, this is one of my favorite games of all time.
Not that it matters but if they ever go to a 3rd game, I’d love to have a male dancer and a female warrior. Every other job other then scholar/hunter as well have one of each
For me, Octopath was a game that I got as a birthday present after really enjoying the demo, but then I ended up not ever playing it for almost a year as my school workload got heavier and heavier. Eventually, all the other games I would normally play had gotten stale, and I found the cart buried under a mass of wires in a drawer. This game really, truly changed my life for the better, not just in a sense of being a game that was actually fun to play, but it genuinely helped me figure out major parts of who I am as a person today. Because of this game, and specifically because of H'aanit and Primrose, I started writing again, I made tons of friends, and I really gained a much better outlook on life... And now, 4 years and seven HUNDRED hours later, I still keep going back to it while also playing the hell out of the sequel. This series is easily my favourite of any media, not just games, and I really hope it continues to be given love by the team behind it like it deserves
Ngl, after playing Octopath 2, I can't see myself returning to Octopath 1. The characters and stories are better, the animations are better, combat is expanded. 2 somehow looks even better than 1. The whole experience is also more condensed with a more satisfying ending. To be perfectly honest, Octopath 1 feels like a mobile game in comparison. (If you count switch as mobile gaming, then it is.)
I have to say that octopath 2 is objectively seen much better. New awesome mechanics, quality of life changes and everything, Weile still beging octopath. Blut there is something Abzug octopath 1 that puts ist above 2 at least for me. Its the characters. I somehow just find the first 8 protagonists more iconic, especially Cyrus. I Live Booth though
Any game with random encounters is an immediate f-tier for me. It's the most outdated, shit mechanic and they've fucking fixed it since all the way back in Chrono Trigger. RNG shouldn't dictate how many fights I get or how long I'm stuck in an area. It's poor game design to have random encounters and grinding in your game.
Just as a heads up if you want to buy this game: if you want to be *really* blown away by the visuals, don't buy the Switch version, it constantly butts heads with the hardware limitations, and there's a weird downscaling of all the pixel art models that make it looks like a weird grid overlay as the combat scene waves back and forth.
i looove this game and ot2 so far ❤ your video summed it up pretty good, i agree 100%. I am a huge fan of almost everything but especially the soundtrack its just perfect! I listen to it almost everyday, the battle music is so awesome for workouts too :)
Oh MAN that is hype editing, transitioning from For Treasure to Decisive Battle I, goosebumps every time. I hope you enjoy OT2! I'm in love with it so far
i saw people saying: “you should skip the first one to play OT2” but the magic of the first one makes the second one that much better. there’s so many nods to the first game in 2 (including big things) that i wouldn’t appreciate as much if i didn’t play 1. seeing Balogar and Winnehild (as Hild) mentioned through Agnea’s skill, inquiring a guy who is saying what was on the mural at the end of cyrus’ chapter 4 only to find a certain tome in his house, and even seeing the names Mikk and Makk in a boss fight. while at the moment i 100% think 2 is better than 1, there’s a certain comfort in 1 that i enjoy
honestly there is a different appeal between the two
the second game holds a much better narrative, but the first game's world is so much more open and free; the second game has a lot of points that are blocked by story or level in order to have a more captivating narrative
this is neither a good or bad thing, but it's definitely a big difference between the two games
also octopath 1 has an award for beating the game with a single traveler, while the second one does not (i can attest through personal experience - throne's final boss is a pain in the ass solo), which tells me the game is designed less for interesting challenge runs than the first game is, but time will tell on that front
@@thegreatgario3478 what run in OT one is able to be done solo? as far as i know, even speedruns recruit at least 3 characters
(i would guess Tressa, but Esmeralda's Five Strikes attack means Tressa has has to take 5 hits, which uhhh... good luck lol)
@@questrequested9171 every character can be finished without recruiting any other character; it's difficult but doable, especially when secondary classes are taken into account
every boss can be defeated with every single character without secondary jobs except for Darius; Cyrus and Alfyn have no means to stop his 25% party removal without items or access to daggers
you can look up SULLLA on his personal website for octopath solo run throughs where he finishes every character's chapter with a single party member (killing off the rest of the party), if you want to see how (i've personally done this with Primrose, Therion, and H'aanit)
it's a pretty mechanically rich game that allows for that sort of gameplay, if you're patient with it
Hey I have a quick question. I already bought 2 but have never played the first one but I don’t want to wait too long to start the second one. Is there a way you’d recommend that I could get the most out of 2? Like is there a video you’d recommend on YT that has the cut scenes or a good rundown of the story and anything I’d want or need to know before I start the 2nd one? I’ll eventually get to the first one someday, I just have a long backlog of games but I’m so excited to play this one! Thanks so much!
@@SwedePotato314 Fortunately there is no story connection between the first and second game outside of vague references, much like a Final Fantasy game and it's sequels. You can play the games in either order and get the most out of them. :)
Shout out to my fellow Tressa enjoyers. Her absence is felt in the sequel.
But something about Partitio is so wholesome. He’s just a good guy trying to do good things. Plus his Arrow of Fortune skill is too good.
@@ella_komiya I love Partitio too, I just think Tressa is THE iconic Octopath character. Partitio is a huge gameplay upgrade and has a more unique theme, but the fact Tressa looks like a recolored merchant and has the greatest character theme in video games makes her top him for me.
Basically, Partitio is actually better, I'm just bias.
@@stovenven tressa all the way. Both merchants are about hope but something about tressa and young girl exploring the world for the first time is so good
Love them both, but ngl, having Tressa as a a main Protagonist is amazing because of her ability to just FIND MONEY.
That said... Everything Partitio says to Agnea makes my heart squeal.
@@stovenven I like this. Tressa was my main character, and I prefer the skillsets of others. But Man when I think Octopath shes the FIRST character that comes to my mind
you will love the sequel even more..
Should I play the 1st one before I start the 2nd?
@@JohnSer33yes
I haven’t beaten the first one because of how tough it was but now seeing how much this series has grown I’m going start over again
@@JohnSer33 no. Time is too precious to be wasting it on an inferior game
@@punani_slayer4209 what ☠️🙏
I do like how they added cross path quests in 2 so there is more interaction with the party members and when a character does well in combat other party members praise or when injured bad they express concern.
so the chracter interaction problem is non existend in the 2 ?
@@aleximose1302 Only halfway. The improvements with characters speaking to each other, while nice, don't exactly occur in story contexts and thus characters, in their own story cutscenes, will not be accompanied by the other 7 fellow travelers.
IMO, I am okay with their own distinct story now (with replayable travel banter but hope they voice-over in next one) hope we have more class, an instant change party and instant banter for unactive member (no need to end chapter to see it all) and maybe a bit smaller but more frequently cross-quest.
@@PrismaEuphorbia oh that's unfortunate
@@adult11252 Agreed! I'm glad to see there's clear improvements from 1 to 2, but I'd love to see changes like those.
So much of what you said in your closing thoughts on this game resonated with me. I’d kinda fallen out of love with gaming at the time as well, picked up Octopath because it felt so reminiscent of the games I loved most as a kid. And then couldn’t put it down until I beat it. But not just beat it… seen as much of it as I could.
Great review!
The surprise on my face after I finished watching the video and went to hit the like button and saw that you only had under 70 subs. the level of video quality for this small channel is INSANE. If I didnt know any better I would’ve guessed the video came form a channel that had atleast 100k subs. You got yourself a new subscriber. I would subscribe 100 times if I could. Looking forward to a potential new video talking about Octopath’s sequel in the future (:
i did too
A lot of bosses in this game aside from post-game are tough, but mostly manageable without needing too much strategy
And then you have Miguel
Oh god miguel… the one boss that made my „I don‘t actively *build* my party, I level“ ass go and actually check the shops for equipment because I was too frustrated… still felt with more patience I could have defeated him tho! XD
once he starts moving 4 times per turn i knew it was over 🥲
that f*king Migeru! cross spears!
My main gripe with Octopath 2 is they took away a majority of the sparkly effects on snow and sand, and water. Not sure why they took it off. It was so unique. I went into the snow lands a few days ago eager to see the sparkly snow, but it didn’t have that effect anymore. It’s just a hint of glitter. But other than that, seeing this video makes me really see the improvements! I love it.
Did you play the first Octopath on Xbox?
@@xbubba73x88 no on the switch
@@IsraelLlerena ok for some reason I thought that was exclusive to xbox
@@xbubba73x88 thank-fucking-ly it wasn’t because I don’t have an Xbox.
I think it’s more of a thematic change. The winterlands in OT2 serves as a harsher, more somber version of the frostlands from the first game. The music reflects this as well. It’s fitting for Osvald’s chapter 1.
my man you're in for a TREAT if you haven't played the second one yet ;)
Is it time for octopath got the attention it deserved
Watching this video really showed me just how much they improved with the second game it’s crazy (your channel is so underrated btw)
This game, as imperfect as it is, still offers an incredible and worthwhile experience!
The sense of freedom to go wherever you want, fight whoever or whatever you want, or experience any story in any order that you want is unlike a lot of games. The design of Octopath Traveler makes it feel like I'm on my own, personalized adventure! It's similar to a Pokemon anime adventure. You might have a particular goal you're striving for but on the way, you may pick up this character or continue that character's story. Hell, perhaps do a side quest or go check out this dungeon and loot everything in it. This game - this series - has such a nice pick up and go flow that it feels like a genuine adventure. I'm always running into something along my path and just... do it.
I even enjoy majority of the character stories, as simple and cliche as they are. The characters - especially our eight travelers - are pretty likable alongside their side characters. There's heart in these stories, even though most of the time they aren't reinventing the wheel. I loved Olberic's re-discovery to pick back up his sword, Therion learning to trust people again, Tressa growing up a little and figuring how she'll set her mark on the world, etc. Most of them are engaging in their own way and the variety in tone and story concepts is astounding! I love that this series never sticks to one thing!
What's even better, it makes me appreciate the improvements in Octopath Traveler 2! The storylines are more interesting, character interactions are a little bit better, the game looks even more beautiful than ever, the music still slaps. All this while keeping the spirit - improving on said spirit - set up by the first game.
This series has a lot of potential to be beautiful. In fact, I say it already is...
All games are imperfect, do we really need to say that. Ironically, we tend to mostly talk about how a game isn’t perfect when it comes to Japanese games, and not so much with western games.
@@andrewclear8905 I agree, but the internet just can't seem to take that as an unspoken rule, so here we are. 🤷
Speaking of Omar, i tried bewildering grace three times on him to try to get more exp. I ended up healing him to full health everytime and never got the extra xp buff. 💀
there's no way lol
I loved it mostly for how it's story was handled.
Most RPGs put the whole "Save the World" plot at the focus with the individual stories on the side along the way. Meanwhile, Octopath Traveler puts those individuals to the main focus of the story, with the whole "Save the World" plot that connects them in the background through side quests.
I honestly love that. After finishing a story, the world won't turn great. People are still poor or greedy, monsters still roam around and the othet traveler stories are probabably not beaten yet. It gives it a sort of realism and makes it less over the top.
Really good and well put together video, amazed you only have 128 subs.
Can't say I remember who this god you speak of called Omar is though.
brooo occtopath 2 is so good
you should do a review of it since i really like ur style of review
Great job on the video, I love this game and enjoying the 2nd. Just subscribed hope your channel grows.
Thanks for the support, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video
This is genuinely a beautiful review.
This game will be in my top 10 forever, but I can tell you part 2 is even better. I’m going to be sad once it’s all over.
Great review my friend!
I found Omar to be hard but not as challenging as a particular bastard *cough* Miguel. But yes, the music absolutely slaps and it really helped motivate me to continue trying even when it seemed impossible.
I know the party might seem absent, but honestly, I was glad for that. It let my imagination take over. It led me to write a fan fiction that people actually enjoy, and is still developing, and growing. I'm actually working on a fan fiction for OT2, as well, and for once, I have an Ace character, and one that is so broken that he'll never love again...
I think if the party were more involved, or fleshed out, I never would have thought of doing any of this. The travel banter is so brief, that it gives off a spark... And a spark is all it takes for my tinderbox of a mind to explode.
Plus... The only music I need to focus on while writing is the OST....
Love the video tho, I could really feel the love and passion... Plus you finally realizing the animals at the end was VERY cute.
This game is so special for me too, I cried when you explained how you not interested in gaming anymore and I felt that but this game saved me, thank you.
I was a broke college student when this game released. I pirated it, played, finished Primrose's story and I just stopped.
It felt so wrong to play this illegally. After 3 years, I bought this game (and my first switch) using my first pay and finished it.
Now you're making me regret pirating the 2nd game. I have no money and the game isn't on Xbox. Respect for doing what you did.
@@jumpjemons7822 Just make sure you buy it when you have the chance and the means ☺️
What I liked about this game is it just offers you a lot of freedom. Freedom in how you want to use the path actions, the variety of the path actions, the job system and battle system I think is very polished. Personally I didn't mind that the stories were simple and stand alone because I got that impression from the trailer so I got what I expected. The final dungeon and boss was a really nice surprise though.
But if you for example want to risk your life in an area too high for your level just to book it to a town and convince some extremely buff grandpa to join your party? Go for it. Want to gamble on an 8% chance of stealing a weapon that will make you the Hulk for a while? Also go for it. The alchemist is the strongest version of alchemy I've seen in any game though. It's actually an ultra busted class. For people who want a singular story I kind of wonder if there's a way for them to keep the same structure but actually have stuff woven together well.
I've honestly been hella reluctant to finishing Octopath Traveler. Idk why I just cheerish what it has and I don't wanna just finish the journey yet. And now that OT2 out, man. This game just sends me into a peaceful state of happiness everytime I open it. Eventually I'll actually finish the game when I have the heart to do so :' )
Same. I actually never beat the final final boss of the 1st. I have 117 hours on it too... I went on to the 2nd anyway.
Thanks for the great video! Definetly subscribed!
Nice to meet you~amazing , see you later.🌟
4:16 never thought of the environment sounds. watching this video just showed how much I loved this game and how much the second game has improved upon the formula of the first!
I found this game incredibly difficult in the beginning hours... because I failed to realize that I can boost more than once. And also, my starter was Primrose. So essentially I was getting walled by bats in the tutorial dungeon because of my low defenses and hp coupled with damage output which I have unintentionally limited myself.
I can’t believe I was a moron for the longest time when I played it myself. I had an understanding of most things but I was scared of the job system, I thought it was gonna change my primary job and make me start over aside from levels, when I found out that wasn’t the case, I started having so much more fun since I wasn’t locked to just the basic jobs set to the four male characters. Hell, I had coverage of every element and weapon type once I found out, which sorta brings back the classic JRPG feel. The game doesn’t hand you everything on a silver platter, you gotta discover some things for yourself, even if you potentially ignore a tutorial on accident-
Once I beat the game’s true final boss, I’m definitely purchasing Octopath 2 and experience the wonder of fresh Octopath all over again
(Also underrated channel, take my sub and have a good day)
You put into words that undescribable feeling of elation before a boss fight wonderfully.
You damn well earned a sub from me boyo.
2018 me had no idea what he was getting into when he got this game. I got out of pure curiosity. I wasn't a huge rpg guy at the time and didn't care for xenoblade or persona or any of that at the time and the more I think about it, the more I realize octopath was kind of the gateaway for me into the vast world of amazing 100 hour RPG's. This game is magical and I could not put it down either and while I don't have as much time as I did then, I am really enjoying 2 just as much if not more and I hope you have fun with it as well.
Also no way you have only 100 subs??? You're getting a new sub from me! 10/10 video
Wow congrats on hitting that algorithm!
The power of OT1 and OT2's soundtrack is empowering. The fact that it can give such deep emotions means the game was deffinatly done right, like the battle system was probably build weak because they wanted to make a game that was basically a visual novel.
Please review the 2nd one
picked up octopath recently to beat the final boss in preparation for octopath 2, and I agree with everything here
Had my eye on the OT1 (and OT2!) for a while and was very happy to see both drop in GamePass. Now playing through the first one on Steam Deck and really enjoying it
I was amazed by the way you explained things... Made me subbed
If OC2 had OC1's soundtrack it would automatically be a 10/10
I also wish they kept the glimmer effect on snow water and sand :(
I'm glad I'm not the only one who shared this opinion. Octopath 2's soundtrack certainly is not bad, and is just as enjoyable and masterfully crafted as the first. There's just something missing about it that doesn't resonate with me as well as the first game's soundtrack did.
Granted, the game is still very new. Maybe with time, I'll grow to appreciate the second game's soundtrack more.
You reminded me how much I love Octopath Traveler. I kind of forgot about this game until I saw this in my recommended. This was my first JRPG, and I loved every second of it. I think my critical brain shys away from it because its flaws, and for all intents and purposes, this game is mid. That being said, I think it holds a special place in my heart. That music alone triggers something deep within me. I can still stand my the music being this game's single greatest contribution to the world. Thanks for this video.
P.S. Tressa is the goat
This was a great retrospective, but seriously go play Octopath 2 right now and start making a review of it! You'll enjoy it a lot, it only manages to improve upon the formula the original had. The boss sprites even have different sprites throughout a boss battle depending on their moves they're using and the phase they're in, it's astonishing and the stories and characters are even better than the original.
Bro I really loved everything you had to say about this game. Also, your personality resonates so much with me.
Thank you for making this!
People don't realize, or just refuse to accept that it's impossible to have characters' stories be connected and dynamic while still maintaining this level of freedom (which is OT's whole premise in the first place). OT2 "improved" on it a bit, but the core problem stays the same. You are just made to have this illusion of connection through the fabric of prescripted crossed paths and inbattle dialogues.
I absolutely don't rate OTs' stories highly. They are obviously boring as fck, but I also understand why it is like that and have no problem enjoying the game still.
Loving Octopath 2, tho I never completed through Ch 3 section of original. This was a cool look back, thx!
Wait what 😭 Go finish it
Your ending comment about your passion and excitement coming back made me cry :(
I'm glad the game brought that back for you like it did me, Octo-Path wonderful
Cyrus do be a drug to use in combat, sometimes I just like having the magic man make things go kaboom
He's so powerful, and having Tressa in your party makes him broken. Boost Cyrus, and then use boosted Donate BP to donate Tressa's BP to Cyrus so he can attack boosted again. Repeat every couple of turns. I think I had less problems with bosses than other people did (based on the comments here).
I started the game with Ophelia, then got Cyrus, then Tressa, and I feel I got lucky with that progression. I ended up using those three throughout the whole game with the fourth slot being a rotating slot for the current story.
Really well-made video! This game will always have a special place in my heart
i watched 5 minutes of this game and bought it right after. I then proceeded to watch my brother beat the game before I could because he loved this game way more than I ever thought. Watching it was just as enjoyable as playing it, plus I got to enjoy it with my little brother
Your ending speech of this video resonated with me.... perhaps it was me growing kinda old now that it seems gaming so much was a waste of time.... but yet this game managed to spark back my interest of completing a game fully.... which not many games managed to do that for me these days
A game doesn't have to be perfect to be loved.
I like the game just the imperfect way it is!
I feel that regardless of how you feel about the narrative approach of Octopath, you could not deny that they actually had a strong vision and did the best to achieve it. You really should not think of this game's story as a story but as a compendium. It does not aim to have a grand narrative but to have some bits that everyone will enjoy. Some of the stories you cited as boring and dull are my highlights. Cyrus is hands down my favourite character and his story was most interesting to me. Ophilia was up there and honestly Therion was the most boring one.
That is its craft. It does not aim to make what most RPGs do and that might be why it was so unappealing to most gamers narrative-wise. But what you see from a character is what you get. It is perfectly valid if you would like to pick 3-4-5 of the stories and disregard the rest. The game will obviously not shine as bright as if you did everything, but will not lose that much (compared to most other RPGs). I would have liked a more organic approach (as in Romancing SaGa 3 for example) but appreciate Octopath Traveler for what it tries and does - a story that could be enjoyed in relyable small bits, challenging and thoughtprovoking battle system (if you do not gather all characters and overlevel yourself in the process), a few characters that you would not care for but a few others that you will adore. I feel as if very few people enjoyed this narrative structure (me somewhat included) because we are used to something else and we yearn for something else as a biproduct of what we are used to. However, if there is a game that happened to introduce new audience to RPGs, that might be the one. Outliers tend to do that.
Octopath made me fall in love with gaming again, so I understand the sentiments on your last points at the end of your video.
Octopath Traveler is the magical turn-based pixel RPG every platforms needed while every company focusing on their AAA flagship games, SE nailed it!
I have 70 hrs in octopath II and it hasn't been out for what, two weeks now? Time well spent
Octopath 1 was such a gem of a game. I played it relentlessly until I beat it. The music (bought the OST cause it's that good), visuals, and combat are some of the best I've ever encountered (Almost on par with XC2 and XC3) I just started Octopath 2 last weekend and I'm hooked all over again. I am loving the changes to the character interactions with one another and the music paying homage to the first but still being unique and new is so enjoyable
This video was fantastic.
I was wondering what words could describe the way this game captured my attention in a way that many other titles haven't in the last few years but you nailed it.
What’s the song being played at 13:03? It sounds so familiar and I’d love to listen to it more
h'annit's theme
Thank you!!
Nice work dude, keep it up :)
it being a turn-based game i think does not necessarily make it need to be played on higher FPS or resolution and i think the look of it suits the N.Switch very well.
Sir, you just got one more sub from me.
I can't imagine any piece of media will have a line that's more raw than "MY FOCUS IS UNPARALLELED!!!"
I myself didn’t have trouble Omar but I did have trouble with Miguel I cannot count how many times that dude killed me
This game truly is special.
Then We have games like forspoken that have the big graphics and marketing and flop hard.
The difference between a game with a soul and a game without
Crazy how no ones talking about how great and high quality this video is, from the timing to the tiny cuts it’s honestly one of the best videos I’ve seen in awhile.
currently playing octopath 2 and I feel like the music isn´t near as good as the music in 1, somehow I also like the character and story in 1 more then in 2, but I only played their chapter 1 yet, we will see how it goes. The balancing seems better in 2 and also some abilities feel better and the visuals are even better
Before you read this if at all, I'm sorry it's so long. I haven't talked about this game with anybody because none of my friends play it 🫠
Yeah, I also feel SOME of the music isn't as good. I think the regular battle music is better. There is one good chapter boss music that I think is better for THIS game. It's like the 2nd game's Decisive Battle 2 (Not saying it sounds the same, but has the same feel and great sound). I should probably listen more closely, but the character-exclusive music build-ups for chapter bosses are better in the 1st.
Now the characters... I LOVE Castti (Probably because I love apothecaries and caught feelings, at first sight, 😳), but Ochette has to be the coolest. Ochette would probably be my most used character if Castti wasn't locked, since she was my first character, and I didn't have to level up other characters. Throné's story is probably the best with Osvald's being the most interesting. Temenos as a character is probably one of my favorites. He's so unintentionally funny and I just like his story. Hikari is an in-between for a good story and a good character. Agnea and Partitio's stories make sense I guess, but I think they are lackluster compared to the 1st game's stories.
I might change my thoughts later as I have only done half of the chapter 2s. As you probably know, some characters have multiple parts for a chapter.
I'm curious about the EX skills since I haven't gotten to them yet. Hopefully, they have a cool animation. I somehow haven't been spoiled with how it looks. I like the boost aura more in 2 and how full boost turns the camera. Makes it feel stronger.
Lastly, I don't wanna use the secondary job system because I don't want to end up confining a character to the tavern. I like them all honestly. I do like changing clothes though... I guess we'll see.
Yeah I am currently playing 2 right now. And I really like it. I noticed all the improvements, but the music is not quite as good as 1. There were many songs in 1 that really moved me, but in 2 not so much.
Great video, I have subscribed to your channel!
I love the soundtrack so much I bought it in iTunes.
Love the first one, have yet to play the 2nd more than the demo. Felt the same though and I could hardly be bothered with the demo but I don't think I was in the mood for it at the time lol. I will come back to it and buy it later when it's cheaper. I'll probably be in the mood next time.
YES! YES! SUBSCRIBED!
I kinda liked the simplicity and 'average life' tone of the stories. Why shall wr always save the world and cgallenge the gods? Lets just become better person, thats a big step itself for most of us.
Just play Octopath 2. Playing Octopath 1 only makes you realize how much better Octopath 2 is.
09:27-10:25 pure epic! Really i enjoy this moments like you, and i think aloot of people here to. For Light, for Treasure, for redemption, for truth, for freedom, for revange, for master, for Succor... amazing.
Enemies scale in level don't they? I can't remember but I think I grinded hard and then couldn't advanced farther later cuz my other members were too weak lol
Square Enix will always be the kings of the RPG Genre. This game in particular is special because they really went all out.
One thing I also appreciate it is that the bosses in this game actually present a major challenge to overcome. Instead of just being damage sponges, the bosses actually have almost raid boss like mechanics that will seriously mess up, if not kill, your party if you aren’t ready to handle them. The fact that they also have really jacked up health pools also makes it feel like a really epic fight!
I’ve never understood the complaint of “the battle style becomes repetitive” 🤦🏻♂️ that’s all games.
This was a well thought out and edited video. Fantastic work. This game and it's sequel had some of the best JRPG goodness out of the last decade.
Ending the video off with what I think is Haanit’s theme is really fitting. Kind of gives the same vibe of the jazz version of Departure that played in HxH
I’m playing this game for my first time currently and my FIRST chapter 2 I chose to do was Tressa’s. I’m going to over level so much to have a chance at beating Omar
An incredible review, dude. Loved your voiceover, editing, and gameplay. And completely agree, both the music and the ambiance of the game is spectacular. The combat being repetitive isn't something that I agree with personally. Only because of how I play these games. Mostly they are to relax and unwind, so I don't mind something being repetitive, especially because it soothes me to get into a nice rhythm with the game and just enjoy getting stronger and progressing through the story.
the 2nd one blew me away
If you love Octopath Traveler, I love you
I really loved Octopath Traveller 1 but I felt so... Frustrated with the hell of a grind you have to do in order to complete the true ending and the games doesnt have an easy way to lvl up and no before you say it, spamming the stupid dance in hopes for a x100 exp isnt easy
i always find the 1st one to be better than the 2nd one, i never had the will to finish 2nd one and always find it to be boring, maybe its because of the modernize world which feels out of place.
Hard agree, great stuff man. I adored the sequel and recently reviewed it! Can't wait to see more videos man. Definitely a JOOSEY series.
When they remake Chrono Trigger for Switch, expect record sales
I loved how you created this video in such a way that you made me.. idk.. empathized(?) you because we shared similar experiences. I also went through a time when I lost my child-like curiosity & wonder; and only played games for 30 mins like you said. I also have just recently gotten back my love for gaming again. And what do you know, Octopath was one of them~
You say the stories are simple and thus not as great, but I find that even the simplest of stories have merit if executed correctly, and Octopath certainly executed it very well
I completed it on Xbox when it came to Game Pass two years ago and now I'm waiting for my PS4 copy of 2 to arrive, this is one of my favorite games of all time.
I miss Cyrus in the sequel. Hopefully Octopath Traveler 3 connects 1 and 2 into a mega adventure!
Not that it matters but if they ever go to a 3rd game, I’d love to have a male dancer and a female warrior. Every other job other then scholar/hunter as well have one of each
For me, Octopath was a game that I got as a birthday present after really enjoying the demo, but then I ended up not ever playing it for almost a year as my school workload got heavier and heavier. Eventually, all the other games I would normally play had gotten stale, and I found the cart buried under a mass of wires in a drawer. This game really, truly changed my life for the better, not just in a sense of being a game that was actually fun to play, but it genuinely helped me figure out major parts of who I am as a person today. Because of this game, and specifically because of H'aanit and Primrose, I started writing again, I made tons of friends, and I really gained a much better outlook on life... And now, 4 years and seven HUNDRED hours later, I still keep going back to it while also playing the hell out of the sequel. This series is easily my favourite of any media, not just games, and I really hope it continues to be given love by the team behind it like it deserves
you're making this up, how the hell does a game like octo bullshit do that for a person?
Ngl, after playing Octopath 2, I can't see myself returning to Octopath 1. The characters and stories are better, the animations are better, combat is expanded. 2 somehow looks even better than 1. The whole experience is also more condensed with a more satisfying ending.
To be perfectly honest, Octopath 1 feels like a mobile game in comparison. (If you count switch as mobile gaming, then it is.)
I have to say that octopath 2 is objectively seen much better. New awesome mechanics, quality of life changes and everything, Weile still beging octopath. Blut there is something Abzug octopath 1 that puts ist above 2 at least for me. Its the characters. I somehow just find the first 8 protagonists more iconic, especially Cyrus. I Live Booth though
Any game with random encounters is an immediate f-tier for me. It's the most outdated, shit mechanic and they've fucking fixed it since all the way back in Chrono Trigger. RNG shouldn't dictate how many fights I get or how long I'm stuck in an area. It's poor game design to have random encounters and grinding in your game.
I loved the music when your fighting a foe that's way stronger. Why they made such a great song you will rarely hear I don't know lol
Just as a heads up if you want to buy this game: if you want to be *really* blown away by the visuals, don't buy the Switch version, it constantly butts heads with the hardware limitations, and there's a weird downscaling of all the pixel art models that make it looks like a weird grid overlay as the combat scene waves back and forth.
The music themes does seem nostalgic, like a bit of sorrow of the by gone age of 90's JRPG's.
i looove this game and ot2 so far ❤ your video summed it up pretty good, i agree 100%. I am a huge fan of almost everything but especially the soundtrack its just perfect! I listen to it almost everyday, the battle music is so awesome for workouts too :)
Oh MAN that is hype editing, transitioning from For Treasure to Decisive Battle I, goosebumps every time.
I hope you enjoy OT2! I'm in love with it so far
I had the almost the same troubles, with the final boss, and godforsaken Miguel