Octopath Traveler II - It’s Finally Here, but Is It Better Than the Original?

[@Xygor]

Is Octopath Traveler II better than the original game? And who is your favorite traveler in it? Please consider supporting me at www.patreon.com/xygorgaming OR through KZbin membership by clicking the JOIN button above!

[@omidiartgaming4102]

I love the Saga series, to me this game feels like the evolution of SaGa series. I would SaGa to come back in a more official form XD

[@luciferfaust]

It's better as in more polished and more detailed. I wish we'd gotten the mobile battle system a bit more but maybe in the future we will get hot swap characters for battles

[@kasumiheyes]

I didn't get to play the original, but I can definitely say that this game has shot up to be one of, if not my favorite game of all time (and that goes back to Atlantis on the Atari 2600). I'm 130 hours in with almost no grinding, and I haven't selected the epilogue yet.

[@Xygor]

@@kasumiheyes Glad to hear it! It's so good.

[@cam9144]

Octopath 1 wasn't my favorite experience, but I am all for supporting these efforts in hopes to continue 2DHD games. A boy can dream a remake of Chrono Trigger, Breath of Fires, Lufias, SNES Final Fantasy's with this style.

[@Xygor]

True, lots of games would benefit greatly from the style! Thanks for stopping by.

[@Hunter-xh2im]

​@Dawn Razor I'm no linguist, but I'm going to guess it means that Octopath 1 wasn't their favorite experience.

[@cam9144]

@Dawn Razor In short, 7.5/10 experience. I enjoyed the idea of it, loved the combat/graphics/music, but the disjointed story telling, rare party interactions, and a bit of pacing issues stopped me from fully loving it.

[@countryboyred]

@Dawn Razor nah just you

[@michaelwarrengrant]

Sea of Stars closest thing to OG Chromo Trigger made yet - free demo for switch and out this year

[@calvinmatthews1527]

The Octopath Traveler series is like the perfect retro-revival! So glad the sequel is multi-platform, that's means even more people will know how great it is! Yes, I've heard OT2 is an overall improves on the original, which is the thing one mostly looks for in a sequel. Hope it sells as much as the first too.

[@Xygor]

It really is, I agree! It's getting a lot of good praise too, so let's hope it introduces even more people to this wonderful genre.

[@Schwarzwald83]

I agree with Osvald's story being like Shawshank Redemption! I also like to add its a bit like Count of Monte Cristo in some aspects.

[@Xygor]

That’s true too!

[@OutragedVirus66]

When the captain at the start of Casstis story called her by her name I thought it was going to be a name he gave her because it’s very similar to castaway. Needless to say my assumption was proven wrong 3 seconds later.

[@IXArcanine]

I loved the first game. I pre ordered the second one, the collectors edition from square enix and I don't think it'll be here until the 28th. I used Therion on Octopath one so I'm not exactly sure who I'm going to start with when I do get this game. But I'm very excited to get it when I do.

[@Xygor]

Throne if you liked Therion!

[@johnnyscifi]

Hell yea, Osvald, and Partitio!!! Also my favourites. However, I've been loving them all!!!

[@Xygor]

Good choices!

[@jethiliusavalar6449]

The only "bad" thing I have to say about this game is that my party is pretty similar to my party from the first game. Scholar, apothecary, thief and cleric was my party in the first while my party is almost the same except I replaced apothecary with hunter so I could have all 4 path actions for both day and night. Yes, I could achieve the same with the other 4 but three of their path actions use money and fuck that, that's my money. I reason I had both Cyrus and Alphyn with me was because I was annoyed that I could ask people with a 70% chance of failing and end up learning nothing. *slams hand on table* I shouldn't be able to fail if I won't get anything out of it if I succeed!

[@saliver5909]

Haven't played 2 yet, but I kinda dropped the first game at the point of superboss. The game forces me to grind another 4 characters that I bench so I drop it. The game has okay combat that sometimes isn't really fair like you wait and do so much for several turns just to break the enemy ("lining up the stars" literally lol) but the enemy only breaks for 1 turn is not really encouraging. The class are more like using field skills than fighting, because winning a fight usually rely on few classes that are really offensive. Then there is the grind for exp, which is really tedious I hope they do something about it in Octopath 2. The story of 1 is okay level. Nothing extraordinary. It all tied up to the superboss but that's about it. Interactions among team members are severely lacking so it is really weird lol. The best thing is graphics. Playing Octopath 1 for me is like watching a graphic HD2D tech demo while playing an okay RPG lol. I seriously hope they umph the story up. Make the character spicy and combat more fair and rewarding (breaking enemies 1000 times isn't fun after many hours.) Oh forget to mention they should think about replay value. Octopath 1 is like a single time trip that I won't consider redoing it. I hope I don't sound like criticizing Octopath Traveller I just ain't hyped like the others lol. I have hopes for 2 though so let's see if it really improves over 1.

[@Xygor]

Thanks for all of your thoughts!

[@dreamtraveler6135]

2 fixes all these issues, outside taverns somewhat. If you get a character after partitio's story (best side character by far) you'll be able to get xp extremely easily by that point.

[@THaB4DGuY]

got playstation disc for 13 bux at gamestop which is great since its 60 normal price but since its gamestop, it was supposed to be new, but it was opened with a sticker on the case and fingerprints on the disc. thats gamestop "new" still not bad for 13 bux

[@Xygor]

Super great deal!

[@THaB4DGuY]

@@Xygor also got fire emblem warriors 2 for 13 bux, and best of all GOAT SIMULATOR 3 FOR ONLY 5 BUX!

[@jefferya.nurdin478]

Well, I played the first game and I stopped before last chapter of each character, I guess? Then I resell the game. As I grew up the story is one of the most important for me to play a game now and the first game didn't give me that. It was way too simple. Kinda pessimistic with the second one. Played the demo, and it seems like far more interesting, therefore I bought it. Played Hikari and Partitio at the demo but hooked with other stories like Osvald, Cassti, Throné, and Temenos (which I met last because I wasn't very interested, but he turned out to be one of my favorite, skill wise and story wise). I didn't regret buying it and this time I will finish everything including the itty bity quests

[@Xygor]

Thanks for your thoughts on it!

[@jefferya.nurdin478]

@@Xygor you're very welcome. I'm glad that they improved the story here

[@Element.Nullify]

Just beat the game the other day, and damn its gonna be hard to top this one.

[@Xygor]

So true! Glad you loved it!

[@harrywinkson9158]

This is a masterpiece Partitio is mine and my bros fav

[@anthonyjohnson9088]

I love your channel dude...great work

[@Xygor]

I appreciate that!

[@tazmanceltic]

Great review my man

[@Xygor]

So glad you liked it!

[@tyg-zw7nn]

These games are great but hard to play for long periods of time.

[@XXtheJUMPoffXX]

147th

[@Xygor]

Record!

[@Sergey_PL]

why is there no Ukrainian language in the game? Are they for Ukraine or for Russia? Every game should be in Ukrainian. And why don't you have Ukrainian subtitles? Are you against Ukraine?

[@Xygor]

Heh.

[@alpacatears]

After finishing the demo before release, I went back to playing the original until the release date. Thanks to that, I really appreciate all the small quality of life updates that they've included. It feels so polished up and I'm loving it so far 😁

[@Xygor]

Very true, and glad you're liking it!

[@TheUnrealjester]

I've been loving partitio, and I think he fits as a party lead, hiring the rest of the gang into his company to help everyone prosper just like his goal

[@Xygor]

Yep, great character!

[@Uncharted95]

Late but I did Hikari as party lead - Looking for companions to help him reclaim his kingdom in my head made sense to start out as that.

[@taliefer16]

A strong, focused story with this type of graphics and level of presentation is still my dream. not a huge fan of 8 smaller , segregated stories, even if they are done well.

[@Xygor]

Fair enough!

[@bluebonnet-575]

Just an FYI the secondary job system is not new, it was in octopath 1.

[@Xygor]

That's true, but it's not as customizable and only one traveler may take up the same secondary job at one time in the original. I should have been more accurate and specific about this.

[@ShockStormRPG]

I only played a little of the first, but I can tell there are some big improvements with this one. For example, one big improvement is you can increase the battle speed in Octopus Traveler 2 which makes the battles a lot faster.

[@Xygor]

Right! I should have mentioned that but I found it to be very useful.

[@paytwoyaj8332]

Oh nice!! Im so happy to here that feature is included

[@Xygor]

@@paytwoyaj8332 it's great!

[@pollstreak4095]

Octopus😂

[@Charnutboy]

Just finished main story route. The answer is yes, without a doubt. The first feels like a tech demo in comparison

[@Xygor]

Agreed that it is better!

[@Schwarzwald83]

After playing the Chapter 2 on all 8 characters, by far better story telling than Octopath 1, by far. I think I like some of the music better on the OP 1 than 2.

[@Xygor]

Fair enough, I can understand this!

[@colelucas6120]

As I've noticed, no one seems to have touched upon the EX skills which are exclusive to the respective jobs and not obtainable through secondary means, I thought it was pretty interesting and was a welcome addition from the 1st game which had nothing like it. Ended up choosing Throne over Osvald since I chose Cyrus in the first game after rushing to beat it before the sequel came out haha. Great stuff nonetheless, I got hooked by the first Octopath after playing LiveALive (sent me down a RPG spiral after completing it haha)

[@Xygor]

Thanks for adding this info!

[@ShockStormRPG]

I agree with you Osvald is a good character for someone to start with. He's a very good character early on gets elemental skills that hit all enemies and he can reveal enemy weaknesses upon getting into battle with enemies.

[@Xygor]

Yeah, lots of cool things about his story!

[@mattlawson8516]

I was totally not going to get this game. I’m 60 hours into Persona 4 Golden and trying to finish that off so I can commit time to Metroid Prime Remastered. BUT, I did enjoy the first game and all of the videos I’ve watched are giving OT2 glowing reviews. Who am I kidding? Picking it up today. Great review by the way!

[@Xygor]

Haha, thanks, great comment!

[@alexduran2476]

On the surface this game looks daunting. Massive world with eight intersecting storylines, multiple jobs/trades, and deep/sometimes somber storylines. But you're getting your money's worth. It's the pinnacle of modern 2D RPGs.

[@SwiftDanger]

I like to rotate out all as all the characters regularly to see which 4 will be my most valuable/strongest by how they perform in battle and how they help the team composition. I’m about 30 hours in and I can say with confidence Agnea is my MVP right now. Even though I love Hikari and his story the most. Agnea just gets it done. Every turn regardless of geographic location she is capable of defense, buffs, shield breaks, high damage and sweeping attacks. And if you’re curious, Partitio is at the bottom of the list. Not because of his story or character (I love them both). His moves usually don’t help push the battle along.

[@Xygor]

Yeah, rotation is pretty easy to do too, so that's a good idea. I haven't used too much of Agnea yet but I agree that Hikari's story is awesome.

[@m4r_art]

Is it good? It's the best game they released since Final Fantasy 10. It's that fucking good! I skipped Octopath 1 because it was bland. Octopath 2 added the color. Where Octopath 1 feels like Final Fantasy 1-2 (boring) Octopath 2 feels like FF4, FF6, FF9 and Chrono Trigger had a love child. XD

[@Xygor]

Right on, I can see why you feel it is so good!

[@WhatAboutZoidberg]

The first game sold me on the Switch, this just looks like more of what I wanted. Really solid looking game.

[@Xygor]

It really is, give it a try!

[@tacticplayer83]

I love the looks of this game. Looks like a mix between FF and Golden Sun! I can't wait to play it myself! Love your video!

[@Xygor]

Glad you liked it, thank you!

[@JohnOethGuitar]

Thanks for the great video! I'm loving the game so far. The music is just as good as the first, imo. The night vocal variations are so ethereal.

[@Xygor]

Couldn't agree more!

[@daytonjob5519]

You presented the multiclass option as a new feature, but Octo 1 also let you take secondary jobs for characters. This game seems very visually appealing, but I'm not seeing much that sets it apart from its predecessor. And who needs more path actions? They had huge overlap even when there were just 8. I'm unsure if I'll be making a purchase here.

[@Xygor]

True, I had forgotten this about the first.

[@kalandarkclaw8892]

I'm several hours into the game and I can't help but find it very dull and I love turn based rpgs. I just don't feel compelled by any kf these stories... I'm kinda bored

[@Xygor]

Sorry to hear that, I felt the opposite!

[@dreamtraveler6135]

That may be because off the odd start the game gets, beginning for some characters are a bit stretched for sure. I'll garantee that story gets better around 3-4

[@mugen8studios]

I heard that the second one is waay better than the first... i liked it but the game loop got me bored midgame so now im hesitant to play the o.t.2

[@PredatorCharlie]

Is it better then the first game...? I can't answer because of a weird stupid Nintendo exclusive deal for OT1, but not this one. I'm playing it on PS5 and love it so much! Makes me a bit angry that I couldn't play the first one, I don't need a Switch, 1 console is enough.

[@Xygor]

Great to hear that, you're right about the first one! I'm glad they eventually brought it to Switch though.

[@anthonyldaniel1]

I've got so many rpgs to play, I just got this game and the Trails of Cold Steel 1-4 and I know that's like a quarter of the games in the trails of series.

[@Xygor]

It's such a treasure trove of RPGs this year, isn't it?

[@majinboo6377]

octopath traveler is an easy game if u know what ure doing. chapter 1 and its optional dungeons ? easy, chapter 2 and 3 and their optional dungeons ? easy, side quests ? easy. i havent reached chapter 4 yet or get advanced jobs yet, stopped playing after finishing everybody chapter 3 and the optional dungeons, im not even grinding in the game, only 2 things are needed to grind : money and alfyn concot materials, both in which can be easily get, just do mass steal and mass collect. in a level 25 dungeons which located in inner ring area (early area), in about 30 to 40 minutes i can get about 300k, that's in chapter 2, in chapter 3 i can get about 800k to 900k in 30 minutes, that even faster, everything become cheap after that.

[@Xygor]

Fair points. I think the game is designed in a way that encourages experimentation and tactics/boosts. If you can master those things, you can dominate!

[@Akurin]

Not really related but if Nintendo can give me a 2DHD remake of the GBA Golden Suns, I’d be happy. Or just remaster or HD it like Advance Wars ♥️

[@Xygor]

Maybe someday!

[@Mindblazter80]

The first game had so good music! Loved it!

[@Xygor]

It truly does!

[@luisdiaz1980]

Great review! Long time fan of your channel, your passion for gaming really shines in all your videos. And thank you for not saying "JRPG" every minute like other reviews! They're RPGs to us old school gamers! I'll have to pick up this game when I've completed more of my backlog 🤣

[@Xygor]

Glad you like them! Thanks for the praise!

[@2265Hello]

I never played the first game but I tried the demo of 2 because of the hype. While I am only 30 minutes in yh I can see why people like it. The sprites and art direction are great, the actual art style is good, combat is fun, music is nice, and story is well told so far. I may actually get it after I finish the demo.

[@Xygor]

It’s worth it!

[@JaxParowFF]

Arcanist Osvald and/or Arms Master Hikari just decimates everything late game.

[@Xygor]

Those are my two favorite storyline arcs too!

[@rokmare]

I found the characters in the first game more interesting than the ones in 2 TBH probably because the novelty wearing off from being a sequel since I brought the first game right after finishing the demo but after finishing the demo for 2 I didn't have the same urge to do so

[@Xygor]

Fair enough!

[@rikib3652]

Good review, but I'm highly annoyed that the first one isn't ported to the Playstation

[@Xygor]

Maybe someday!

[@mikej2020]

Play on a better platform then

[@Xygor]

@@mikej2020 not sure what you mean

[@rikib3652]

@mikej2020 I have it on switch. I want it in disk form for collection purposes. You probably don't understand how pretty a cd wallet full of squaresoft, Enix, and square Enix look together.

[@mikej2020]

@@Xygor play on a platform that has the games you want instead of complaining that your platform doesn’t have the games. 🤷‍♂️

[@benlastname6667]

I've been an rpg player for 36yrs and I didn't like the first Octopath. As an rpg lover this game is a big pass for me. I also couldn't be less interested in tactical rpgs either like triangle strategy 🤷‍♂️ The hd2d Dragon Quest III is going to do it for me

[@Xygor]

Fair enough!

[@benlastname6667]

@Dawn Razor that's a pretty hard list to give. 🤔 I have a few entire series I could count as individual spots. Even then...😬

[@davidsabillon5182]

🔥

[@Xygor]

Glad you like it! Have you played it yet?

[@davidsabillon5182]

@@Xygor not yet but it looks great 😃

[@Xygor]

@@davidsabillon5182 Plays great too!

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

Short answer? Yes!

[@Xygor]

True!

[@killersideswipe]

im missing the soccer and the scholar hitting twice

[@despawn7663]

Sigh finally watched the video. The non c cumulative story lines or rather all stories not coming together is a deal breaker for me. As much as I want to I don’t want to have 8 separate stories. Did Live a live do it better? I heard that one had a story that brought every one together . Still will buy it but prob won’t open it

[@GamerGarm]

Live a Live is shorter and yes, there is a clear overarching narrative that culminates all stories in a deliverate and definitive fashion. Live a Live is a bona fide classic and a game that any fan of JRPGs should play at least once. Stop sleeping on that gem!

[@Xygor]

Fair enough, I think you'll be surprised with how much crossover there is at the end though.

[@maxabeles]

The graphics take some getting used to for me - the 3D camera with 2D sprites feels odd. Vandal Hearts for PS1 had psuedo 3D world w/ 2D sprites but somehow they characters didn't feel like cardboard cut outs. Still, this looks cool. Love the colors....

[@evaguess2313]

I loved Octopath 1 but true to the long standing tradicion of not finishing a game, I played like 80% and stopped. I decided to finish it before Octopath 2 since I loved 1. I had to start over, obviously. I rushed to finish it, doing sidequests and reading everything. I am burned out. The game doesn't look different enough for me to play it right now, so close to having played the first one. Oops

[@mutedmathamatician]

Finished all chapter 1s and it feels like the game is now starting. It’s been a blast so far. Never played the original and all I’ve heard is how this one is better in almost every way. Still think it’s worth playing the original after I beat the second one?

[@Xygor]

I agree with you, but yes it is!

[@tazmanceltic]

100 percent yes and play as terion

[@Xygor]

@@tazmanceltic who is that? You mean Therion from the first game?

[@Gsoda35]

the game menu is improved. for example the yes/no choices uses less button presses. saving is much faster. we get to keep Ochette's pets instead of using them as limited ammunition.

[@Osman_jiel]

I needed to see this thanks I'm about to buy one of these

[@Xygor]

Great, glad you liked it!

[@PangXueYu]

It’s better than the first. And the first was awesome.

[@Xygor]

Agreed on both counts!

[@briguy9915]

Glad this one came out for PC instead of being a switch timed exclusive like the first one.

[@Xygor]

Right on, it's great that more people will have access to playing it right away!

[@valhard1121]

Awwwwwwww yeah

[@Xygor]

Oh yeah, it's here!

[@Marc_Araujo]

Brooks was here

[@Xygor]

Nice!

[@Marc_Araujo]

@@Xygor Was hoping you'd follow it up with a "so was Red" lol.

[@spencerdokes6056]

Wait... I never played the 1st. You couldn't walk into buildings?

[@luciferfaust]

You definitely could. Maybe not every building or shop but there were plenty of indoor places to go

[@Xygor]

There were, just not as many. I definitely don't remember as many shops being this way.

[@jogymogy3691]

It is better indeed

[@Xygor]

Right on! Which character is your favorite?

[@jogymogy3691]

@@Xygor Thorne so far :)

[@Xygor]

@@jogymogy3691 excellent!

[@ryanpaul1403]

First one was too easy... is this a little more challenging? I already love some of the characters from the demo.

[@GB-sh9st]

This game looks wonderful, and oddly similar to what you've said about the SaGa series

[@Xygor]

Yes it is wonderful, and absolutely, I think it is more like Romancing Saga than any other series when it comes to storyline narrative.

[@despawn7663]

I was extremely hyped for the first one all the art had my mind exploding with nostalgia, but then I heard about the story and the "LACK" of integrating the various stories/paths together. Still not 100% sure if it was true but was put off enough to not invest time in playing.

[@luciferfaust]

I'm torn on this aspect. The way it was, I loved it. The stories did connect and intertwine but it wasn't in away the characters could know. The PLAYER knew, if you were paying attention to all the backstory and NPC lore. I thought it was a really smart way to handle it without going full on "chosen ones" trope.

[@despawn7663]

@@luciferfaust That's what I had heard, the PLAYER knew of the connections but the connections between the NPCs (or in this case the playable characters) were not earned. I read it was still a good story just a bit sloppy in execution.

[@joshhowe3551]

Greatest srpg ever made and its not even close and i grew up loving shining force more than any other game. The first major choice you had to make in the game was life changing for me first time playing it.

[@daviddavidson6289]

I tried the original's demo a few years ago, boring dogshit, lol

[@KCUFyoufordoxingme]

Are the characters less bland and hyper stereotypical?

[@Xygor]

I think so.

[@joejoyce6371]

Orkette? Is that like Ochette mixed with Shrek? Best game ever.

[@fartguy69]

Are the stories more interconnected in this game?

[@Xygor]

Yes, and no. I explain in the video.