1. It’s One of the Best Pixel Art RPGs
There’s something special about this pixel art RPG that you have to experience in order to appreciate. The art style is not only nostalgic but matches perfectly with the narrative, gameplay and exploration. At first glance, it may seem like just a throw back to classics of the past, but this title carves a legacy of its own. There are many small intricate details that add depth to the game. From treasures hidden throughout the world, to vendors in every town that hold hidden gems, you are encouraged to seek and interact with new towns, people and dungeons. On top of that, characters come with an array of skills that allow the player options in customizing each units abilities. It sounds simple, but all too often these details and meaningful choices are missed or overlooked in many games. An epic soundtrack, interesting story and challenging gameplay all add up to one of the best RPGs out there at the moment. One of the reasons this game flies under the radar is that you won’t experience most of the game until you’ve unlocked various gameplay modes. It’s just a shame that so many will miss playing this title because you have to experience it for yourself and be patient in the early game to allow the magic and charm to unfold. Those that take this journey will find a rewarding and epic adventure.
2. Compelling Stories
Octopath Traveler tells a series of captivating stories. Pacing, appropriate chapter duration and the ability to hold an audience’s interest and attention is vital. This is what I love the most about the stories in COTC. The style of the narrative is like a graphic novel. Scenes are direct and to the point. They understand pacing, how to tell dramatic, surprising and interesting stories while never extending a scene for more than what is necessary. There’s an intricate play between plot points and character arcs that continually unravel depth in the storytelling as the background and personalities of our heroes and villains are explored. This is refreshing because it respects your time and creates powerful stories that you can enjoy in small portions at a time, which is perfect for a mobile platform.
3. Captivating Gameplay
The small intricate details that add to the player experience is what makes this game special. These details add depth and create interesting gameplay loops. For example, every town, outdoor area or dungeon has hidden treasure and elite monsters to battle. This makes it so that it’s interesting and rewarding to explore. This same concept is applied to towns where you can speak to citizens and see what they have to offer. They carry surprisingly useful weapons, accessories and resources making speaking to each one worth it. Another detail that adds to the experience is the ability to customize your characters’ active skills. This not only adds versatility to handle a variety of battles but empowers the player to customize their combat experience. So many games miss this aspect of inviting the player to be creative. In addition, as you start to encounter more challenging combat and need to pay attention to maximizing your offence and defense you start to appreciate the experience. Turned based combat is challenging to get right. If the difficulty and challenge is appropriate, you get a battle that feels akin to an intriguing puzzle or game of chess where developing strategy and executing on it is fulfilling and rewarding. Lastly, there is no energy system. Yes, a gacha game without energy. It’s a step in the right direction for the genre as now the game design is not impeding someone from playing it. All these details make Octopath a special experience and one that we need to see more of in the mobile space.
For a more in-depth first impressions review check out this post.
Image Credits:
Octopath Traveler Fandom
Square Enix
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