``Octopus Traveler II'' trial version play review where eight new stories intersect in a fantastic world drawn in HD-2D
Octopath Traveler II, a completely new version of the game Octopath Traveler, which has become famous in the world of the fantastic pixel art HD-2D, will be released on Friday, February 24, 2023. Prior to the release, a free trial version that can be played for 3 hours from the start of the game was delivered, so I tried to see how it evolved in about 5 years from the appearance of the previous work.
'Octopath Traveler II' Free trial version that can carry over save data is now available! | Octopath Traveler II | SQUARE ENIX
There are four types of Octopath Traveler II trial versions available : Nintendo Switch version , PlayStation 4 version , PlayStation 5 version , and Steam version . This time, I will download and play the Steam version of 'Octopath Traveler II Prologue Demo'.
Immediately select 'NEW GAME' in the trial version and start playing.
Octopath Traveler II is a game system that allows you to choose your favorite character from 8 main characters (travelers) and enjoy each story, just like the previous work 'Octopath Traveler'. Characters and stories have been renewed, so even people who haven't played the previous work can enjoy it. The main characters are a swordsman, a dancer, a merchant, a scholar, a thief, a priest, a hunter, and a pharmacist. This time we start with Hikari Ku (Hikari), a swordsman.
The operation method is as follows. In addition, this time I am playing by connecting 'DualSense' of the controller for PlayStation 5.
The menu screen is also roughly the same as the previous game.
Hikari's story begins in a field where war is spreading.
As you advance through the battlefield, battles with enemies will begin. This time, he fights with Ritsu, a swordsman who follows Hikari. Combat is a turn-based command format, using commands such as 'fight', 'skill', and 'item', and it is a system in which enemies and allies take actions in order.
Octopath Traveler II is equipped with a unique battle system 'Break' and 'Boost' that continues from the previous work. A break is a state that occurs when you hit an enemy's weak point. Each character's attack has an attribute, and each enemy character has a weak point attribute. For example, Hikari has ``sword'' and ``spear'' attack methods, and it is possible to deal a strong blow to enemy characters whose weak points are swords and spears. If you hit the enemy's weak point attribute once, the number will be reduced by 1 from the shield mark displayed at the character's feet. When it reaches 0, it will be in a 'break' state, and effects such as temporarily incapacitating the enemy will appear.
The weak point attribute is determined by the type of enemy, but the weak point of an opponent you have never fought before is unknown until you attack with that weak point attribute. Since it turned out that the `` sword '' is one of the weaknesses of this enemy, the ``?'' mark at the bottom of the character is open, but it seems that this character has another weakness.
Another system unique to the series is a ``boost'' that consumes ``battle points (BP)'' to perform multi-stage or enhanced attacks.
Allied characters will accumulate 1 point of BP each time their turn comes. By consuming some of this BP on your turn, the boost mechanism allows you to strengthen your normal attacks and techniques. It can be used to break the opponent's shield at once with a multi-stage attack, or to attack the opponent in the break state with a strengthening attack.
When you finish the battle, you can get experience points and items.
In this battle, the country to which Hikari belongs, 'Kukoku,' won the victory.
Three years later, Hikari, who has excellent swordsmanship but doesn't like useless fighting, becomes the lord of the castle town and spends her days training.
In the field, you can move the character to investigate the surroundings and talk to people.
In addition, each character has a special skill called 'field command'. For example, Hikari can use the command 'match' in the field. This is a command that allows you to challenge the townspeople to battle, and is used to hone your skills and progress the story.
When you finish the match, you can learn the techniques used by your opponent and make them your own. This ability is unique to Hikari and allows you to stock up to 5 powerful attacks.
Octopath Traveler II also has the concept of day and night.
When day and night change, the characters and enemies that appear and the field commands that can be used change. With Hikari, the 'match' turns into an 'acquisition.' In the tutorial, the day and night change as the story progresses, but as the story progresses, the player will be able to change the day and night themselves. The danger level of the enemies you encounter in the field increases at night, so it is recommended when you want to level up.
Also, one of the unique systems in this game is called 'underlying power'. It is a special technique that consumes the strength gauge that accumulates by taking damage or breaking the enemy, and can be used when the strength gauge in the upper right of the screen accumulates to the maximum value.
In the trial version, Hikari deals extra damage to a single enemy with ``Ten-Rizanzan'', deals damage to a single enemy twice with a sword and then performs another action with ``Hienhua'', and deals damage with a spear to all enemies. I was able to use a technique called 'Sougetsu Sen' that deals further damage with a sword. Also, these can also be boosted by consuming BP.
In addition, it is now possible to go out to rivers and seas in canoes and large ships, and the range of exploration has increased significantly from the previous work. From the person who played the previous work, I have a feeling that the element of 'understanding strength' will be a considerable game changer. Even just the first chapter in the beginning is a dense story that will make you wonder about future developments, and it seems that people who have played the previous work, as well as those who are playing the Octopath Traveler series for the first time, can enjoy it.
The graphic setting screen of the Steam version played this time is as follows. The frame rate could be set up to 120fps, the resolution up to 2560×1600, and the UI texture resolution up to 3840×2160.
You can check the state of Octopath Traveler II from the start of the game to the end of Chapter 1 in the following video.
A video excerpt of the search / battle scene can be viewed from the following.
The search / battle scene of 'Octopath Traveler II' looks something like this - YouTube
``Octopath Traveler II'' is scheduled to be released on Friday, February 24, 2023 (Steam version is February 25), and the suggested retail price is 7800 yen including tax for both the package version and the download version. In addition, Amazon.co.jp is accepting pre-order purchases at 6382 yen including tax, which is 18% off for the console package version.
Amazon | Octopath Traveler II -Switch | Game
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