Growing up, all my friends used to walk around with their Game Boys, talking about whatever RPG was currently the craze. However, it was never a conversation I could join in on because my first handheld console was the PSP. I don’t tell you this seeking some historical sympathy; instead, I bring it up to explain why I don’t have much nostalgia when it comes to 16-bit RPG games. It’s not that I don’t think they’re cool, it’s just that I don’t have the history that many others do with the genre.
Ocotopath Traveler is a modern interpretation of the RPG games that filled many childhoods, and even though I wouldn’t go as far as to call it “my game”, I can definitely see why people would love this title and can appreciate how good a job it does at recapturing the magic of a bygone era in gaming.
It goes without saying that Octopath Traveler is striking in its retro-inspired beauty. The game looks exactly how my friend’s Game Boy RPGs used to look – only without needing a heavy dose of imagination to fill in the gaps. Octopath Traveller is dripping with atmosphere and the feeling of nostalgia while being just as polished and clean as any modern game.
The game’s title refers in no small part to the game’s concept. You will slowly assemble a party of eight adventures that will accompany you through the game. Each adventurer has their own goal you will help them complete and their story you will reveal.
One of the best parts of the game is how unique and well fleshed out each character feels. From slight differences in personalities to entirely different dialects, each party member feels like a proper character instead of just a background extra. Each of these characters will have a “path action” unique to them.
The “path actions” are unique abilities that tie into the character’s personalities and allow them to interact with the NPCs in-game in different ways. For example, one character will be able to steal from NPCs while another can challenge them to duels. It’s a concept that makes interacting with NPCs a lot of fun and brings variety and purpose to playing with each character.
