Interview: Octopath Traveler 2 devs on series goals, first game to leave PlayStation, and more

One of the defining features of Octopath Traveler is the ability to play through the stories of different protagonists. How difficult is it to include so many main characters in one game? How do you approach this kind of storytelling?

Keisuke Miyauchi, Director: When creating an Octopath Traveler game, we first start working out all the details of the world it will be set in. This includes things like the overall nature of the era it’s set in, what cultures and civilizations exist in different geographic areas, and what kind of people live in that world.

After working out these small details, we see what kind of stories can actually take place in different areas of the world we create. This approach meant that even though we were working with eight main characters, we successfully managed to write grounded stories for all of them.

If we were to write stories for each character in a completely independent and unrestrained way, with any subject we liked, it could easily lead to an unmanageable mess of narratives, with overly heroic stories that the world Do not take place in or stories. Feeling like part of a bygone age.

Did you notice any improvements in the gameplay and combat of Octopath Traveler II, compared to the
The first game?

Miyauchi: First, we’ve made it possible to switch between day and night at the push of a button. It’s a really simple mechanic, but really fun to use on its own, so I’d love for players to try it out. The transition between music tracks is also seamless and feels great, so I’d recommend checking that out as well.

In terms of playing through the story, in the previous game each character’s story was structured in a fixed format over four chapters, but in Octopath Traveler II, each character’s story is structured differently, and it feels that you’re playing a completely different RPG in each one. .

The new ‘latent power’ mechanic in combat means that many different developments and outcomes can occur during the flow of combat, especially in boss battles. It also means that bosses use even more types of attacks and add depth to strategic thinking in how you fight and how you choose your party.

And finally, do you have any advice for new Octopath Traveler players? Any hints or tips?

Miyauchi: Octopath Traveler games actually let you “cheat”. You will find more and more
These little ways of stacking the deck in your favor as you explore side routes, try out field commands on various NPCs, and explore sub-dungeons (for example, you can find powerful weapons or exceptional can find townspeople who actually hide great power).

So I would recommend that you don’t just follow the main story and enjoy exploring off the beaten track as much as possible!

Are you playing Octopath Traveler II? Do you want to continue the series? How about playing the first game on PlayStation? Set out on another adventure in the comments section below.

Thank you Takahashi-san and Miyauchi-san for taking the time to answer our questions. Special thanks to Michael Bryant and the team at Square Enix for making this interview possible.