For anyone who didn’t catch the Nintendo Direct Showcase on Tuesday, a ton of fantastic news got announced! A big moment of the showcase was Square Enix’s announcement of Octopath Traveler II, the sequel to the hit RPG from 2018 Octopath Traveler. In regards to timing Square Enix said it will launch worldwide, simultaneously on the Switch, the PlayStation 4 and 5, and PC via steam on February 24, 2023.
The good news for fans of the original Octopath Traveler is that the same team from the first game is behind the second. It seems like Octopath Traveler II will largely be a spiritual successor keeping much the same or similar in terms of graphics and gameplay, but Square Enix announced that the story will take place in a brand new world called Solistia.
Players can look forward to the returning strategic turn-based gameplay and adventuring. In addition, an updated version of Octopath Traveler’s iconic HD-2D visuals of loveable 2D sprites in a 3D world will be making its return in Octopath Traveler II as well. In addition to updates to the graphics, players will have eight new characters and storylines to explore in the world of Solistia.
So far, the announced new and returning gameplay features are as follows:
Break & Boost Battle System – Players must act strategically to exploit enemy weaknesses to “Break” them in order to inflict more damage, and “Boost” their travelers to enhance their abilities.
Path Actions – Players can interact with NPCs throughout the world in various ways by using actions unique to each character. Path Actions will vary depending on the protagonist and whether it is day or night.
Brand-New Story and Characters – Players can embark on a grand adventure in the new land of Solistia and experience the intertwined stories of eight new travelers: Hikari (Warrior), Agnea (Dancer), Partitio (Merchant), Osvald (Scholar), Throné (Thief), Temenos (Cleric), Ochette (Hunter), and Castti (Apothecary).
Day/Night Cycle – The townscapes and Path Actions available to each character will change depending on if it is night or day, creating more opportunities for exploration and discovery.
Latent Power – A new battle element in which characters can unleash a powerful ability once the ability’s gauge fills up during combat.
Crossed Paths – Additional stories will unfold between the protagonists as their journey progresses, further intertwining their narratives.
Octopath Traveler II is available for pre-order on the PlayStation 4 and 5, and PC via steam, pre-orders for Nintendo Switch will be announced at a later date. Octopath Traveler II will be officially released on February 24, 2023. There is a physical Collectors Edition available for pre-order on all systems exclusively on the Square Enix store. The Collectors set includes the game, models of the eight characters, an art book, and a CD of the game's soundtrack.
