Octopath Traveler 0 Review – Going From Zero To Hero

Reviewed on:
Switch 2

Platform:
PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Publisher:
Square Enix

Developer:
DokiDoki Groove Works, Square Enix

Rating:
Teen

Octopath Traveler 0 offers a significantly overhauled – and improved – PC and console port of the previously mobile-exclusive Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. With the gacha mechanics stripped out, Octopath Traveler 0 is a premium, well-paced game. Its expanded gameplay mechanics distinguish it from its predecessors and it has a stronger focus on storytelling, but its bloated cast makes it hard to care about most of the characters.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a prequel that follows the Ringbearer, as they traverse through the continent of Osterra after their hometown, Wishvale, gets burned down by bad guys who are looking for the magical rings, ancient artifacts that grant immeasurable power. Whereas the previous two games told eight separate stories following each of the main party members and tried to interconnect them, Octopath Traveler 0 takes the opposite approach by focusing on two primary stories: the search for the rings and Wishvale’s revival. As a result, Octopath Traveler 0’s story is much more coherent.

The main supporting cast is smaller, featuring the upbeat architect Stia, the brave hunter Phenn, and the kind priestess Laurana. They receive the bulk of the character development, and this tighter emphasis makes them more compelling compared to the main casts of Octopath Traveler and Octopath Traveler II.

There are over 30 playable characters, and unfortunately they don’t get the same amount of time in the spotlight as the main cast. After meeting certain conditions, you can start a side quest to recruit them, providing some interesting backstories. But afterwards, most of them don’t really engage with the Ringbearer’s main quests, which makes them feel like an afterthought. While they do interact with each other in optional “party chat” cutscenes, viewing them doesn’t provide any tangible reward, and so I ended up skipping most of them. They’re also not voiced, making them less impactful.

With the huge roster, Octopath Traveler 0’s gameplay has changed a bit. The amount of characters you can have in battle has been expanded to eight, with four in the front line and four in the back. This creates fun party setups to see which characters I can pair together to have the best synergy, as well as more opportunities to exploit enemy weaknesses since you have access to more elements and weapon types during battle.

The BP system remains virtually unchanged from previous games, but that’s a good thing. You can stack and spend BP to launch multiple standard attacks in a single turn, or make special skills more powerful, leading to increased damage and broken shields. The downside is that BP isn’t replenished on the turn you decide to use it, so there’s a strategic element to using the system. Should I wait to make my one attack hit much harder, or prioritize breaking an enemy’s shield with weaker hits first and stun them? It makes battles much more engaging, having to plan out my moves and adapt on the fly.

The HD-2D art style is, as usual, gorgeous, both during and outside of combat. Weapons and elemental spells are unleashed in a blaze of beautiful particle effects. Running around Osterra is a sight to behold as environments are breathtaking and immersive. The game runs smoothly on Nintendo Switch 2 as well, with no noticeable performance issues.

Restoring Wishvale plays like a fun town-building mini-game, but players shouldn’t expect something as meticulous or in-depth as games like Frostpunk or Cities: Skylines. Octopath Traveler 0 is an RPG first and foremost. The much more simplistic nature of its town-building mechanics feels non-intrusive and complements the RPG elements well. Not only does advancing Wishvale’s storyline provide more worldbuilding and character development, but you get substantial incentives too. For example, you can build a dojo for your benched party members to earn EXP while your main party is with you out in Osterra.

Octopath Traveler 0 is a slightly different approach to the series, especially since it’s made up of readjusted elements from the Champions of the Continent mobile game. Despite the inflated cast, the main characters are likable, and smart changes to the core battle system and the town-building aspect differentiate Octopath Traveler 0 from its predecessors. It’s got a solid story and combat that puts a captivating twist on the classic turn-based formula. With a staggering amount of content, Octopath Traveler 0 will keep you entertained for dozens of hours.