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Octopath Traveler Review Thread

iconmaster

Banned
Gotta love the 'this game is perfect for the Switch' comments. I have never understood the 'portable games must be shorter than console games' idea or some variation of that.

That's not what I said, though. Octopath is dozens (and dozens) of hours long -- it's not short. But reviewers say it does lend itself well to short play sessions, not just because of its multiple storylines but due also to its chapter divisions. That's a smart design choice for a console that can be played as a portable.
 

Zog

Banned
That's not what I said, though. Octopath is dozens (and dozens) of hours long -- it's not short. But reviewers say it does lend itself well to short play sessions, not just because of its multiple storylines but due also to its chapter divisions. That's a smart design choice for a console that can be played as a portable.

Why? Why does a game need to have shorter play sessions if it's on a portable device?

Edit: Let me clarify. Designing games differently based on whether it's going to a portable device or a console shouldn't be happening in 2018. We have been playing full console ports on portable devices atleast since the GBA. Further, this game is getting a serious amount of hype but one of the weakest things to say about it is: 'It's perfect for the Switch because of it's short play sessions'. To me, that is more of a negative than a positive if the game was designed with a portable device in mind. I thought people were happy because they were getting full, current gen console games on a portable so why celebrate the short play sessions like it was a GBC game?
 
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iconmaster

Banned
Why? Why does a game need to have shorter play sessions if it's on a portable device?

Here's why: it's easier for me to find a good stopping point, whereas you do not need to stop. Just keep playing! The game is really long.
 

Vawn

Banned
Here's why: it's easier for me to find a good stopping point, whereas you do not need to stop. Just keep playing! The game is really long.

I think he's asking what is different between portable and home consoles that makes needing more logical stopping points?
 

Zog

Banned
Here's why: it's easier for me to find a good stopping point, whereas you do not need to stop. Just keep playing! The game is really long.

So you have trouble just hitting the sleep button? Do you have this trouble with other RPG's on other consoles?
 

iconmaster

Banned
I think he's asking what is different between portable and home consoles that makes needing more logical stopping points?

There's the battery dying if nothing else.

Really I just like having choices -- the freedom to quit playing, or keep playing. Everyone wins. I'm not sure why this is controversial. It's not somehow a short, casual title now.
 

Zog

Banned
There's the battery dying if nothing else.

Really I just like having choices -- the freedom to quit playing, or keep playing. Everyone wins. I'm not sure why this is controversial. It's not somehow a short, casual title now.
I already talked about the battery issue, Switch has a sleep mode. Can you save anywhere or is there a quicksave? Are there save points every 5 minutes?

Battery shouldn't be a big enough issue that the game design should suffer.
 

Pachi72

Member
Yeah, with a HUGE sadness cancelled my pre-order too.

I've played the latest demo, liked what I've seen but looks like the game has more cons than pros as far as I'm concerned. Don't like the grind and repetition, plus the lack of the main story and huge focus on separate character stories for the whole game along whith lack of depth when it comes to character interactions... That's not what I personaly like in RPGs and visuals, music and combat alone is not enough for me.

Maybe I'll buy the game later during sale, we'll see.
But it was always like that even the first demo.
 

Poppyseed

Member
Why? Did they like it? Because so far my opinion is the exact opposite of whatever nonsense that poor excuse for gaming journalism spews out.

Also, I played the first 3 hours today from the demo. With that and the original demo I can safely say I absolutely love this game.

Yes the first 3 hours are clearly not the issue. I really enjoyed the demo. It’s the same dungeon no matter who you play as, and that the story apparently goes nowhere - that’s the issue.
 
Like some others said I'm bummed that the stories aren't more connected (at least at this point before any patches). I pre-ordered it and it should get to me tomorrow.
I'm still excited about it though cause I really dug the demo. After ME:A I swore I wouldn't pre-order again but here I am. I love jrpgs but I haven't started xenoblade and won't until I finish octopath.
 

royox

Member
Kotaku's review has put me right off. Like... completely.

https://kotaku.com/octopath-traveler-the-kotaku-review-1827537100

You have to spend the entire game not only buying that a noble cleric and honorable swordsman would hang out with a nasty thief, but that they’d participate in his heists.


Ugh I don't like the sound of this. I disliked FFXV because the characters NEVER reacted like normal people would in their situation (EVERYTHING I LOVE IS DEAD...LET'S VISIT THE CHOCOBOOOOOOOOOS!!! \o/ )
 
This game is going to sell amazing. It's topping the amazon charts in most territories and already heading towards the top of the E shop.

Amazing to see third parties succeed on the platform like this.
 

Vawn

Banned
Yes the first 3 hours are clearly not the issue. I really enjoyed the demo. It’s the same dungeon no matter who you play as, and that the story apparently goes nowhere - that’s the issue.

I guess I'll hold off full judgement until I finish it, but it's rare I can take a games story overly seriously anymore anyways. Especially when it's another story about a small group of people coming together to save the entire world, all while traveling that world and no one having any idea that this ragtag band of people are holding the planets fate in their hands.

I appreciate the smaller scale and more personalized struggles this shown in OT.

But to me jrpgs are more about the music, art and gameplay. All of that has been a homerun for me so far and I'm confident it will continue to be so throughout
 

Gander

Banned
I don't have a switch but I'm glad to see a warm reception to this style of gameplay. This the kind of game I enjoyed as a kid where I'd turn off all the lights get comfortable and enjoy the journey.
 
Why? Why does a game need to have shorter play sessions if it's on a portable device?

Edit: Let me clarify. Designing games differently based on whether it's going to a portable device or a console shouldn't be happening in 2018. We have been playing full console ports on portable devices atleast since the GBA. Further, this game is getting a serious amount of hype but one of the weakest things to say about it is: 'It's perfect for the Switch because of it's short play sessions'. To me, that is more of a negative than a positive if the game was designed with a portable device in mind. I thought people were happy because they were getting full, current gen console games on a portable so why celebrate the short play sessions like it was a GBC game?

Because people who regularly do multi-hour sessions are a minority. It's pretty straight forward stuff.
 

Agent_4Seven

Tears of Nintendo
But it was always like that even the first demo.
eHPu6Rl.gif

The demo is around 3 hours long, how can you possibly tell just by playing it alone that the whole game will be like that which is 80-100 hours long? Not to mention the whole list of cons that pretty much all major media outlets pointed out in their review and again, there's no way in hell that you could know about all this just by playing the 3 hour demo.
 
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It's a 2D, turn based JRPG with random battles. There's no way this is going to get high scores.

Western reviewers are actually being more generous than I thought.
 
I'm about four hours in.

I chose Cyrus, the scholar.
I'm about 4 hours in.
Music is absolutely gorgeous.
Graphics are absolutely gorgeous.
I like the perspective tricks it does.
Levels seem to be puzzles that you have to traverse to find treasure.
Combat is easy to learn.
I really like that they tell you how dangerous an area is. It immediately lets you know whether you can handle it or not.
 
S

SLoWMoTIoN

Unconfirmed Member
Nu males not liking old school graphics and gameplay is expected
 

Spukc

always chasing the next thrill
As evidence by Kotaku's review. What a whiny bitch.

God, they complain JRPGs are too linear.

Then they complain this game is too disparate.

They absolutely just set out to shit on JRPGs.
bullshit i refuse to believe that.
I am disappointed in the game cause its this splintered story all i wanted was a new final fantasy 6 like game from square.
Sadly this is not it. The game has flaws. So be it.
But please stop with this they love hating on games crap
 
S

SLoWMoTIoN

Unconfirmed Member
bullshit i refuse to believe that.
I am disappointed in the game cause its this splintered story all i wanted was a new final fantasy 6 like game from square.
Sadly this is not it. The game has flaws. So be it.
But please stop with this they love hating on games crap
FF6 wasn't entirely linear either. Nothing will ever be like it either, high bar fam.
 

Bboy AJ

My dog was murdered by a 3.5mm audio port and I will not rest until the standard is dead
So excited for it. Can't wait for my copy to arrive today.

Does this game have multiple endings? I hope not. I want a straight up JRPG. I only want to play through it once, with one play through meaning going through all characters.
 

Zog

Banned
I am saying I don't have a study on the topic onhand and don't care to search one.

If you think most people play games for 2 to 3 hours in one sitting then you clearly are not worth the time of day.

LOL ok, have a good day then.
 
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Ragnaroz

Member
And people have now learned that there actually is a tie-in for all the stories, in the post-game that reviewers never actually got to because of the deadlines(or they just couldn't be bothered to do their jobs).


And that's why I never read reviews these days. Watching an hour of a Twitch stream is enough for me to know whether I should buy it or not. Played the game for 10 hours today and I'm loving it so far. 6/8 characters are unlocked with Alfyn and Therion left to go.
 
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Zog

Banned
And that's why I never read reviews these days.
....because of this:

that reviewers never actually got to because of the deadlines(or they just couldn't be bothered to do their jobs).

Ok but then you go on to say:

Watching an hour of a Twitch stream is enough for me to know whether I should buy it or not.
Well the streamer isn't going to get to the post game either in an hour.
 

magnumpy

Member
I'm interested in this game. it needs to get ported to other platforms though, I'm assuming that will happen with time. I've seen online speculation of a year or two for switch exclusivity? :unsure:
 

noqtic

Member
Scores are actually higher than I expected, not having an overarching story is kind of disappointing but if the individual stories are well done I can look past it.
 

Vawn

Banned
I'm interested in this game. it needs to get ported to other platforms though, I'm assuming that will happen with time. I've seen online speculation of a year or two for switch exclusivity? :unsure:

I'd be shocked if it ever gets released on anything else. But, it may be possible. I don't know what rights Nintendo has on the game or deals made with SquareEnix. This teams Bravely Default games never released outside of the Nintendo platform they were made for.

But I'd love to see a PS4 release. I'd take the chance to replay the game and go for its platinum trophy.
 
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And people have now learned that there actually is a tie-in for all the stories, in the post-game that reviewers never actually got to because of the deadlines(or they just couldn't be bothered to do their jobs).

Journalists not bothering to actually play a game before they review it?

Whodda thunk it!

Seriously, fuck game "journalists". Pathetic.
 
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