Like every Monday, we bring you one of those that, for us, is a must-have title in the huge Game Pass catalog. As many of you have noticed, the service continues to grow in leaps and bounds, including increasingly larger games, which many Bethesda titles have also joined. However, one name that was not counted in the pools ended up surprising the Xbox community. Octopath traveler, until recently exclusive to Nintendo Switch, came to Game Pass by surprise. We are in a very sweet moment, in which everything seems possible for Xbox.
Phil Spencer has added a new take on Japanese audiences, and it’s not just any game. Outstanding JRPG from Square Enix It’s been a smash hit for Nintendo, and everything points to history will repeat itself with Xbox. Lovers of the genre are in luck, but if you still don’t know enough about the topic, stay tuned. Next, we review its strengths.
The art section of Octopath Traveler is simply exquisite
With Octopath traveler, we have the impression that Square Enix has cleverly brought us back to the golden age of JRPGs. Those moments when the saga Final fantasy (among others) was all the rage, accumulating fans around the world. This, yes, To acquire would be able to give his new JRPG its own personality, with a captivating visual style from the first moments of play. The studio went for a retro look that is reminiscent of, as we said, those 16-bit glory days. A tribute that results in scenarios that could perfectly be individual paintings, with a multitude of situations and biomes.
From the frozen peaks of Sacrolumia to the heated shores of Aguascalmas, Octopath Traveler offers a wide variety of scenarios. But in addition, all bring together a collection of very particular creatures and characters. The enemies will be completely different depending on the area, all with an original design, being even more noticeable in the case of the final patterns. In the case of the inhabitants and the rest of the protagonists of the game, despite a more discreet presence, these little details that make them unique are noticeable.
And if the world outside Orsterra is already big, the interiors are not far either. Its different routes will sometimes lead us into dark caves full of monsters and other enemies. The lamp of our first chosen character will give light around us, merging us into a unique atmosphere. Like always, the soundtrack helps to leave us moments as epic as they are breathtaking in our retinas. If we talk about the interior of buildings, I would say that one of the constructions that marked me the most is the Cathedral of Sacrolumia. A giant monument in honor of the flame of Aelfric, and where resides Ophilia, one of the eight protagonists of Octopath traveler. Taking into account the “retro” graphic part of the video game, it does not lack details, and to testify to the characteristics of buildings as colossal as this one is a real pass.
A very fun combat system
In JRPG titles like this, one of the main keys is to allow the player to enjoy and make the most of their combat systems. Or in short, make it fun. Throughout the adventure, we will not stop using these mechanics at any point, so it is convenient for the developers to strike the key in this regard. And to tell the truth, with Octopath traveler They succeeded. The dynamics of combat may seem repetitive (which in part it is), but the different options offered by our heroes are enough, and you can’t imagine the satisfaction of mastering these skills. This is precisely another secret of his combat system, how easy it is to reach it.
As in other games of the genre, in the upper part we will know the combat situation at all times; who will attack us next and with whom we will defend ourselves. It’s not much of a mystery, but the interesting thing is our protagonists. As soon as we have advanced in the plot, new companions will have joined the adventure, with their own abilities. With a maximum of 4, we will have a complete team ready to face with ease the different routes full of monsters and other baddies. This, yes, taking into account the minimum level required of us, if you don’t want to die at the slightest touch.
Each character represents a specific class. For example, in my case, I started this journey with Olberic, a veteran and legendary knight who wields the sword like no one else. Your skill points can be spent on skills based on this mastery of the sword. Later, Tressa, an expert trader in the use of the bow, or Ophilia, who acts like a “witch”, was able to heal the rest of the team and use the power of light.
When we integrate these skills into our strategy, we need to “Impulse”, a feature that makes all the difference. As you turn, our Boost meter fills up, so we can multiply our attacks up to a maximum of 4. Something that will be vital in breaking down enemies’ defenses or simply doing more damage to them. This, added to the various weapons and the most common attacks, makes it an explosive combination.
Octopath Traveler invites us to discover Orsterra in depth
Orsterra’s map is full of life, and not just because of the sheer number of monsters that inhabit it. The feeling of discovery is constant, and beyond the interwoven webs of our travelers, there is much more to know. The universe of Octopath traveler He is very rich, but for that it is necessary to devote time to other activities in addition to the main missions. There are side missions that are unlocked after completing the origins of each hero. They don’t offer an alternate story arc or elaborate storylines, but they do serve to get to know the people of Orsterra and the culture associated with it better.
Exploration pays off. The routes between one region and another are not strictly linear, but there will also be room for exploration, being able to deviate through small areas in which to find safes. The various chests house all kinds of items for our inventory, such as healing grapes or invigorating plums (among others). Everything serves to use it as it suits us in our inventory, and taking into account that money is not plentifulIt doesn’t hurt to investigate every now and then.
But another point with which to spend time outside of the main missions, is to use the track skills. These are special abilities of each hero, which will have a central function in the story missions. On another side, can also be used freely, knowing that this can damage our reputation in the region where we are. For example, with Olberian we can constantly challenge anyone to fight. With Ophilia, it is possible to make any villager follow us, or to use the experience of Therion as a thief to steal from whomever we want.
If you had any questions, now is the time to play Octopath Traveler
Microsoft has been doing very well in recent years, and currently, the state of form in which the Redmond company finds itself is unbeatable. Much of the blame is on the latest additions to the subscription service, which has grown significantly over the past year and a half. With so many Bethesda games and many more, Octopath traveler was the epicenter of such an earthquake. The race to conquer a large part of the Japanese public is more alive than ever, and of course, Square Enix’s JRPG is a declaration of intent. The, until recently exclusive to Nintendo Switch, was the last Game Pass bomb, and a server can attest to the great quality of the video game.
I had the chance to try it when it launched with Nintendo, and its first moments completely caught up with me. It has rained a lot since that day, and although the title has arrived on PC as well, I never had any hope of being able to enjoy it on my Xbox. Now I can tell you and everyone who has reached this point of the article that Octopath traveler it’s a must-have game. An adventure which, beyond the intrigues of its characters, it is worth enjoying it for its soundtrack and amazing artistic section. Adding to that its great combat system, I think the suit is more than perfect to try out, even if you’re not as much of a fan of the genre as I am.
About the Author
I have traveled to worlds you would never believe, ended up with enemies that escape all mysticism. I felt my pulse quicken with each battle, and the sigh of who knows he will have to get up. There is always a villain waiting, an adventure around the corner. That’s why I never stopped living, because I keep playing.
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