A Review of Octopath Traveler

There’s something special about traditional turn based JRPGs to me. Maybe it’s because I grew up with them: Super Mario RPG and Paper Mario, Pokemon, and especially Golden Sun. These were all games I played during formative years of my life that shaped my tastes in video games, and I see them as fundamental to explaining why I have such a fondness for turned based JRPGs. While Pokemon and the Mario RPGs do follow the format mechanically, aesthetically they don’t follow what Golden Sun and Final Fantasy IX went for that really captures the feel of a traditional JRPG: a colorful fantasy setting with characters and a world that come to life. There’s just something about a historical fantasy setting that really appeals to me, and when you combine that with a turn based combat that heavily favors complex strategies, I am smitten in a way no other game can. I think this is a part of why I have taken so much to the Fire Emblem games recently. 

By discussing my history and fondness for traditional JRPGs (as I will now refer to them as) I hope to explain why Octopath Traveler appealed to me so much upon its initial reveal. I’ve kept my eye on it, doubly so due to it being a spiritual successor to Bravely Default. That was a game I played recently and…despite really disliking the second half of game to the point that it ruined the whole thing for me, I still greatly enjoyed the first half, as seen in my write up for it: http://johnnyappleshy.blogspot.com/2019/04/bravely-default-review-part-1.html. 

I hoped that Octopath would be different. Maybe, at last, I could get into, love, and beat a traditional turn based JRPG, something I have not done since the Golden Sun games. So, when the game was 50% off, I jumped at the chance, excited to dive in. Without further ado, let’s get into it.

TLDR version at the bottom for those looking for a quick summary of bullet points.

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 7: The Characters of Black Eagles

 

Hello and welcome to the 7th part in my series of writes up detailing my many thoughts on the incredible game that is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. In this, I finish sharing my feelings on the characters of the three main houses by discussing the Black Eagles students. I have a lot to say, so let’s get to it.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE SUPPORTS AND CHARACTERS OF BLACK EAGLES AND VARIOUS FACULTY CHARACTERS

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 6: The Narrative of Black Eagles

Hello, and welcome to the sixth part in my very long write up series in which I share my experiences and thoughts on the massive game that is Fire Emblem: Three Houses. In this part, I talk about the narrative of my third playthrough, that saw me choosing the house of Black Eagles.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE STORY OF BLACK EAGLES, BLUE LIONS, AND GOLDEN DEER

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 5: The Characters of Blue Lions

Hello, and welcome to the next part in my long write up series on my thoughts and experiences with Fire Emblem: Three Houses. In this part I finish my feelings on the Blue Lions playthrough by going through and sharing my thoughts on all of its characters.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONATINS SPOILERS FOR THE SUPPORTS AND BACKSTORIES OF THE CHARACTERS OF BLUE LIONS

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 4: The Narrative of Blue Lions

Hello, and welcome to the fourth part of my long series of write ups in which I share my thoughts and feelings from my initial playthroughs of Fire Emblem: Three Houses. In this part I will discuss my experiences and thoughts throughout my second playthrough.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS STORY SPOILERS FOR THE BLUE LIONS AND GOLDEN DEER PATHS

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 3: The Characters of Golden Deer

Hello and welcome to the third part of my Fire Emblem: Three Houses thoughts. In this part I will finally stop talking about my first playthrough by discussing what I would consider the most important part of Fire Emblem: the characters. Without further ado, let’s begin.

WARNING, BELOW ARE SPOILERS FOR ALL SUPPORT CONVERSATIONS AND BACKSTORIES OF GOLDEN DEER CHARACTERS

Fire Emblem Three Houses Thoughts - Part 2: The Narrative of Golden Deer

Hello, and welcome to the second part in my write up series on Fire Emblem Three Houses. Here, I continue my thoughts and experiences on my first playthrough of the game through the Golden Deer path, focusing primarily on the narrative. So without further ado, let’s begin, and I will do so by walking through my experience with the game as the narrative progressed.

WARNING, THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE STORY OF GOLDEN DEER IN FIRE EMBLEM: THREE HOUSES