'Octopath Traveler 2': Better Party Interactions Are Coming, Devs Say

Octopath 2 - heroes — Octopath Traveler 2 will have more interactions and stories between party members Square Enix

KEY POINTS

Characters will have more interactions outside of travel banter and story beats
Side stories involving two or more characters will play a part in the game's arching narrative
Most of the game's original mechanics are still in place

The sequel to the surprise JRPG hit of 2018 "Octopath Traveler" is almost upon the gaming sphere, and its developers have shared more tidbits on what players can expect when it hits digital shelves worldwide.

One of the biggest complaints players had in the first game was how disconnected each of the eight playable characters was from each other. Apart from travel banter, they had very few interactions with one another, making them feel stale as a group compared to other RPG parties like in "Final Fantasy" or even "Mass Effect."

Square Enix and ACQUIRE Corp plan on resolving this by widening character interactions across the board. When they first announced "Octopath Traveler 2" back in September, the developers pointed out that they took the first game's feedback to heart.

Octopath 2 - party — Octopath Traveler 2 features the same HD-Retro style as the first game Square Enix

Not only will each protagonist create more meaningful relationships with each other, but players will also be able to experience new stories revolving around this new group of heroes. These events will further develop each character as well as their relationships with the other members of the party.

Apart from this addition, "Octopath Traveler 2" will still retain the same storytelling style as that of the first game. Each of the eight heroes has individual storylines for players to enjoy, and the grander campaign will eventually culminate into an event that brings all the characters together.

Another thing worth noting is that the sequel is a standalone game. Knowledge of the original "Octopath Traveler" is not required to enjoy the sequel to its fullest. Those who have played the first game will still find a new yet familiar world.

The sequel is set in Solistia, during a time of trade and industry. Players will be able to explore the eastern and western continents as well as the sea in between them to experience all of the stories scattered across its unique environments.

The Break and Boost battle systems are also returning. Additionally, the new cast of characters will have multiple Path Actions to further broaden how they interact with the world around them.

"Octopath Traveler 2" will release for PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch on Feb. 24, 2023.