Octopath Traveler 0 Review: A Long, Tiresome Trek
Console: Switch 2
Time Played: 53 hours
There are quite a few reasons that Octopath Traveler 0 should be a video game I really enjoy as it checks a number of boxes of what I typically love to find in video games.
Octopath Traveler 0:
Is a turn-based RPG, a favorite of mine
Has a HD-2D art style that I’ve come to really appreciate (especially since playing Sea of Stars)
Offers a large cast of characters to choose from with tons of ways to customize the weapons and abilities of each of them
So, it comes as somewhat of a disappointment that this really isn’t a game I can recommend. I say somewhat of a disappointment because I wasn’t a huge fan of Octopath Traveler 2, a game I rated a 6/10. Many of the problems I had with that earlier title, I have with this prequel but to an even greater extent.
In my Octopath Traveler 2 review, I wrote that the game proves there is such a thing as too much story. Well, if Octopath Traveler 2 proves that idea, Octopath Traveler 0 hammers it home without a shadow of a doubt. There is just way, way too much bland plot happening here.
In this title, instead of having eight different stories we play though with our characters that are centered on a specific character, we follow a central protagonist on different adventures. Said protagonist is able to recruit tons of allies along the way to aid him/her.
The main problem with this game is that, with the exception of the rebuilding Wishvale storyline that runs throughout the adventure, each of these stories is quite weak, cliché, and boring. I sometimes don’t mind if an RPG doesn’t have the best storyline as long as the gameplay is fun.
Unfortunately, the cutscenes in this game go on for so, so, so long that it really kills a lot of enjoyment one could have with Octopath Traveler 0. I found myself so often clicking through uncreative dialogue about corrupt kings or villainous rulers. There really wasn’t any major storyline that was at all interesting. And the cut scenes just ramble on and on and on.
And that’s part of the reason I’m putting down Octopath Traveler 0 after playing for over 50 hours. I simply can’t take these bad, never-ending stories that I don’t care about any longer. It’s worth noting that as someone who does many of the optional side quests, I’m currently on pace to beat the game in around 80 hours. This is certainly not a short game.
A big part of the shame of all of this is that I actually do enjoy the combat and visual style of Octopath Traveler 0. The rebuilding Wishvale storyline, which has you reconstructing the protagonist’s hometown bit by bit is also a lot of fun.
However, the more is better philosophy that the developers of this one seemed to have just doesn’t work for me. Especially when the quality of the tales isn’t there. Also, while I don’t mind having a large pool of characters to build my party from, using a team of eight in battles does gets to be a bit too much. I preferred the battling with four characters system of Octopath Traveler 2.
If you want a game that will take you forever to beat, a game that I, in fact, will probably never beat, Octopath Traveler 2 has no shortage of content. While I might return in the future to the game just to work on rebuilding Wishvale a little more, I feel pretty fine putting it down at this point.
Grade: 4/10