In truth, when I first heard about Octopath Traveler 0, I didn’t think too much. I considered that it would just be another fancy remake, but wow, was I wrong. Square Enix seems completely ready to pull us back into an even bigger world, far deeper than before. Apparently, the gameplay is supposed to have more than 100 hours – crazy, but exciting. Adding to all this was what I heard from people already: a new story, lots of characters, and pretty neat features, making it feel alive.
The story unfolds within the kingdom of Adoris, a land under the dominion of a really creepy guy called The Master of All. Not only is he a nasty dude, but he is also kind of like the one who wants to incinerate everything just to keep his power strong. He has already begun taking over lands next to him, and now the whole world is falling into pieces. The War, Greed, and Fate tangled together turn a dark and sinister mood right from the beginning of the game. You can feel that tension quite clearly when you see how everyone struggles to survive under his rule.
The heroes will come next-the travelers. They are part of the game. The priest from the Order of the Sacred Flame, Pas, is their leader. There is a little bit of a personal aspect because he is involved with the family of the main hero’s story. His skill, Scales of Justice, enables him to drain enemies as he helps his friends. It’s a pretty neat detail because it’s coherent with his whole “holy balance” theme. What I really like about it is that these are not just randomly thrown together people; they have connected stories in ways that make sense, so it feels like lives colliding, not side quests.
Another traveler is So: she’s a dancer who wanders about searching for a partner that matches her energy and voice. In fact, with her special move, Ruinous Aria, she gives damage to enemy weak points, even those tough bosses that block physical attacks. She definitely brings the charm and smarts to the party. Then we have Carlinda, a merchant who spices the group with her warmth and humor.
This part hit me a bit personally, as I spent much of my childhood in a quiet river town too, and it somewhat resonated in the way her story talked about struggle, building trust, and finding joy in small victories. Her skill is Trade Trick, which helps with rewarding the party while avoiding hits. Not flashy, but smart – just like her.
Then comes Zerg, who is an absolute fanatic about all things to do with soul stones. That one friend who goes too deep into hobbies, but you still love them for that. Soul Stone’s Might blasts all kinds of elemental powers at the enemies-from fire to ice and all things lightning. Watching that skill in action is wild. He is bringing that kind of brainy firepower that makes all battles fun to plan out.
What I like about Octopath Traveler 0 is that it doesn’t revolve only around combat. You can actually develop your own town. It’s like merging RPGs with a light strategy game. You put buildings up and landmarks, and they affect how the game feels. One of my favorite aspects is the Monster Arena: you obtain creatures and make them fight for prizes. There, you feel real ownership; you create a world within the game.
If you don’t want to spend time battling beasts, you can open a museum instead. From now on, while travelling, you will collect all your fantastic treasures as well as music and display them there, and perhaps in the future, spend your evenings there. Reminds me of the days when I used to chill on Animal Crossing, sorting through all that random stuff I collected. After a long fight/quest, just chillin’ in town to look at the collection is nice.
To be frank, Octopath Traveler 0 doesn’t seem like a small prequel. It really gives the impression of being a whole new, full-fledged game, with features like all added systems, a huge world, and intertwined stories. The HD-2D art is still impressive – mixing pixel art with beautiful lighting. But what gives it more is the audacious feel of the gameplay this time.
Not all travelers have been exhibited yet, and there are places such as Wishvale, still locked away in the game, yet to be visited. All in all, based on size and what has been revealed from the game, this could very well turn out to be the largest game in the whole series. Players have already begun talking about voice acting, new story lines, and how this feels fresh, even while being nostalgic.
The most beautiful part of Octopath Traveler 0 yet is the fact that it does not depend just on nostalgia. This adds real emotion, deep combat, and stories that make you care. There is a reason for every hero to fight, and every battle feels earned. As you explore more, the world changes around you—just like life, every little step leads somewhere new.
If you are going to have RPGs of sentiment, surely look forward to Octopath Traveler 0 then. The pure overhead content is more than 100 hours with emotional telling, town development, and heroes seeming real. For a prequel, it looks more like a new beginning.
When the dust lifts again in Austera, will you rise against the land ruled by greed, or will the Master of All just control it all? You may also be interested in: Borderlands 4 Launch Faces Crashes and Lag Problems
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