Recente recensies door nmindz

**9/10 - A reference in the JRPG genre**

I just finished playing through Octopath Traveler 2, and I'm still reeling from the experience. This game is a masterclass in storytelling, world-building, and gameplay mechanics. Square Enix has done a great job with this game, delivering an unforgettable adventure that will leave you breathless. (Bear in mind I played OT2 before OT1).

**Artwork: A Visual Masterpiece**

The first thing that struck me was the breathtaking artwork. The HD-2D visual style returns, but it's been refined to new heights of beauty and detail. Each character is lovingly crafted, with intricate animations and expressive facial expressions that bring their personalities to life. Environments are equally stunning, from lush forests to bustling cities, each one a feast for the eyes.

**Play Style: Leaves Room for Improvement**

The gameplay mechanics are good enough. During my first play through on the Nintendo Switch, I remember wishing a couple of things were different/improved. However, they're not HUGE as I don't even quite remember what those nuisances were - I guess I just got used to it.

Honestly I feel there are some imbalances for some character skills which make the combat pretty repetitive, too much RNG based and a lot of nice skill ideas are just not good enough to bother using in bosses or tougher scenarios. Otherwise pretty enjoyable. The grind gets boring/old fast.

**Story: A Rich Tapestry (with some weaker threads)**

The story of some characters truly sets Octopath Traveler 2 apart. The game weaves together eight distinct narratives, each one a self-contained tale of love, loss, and redemption. As you progress through the game, these stories begin to intersect and overlap in unexpected ways, revealing a rich tapestry of characters and motivations.

The writing is good, with (some) memorable dialogue and well-developed characters that will capture your heart. Some story's themes are thought-provoking, tackling complex issues like identity, community, and the power of human connection, while others, not so much.

However, it really feels like 3-4 characters have really good and deep, awesome stories, while the others have much shallower archs overall. Some are silly even - too idealistic and often playing fool just because the character has to behave naive.

**Overall: A Must-Play**

In short, Octopath Traveler 2 is a must-play for anyone who loves RPGs or storytelling in general. It's an absolute masterpiece that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. It is a definite love letter to classic JRPGs with some modern comforts.

**Pros:**

* Stunning HD-2D artwork
* Engaging turn-based combat system
* Rich, interconnected storylines with memorable characters

**Cons:**

* The level grind past 60 (ok, more like level 80 - when it gets really bad)
* How companions/followers/allures/hires work
* The RNG on Alrond/Bewildering Grace

It is a very good game to play with friends. Too bad Rockstar and 2K f-ed too many things about the game. Their servers and P2P based lobbies, for starters. The games still takes ages to load online albeit being run in a computer at least 5 years ahead of its launch.

Not to mention the game is an eternal money grindfest. So unless you have got a life, online should be taken with a grain of salt.

You can get banned for using keyboard macros without even exploiting the game at all, and they don't appeal or review bans or suspensions whatsoever. Plus, once bought on Steam, your account is permanently bound to 1 CD-Key no matter how many more times you try to buy the game. So, do yourself a favor and at least get a RSG game license instead of a Steam one.

The game itself seems simple but the co-op element is amazing. It is definitively one of those games I would play with a buddy all afternoon. Except that I can never play that much, or at all, since the game crashes and disconnects either of us constantly.

And guess what, if either player drops for any reason - game over. No matter how late or early you are into the mission. Sometimes 5 minutes, sometimes 20 or even 30 minutes if you are having a hard time. It's just a flat out boot to both of your faces. "Play Online" and "Play Local" are extremely confusing (specially when playing with a bud instead of matchmaking).

Also, party invites seems buggy as hell, since sometimes your buddy is invited then disconnects/crashes and then comes back but is not at your party and you can't remove it - means both of you have to close and re-open the game. To get in a. freaking. party.

If we could finish the 2nd mission without 2 hours attempts due to crash/disconnect and weird bugs, I would definitively recommend it, but be warned that the game still has some problems and quirks to get sorted. If you are patient enough to get through those you are probably gonna love the game.

Also, their support is very good and reliable. The things the game might have been lacking in compatibility and stability are certainly compensated by their support team.