Once upon a time there were the times of the first role-playing games: the image was grainy and it was impossible to identify the faces of the various protagonists, but the stories had that veil of magic that, even today, we can remember perfectly. These sensations, at least in part, we have experienced again thanks to the demo of Project Octopath Traveler on Nintendo Switch. For those unfamiliar with the work, we only tell you that it is a retro style RPG with turn based combat. Pixelated graphics bring to mind the past years, when we didn't need 1080p but only epic and unique stories. Here, then, is that the Bravely Default team meets our request, a team that has already fully demonstrated what it is capable of in the past.
Eight trips, eight stories
The narrative incipit is as simple as it is unsettling: we will have to follow 8 characters in their unique stories. Each of them will face his adventure and his past, it will be up to us to guide them to ensure that their destiny is fulfilled. The only characters present in the demo version of the game are Olberic and Primrose: the first is an old royal guard, fallen deeply from grace when his best friend kills the King he had sworn to protect, the second is a seductive noble girl, who has decided to chase her father's executioners to take revenge for all the pain they caused her. The first thing that immediately catches the eye is how the narration changes depending on the character used: the journey of man has very epic tones, the honor that he transmits from his words immediately highlights that he is a knight with a heart of gold; the woman instead, contrary to Olberic, is only spurred on by hatred towards her father's torturers.
The expectations are to find six other well-told stories that offer different and unique ideas, without the risk that the various plots can overlap in terms of originality. The greatest joy would be to have 8 characters who make users passionate about their stories in a totally different way, also bringing out different emotions. In the story of Olberic, for example, I felt the man's desire for redemption: this feeling was evident at every dialogue, demonstrating that even at the script level the various plots were written to get straight to the player's heart. Different speech if we talk about Primerose, where the need for revenge manages to go beyond the various relationships with people.
Turn-based combat, a leap into the past
As you have well understood Project Octopath Traveler it is a naked and raw RPG, so it brings with it some of the most traditional mechanics of the genre, so moments of exploration and situations full of dialogue will alternate. Unfortunately in this test version there were not a large number of environments available, but we were able to admire a couple of villages and some dungeons, which made us very clear immediately the direction of production. The growth system also remains almost unchanged from the classical canons, therefore, those who have been chewing GDR for some time will immediately feel at ease. In any case, the combact system remains one of the cornerstones of the title: when one of your characters comes across a fight, which happens randomly, it will start immediately a turn-based battle that focuses mainly on two key concepts, namely Vulnerability and Domination.
By the first we mean the vulnerability of the various monsters, in fact each enemy is weak to a certain type of attack, while, as regards the system of domination, the matter is slightly more complex: all enemies - including bosses - have a shield-shaped counter that can be shattered as you hit their sweet spot. Once the above has been done, the opponent will be completely defenseless, as well as remaining still and immobile for an internal turn. Another very interesting mechanics inserted is that linked to Power Points. The latter do not add power to the blow, but increase the number of attacks inflicted in a single action. The hero used will get a bonus point at the beginning of each round up to a maximum of 5 and the player can decide, depending on the occasion, how many to use. Obviously to all this are added exclusive abilities of the various characters that do nothing but enrich the combat system.
The retro style makes us feel at home
From a technical point of view, the game, despite having a retro 2D style, has a great attention to detail. The thing that was most appreciated is also the possibility of changing locations without the need for an upload, giving a greater fluidity and pushing the player to explore the various areas in their entirety. The music is very well inspired and totally immerses the user in the experience, making each step of the character unique and vocative.
In conclusion we can say that Project Octopath Traveler is, without a doubt, one of the games to watch the most on Nintendo Switch. Square Enix is about to publish a real gem that will be appreciated by all lovers of role-playing games. The title is a simple and classic product, but at the same time it turns out to be modern and in step with the times. The development of Silicon Studio is going in the right direction and if we combine this type of product with the features of the Switch, the show is guaranteed. We just have to wait for the launch date and see how Project Octopath Traveler it will be at the time of release.
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