Verdict
Octopath Traveler 0 is a gritty, surprisingly grounded journey through a complex and interesting fantasy world, with stunning visuals and complex combat, it's a masterclass in solid JRPG execution
Since getting my Nintendo Switch 2, I've fallen back in love with JRPGs all over again, so when I got the chance to try out Octopath Traveler 0 ahead of its release, I jumped at the chance. Not only does it fulfill my desire for vast, fantastical stories, but the HD-2D graphics that the series is renowned for have recently become my new favorite style for RPG art.
Although picking up Octopath Traveler 0 is my first hands-on experience with the series, I knew that I'd be in for a good time after reading our own Nathan's 9/10 Octopath Traveler II review. Plus, as the name suggests, this story is separate from the other games' existing lore, instead using the mobile game, Champions of the Continent, as a base for its storytelling. That being said, it still adds a bunch of new features that you won't find in the mobile game, including character customization and town building.
Despite the fact that I knew it was coming, Octopath Traveler 0's prologue emotionally destroyed me, and it's a powerful opening for what is ultimately a tale of justice and revenge. You start off in your hometown of Wishvale, interacting with the townsfolk and preparing for a religious festival, just for one of the game's main villains, Tytos, to come in with his army and burn the entire town to the ground, killing your parents and the majority of the townsfolk. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a clearer example of motivation for a protagonist before.
After the Wishvale fire, you get to choose to follow one of three main story quests, each tackling a different antagonist who exemplifies power, wealth, or fame. No matter which choice you make, you're free to hop back and forth between the three questlines, while also picking up a variety of sidequests along the way. Each quest has a recommended level to indicate the difficulty, so if you're ever struggling to level up, you can swap to an easier quest to grind while also making story progress along the way.
Unsurprisingly, given the series' history and Square Enix's general talent for making some of the best RPGs out there, all of the story content in Octopath Traveler 0 is fantastically written, with complex characters and twists that I could never have seen coming. One thing to note is that, compared to Square Enix's other recent JRPG release of Dragon Quest I+II Remake, Octopath Traveler's tone and plot points are considerably grittier and feel a lot more grounded, despite the fantasy setting. I personally prefer a more colorful and high fantasy experience, but this grounded nature might appeal more to your preferences. Either way, the story beats are masterfully executed, and there's a lot to chew on.
When I first heard about its inclusion, I was worried that the town-building element of this game would feel tacked on and lacklustre, but I've been pleasantly surprised. Thanks to the aforementioned harrowing loss of your character's hometown, I feel plenty motivated to dedicate time to rebuilding the friendly hub that Wishvale once was. Plus, this endeavor comes with its own major questline, letting you reunite with survivors from the town and grow your party's strength in other ways outside of standard combat grinding.
Octopath Traveler 0 takes standard JRPG turn-based combat and adds a little bit of extra flair thanks to the break and boost mechanics. Each enemy has shield points that you can wear down by hitting them with attacks from the right weapons or elements, and once that number hits zero, the enemy is broken. This makes them more susceptible to adverse effects like paralysis or poison, and can interrupt charged attacks. Over the course of a battle, you rack up boost points (BP), which you can use to boost a basic attack, letting you strike twice in one go. This is a great way to wear down an enemy's shield points once you know their weaknesses.
For the first time in the series, you can bring a team of eight characters into battle with you, split across a front line and a back line. This leads to enhanced strategic decisions when it comes to team-building and swapping places mid-battle, and also adds a lot more flexibility, given just how many recruitable characters you can find across Orsterra. There are eight standard job classes that excel in different ways and have access to various weapons, but your player character can become a master of all jobs, giving you even more ways to build your team to defeat particularly challenging foes.
If you're reading this review, it's likely that you already like turn-based combat, and Octopath Traveler 0's system is a master class in how to do the style justice. The battles are full of life, and the animations are smooth, placing you in the front row for the action. It helps that the sprite art for the enemies in this game is phenomenal. At first, I was a little confused as to why the enemies are so much bigger than my party's sprites, but the size difference allows the artists to show off their prowess at making beautiful, detailed monsters.
Overall, Octopath Traveler 0 is yet another fantastic JRPG to sink your teeth into. There's so much to do and tons of characters to meet and get to know, and it's got more customization than any previous Octopath title. It runs beautifully on the Nintendo Switch 2, and if you don't have Nintendo's latest handheld, it's available on the standard Switch as well. Plus, the previous titles are Steam Deck Verified, so I imagine it'll be playable on Valve's handheld as well. If you're prepared for some heart-wrenching moments, I recommend grabbing this game and cuddling up on the couch with it this winter.
For more engaging stories and turn-based combat, check out our guide to the best JRPGs on portable platforms. I also recently wrote a Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake review that you can check out to see how I felt about Square Enix's other HD-2D epic for the Switch 2.