Octopath Traveler 2 Interview: Making Good On Aesthetic & Expectation

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The reception of has been strong, with many people praising its evolution of the formula that made its predecessor such an unexpected success. As a tactical JRPG with turn-based combat and retro-inspired graphics, the notion that is a niche title is a tempting one. In practice, however, its unique blend of aesthetics, deftly made gameplay systems, and earnest storytelling broaden its appeal.

That said, it was anything but a sure thing that reviews would be favorable. While the initial proof of concept was an appealing one, improvements needed to be made. Post-launch, it's easy to see how the team approached this — incorporating plenty of fan feedback on the original alongside some deeper, more intertwined narratives — but was it really so simple?

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recently interviewed members of the development team to discuss just what goes into making a game of this scale. Anyone with an interest in the game will find something interesting in their answers, but at its core, the main takeaway seemed to be that focusing on creating an enjoyable game will help naturally produce some solutions to other issues.

Screen Rant: Octopath Traveler II's characters feel even more visually distinct than the previous cast. What sort of thought process went into making sure they stood out from the previous game's heroes?

Naoki Ikushima, Character Designer: The previous work was set in a somewhat small area in a medieval European style, but this title is set in a more vast world, so we were conscious of the changing times and diversification of cultures.

Contrary to the previous title, one may see Throné and Partitio dressed in urban fashion, Hikari dwelling in an