Octopath Traveler 2: Official release date, all playable characters, new gameplay features, and more

sportskeeda.com:

Back in 2018, Japanese developer Square Enix released a brand new JRPG (Japanese role-playing game) called Octopath Traveler for the Nintendo Switch. It boasted a unique pixel-art visual style but was backed by modern rendering techniques, something the studio dubbed "HD-2D". Now, after a smartphone spin-off, a true successor is launching next year as Octopath Traveler 2.

For those who missed the hype back then and were wondering what the big deal was, here's a rundown of everything about the upcoming game.

The game takes place in Solistia, which consists of two continents divided by a vast sea. Compared to the more fantastic and medieval locales of the original, this successor steps into the industrial revolution with trade and technology seeing a massive spurt.

With so much to do and see, some people seek to become glamorous stars of the stage and industry. Meanwhile, others suffer the consequences of war, plague, and poverty. Like the first game, there are eight new travelers to play as. Each of them comes from a different region and pursues this journey for their own ideals and gains.

Features:

The following key characters make an appearance, each possessing a different background and role:

Akin to the first game, players will control each character within their self-contained narrative arcs, which will eventually converge to form a bigger picture. Octopath Traveler 2's gameplay will feel familiar to both players of the original game as well as traditional JRPG fans; there is a sizable world to explore, replete with NPCs, towns and activities.

Combat is turn-based, and the first game's strategic Break & Boost system returns in full form. Of course, there are dungeons to explore, bosses to fight and treasures to discover as