Octopath Traveler Review Thread

scare_crow · Jul 12, 2018

ThankDougie said:
For real. I think he gets too much shit for basically posting his opinion, but you really don't have to agree with him. I've found myself taking a very different stance on almost every game he's reviewed over the past couple of years. He's simply not someone you agree with. Check this review out for what I think is fairer and more nuanced look at the game (the writing itself is just more generous while at the same time reserving space for criticism):

https://www.polygon.com/2018/7/12/17563366/octopath-traveler-review-nintendo-switch-jrpg

HA, this is great. Check out this review that I think is much better and just happens to praise the game more. How about that? Also, that reviewer explicitly says he hasn't finished all of the stories. But I guess that's ok if it fits your opinion?

Also, since when has Jason been controversial? Since he didn't like Xenoblade 2 or am I missing something here?

Etain · Jul 12, 2018

EDIT: Redundant post, delete this.

TwoCoins · Jul 12, 2018

Doesn't Jschrier have more bias towards JRPGS anyways? Maybe he's more controversial for other genres but maybe not for JRPGS.

rhandino · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
The Kotaku review makes it pretty clear that this game isn't for me, and that's super depressing.

Only the Kotaku review? I mean, reading all your posts in all the Octopath Traveler threads made perfectly clear for all the regulars that you were not into this game since the beggining.

Like, your post here comes off as a more dramatic version of

Tibarn · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
I can't stomach another Bravely Default.

I'm going to play OT this weekend but I understand your concerns about repetitive gameplay. I stopped playing BD when the game made me repeat harder versions of all the bosses, even if I loved the graphics, music and combat system.

Cinemikel · Jul 12, 2018

steviejd1 said:
Maybe read one or two of the other 30+ reviews. They are far more positive.

SinCityAssassin · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
The Kotaku review makes it pretty clear that this game isn't for me, and that's super depressing.

You've already been down on this game for the last month.

Deleted member 32018 · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
Tedium and grinding are huge turn-offs for me. I already said I was feeling pretty bored by the combat in the demos, and if the game requires a lot of contextless grinding just to get caught up enough to continue the stories, that's just a ticket for me to get like 15 hours in and get bored and start playing another game. It's what happens to me with most portable RPGs nowadays.

Yes we already know your opinion of the game, you've been stating it since it was announced and you've been negative at every turn. Go back and play a "great" JRPG like FFXV at launch, that's tedium right there.

Kureransu · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
Tedium and grinding are huge turn-offs for me. I already said I was feeling pretty bored by the combat in the demos, and if the game requires a lot of contextless grinding just to get caught up enough to continue the stories, that's just a ticket for me to get like 15 hours in and get bored and start playing another game. It's what happens to me with most portable RPGs nowadays.

Honestly I didn't think you were even on the fence for this game. You seemed to be put off by a number a number of things based on your play session, not to mention not being a fan of the visual style. Obviously there is no problem with you feeling that way, I think i was more surprised you were even entertaining the thought of getting it.

EDIT: Sorry, i didn't think you were gonna get dog piled. I was actually give you a kudos for even considering it given all the things you didn't like lol.

Sander VF · Jul 12, 2018

I want Octopath's concept to be attempted way more often.

Next time make it so that actual stories are explicitly flashbacks being told in a tavern and have each character have their own party members.

It actually surprising to me that people wanted this shit to a bait-and-switch into a standard RPG.

Yasuke · Jul 12, 2018

Spyder_Monkey said:
How dare someone not like a game! I'm suing.

I don't have a problem with him not liking it....?

steviejd1 said:
Maybe read one or two of the other 30+ reviews. They are far more positive.

Why assume I didn't?

My taste tends to align with Jason's, and enough of the other reviews (even the positive ones) highlight a lot of the same criticisms. The more positive ones don't mind those low points, but I know they'll bother me. So I'm bummed. *shrug*

PlanetSmasher · Jul 12, 2018

rhandino said:
Only the Kotaku review? I mean, reading all your posts in all the Octopath Traveler threads made perfectly clear for all the regulars that you were not into this game since the beggining.

Like I said, I was hoping the reviews would assuage my concerns, which were boring, tedious combat and a bunch of characters who have no reason to travel with each other traveling with each other for no reason. None of the other reviews I've read said anything contrary to the points Jason made, they just enjoyed the game more as a whole.

To put it another way, I'm not interested in seeing how good people think the game is, I'm interested in seeing if the things that turned me off about the demo were different in the full game.

Deleted member 35598 · Jul 12, 2018

Very good stuff so far. I was expecting 87, but we will be around 82. Pretty good for a new IP.

Deleted member 4090 · Jul 12, 2018

I'm still going to be borderline truther and believe that there's notable story-stuff post-game. There's a huge number of sidequests, and it doesn't seem like any/many of the reviewers beat the 8 stories + a decent chunk of the side content. Most have been one or the other, and Nintendo has implied there is something substantial there.

Loudninja · Jul 12, 2018

steviejd1 said:
Yes we already know your opinion of the game, you've been stating it since it was announced and you've been negative at every turn. Go back and play a "great" JRPG like FFXV at launch, that's tedium right there.

What is your deal?

ThankDougie · Jul 12, 2018

scare_crow said:
HA, this is great. Check out this review that I think is much better and just happens to praise the game more. How about that? Also, that reviewer explicitly says he hasn't finished all of the stories. But I guess that's ok if it fits your opinion?

Also, since when has Jason been controversial? Since he didn't like Xenoblade 2 or am I missing something here?

WTF? I'm literally telling someone "you don't have to take one reviewers opinion on something as gospel" and this is the response? Give me a break, mack. I have nothing against Jason or his opinion, but why does it seem like people leap to his rescue any time someone suggests maybe he isn't the reviewer they trust the most? Like I said in my post, I think Parish's take is more generous while at the same time reserving space for criticism and offering negative/critical feedback. I look for balance and consideration in my reviews, not bold statements. Bold statements tend to be hyperbolic.

As for Jason's controversial status? I have no idea. I just know that I generally disagree with his reviews. Final Fantasy XV, Xenoblade 2 (even if I don't like it overall), his take on Persona 5... we simply don't have the same tastes. Not a big deal, not controversial, just not someone I look to for reviews. I think his other reporting is stellar, though, and it's one of the reasons I still read Kotaku.

PlanetSmasher · Jul 12, 2018

Kureransu said:
Honestly I didn't think you were even on the fence for this game. You seemed to be put off by a number a number of things based on your play session, not to mention not being a fan of the visual style. Obviously there is no problem with you feeling that way, I think i was more surprised you were even entertaining the thought of getting it.

While I might have been pessimistic, I was still hoping that the issues I had with the demos were limited to the demos, and not symptomatic of the full game. I never WANT games to be bad, I always want them to be great. And I really need a long, deep game to play this summer while I'm broke and depressed, and there really aren't a lot of options for that this year, especially now that KH3 bounced off to January.

Sojiro · Jul 12, 2018

I don't quite understand how this game is receiving good to great reviews from the majority of outlets, and yet from the many pages of this thread, it would seem like the game is bad. All it took for me was the demo and I was sold on this, reviews be damned, but it is reassuring that most seem very positive about it. I will say, the lack of interaction between the party when experiencing one of the characters story arcs is the only thing that bums me out on this game. Everything else seems very solid though, so I'm definitely just as hyped as ever to start in on it when it arrives tomorrow.

mute · Jul 12, 2018

I wasn't particularly impressed by my time with the demo, though I could have played it more. What I'm reading confirms my plan to not pick it up right now.

LordOcidax · Jul 12, 2018

85... yes.. Amazing scores . Day 1

Deleted member 32018 · Jul 12, 2018

Yasuke said:
Why assume I didn't?

My taste tends to align with Jason's, and enough of the other reviews (even the positive ones) highlight a lot of the same criticisms. The more positive ones don't mind those low points, but I know they'll bother me. So I'm bummed. *shrug*

I disagree, most of the negatives from Jason's review have been contradicted by plenty of other reviews. But yeah if your tastes align more with his then that's fair and this game may not be for you.

Disclaimer · Jul 12, 2018

Neoweee said:
I'm still going to be borderline truther and believe that there's notable story-stuff post-game. There's a huge number of sidequests, and it doesn't seem like any/many of the reviewers beat the 8 stories + a decent chunk of the side content. Most have been one or the other, and Nintendo has implied there is something substantial there.

It's essentially confirmed that there is a post-game region and dungeon(s) where the final-final boss music will be employed.

It just hasn't been found yet. We even know its name.

Deleted member 32018 · Jul 12, 2018

Loudninja said:
What is your deal?

Having the same person bringing negativity to every single Octopath Traveler thread. It's just good that they are no longer a mod so I can put them on ignore.

cgatto · Jul 12, 2018

Yasuke said:
Man, Jason's review really bummed me out.

Then maybe read a different one?

Deleted member 4090 · Jul 12, 2018

Disclaimer said:
It's essentially confirmed that there is a post-game region and dungeon(s) where the final-final boss music will be employed.

It just hasn't been found yet. We even know its name.

Yeah, but I feel like me and you are in the minority here in thinking there's something major there.

So literally nobody outside of devs and playtesters has actually seen it yet?

Yasuke · Jul 12, 2018

cgatto said:
Then maybe read a different one?

I've read a bunch of em.

Maybe don't assume I didn't.

Jesus, y'all are sensitive.

PlanetSmasher · Jul 12, 2018

steviejd1 said:
Having the same person bringing negativity to every single Octopath Traveler thread. It's just good that they are no longer a mod so I can put them on ignore.

I don't know why you're getting so offended by me being critical. I'm not even saying I think it's a bad game, I'm just expressing disappointment with the way a game I was hoping would be fun for me ended up turning out. These things happen.

Tibarn · Jul 12, 2018

Disclaimer said:
It's essentially confirmed that there is a post-game region and dungeon(s) where the final-final boss music will be employed.

Is really really strange how little information we have regarding the secret content in the game considering that there's lots of reviews out there.

Deleted member 4093 · Jul 12, 2018

steviejd1 said:
Having the same person bringing negativity to every single Octopath Traveler thread. It's just good that they are no longer a mod so I can put them on ignore.

Should just check out the OT, review thread gonna review thread

CriticalBear · Jul 12, 2018

I am extremely disappointed to learn the game does not shed the "pretends the other party members don't exist" things for the storylines. I could understand it for the chapter 1 bits, but the fact that the characters will not interact with one another or help each other overcome their struggles as the game progresses is a huge missed opportunity that I feel should have been obvious in the planning and construction of the game. How can you create such a unique, ensemble cast and then not write about them interacting with one another outside of a handful of vignettes?

I pre-ordered the game and i'm sure I will enjoy for what it is, but my whole experience is going to be plagued by the knowledge that it won't be all it could be.

CthulhuSars · Jul 12, 2018

I appreciate all the reviews both positive and negative. I am still looking forward to the game but it did send out bravely/bravely second vibes and that will rub some the wrong way.

BlueManifest · Jul 12, 2018

I'm really curious to find this post game content that reviewers weren't able to find yet

Mory Dunz · Jul 12, 2018

been predicting 84....

Realeza · Jul 12, 2018

So everybody is happy with the critical reception, right?

K Samedi · Jul 12, 2018

Tibarn said:
Is really really strange how little information we have regarding the secret content in the game considering that there's lots of reviews out there.

Its a huge game, and reviewers had time constraints, so I guess we will hear more about secret stuff in the following days.

Kureransu · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
While I might have been pessimistic, I was still hoping that the issues I had with the demos were limited to the demos, and not symptomatic of the full game. I never WANT games to be bad, I always want them to be great. And I really need a long, deep game to play this summer while I'm broke and depressed, and there really aren't a lot of options for that this year, especially now that KH3 bounced off to January.

You replied before I edited, But i understand that. Sorry it didn't resonate with you like you'd hope.
I do hope you find something and manage to beat your depression as well.

Personally, I'm still excited for it, but I'm more of a "if the battle system is fun, I'm in" type of guy. Story and stuff, while a great bonus if it's great is a huge secondary for me.

Owl · Jul 12, 2018

scare_crow said:
Also, since when has Jason been controversial? Since he didn't like Xenoblade 2 or am I missing something here?

TwoCoins said:
Doesn't Jschrier have more bias towards JRPGS anyways? Maybe he's more controversial for other genres but maybe not for JRPGS.

I mean, Xenoblade 2 got 9th here on the ERA GOTY list in a very stacked year, so calling it garbage is quite the controversial opinion. Not sure of his general opinions of jrpg's but what he complains about for Octopath and Xenoblade 2 makes me think he doesn't like what I enjoy about these types of games.

Ultimately you shouldn't be let random reviewers sway your opinion on the game. It's better to see how well your taste aligns with the taste of the reviewer so that their review would have more weight to you personally. I don't like how one reviewer who seems to have a different opinion than a major chunk of this board is leading the conversation of the thread, but that's just how it goes for review threads I suppose.

Yasuke · Jul 12, 2018

steviejd1 said:
Having the same person bringing negativity to every single Octopath Traveler thread. It's just good that they are no longer a mod so I can put them on ignore.

Them being disappointed the game didn't turn out the way they hoped isn't them being negative.

I haven't seen anything disrespectful or off-base from them here.

Rappy · Jul 12, 2018

Narasumas said:
Yeah, his is getting way too much mention vs the rest of the coverage.

It's because he posts these forums and really advertises/teases his upcoming review well. He must realizes he's doing that too, right? He does some good work, but can't say I agree with his opinion that much.

steviejd1 said:
Yes we already know your opinion of the game, you've been stating it since it was announced and you've been negative at every turn. Go back and play a "great" JRPG like FFXV at launch, that's tedium right there.

XV got scores similar to what Octopath is getting right now. XV is a good game and so is Octopath. Don't see the reason why people have to always constantly bring down FFXV in unrelated threads.

Skittzo · Jul 12, 2018

Neoweee said:
I'm still going to be borderline truther and believe that there's notable story-stuff post-game. There's a huge number of sidequests, and it doesn't seem like any/many of the reviewers beat the 8 stories + a decent chunk of the side content. Most have been one or the other, and Nintendo has implied there is something substantial there.

That seems to be the case, yeah, but it's still on Nintendo and/or SE to actually promote this content so people who are disappointed that it doesn't apparently exist will feel more interested in the game.

Basically, if there's anything substantial they should've teased it a lot more clearly.

Jawbreaker · Jul 12, 2018

Hm, I'll hold off until there's a decent sale after reading the reviews. The demo should be enough to hold me over until then (plus I have a ton of games in my backlog to clear).

Razor Mom · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
I don't know why you're getting so offended by me being critical. I'm not even saying I think it's a bad game, I'm just expressing disappointment with the way a game I was hoping would be fun for me ended up turning out. These things happen.

It ended up turning out critically acclaimed, you're just focused on one dudes opinion. I don't think anyone's offended by your obviously focused attempt to see the worst in this well-reviewed game, but I do find it pretty funny.

Disclaimer · Jul 12, 2018

Tibarn said:
Is really really strange how little information we have regarding the secret content in the game considering that there's lots of reviews out there.

I'm not sure it's too strange. There's a huge amount of content. Like I said, the optional jobs are also post-game, level recommendation-wise. Most reviewers haven't even finished all eight stories, and the ones that did rushed them by necessity, neglecting a vast swathe of optional content, which could be required.

It's definitely a really intriguing mystery! The developers have done a good job obscuring whatever it is, which seems to be their intention going by interviews about how not everyone would connect the dots, and you'd have to pay attention.

Deleted member 32018 · Jul 12, 2018

PlanetSmasher said:
I don't know why you're getting so offended by me being critical. I'm not even saying I think it's a bad game, I'm just expressing disappointment with the way a game I was hoping would be fun for me ended up turning out. These things happen.

You've been doing it in every single thread, you made your mind up a long time ago do stop trying to make out that your buddy Jason made your mind up lol. You also did the same in the XB2 threads but whatever it really doesn't matter, I just find it funny.

cgatto · Jul 12, 2018

Yasuke said:
I've read a bunch of em.

Maybe don't assume I didn't.

Jesus, y'all are sensitive.

What does sensitivity have to do with anything? It was just a suggestion.

Deleted member 3897 · Jul 12, 2018

This thread.

Deleted member 8791 · Jul 12, 2018

I for one am shocked to see PlanetSmasher cling on to the Kotaku review. Shocked!

You obviously weren't feeling this game from the start, it's just silly trying to make it out you had great hopes for the game now.

Saint-14 · Jul 12, 2018

Neoweee said:
Yeah, but I feel like me and you are in the minority here in thinking there's something major there.

So literally nobody outside of devs and playtesters has actually seen it yet?

I haven't read any reviews talking about post game content which is weird.

snausages · Jul 12, 2018

fantomena said:
This thread.

It's always this way. GoW review thread was too and that shit got superb reviews.

Dreamboum · Jul 12, 2018

Owl said:
I mean, Xenoblade 2 got 9th here on the ERA GOTY list in a very stacked year, so calling it garbage is quite the controversial opinion. Not sure of his general opinions of jrpg's but what he complains about for Octopath and Xenoblade 2 makes me think he doesn't like what I enjoy about these types of games.

Ultimately you shouldn't be let random reviewers sway your opinion on the game. It's better to see how well your taste aligns with the taste of the reviewer so that their review would have more weight to you personally. I don't like how one reviewer who seems to have a different opinion than a major chunk of this board is leading the conversation of the thread, but that's just how it goes for review threads I suppose.

Why would any journalist care about what ERA put on a list ? There's a lot of people who hates the shit out of Xenoblade 2 too on this forum, I don't think anyone forgot the negativity

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