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.
Read the full story on Pocket Tactics: Octopath Traveler 0 review – tear-jerking travels
