Octopath Traveler 0 Review

Octopath Traveler 0 is the prequel to the beloved RPG series from Square Enix. Adapted from Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, this installment has been reimagined for consoles, removing its mobile gacha elements to deliver a console-centered experience.

The narrative follows a nameless protagonist from the peaceful town of Wishvale, which is destroyed by the greed of the continent’s so‑called heroes in their pursuit of the legendary ring once wielded by Aelfric the Flamebringer. Years later, the displaced main character rises to carve their own path to redemption.

Would you choose revenge or restoration? Or even both! Follow your destiny in Octopath Traveler 0!

A Path Forged by Tragedy

Octopath Traveler 0 opens with familiar JRPG tropes: a looming prophecy, scheming villains, and the peaceful life of a small village on the brink of tragedy. As expected, the village falls, setting the stage for the protagonist’s journey as they take on the trio of villains who have plotted to lay waste to Wishvale.

Octopath Traveler 0 distinguishes itself early by amplifying the cruelty of its antagonists, portraying how unchecked greed corrupts oneself. This familiar tale impresses in its execution, with well-timed music, evocative voice acting, and immersive presentation that elevate pivotal moments into emotional turning points.

The destruction of Wishvale becomes the catalyst for the narrative. Players must decide to pursue vengeance while guiding the town toward restoration, shaping the world through diverging story paths. Unlike its predecessors, which centered on eight distinct heroes, Octopath Traveler 0 unites these destinies within a single protagonist. This design choice explains the hero’s ability to multi-class across the series’ established jobs, embodying all eight roles.

Sadly, Octopath Traveler 0 still suffers from one of its biggest weaknesses: areas gated by required character levels. This design choice often fragments the narrative, forcing players to align their party’s growth with available quests rather than freely pursuing storylines of interest. While grinding remains a viable option, it can feel more like a necessity than a choice, particularly for those eager to follow specific plot threads.

This structure creates moments of ludonarrative dissonance, especially when compelling arcs are interrupted by level requirements, because you’ll often have to attend to something else first, rather than continuing the quest you are on. Among the various storylines, the town restoration narrative stands out as the emotional centerpiece, offering a heartfelt counterbalance to the more uneven villain-focused arcs, which occasionally echo the underdeveloped threads of earlier entries.

Players who have gone through the previous entries in the series will be familiar with the ins and outs of Octopath Traveler 0, especially when it comes to combat. Making a return is the turn-based BP system that allows players to accumulate points to unleash a boosted attack that amplifies the effects of skills and abilities, anchored by a weakness and stagger system that holds everything together.

Party formation also evolves meaningfully: rather than being confined to a fixed roster, players can recruit allies throughout their journey, tailoring their team to suit different encounters. The protagonist serves as a versatile wildcard, able to adopt any job class, further enhancing strategic flexibility.

Combat allows for up to eight party members, divided between front-line attackers and back-row reserves. This dual-row system introduces tactical variety, as support characters can activate unique abilities exclusively from the back row.

Skill customization adds another dimension, with both general and character-specific abilities unlocked via Job Points. This system ensures party members are not rigidly bound to their classes, enabling balanced distribution of responsibilities and creative approaches to challenging encounters.

Outside of battle, the protagonist in Octopath Traveler 0 assumes a central role in exploration and town-building. Unlike previous titles where interaction skills varied by character, Octopath Traveler 0 consolidates these mechanics into three streamlined abilities: inquiry for gathering information, acquisition for obtaining NPC inventory, and recruitment for enlisting townspeople as helpers or residents of Wishvale.

Revenge or Restoration

In Octopath Traveler 0, progression and social standing are defined by three core aspects: Wealth, Power, and Fame. The protagonist develops levels in each, shaping their influence across the world. NPCs are similarly bound to this system, reflecting their values and determining how effectively players can recruit, acquire, or inquire from them. Higher levels in these parameters directly enhance success in interactions and resource gathering.

As notoriety increases, town restoration becomes a central pillar of gameplay. Recruited townspeople contribute to rebuilding efforts, whether by procuring materials or offering services. Players can construct new buildings, provide homes for their growing community, and steadily expand Wishvale.

As the town levels up, structures can be upgraded to boost capacity and production, as farms and ranches yield more resources, while shops unlock expanded inventories, including healing items, food ingredients, and tools to access locked chests scattered across the continent.

Exploration broadens significantly with the introduction of sea travel in Octopath Traveler 0. Once a ship is obtained, players can traverse the world more efficiently, bypassing tedious maps or low-level encounters. Returning to previously explored dungeons also offers new challenges, as elite enemies guard rare equipment and drop radiant cornerstones, which are valuable resources for further town expansion.

Legendary rings add another layer of progression, granting powerful Ultimate abilities that can shift the tide of battle. The journey begins with Aelfric’s ring, which unlocks a potent healing spell, while subsequent rings tied to Wealth, Power, and Fame provide unique bonuses as they are acquired.

Content-wise, Octopath Traveler 0 is mind-blowingly expansive, boasting what could be the most considerable amount of content in the series. Adapted from its mobile predecessor, the game introduces streamlined features to better suit console play, while offering a wealth of side quests and extended narratives to explore.

HD-2D visuals have always been a sight to behold, and that rings true in this installment, albeit to a lesser extent due to its carryover from the mobile version. The contrast in the visual representation of the main characters and the bosses is so well done, adding excitement and tension to these challenging encounters. Complementing the game is its majestic soundtrack, which heightens every mood and sends chills during certain moments.

Verdict: Buy It!

Octopath Traveler 0 builds upon the familiar foundation of its predecessors while introducing meaningful refinements that make this entry a must-play. The shift to a solo protagonist who embodies the destinies of the eight, along with streamlined mechanics, enriches both the narrative and gameplay, offering a more profound and cohesive experience.

That said, the prequel remains firmly rooted in the series’ established formula. Longtime fans will recognize both the strengths and the recurring frustrations that have defined earlier entries. While a more linear approach to certain storylines might have provided smoother pacing, the branching paths ultimately preserve the distinctive charm that sets the series apart.

Whether you’re a veteran of the franchise or stepping into it for the first time, Octopath Traveler 0 delivers a wealth of content, with an expansive continent to explore and countless hours of adventure. It’s a title well worth investing in, particularly for RPG enthusiasts seeking a rich, holiday-season journey.

*Octopath Traveler 0 was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.