The summary of ‘Which Octopath Should You Play First?’

The video discusses and compares Octopath Traveler 1 and 2, highlighting key differences in gameplay mechanics, narrative quality, and overall experience. Octopath Traveler 1 offers unique moves, jobs, and individual stories, while the sequel introduces newer gimmicks and a shuffle take on the job system. The first game excels in handling secrets and hidden aspects, allowing for diverse playthroughs, including solo runs. In contrast, the sequel, Octopath Traveler 2, is praised for improvements in character interactions, battle system, narrative conclusion, and dungeon lengths. The speed-up feature aids in faster progression, although it affects discoverability of hidden chests. Octopath Traveler 2 features more varied environments, decent story quality, engaging boss fights, and enhanced balance between story and gameplay. The recommendation leans towards starting with Octopath Traveler 2 for a more enjoyable experience, while still acknowledging the exploration incentives and performance of the first game. The sequel handles dungeons and optional bosses better, offering noticeable improvements from the start. Starting with Octopath Traveler 2 is suggested for newcomers for a more immediately rewarding experience, with demos available for those unsure about trying the games.

00:00:00

In this segment, the video discusses the differences between Octopath Traveler 1 and 2. Both games are similar in core gameplay mechanics, but the newer entry, Octopath Traveler 2, adds newer gimmicks to the system and a shuffle take on the job system. Octopath Traveler 1 offers a different experience with unique moves, jobs, support skills, and individual stories for each of the eight Travelers. The speaker mentions that Octopath Traveler 1 handles secrets and hidden aspects better than the sequel, providing more incentive to explore. Octopath Traveler 1 allows for more diverse playthroughs, including solo runs, while Octopath Traveler 2 is more limited, with some characters locked out of certain content unless modded. The video highlights specific limitations in Octopath Traveler 2, such as certain characters being unable to complete solo runs due to design decisions in boss fights.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on comparing Octopath Traveler 1 and Octopath Traveler 2. The speaker highlights that the first game had issues such as limitations due to Therion needing to open purple chests, which restricted team compositions. They praise the sequel for addressing these concerns by improving character interactions, adding new features like cross paths, enhancing the battle system, shortening dungeon lengths, and providing a better narrative conclusion. Octopath Traveler 2 is considered a more enjoyable experience with enhanced character interactions, improved gameplay mechanics, and overall better storytelling.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, it is discussed how the speed-up feature in Octopath Traveler 2 can be used for general grinding and helps in reaching objectives faster, though it reduces the discoverability factor of hidden chests. The environments in the sequel are more varied and appealing, enhancing the overall experience. The story quality in Octopath Traveler 2 is considered to be decent, with some standout stories and improved story hooks compared to the first game. The sequel provides a better balance between story and boss fights, giving characters more development time. Boss fights in the sequel are highlighted as engaging with more animated enemies. The video suggests starting with Octopath Traveler 2 for a more enjoyable experience, but also recommends checking out the first entry for exploration incentives and greater appreciation for the sequel’s performance and story references. While the sequel may have better overall story quality, memorable moments can still be found in the first game. Additionally, exploring in the first game is incentivized through hidden subjobs, providing a rewarding experience for players.

00:09:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses how Octopath Traveler 2 handles dungeons and optional bosses better than the first game. They mention that the sequel offers noticeable improvements, making it a more enjoyable experience from the beginning. The speaker expresses concern that the initial recruitment process in the first game may feel monotonous and could discourage players. They suggest that starting with Octopath Traveler 2 might be a better approach for newcomers to the series. Both games have their own appealing factors, with demos available for those hesitant to try. The speaker encourages trying the demo to determine if the gameplay loop is engaging. Overall, they recommend potentially starting with Octopath Traveler 2 for a more immediately rewarding experience.