Octopath Traveler: latest details (new characters, side stories, more), footage, pictures, soundtrack info

23 April 2018 Lite_Agent Octopath Traveler, Square-Enix

Last week, Square-Enix revealed some new details and pictures for Octopath Traveler, introducing two new characters, further detailing the Path Actions, revealing side stories, and more.

Octopath Traveler – Footage, Soundtrack samples

But first: the official website. It was also updated last week in Japan, and features several video clip. We went ahead and merged them all into a single video, for your viewing convenience:

Also, here’s some various soundtrack samples from the official website:

Octopath Traveler – Presentation video, new details, pictures

Next: the latest presentation video. This one introduces two new characters, further details the Path Actions, reveals side stories, and more.

Here’s the two new characters:

H’aanit (Hunter, 26 years old): she’s from the Woodland region, located deep in the forest. She’s in search of her master, who vanished while pursuing a fearful fiend known as “Red Eyes”, one year ago. Her Path Action: Provoke. It allows her to make a beast appear to draw characters into combat. Pretty useful when you want open paths blocked by foes, or pursue your target! Thanks to her Hunting ability, her skills with the bow are without pair: she can attack several times in a row. It also raises the critical hit rate of her allies, and slows down enemies.
Therion (Thief, 22 years old): he’s from the Cliffland region, and his past is completely shrouded in mystery. Members of the aristocracy and other rich people shudder at the mere mention of his name. One day, a mysterious client asks him to retrieve a rare gemstone, and so he sets off on a journey. His Path Action is Steal: as the name implies, it allows him to steal items from pretty much anyone he meets, including items usually not available in stores. He can also procure goods to certain individuals for rewards. Thanks to his Thieving ability, he can strike enemies pretty fast during battle, and is pretty good at getting the first strike with that dagger of his. He can steal HP and SP from enemies, but also lower their Attack and Defense, which is why he’s pretty useful during long battles.

In Octopath Traveler, Path Action are divided in two broad categories: Noble and Rogue. Here’s some examples:

Noble

Initiate battle with villager: Challenge (Olberic)
Obtain item from villager: Purchase (Tressa)

Rogue

Initiate battle with villager:H’aanit (Provoke)
Obtain item from villager: Steal (Therion)

The Noble and Rogue Path Actions generally allow you to do the same thing, but there’s of course big differences. For example, with Noble Path Actions, there’s no risk of failure, but you may not always be able to use them depending on your level or the amount of money you have.

On the other hand, the Rogue Path Actions can be used at any time, regardless of your level, but they carry a risk: if you fail, your reputation will suffer, and the various NPC will start being wary of you. When that happens, you can no longer use Path Actions in the region you’re currently in. You can go talk to the barkeeper, and give them money for them to spread good rumours about you.

Finally, there’s Side Stories. During your travels, you will meet all sort of people in need of your help. Generally, there’s more than one possible way to help them, depending on the Path Action you choose. For example, you can fight your way through, or instead go find an item. It’s entirely up to you!

For example, one Side Story has you help a fisherman faced with a dwindling amount of fish for him to catch. You can either go buy / steal fish and give it to the fisherman, or instead go upstream and battle people who have been overfishing to make them stop.

But that’s not all: a press release from Square-Enix also provides us with additional details about the game, and more precisely two regions.

Woodland region (where H’aanit’s journey begins): located in the northwestern part of the continent, surrounded by lush woods, and the sea in the west. There’s no unified country in that region, just various autonomous cities;
Cliffland region (where Therion’s journey begins): located in the western part of the continent. The main industry is blacksmithing (armour, weapons, etc.). The region is also known for its production of rock salt. Many rich merchants and wealthy aristocrats live in that region, but the difference between the poor and the rich is quite striking. Once, the region was dominated by the Kingdom of Ferien, but that was before the Kingdom of Edras split from it. The currency of the Kingdom of Edras is the most common one on the continent. The current King is called Elman.

Here’s the latest set of screenshots for the game:

Octopath Traveler – Soundtrack, guidebook

Also, Square-Enix has announced that the Octopath Traveler Original Soundtrack album will be released on July 13th in Japan (on the same day as the game itself). It will include over 80 tracks from the game (all composed by Yasunori Nishiki), on 4 CDs. It will cost 3 800 Yen + taxes.

By the way, the press release for that soundtrack album reveals that the demo for Octopath Traveler has already been downloaded over 1.3 million times worldwide!

Finally, the official guidebook (that also serves as an artbook) has been announced. It will cost 2 376 Yen, and will include the following:

a guide for the main story, for all 8 characters, complete with boss guides;
maps of all the regions, packed with various details and useful information;
guide for all the Side Stories, but also various bits of data (about the characters, etc.)
various bit of information about the world, including a timeline
“2D-HD” illustrations
Original TRPG (Tabletop RPG) replay written by F.E.A.R. (already involved in the scenario writing for the game)

Finally, here’s various goodies available on the Square-Enix store in Japan: