Video: Square Enix Discusses The Response To Project Octopath Traveler

Now this is probably still one of my most anticipated upcoming releases this year, but watch the final name be underwhelming, heh. :3

I am just gonna laugh when the final name is just "Octopath Traveler" dropping the "project" part. Or maybe "Octopath Travelers".

I haven't played the demo but I heard really good things. On the short list of RPGs to check out this year.

I don't see why they don't just keep the name. It sounds pretty cool.

Every part of that demo was physically painful to look at, and it doesn't look like much of that was changed--brighter environments but the sudden flashes are still there.

And what is with tiny text these days? So many developers now seem to be making their text as small as possible, even while still leaving swaths of empty space on the screen. I would never consider buying any of these games I can't even read.

This is a game I'm really looking forward to and I'm not a big fan of JRPGs... but I loved the demo and it'll probably be a day one for me.

I really enjoyed the demo. Sounds like the game is coming along nicely. However, with all these changes, I wonder if it’ll make its 2018 release window.

No random battles pls

I will never forgive them if they end up releasing this with a title that isn't either Project Octopath Traveler or Octopath Traveler. I love how preposterous that title is, and I desperately hope they keep it.

I LOVED the demo, and was quite happy to see that several of my concerns that I voiced in the survey were addressed here. The visibility changes look really good, and it looks like they've thrown in a lot of promising QoL improvements that weren't going to make or break the game but which will be greatly appreciated. This is probably my most anticipated release of 2018.

@JAPBOO I really hope they keep random battles. It's bad enough they are making the game easier. It was too easy as it was, but at least it was a little challenging. I don't want this to be a visual novel like every RPG is turning into these days. This felt like a reto jrp revival. Now it just looks to be joining the ranks of the thousand titles already available on Vita and mobile. Blarg..

I can remember before the switch launched this was the game I was telling my friends about. Just the asthetics made it look like the type of game you can get lost in.

My biggest complaint was that the boost and break system made battles way too easy. Unfortunatelly the comments regarding the battle system make it sound like they're trying to make it easier.

Based on the demo, nearly everything about this game is perfect. Gorgeous visuals, great music, fantastic combat system, intriguing story/gameplay concepts (beating up random villagers will never get old) and overall great design make this easily my most-hyped game of 2018. The release date cannot come soon enough!!

The name project octopath traveler makes as much sense as bravely default or bravely second. Loved the demo and hope a release date is soon.

I'm so glad that they've added a skip feature for cutscenes/events. I'm not very experienced with turn based JRPGs, and died a lot on the Knight's boss battle in the cave. When loading the save, I had to sit through the two minute argument again and again before getting to the fight! I've no problem with getting my butt handed to me until I figure out the best tactics, but I only need to see the cutscene once!

This is definitely on the radar for me. I loved Bravely Default and can't wait to get into Bravely Second in the pseudo-near future. XD

Loved the demo, hope they are working hard on it. I'd like to see it this year.

I loved the demo, it captures perfectly everything I love about classic and modern JRPG's all in one. The art style is brilliant and the battle system is fast and fun. I can't wait for this game, hopefully it will get a release soon.

Holy crap, this game looks good! I'm hoping for the best. I never played Bravely Second, but I loved Bravely Default, so I already have faith in these devs, and their receptiveness to player feedback.

I still think it's Bravely Default 3 😛

I'm absolutely the minority here, but I hated almost everything about this game based on the demo. I think the art style is hideously ugly, the battle system wasn't that interesting, and my biggest gripe with it, which is the same gripe I have with most JRPGs of the last decade or so, was that there was ZERO sense of exploration since you are only allowed to enter buildings or shops you need to enter to progress the story. Just shallow and empty (like the disappointing Bravely games). I am old school with my taste in RPGs and maybe I'm just simply old in general when I say 'they don't make em like they used to'. Give me another game like Final Fantasy 8 or 9 or Chrono Trigger or Legend of Dragoon...
At any rate, I think it's fantastic though that the team behind this game is working so hard to integrate user feedback. That's awesome and I hope it's as good as everyone wants it to be!

I hope they keep it as Octopath Traveller.

@noobish_hat
The 1st BD demo was terrible, I agree, but the 2nd has a must play demo. It's a prologue to Bravely Second and it's brilliant.

I'd rather SE give us their major franchises and not these smaller Indie looking games from their B studios.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE How about final fantasy?

Easily one of my hyped games for the year, the demo was one of the high points for games last year.

finally a really good looking, playable turn based RPG.

@Kalmaro because the name is stupid, it doesnt describe the game but only its core mechanics and that is why it is stupid ...just like Bravely Default, one of the worst names ever

@invictus4000 "I am old school with my taste in RPGs and maybe I'm just simply old in general "

if you were really old, you would know, that the old RPGs had simplistic mechanics, very basic battle systems and minimum interactivity with the enviroment so i really dont know what you are talking about

@BlackenedHalo Sorry you feel that way. I kinda like it.

Looking forward to it. But not really paying 59.99 for something like this. Makes no sense this cost the same as NinoKuni2 or Persona 5 - Ill just wait for a sale like Lost Sphere.

Great to see they are listening to feedback. This is definitely one of my most hyped games for the Switch this year. Now how about a release date

@noobish_hat could you tell me what Octopath Traveler does not have, what the old JRPGs had?

@Retron interesting, maybe the game will get a name based on your explanation

@SLIGEACH_EIRE "Smaller Indie looking games from their B studios." well, since this game is coming from the bravely default team, which is one of their popular teams under Square, I wouldn't call it a game from a "B studio." could be coming from their bland RPG factory team. Also, what is wrong with the look of the game? It looks absolutely beautiful, and sure the majority of people interested in the game will agree. Yes having their more popular series on the switch would be nice, but something new should not be bashed because "smaller Indie looking games from their B studios." something new should be accepted, not bashed.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE you bash when it’s a port, and now you bash when it isn’t. Are you ever happy?

I'm excited for this one. There has to be a reason Nintendo has been promoting it over Setsuna and Lost Sphear. It is actually good is my guess.

I really enjoyed the demo. Some of the changes they’ve made sound like smart tweaked though. I can’t wait to play the actual game....And find out what’s its true name is.

Doubt they'll change the name other than drop the word project. It's already got hype which is free advertising. You don't rebrand after that.

Can't wait for this game, loved the set up of the turn based, and critical defence breaks. The random battles remind me of the old final fantasy games which I love!

These development videos are genious, every developer should do this. It adds extra value to the game because you feel connected to it.

Aside from that, this game looks good. Might pick it up for €30. Only thing I don't like are the visuals. I praise the developers for trying something new, but in my opinion, it just doesn't work. The art style around the main characters is genious, wish they would do more with that.

Keep the name Octopath Traveller. People know and recognise it now

Day one for me this game. Loved the demo.

That’s really cool that they took the suggestions to heart. I really enjoyed the demo and have been excited about this game since the initial reveal a year ago.

45000 responses is a very good sample size for any survey

Loved the demo for this, can't wait to get stuck in. Probably my most anticipated game of 2018 so far.

I enjoyed the combat system, though to be honest I prefer Bravely Default's system of holding back an attack (I know there's not much difference between them).

The demo was ok, though the writing was bland, lacking anything to keep me invested:( It’s really nice that they’ve addressed some issues, too bad they didn’t rewrite the story and characters

@noobish_hat Just download the demo and play xD It might not be exactly the same in the full release, but you'll get a taste of what's to come.

I loved the demo and think this is shaping up to be a must have! I just hope its a 2018 release!

I still love the look of this game. I recently purchased 3D Dot Game Heroes for the PS3, which has the similar depth of field effect that I like very much. This looks better though. Shame it isn't coming to PS4 (yet), as I decided to buy one of those instead of a Switch over Xmas.

Nice to see all these adjustments and additions. Definitely getting this, just want to know when it's coming out now

the game should be renamed to "The Paths of Fate" or "Eight Paths of the ....oh no...too generic hmm

I didn't really like Bravely Default, I mean, I never managed to finish it. The combat was alright, so was the art direction, but the whole time-loop-fight-em-bosses-all-over-again-thing just killed the pacing for me. I was also not fond of the character design and the story.

Anyways, I loved the Octopath Traveler demo. Highly anticipated game. Frankly, I hope the 'tweaks' they made, based on the survey, did not change too much, because overall, I was pretty darn happy with what I got. I certainly hope they did not tune down the difficulty. Combat was also pretty darn enjoyable, even for a traditional turn-based system at heart.

Obviously, it was gorgeous, and I loved that I was playing adults instead of kids. The whole mood of the visual design and world struck me as similar to Vagrant Story, Crimson Shroud and even Lost Odyssey.

I really hope the whole game will manage to fullfil the promise of the demo, and maybe, just maybe it can bring SE back form the edge of irrelevance (at least to me personally). If they can do games like these, while also doing stuff, I could not care about less, like jPop-BoyBand-Sim-2017:Bromance-in-Wonderland XV, then that would be just fine by me.

If the majority of the former games would then even end up on the Switch ... hell, all the better. Make it happen Square, I have ... some faith in you now ... again, for the 1st time in a very long time

I loved the Bravely Default games so I have high hopes for this. The demo was great too...aside from that one time were my character got stuck off the screen

Anyway it's good to see how the development is progressing, this is going to be one of the best RPGs this year!

@QwertyQwerty "The full release is being worked on by the team behind the Bravely Default games."

@Bondi_Surfer most likely not really

Saw gameplay, loved the look. Played the demo loved the feel. This game is simply going to rock my world. 😉 IT Better!! Because xenoblade c 2 was a huge disappointment.

@Retron The Noble Eightfold Path is the first thing I thought of on hearing the name Project Octopath Traveler, and it wouldn't surprise me if the Path actually somewhat informs the game itself, making this more than just a random codename.

For those who don't know, the Eightfold Path is the traditional group of eight practices by which you can achieve enlightenment and escape from samsara, the cycle of rebirth and death in suffering. It sounds quite a lot like the basic structure of this game.

Asking for and addressing feedback is always a good thing. This game has a unique look and positive reception so far (from the demo), it is in my shortlist of switch games to get. And if that means more incentive to bring the full FFXV over to the system, all the better.

Fast travel!!! Thank God!

This is a day 1 purchase since the demo was so damn cool.

@Tim_Vreeland you are right, I don't like if they are making it easier but don't see random battles as something that increases difficulty. I don't have anything against random battles, just dislike it when there is a lot to backtrack and was expecting some sort of option to disable them. Now, it shouldn't be an issue for me with the new traveling option.

With regards to visuals, yup, I provided feedback and never complaint about how it looks, I actually believe it looks awesome...

It looks like their improvements are making the game easier. LOL. It still looks good. I have not played the demo yet.

Can't wait. I really enjoyed the demo. Game gave me lots of SNES FF vibes which is awesome.

I enjoyed the demo and I also like the name "as-is".

I could do without the flashes though.

@noobish_hat - Absolutely, if you let a Japanese company come up with an english name without getting it checked by a real english speaker, you end up with lame abominations like "Bravely Default". Unless your game is absolutely amazing, names like that will kill potential sales.
And let's not get started on when they try to insert english phrases into their pop songs, Jesus it makes you cringe with embarrassment.

Octopath Traveler is certainly one of the better names though.

@JAPBOO That would be cool if they were optional. Just don't want to lose them all together.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE It doesn't look like an indie game at all.

Really glad they are adjusting the game based on popular feedback.

Really excited for this game. I never played a JRPG that takes itself so seriously... and actually work. At least not this well.

...who said it was a difficult game? I liked the original dungeon darkness...made it more atmospheric and foreboding. I never get why people want to skip scenes in a story driven game.

Complaints aside I'm super stoked that they responded so quickly to feedback and this isn't a bad dev model I think. Release a demo and let the folks that you want to buy it tell you what would ensure their purchase.

I loved the demo in every way. I love the art style and think, that this would be the perfect way to remake FF6; it reminds the 16-bit classics, where the sprite art leaves some things for your imagination to fill, but the added 3d as well as depth of field makes it look almost real...or something, that exists.

And I especially loved the music!!!

But then they added electric guitar to the final music arrangement, and it immediately made the whole atmosphere flop for me. It’s less fitting to the fantastical theme, and brought it closer to the most mundane every day j-rpgs. One schlager metal solo, and the game is ruined to me.

@QwertyQwerty I’m not talking about the studio behind bravely default , I’m talking about the team behind bravely default. Two absolutely different things.

Haven’t finished Bravely Default yet, but so far I like the game, so Octopath Traveler is something I’m interested in when it releases. I’ll never say no to what it seems to be a good old school RPG!

Bravely Eight!

Keep the name as Octopath Traveler, sounds super cool. Really really like it.

@JasmineDragon @Retron
Likewise, I thought the connection was obvious from day one, and my own presumption is that each character's story will be a "Canterbury Tales"-esque allegory for one aspect of the NEP. The snippet of Primrose's story in the demo already seems to be a tale about the importance/virtue of right livelihood.

@Kalmaro I agree mostly. Would like Octopath Traveler. It describes the game. But don’t care to keep the work aproject there. That makes it sound a little amateurish, like a high school project or something, to me.

@Dysnomia I suppose 'project' is a bit much.

Is the demo still available?

This game will be my main priority for Switch this year. I already have my money prepare for this so you bet I'm getting this day one.

@SanderEvers

Well I know what I'm buying.

Bravely Travelers

Can't wait for the release date to be revealed! Picking this up day one!😁