There are certain games out there that you take notice of as soon as you see them, that might be when you look at the artwork for the first time, or whether it’s through actually playing the game, but without question, there are some games that are more than just a mere game because of how pretty they look. One of those series’ is Octopath Traveler, and even though we are still a few months away from the release of Octopath Traveler II, the Square Enix team has released some gorgeous new footage of the upcoming game.
Octopath Traveler II is set to be released on February 24, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Microsoft Windows, and comes nearly five years after the first game in the series. According to Square Enix, the game is “90 percent complete,” and in this recent news update, we were treated to a closer look at the game via the official Twitter page, which allows us to see Solistia and some of the game’s Chapter End bosses.
As you can see from the above Twitter post, we get a real insight into this HD-2D aesthetic the studio has gone for, and it has come along so well over the past few years as well. This style has always looked incredibly pretty, but there’s something about this updated rendering that elevates it to an even greater level. The video showcases the in-game environment which looks stunning, and has camera work that Roger Deakins would be proud of, it all contributes to something quite lovely and super dynamic.
Obviously, the tweet is in Japanese, but with some clever translating skills from us (which is entirely down to Twitter’s translation tool below the tweet), the caption is roughly translated as the “Evolution of HD-2D. The fusion of pixel art and 3DCG has evolved even further! The character’s body has risen, and camera work has been added. You can enjoy more detailed and beautiful graphics.” The team seems very impressed by their work, and who can blame them because going off this footage, it is looking quite stunning.
The story in Octopath Traveler II takes place in Solistia, a land that comprises two continents on the East and the West and is separated by the sea. This is a thriving era of the land’s history; large vessels attempt to navigate busy sea routes while the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.
In this mystical land, eight travelers who come from different regions come forth for their own reasons. Players must step into the shoes of these adventurers and explore the lands in any way they want while also using their unique gifts to ease the toll of this strenuous journey. Check out the announcement trailer for the game below
