In addition to unveiling the final pair of protagonists in Octopath Traveler 2 – Castti and Ochette – Acquire also revealed some new gameplay details. Castti and Ochette have their own Crossed Paths, which are stories focused on two specific characters. They arrive in Cropdale, a village suffering from hunting issues, and head to the woods to investigate.
Various choices may crop up during each character’s journey. For instance, Throne must decide whether to go after Mother or Father first. Choosing the former takes her to Oresrush while the latter sends her to Winterbloom to find more details on her targets. Partitio, the merchant, can also opt to pursue the Scent of Commerce or stick to the story.
As for Ochette, she can decide which animal companion will accompany her. Mahinaor is a malamaowl who uses elemental attacks and exploits enemy weaknesses. Akalā is a lajackal who also targets weak points but relies on physical attacks.
In addition to the main characters, there are various Side Stories, like a merchant whose horses go missing. Depending on the characters, different Path Actions can be chosen (like challenging the thief to a duel or ambushing him). Finally, players can fast-forward through event scenes and adjust automatic text speed.
Combat speed is also adjustable to double the base speed, making leveling much quicker. Octopath Traveler 2 is out on February 24th for PS4, PS5, PC and Nintendo Switch.
