Octopath Traveler II final trailer and demo release

The next instalment of the game that bore HD-2D graphics is almost upon us. Square Enix released the final trailer and a demo for the upcoming JRPG Octopath Traveler II. The new game improves upon the formula utilized in its predecessor but introduces a new world with eight fresh protagonists.

The game's new storyline, characters and features make it the perfect entry for newcomers to the series while preserving the original game's charm for veteran players. Players can look forward to following the journey of eight distinct protagonists as they explore the land and conquer enemies in strategic turn-based battles on their own adventure.

The Break & Boost battle system returns, shedding a new twist to the classic turn-based combat. Discovering enemies' weaknesses can lead to a massive increase in the party's output damage on a stunned and vulnerable enemy. Also, the new feature Latent Power comes to aid the characters. Whenever the gauge is complete, the party can unleash a powerful ability.

A day and night cycle in towns change each character's Path Action, a sort of field action they can employ on NPCs, such as stealing or haggling. Every protagonist has a different Patch Action with varying outcomes if either they succeed or fail.

Minor spoilers ahead: fans of the first Octopath Traveler can rejoice. The main criticism of the last game was that despite enjoying the eight protagonists' separate stories, at no point did they intertwine. However, in Octopath Traveler II, Square has ensured their paths cross, merging their narratives.

Ahead of its launch, Square announced a demo of the game. The Prologue demo allows players to choose any of the eight protagonists and play for three hours. Save data will also carry over to the full game, which launches on February 24, 2023, for the Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Steam. You can check our comparator for the cheapest CD keys on Octopath Traveler II and meet eight new charismatic adventurers.