OCTOPATH TRAVELER™

On one hand, I appreciate the fact that the Octopath Traveler isn't afraid to ramp up the challenge in a way that requires you to adjust your strategy instead of forcing you to grind for XP or gold.

From the get-go, I was able to experience so much of what made me fall in love with Octopath Traveler II: the signature HD-2D art style, a unique and memorable cast of travelers, the beautiful soundtrack by Yasunori Nishiki, and of course, the incredibly crunchy and satisfying Break & Boost combat system.

Terminology gripes aside, being able to render better-looking 3D models and add fancy lighting effects does confer some benefits.

Even though some of the stories in the second game are arguably better and have more depth, I personally prefer the character design in the first game overall.

Fortunately, the presentation takes a turn for the better when you begin to consider the orchestral OST.

As for Steam Deck performance, the game ran flawlessly aside from a single crash that may have been related to the game not automatically setting itself to the Steam Deck's native resolution.