I chose to wait and play the game a good bit before writing a reflection on it. I enjoyed a bit of the first Octopath Traveler but admittedly, it didn't grab and hold my attention. Journeys were repetitive, the characters didn't have much going for them; it just wasn't very interesting. To me, this game is an improvement in every way.

The characters are all interesting. Some are more interesting than others, but even the weakest storyline has something going for it. The writing is much improved and I found the narrative to be engaging and clever.

The battle system is much like the first but with the addition of limit break style attacks and the mixture of jobs, the battles stay interesting and fresh throughout.

This game reminds me of a mix of Final Fantasy and Star Ocean 2, which is the best compliment I can give. I had read this game was a step above the first. When I saw some Steam reviews saying that wasn't the case, I was hesitant to buy. However, this game is a huge step above the first. The same systems are in play, but it is far less repetitive and far more engaging.

And the music is stunning.

Having finished the game now, I'm sad it's done. What a superb game from start to finish.