Square Enix has released a video detailing development on upcoming Nintendo Switch RPG Project Octopath Traveler.
The video sees staff involved in the game's development discussing responses to the demo, which was originally released in September 2017. The team also talks about how they are implementing fan feedback and suggestions as the game continues to be worked on. According to director Masashi Takahashi, the demo for Project Octopath Traveler has been downloaded over 1 million times since its release. Additionally, fans were asked to complete a feedback survey for the development team, from which they took suggestions and feedback to improve the experience.
Some of the fan suggestions which have been incorporated into the game include the following:
- Auto-run: players will be able to automatically run by pushing the analogue stick all the way. The encounter rate has been raised while running to balance the increase of speed
- Fast travel: it will be possible to travel between previously visited locations from the game's map screen
- Mini-map: the finished game will include a radar-style mini-map, designed to point players to important locations and areas
- Skip cutscenes: players will be able to skip cutscenes they have already viewed
- Visual options: the game will include the option to tweak certain visual aspects, including screen brightness, HD-2D graphics, filters, message display speed and more
- Balance adjustments: the battle system's difficulty has been adjusted for balance
Square Enix is keen to stress in the video that these are just some of the new features players can expect when the finished game arrives.
Project Octopath Traveler (working title) was originally announced back in January 2017. The game's development team includes staff who worked on Bravely Default, and Project Octopath Traveler is intended as a similar throwback to retro 16-bit RPGs. Details on story are scant right now, but the game will see players take control of one of 8 characters, each of whom has a different skill which can be used to interact with the world around them.
A concrete release date has not yet been announced, but players can expect to get hold of Project Octopath Traveler (or whatever it ends up being called) sometime in 2018.
Love the new changes? Hate them? Excited to get your hands on Project Octopath Traveler? Let us know in the comments!
