It’s entirely redundant, as all it adds is two additional loading screens in between cutscenes and the player tapping A. It breaks up the narrative in a way that doesn’t add anything but frustration. Selecting the next “main mission” will simply reward you with yet another cutscene. Like Valkyria Chronicles 4, you’re brought back to the main map screen whenever a cutscene ends. To make matters worse, these cutscenes are broken up in a confusingly redundant way. When most of the game is excruciatingly lengthy cutscenes, the low-effort voice acting makes it a chore to plod through. Foremost, the dreadful English voice acting falls flat where emotions should rise. Cutscenes And The Art Of Storytellingįurthermore, the narrative is let down by a multitude of poor design choices and narrative decisions. However, it will mean that the overall narrative ultimately relies on Act 2 to successfully introduce the main plot. My guess is the beginning of this game, not unlike Octopath Traveler, is a significant amount of character building and filler. However, it very much feels like the beginning of an epic fantasy story. The point in which we’re thrown into the narrative is supposedly the middle of the game, or Act 2. However, even then, I still strongly doubt that it would be of any note. I feel this story could fare a little better if I were playing the game from the beginning. It’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses all over again, although this time with far longer cutscenes. We are once again experiencing multiple factions, all of whom have a specific unique trait that deems them a target, warring with one another, while integral characters are caught in the midst.

Project Triangle Strategy’s narrative isn’t bad, per se it’s just entirely forgettable. Taken to safety by a house reliant on democratic rulings to make all decisions, they must conclude whether or not to relinquish him to the enemy and deal with whatever consequences lay behind their decision. Thrown into the midst of a conflict, we witness the death of a once-beloved king and the attempted murder of his son. While the myriad of characters introduced in this portion of the game is poorly explained, the general gist of the overall narrative is understandable. It throws you in medias res, which, while an initially confusing prospect, is alleviated by the expository opening cutscene. You can experience a significant portion of the game, from main missions, side stories and battles. Project Triangle Strategy’s demo is generous in its offerings. In-game Screenshot Narrative And The Problematic In Media Res Without hesitation, I headed over to the Switch eShop. So, as the excitement for a new title swelled within me like a bulbous balloon ballooning, barely balking under the buckling burden, I knew I had to get my hands on its demo. This new direction could rectify the narrative shortcomings of Octopath Traveler, an issue plaguing that game. This is an SRPG game focusing on player-choice and the impact they have on the overall narrative.

So, why don’t I love Project Triangle Strategy, its upcoming spiritual successor?Īnnounced at the most recent Nintendo Direct, Project Triangle Strategy takes the art-style of Octopath Traveler and blends it with the gameplay mechanics most-associated with Fire Emblem. Suffice to say, I loved Octopath Traveler. It was wondrous! An eclectic mix of brilliant visuals, engaging turn-based combat and one of the best JRPG soundtracks to date. So, when Square Enix announced a lengthy demo for Octopath Traveler, I jumped at the opportunity to play it. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of the game to soak in its beautiful world. When it was revealed, I too was enamoured by its art-style. What could have been just another JRPG, Octopath Traveler seemed to be attempting something new, even if it appeared superficial at first. Back then, the hype was building around its combination of 2D sprites and 3D environments to create a gorgeous fantasy world. What feels like eons ago now, Octopath Traveler was just an idea. Octopath Traveler And The Legacy It Left Behind

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