Octopath Traveler is beautiful. It is entertaining. It also does not take many risks. And like many other "Japanese Role-Playing Games" (JRPG's), it is subject to one of the most stale game mechanics of all time: grinding. Where a player repeatedly accomplishes the same tasks to get stronger. Now this gaming mechanic has been around for an incredibly long time, and it does serve purpose. When you overcome random encounters while moving between places, it can make you feel like a real adventurer traveling through uncharted and dangerous territory. (The Pokemon games tend to be pretty good at this approach.) However, grinding becomes tedious and even outright boring when it goes on forever, which is sad when you're playing your favorite RPG. And even games such as Persona 5, with its fluctuating story and two styles of interaction, can suffer from too much repetition. So what's the solution? Well leveling, or gaining levels, cannot be removed from RPGs without losing some challenge. So rather than removing it entirely, invest in moderation, or even some other game tasks, such as puzzles or races to vary the experience. (The Legend of Zelda games tend to be terrific at this.) This will ensure that players feel challenged without insulting their intelligence. A grindstone is important, but you don't want to run out of blade from over-sharpening.
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AuthorMcRae Walker, an 20-year-old writer and lover of many dorky topics. Archives
September 2022
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