There's been considerable effort to pin down the inspiration(s) behind Square Enix's new Nintendo Switch RPG, Octopath Traveler, since the game was first revealed in January 2017. "Oh, it's inspired by Final Fantasy VI," we said when we noticed its gorgeous "2D-HD" sprites are a callback to the best...

Octopath Traveler's stylish fusion of sprite work and more modern 3D backdrops couldn't paint a better picture of what the game is: a classic RPG with...

Beautiful diorama-esque art style; Fantastic soundtrack; Interesting combat mechanics

Chapters can feel formulaic; The odd cruel difficulty spike; Some sketchy writing/delivery

Are these eight heroes able to take their place at the top shelf reserved for classic JRPGs That was the question we asked of Octopath Traveler as we prepared to write this review.

Octopath Traveler is a magnificent experience, but its story structure holds it back from being a truly amazing game

At its best, Octopath Traveler reminds me of my favorite 16-bit role-playing games. Strategic turn-based combat tests your skills, a job system gives you the freedom to tinker and optimize, and a fantastic retro aesthetic brings the world and creatures to life.

The game is a love-letter to classic RPGs of the SNES era as the CSM review states. I would like to point out, however, there is more sexual innuendo in the game than the review let's on.

Available exclusively on Nintendo Switch There's something special about returning to JRPGs of old, whether it's to relive iconic stories or relish in mechanics that have long since been left behind.

Fun and accessible combat system; Plenty of varied; well-written characters; So much variety in its world; Soundtrack is excellent

Grinding isn't for everyone; Opening hours are a bit slow; Retro influences aren't always positive

Eight strangers travel together in Octopath Traveler, combining their efforts to overcome foes and sharing their stories and challenges with each other. If The Canterbury Tales and a classic JRPG had a baby, it would look quite a lot like this game.

Gorgeous HD-2D art style; Engaging turn-based battles; Flexible party and jobs system; Some nice individual stories

Sluggish opening chapters; The eight stories don't link up convincingly; H'aanit's Middle English

The makers of Bravely Default bring an exclusive new Japanese role-player to Nintendo Switch and it's the perfect mix of old and new.

Impressively open-ended in terms of everything from exploration to character customisation; Engrossing battle system that stays interesting throughout the whole game; Great visual style

The storytelling and dialogue is weak, with limited voice-acting of a similarly poor quality; Some odd graphical glitches

Solid and definitely has an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.