Octopath Traveler II is bringing again the HD-2D graphical fashion of the primary sport. Nonetheless, with different Sq. Enix titles having made use of the look and due to extra expertise, the aesthetic has developed.
Producer Masashi Takahashi and director Keisuke Miyauchi spoke extra about this in an interview with Famitsu. We additionally get to listen to the builders speak concerning the sport’s camerawork and character proportions.
We talked about HD-2D a bit earlier, so I’d prefer to ask concerning the graphics intimately. If you say “pixel artwork with greater density and measurement,” I’m reminded of Tremendous Nintendo video games launched late within the console’s life… Would this sport’s graphics be much like Chrono Set off’s, for instance?
Miyauchi: Sure. Final time, we had in thoughts an inclusive nostalgia that many individuals maintain on to, however we thought that not a lot would change if we used the identical technique once more. We would have liked to increase the scope this time.
By envisioning the attractive pixel artwork surroundings they drew again then – the trial scenes in Chrono Set off, for instance – we aimed to boost the bar of expressiveness with HD-2D by making artwork that may be picture-perfect irrespective of whenever you screenshotted it.
Takahashi: Octopath Traveler was launched, then got here Triangle Technique, after which Dwell A Dwell… A number of HD-2D video games have been launched, however in fact Octopath Traveler continues to be the unique, and I believe Purchase was its dad or mum. After we first began speaking about aiming for Tremendous HD-2D, we had quite a lot of debate about what sort of graphics could be greatest.
Miyauchi: Sure. After Octopath Traveler got here out, I used to be invited to host just a few talks about technical issues, and what I talked about concerning artwork was that everybody has rose-tinted glasses on for outdated pixel artwork. Issues from the previous are likely to look prettier in our head, in spite of everything.
And by now, I believe folks have rose-tinted glasses on for Octopath Traveler as properly. Subsequently, we’ve got to make one thing so fairly that it surpasses what folks see via these glasses. That was partially our objective.
If we’re speaking about presentation, not like the final sport that solely had a top-down view, it appears this time a wide range of camerawork preparations have been ready.
Miyauchi: Sure. It’s processed in another way internally as properly, since whereas we used scripted occasions final time, this time we used the Unreal Engine’s options, doing issues like we’d for a 3D scene.
Takahashi: Actually, final time it was like a battle between Octopath Traveler and nostalgia for Tremendous Nintendo video games, and this time it’s a battle towards nostalgia for the earlier sport. I believe I lastly perceive after listening to everybody right here at present.
This time the characters all seem like taller, and I ponder if that is additionally a brand new try regarding presentation.
Miyauchi: If we solely elevated the decision of the background, the characters would look unusual, and we additionally thought that it could be good to have the ability to categorical feelings in story occasions.
However the primary purpose is for battles. Rising the characters’ peak adjustments the presentation in fight so much. Whereas final time we reused the identical animations to some extent, this time there are completely different animations for each ability, so you may say we upped everybody’s peak to facilitate that.
The camerawork throughout battles has modified too.
Miyauchi: Sure. We made issues flashy when they need to be, and saved some issues the identical from final sport when applicable, and I believe we managed to make the presentation very diverse.
Change might be getting Octopath Traveler II on February 24, 2023.
Translation offered by SatsumaFS and Kim Louise Davis on behalf of Nintendo All the things.
