History YMMV / OctopathTraveler

* WinTheCrowd: ''Octopath'''s [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp-Y_FgDHjQ debut trailer]] had people thinking it was going to be an average RPG by Square Enix again. Then, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-lnvBXy68Q September 2017 Nintendo Direct showing]] and subsequent demo release revealed that there would be eight different playable characters with their own intriguing stories, a mechanically deep battle system, and [[SuperlativeDubbing actually pretty great voice acting]].

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: For a game advertised to be an exclusive on a Creator/{{Nintendo}} console, known for their slew of family-friendly/youth-oriented games, ''Octopath'' establishes itself as being amazingly dark. Primrose's story in particular is striking, as it addresses familial murder, prostitution, and possibly rape all within ''the opening cutscene.''

** The best part is, this is considered a Noble Path Action. It's easy to understand '''why''; it's the Noble counterpart to H'aanit's Path Action, who doesn't ask for your permission to fight. It does, however, mean that knocking out the entire town doesn't have any repercussions on your reputation. Do it as much you want!

** The best part is, this is considered a noble action. Meaning that it doesn't have any repercussions on your reputation. Do it as much you want!
** Consider the fact that the Rogue Counterpart to Olberic's Challenge is H'aanit's Provoke. On one hand, you have Olberic challenging people to an honorable duel. On the other you have H'aanit siccing her captured animals onto hapless villagers, forcing them into a fight.

* BrokenBase: The reveal that every character's story can be experienced in full in a single playthrough led to a divide in the fanbase. One camp felt that this diluted the importance of choosing one character at the beginning while the opposing camp was glad that they wouldn't have to play the game eight different times to get the full story.

* CantDropTheHero: Played straight under normal circumstances...but also subverted HARD. In Octopath Traveler, you choose between 8 heroes, each with their own story. You have the ability to recruit the other seven characters and switch them out in a party of four...Which is standard for most RPGs. But Octopath Traveler does something INTERESTING. Not only can you swap out party members, but you can also swap out the MAIN PROTAGONIST. Doing so will cause you to shift gears and do another character's story. While this particular mechanic is open to interpretation and has people scratching their heads and asking questions, one thing that's very certain is that you will have the ability to play through all eight storylines in a single playthrough...This fact alone has some people clamoring that it destroys the point of choosing a hero. While other people are rejoicing the fact that they won't have to play the game eight different times to see the full story.

* VariantPowerCopying: With each of the eight protagonists, most people were expecting each of them to have eight unique Path Actions. Once the fifth and sixth protagonists (H'aanit and Therion) were introduced, we were then introduced to the concept of Noble and Rogue Path Actions. Essentially giving us four types of path actions, each with their noble and rogue counterpart. People were easily able to guess what Cyrus and Ophilia's Path Actions would be at that point.
** Olberic's Challenge (Noble) allows him to fight villagers in an honorable duel, while H'aanit's Provoke (Rogue) allows her to sic her beasts on a villager forcing them to fight.
** Tressa's Purchase (Noble) allows her to buy items off of villagers, but Therion can Steal (Rogue) those items for free (with a chance of failure).
** Alfyn's Inquire (Noble) allows him to gain info from villagers and gain certain bonuses from them. Cyrus' Scrutinize (Rogue) does the same thing...but can also be used to solve mysteries (which he can fail).
** Primrose can Allure (Rogue) villagers into following her with a chance of failure. Ophilia's Guide (Noble) also does the same thing...though the conditions that are required to trigger this are unknown at this point.

** Consider the fact that the Rogue Counterpart to Olberic's Challenge is H'aanit's Provoke. On one hand, you have Olberic challenging people to an honorable duel. On the other you have H'aanit sicking her captured animals onto hapless villagers, forcing them into a fight.

VariantPowerCopying: With each of the eight protagonists, most people were expecting each of them to have eight unique Path Actions. Once the fifth and sixth protagonists (H'aanit and Therion) were introduced, we were then introduced to the concept of Noble and Rogue Path Actions. Essentially giving us four types of path actions, each with their noble and rogue counterpart. People were easily able to guess what Cyrus and Ophilia's Path Actions would be at that point.

** Tressa's Purchase (Noble) allows her to buy items off of villagers, but Therion can Steal (Rogue) those items for free.

* CantDropTheHero: Played straight under normal circumstances...but also subverted HARD. In Octopath Traveler, you choose between 8 heroes, each with their own story. You have the ability to recruit the other seven characters and switch them out in a party of four...Which is standard for most RPGs. But Octopath Traveler does something INTERESTING. Not only can you swap out party members, but you can also swap out the MAIN PROTAGONIST. Doing so will cause you to shift gears and do another character's story. While this particular mechanic is open to interpretation and has people scratching their heads and asking questions, one thing that's very certain is that you will have the ability to play through all eight storylines in a single playthrough...This fact alone has some people clamoring that it destroys the point of choosing a hero. On the other hand, if you've got a Final Fantasy length RPG on your hands, would you even WANT to play it eight different times?

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: For a game advertised to be an exclusive on a family-friendly console among youth-oriented games, ''Octopath'' manages to be amazingly dark, especially since Primrose's story addresses familial murder, prostitution, and possibly rape ''in the opening cutscene.''

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: For a game advertised to be an exclusive on a family-friendly console among youth-oriented games, ''Octopath'' manages to be amazingly dark, especially since Primrose's story addresses familiar murder, prostitution, and possibly rape ''in the opening cutscene.''

* WinTheCrowd: ''Octopath'''s first debut had people thinking it was going to be an average RPG by Square Enix again; then, the September direct and demo release revealed that there would be eight different playable characters, a mechanically deep battle system, [[SuperlativeDubbing actually pretty great voice acting]], and the promise of eight intriguing stories on top of it all.

%% Do NOT add any CompleteMonster examples without first consulting the cleanup thread: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=6vic3f9h1cy5qivsenw8llok&page=1. All discussion for Complete Monsters in the game will be held two weeks after the full game's release.

* BrokenBase:
** The game's mature themes caught many people off guard, especially gamers familiar with the ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'' series. Some people appreciated the shift in tone while others found it off putting.
** The game's working title, "Octopath Traveler." Some think that it's an awful name that should be changed as soon as possible while other have no problem with and feel that it should become the official title after it was used for the demo.

* SpiritualSuccessor:
** As far as art style, setting, and combat system go, ''Octopath'' might as well be considered [[VideoGame/BravelyDefault Bravely Third]] until the actual Bravely Third releases.
** The game has more in relation to VideoGame/LegendOfLegacy due to choosing a character and watch their story unfold in the same setting, while also recruiting any other character that wasn't chosen from the start.
** In the vein of eight different stories with only a very vague connection to each other, it could also be considered this to VideoGame/LiveALive.

* CompleteMonster: Helgenish is a crude, corrupt and abusive slave owner who buys and coerces young girls and women into being erotic dancers for his tavern, as well as his own personal harem. He views the women forced into his employ as nothing but his possessions and regularly threatens and assaults them for any perceived slight, once backhanding Primrose simply for not smiling at him. If one of his dancers greatly displeases him, which isn't hard to do, he has them beaten within a inch of their life and leaves them to die in the street, [[spoiler:or, in poor Yusufa's case, fatally stabbed and thrown off a cliff.]]

* SpiritualSuccessor: As far as art style, setting, and combat system go, ''Octopath'' might as well be considered [[VideoGame/BravelyDefault Bravely Third]] until the actual Bravely Third releases.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: For a game advertised to be an exclusive on a family-friendly console among youth-oriented games, ''Octopath'' manages to be amazingly dark, especially since Primrose's story addresses familiar murder, prostitution, and possibly rape ''in the opening cutscene.''

* WhatDoYouMeanItsForKids: For a game advertised to be an exclusive on a family-friendly console among youth-oriented games, ''Octopath'' manages to be amazingly dark, especially since Primrose's story addresses familiar murder, prostitution, and possible rape ''in the opening cutscene.''