History YMMV / OctopathTravelerII

** Osvald has a lot less power than Cyrus did due to Cyrus getting the two-hit magic spells (Firestorm, Blizzard, Lightning Blast) natively, making it easy for him to help with (or, indeed, OneHitKill) RandomEncounters. Osvald, on the other hand, has to spend a turn self-buffing with "Advanced Magic" before he can contribute this way, and the utility he gets from his three new spells simply does not make up for the loss in efficiency. While Cyrus usually fell off at end game due to Sorcerer rendering him less useful, he was still considered good due to the Starseer giving him the elements he was missing and further utility, while Osvald falls off harder because of the general weakness of Scholar

** Osvald has a lot less power than Cyrus did due to Cyrus getting the two-hit magic spells (Firestorm, Blizzard, Lightning Blast) natively, making it easy for him to help with (or, indeed, OneHitKill) RandomEncounters. Osvald, on the other hand, has to spend a turn self-buffing with "Advanced Magic" before he can contribute this way, and the utility he gets from his three new spells simply does not make up for the loss in efficiency.

** While the Merchant in both games is pretty busted due to the power of "[[CastFromMoney Hired Help]]" and "[[NonchalantDodge Sidestep]]," Tressa had other abilities that helped her provide value before those two abilities could be abused. Partitio has traded them for abilities of lesser value, and he can't naturally provide "SP Saver," which on Solistia is attached to a secret job. Partitio is a more powerful endgame character, due to his access to the Inventor SwissArmyWeapon class and a more flexible Hired Help roster, but he also starts out a lot weaker.

* BrokenBase:
** While it's generally agreed that both this game and [[VideoGame/OctopathTraveler its predecessor]] have excellent soundtracks, there is a minor but ongoing debate on whether this soundtrack surpasses, equals, or falls short of the first game's.
** The antagonists are still prone to [[EvilLaugh evil laughter]], as they were in the first game; and just like the first game, fans are split on whether this is a nice throwback to [[TheNineties 90s]] [=JRPGs=] and gives the player further incentive to take them down in their boss fight as is likely intended, or just turns them into [[CardCarryingVillain moustache-twirling caricatures]] who the player can't take seriously.

* AwardSnub: Many were upset that the game did not receive a single nomination in ''The Game Awards'', mainly for the "Best RPG", “Best Art Direction”, and "Best Score and Music" categories. Though it later was included in the Players' Voice bracket, it didn't make it past round one.
** Multiple game journalists called out the snub, even citing the controversial nature of some nominations (''VideoGame/LiesOfP'' for being more of an adventure game, and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXVI'' having more in common with ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' than an RPG). ''Octopath Traveler II''’s snub was considered one of the show’s bigger controversies.

** Emerald's actions in Osvald's Chapter 2, [[spoiler:where he abruptly gaffs at Osvald's idea to get back to the mainlaid in ice boats and decides to single-handedly commandeer the inspector's boat. Did he genuinely think it was a bad idea, and his earlier agreement was because of overeagerness by the potential HopeSpot? Was it because, being a father who lost his wife and daughter to a crime syndicate he stole from, [[EveryoneHasStandards he didn't want to work with a father who'd kill his own wife and child]]? Or, inversely, did he realize Osvald was innocent and wanted to further ensure his escape so he could get {{Revenge}} on whoever framed him?]]
*** One side quest reveals that [[spoiler:at least when he realized he was going to get caught, his burning of the inspector's boat was for Osvald's sake due to him realizing he was different.]]

** Multiple game journalists called out the snub, even citing the controversial nature of some nominations (Lies of P for being more of an adventure game, and Final Fantasy 16 having more in common with Devil May Cry than an RPG). Octopath 2’s snub was considered one of the show’s bigger controversies.

* AwardSnub: Many were upset that the game did not receive a single nomination in ''The Game Awards'', mainly for the "Best RPG" and "Best Score and Music" categories. Though it later was included in the Players' Voice bracket, it didn't make it past round one.

* MemeticPsychopath: Considering the much more unethical Path Actions available in this game, with more of them involving attacking innocent bystanders[[note]]Namely Osvald's Mug, Castti's Soothe, Throné's Ambush and Temenos' Coerce, as well as Ochette's Provoke and Hikari's Challenge returning from the last game[[/note]] compared to the last, the party as a whole has a reputation of this even more than the last game. Generally, Osvald and Temenos get the worst of this.[[note]]It "helps" that ''both'' of Osvald's Path Actions are rather questionable, and Temenos gets the one case in both games where a "violent" Path Action can be used on [[WouldHurtAChild a child]].[[/note]] It's also worth noting that none of the night Path Actions will cost you any reputation no matter how questionable they are, not even Mug and Coerce which can fail!

* AwardSnub: Many were upset that the game did not receive a single nomination in ''The Game Awards'', mainly for the "Best RPG" and "Best Score and Music" categories.

** This is ''the'' reason why TheHeavy, Overarching BigBad, and BigBad [[spoiler:Arcanette]], is such a terrifying, vile, disgusting monster. [[spoiler:Ignoring the fact she runs a cult of nihilists hellbent on destroying the world out of a misplaced sense of duty towards helping others by "ending all pain," Arcanette is effectively a fantastical variant of a serial murderer whose crimes ''drip'' with horrific subtext. People like Arcanette ''actually'' exist. Arcanette's tactics of psychologically brainwashing Tanzy by grooming her following a life-changing tragedy that left Tanzy in her most vulnerable state (the loss of an emotional anchor in Tanzy's life in the form of her would-be husband) and then emotionally manipulating Tanzy by making her 'romantic' partner believe Arcanette may lose interest in Tanzy and favor another woman to get Tanzy to do ''whatever'' she wanted are all favorite tactics of rapists and murderers hoping to isolate their targets and leave them vulnerable. Showing Tanzy the Book of Night to further 'induct' her into the Moonshade Order can easily be seen as an allegory for using drugs to manipulate someone, as well. While not ''as'' vile as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Claude,]] Arcanette is a ''lot'' more realistic and horrifying as an example of what goes on in the real world.]]

** This is ''the'' reason why TheHeavy, Overarching BigBad, and BigBad[[spoiler:Arcanette]], is such a terrifying, vile, disgusting monster. [[spoiler:Ignoring the fact she runs a cult of nihilists hellbent on destroying the world out of a misplaced sense of duty towards helping others by "ending all pain," Arcanette is effectively a fantastical variant of a serial murderer whose crimes ''drip'' with horrific subtext. People like Arcanette ''actually'' exist. Arcanette's tactics of psychologically brainwashing Tanzy by grooming her following a life-changing tragedy that left Tanzy in her most vulnerable state (the loss of an emotional anchor in Tanzy's life in the form of her would-be husband) and then emotionally manipulating Tanzy by making her 'romantic' partner believe Arcanette may lose interest in Tanzy and favor another woman to get Tanzy to do ''whatever'' she wanted are all favorite tactics of rapists and murderers hoping to isolate their targets and leave them vulnerable. Showing Tanzy the Book of Night to further 'induct' her into the Moonshade Order can easily be seen as an allegory for using drugs to manipulate someone, as well. While not ''as'' vile as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Claude,]] Arcanette is a ''lot'' more realistic and horrifying as an example of what goes on in the real world.]]

** This is ''the'' reason why TheHeavy, [[spoiler:Arcanette]], is such a terrifying, vile, disgusting monster. [[spoiler:Ignoring the fact she runs a cult of nihilists hellbent on destroying the world out of a misplaced sense of duty towards helping others by "ending all pain," Arcanette is effectively a fantastical variant of a serial murderer whose crimes ''drip'' with horrific subtext. People like Arcanette ''actually'' exist. Arcanette's tactics of psychologically brainwashing Tanzy by grooming her following a life-changing tragedy that left Tanzy in her most vulnerable state (the loss of an emotional anchor in Tanzy's life in the form of her would-be husband) and then emotionally manipulating Tanzy by making her 'romantic' partner believe Arcanette may lose interest in Tanzy and favor another woman to get Tanzy to do ''whatever'' she wanted are all favorite tactics of rapists and murderers hoping to isolate their targets and leave them vulnerable. Showing Tanzy the Book of Night to further 'induct' her into the Moonshade Order can easily be seen as an allegory for using drugs to manipulate someone, as well. While not ''as'' vile as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Claude,]] Arcanette is a ''lot'' more realistic and horrifying as an example of what goes on in the real world.]]

* EvenBetterSequel: The original ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'' earned applause for its novel combat, excellent soundtrack, and for pioneering the "HD-2D" art-style that became its signature. However, it generally received mixed reactions and criticisms for its formulaic structure in both story and world-design. In addition, the playable characters [[TheFriendsWhoNeverHang barely interacted with each other]], and the end-game [[DisappointingLastLevel was panned for being]] [[NintendoHard so brutally unfair]] that most players never bothered beating it, if they even knew it existed because of the baffling decision [[GuideDangIt to hide it behind a chain of optional side stories]]. The sequel retains the excellent soundtrack, further develops the art-style, and introduces a raft-load of new features that smooth out and polish the experience. All the main character's stories now vary wildly in pace and tone while packing much smarter writing, the world is more diverse and beautiful, and the conclusion that ties everything together is fleshed-out and challenging without being a needless chore. Plus, the characters even cheer each other on by name in battle, and the aforementioned conclusion has them interacting with and working together, letting them come across as TrueCompanions even more than the first game's travelers. Overall, the sequel makes a great game even better by fixing its flaws and improving on its strengths.

** Claude. [[spoiler:The ArcVillain of Throné's story is an {{immortal|ityImmorality}} vessel for [[BigBad Vide]], [[ImmortalityPromiscuity has fathered all the members of the Blacksnakes by impregnating countless women]]--all for the purpose of grooming an heir [[WhoWantsToLiveForever that can kill him]]--and the city he resides in is one of the most disturbing locations in the entire game. However, he suffers from the same problem that Werner from the first game did; his existence isn't revealed until the Father route of Throné's Chapter 3, leaving him feeling thrown in for the sake of a Chapter 4 and boss. While more about him is revealed in the Final Chapter after completing all individual routes--including how he became immortal and TheReveal that he is responsible for Trousseau's descent into genocidal nihilism--some fans believe that more about him should have been discerned during Throné's story, and that, like Olberic before her, Throné's story peaks at Chapter 3]].

** This is ''the'' reason why the overarching BigBad, [[spoiler:Arcanette]], is such a terrifying, vile, disgusting monster. [[spoiler:Ignoring the fact she runs a cult of nihilists hellbent on destroying the world out of a misplaced sense of duty towards helping others by "ending all pain," Arcanette is effectively a fantastical variant of a serial murderer whose crimes ''drip'' with horrific subtext. People like Arcanette ''actually'' exist. Arcanette's tactics of psychologically brainwashing Tanzy by grooming her following a life-changing tragedy that left Tanzy in her most vulnerable state (the loss of an emotional anchor in Tanzy's life in the form of her would-be husband) and then emotionally manipulating Tanzy by making her 'romantic' partner believe Arcanette may lose interest in Tanzy and favor another woman to get Tanzy to do ''whatever'' she wanted are all favorite tactics of rapists and murderers hoping to isolate their targets and leave them vulnerable. Showing Tanzy the Book of Night to further 'induct' her into the Moonshade Order can easily be seen as an allegory for using drugs to manipulate someone, as well. While not ''as'' vile as [[RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil Claude,]] Arcanette is a ''lot'' more realistic and horrifying as an example of what goes on in the real world.]]

** Amidst multiple other revelations, [[spoiler:Ori's journal reveals Claude’s true reason for forming the Blacksnakes: to determine which of his children would replace him as the designated vessel for Vide]]. As the one [[spoiler:who ultimately killed him, Throné had taken his place as the vessel]]. However, [[spoiler:not only does this go unmentioned by the party, but the Moonshade Order, the organization Claude sacrificed himself for, does not even follow through with using Throné to fulfill their plans to bring Vide back. It's implied that Vide was summoned in a weakened state and planned to forcibly make Throné his vessel after fighting the party, but otherwise, what should have been a significant reveal is reduced to a footnote]].

* HoYay: The Dancer has the "Stimulate" skill, which makes an ally go faster by providing some {{Fanservice}} ([[ShowSomeLeg showing off some legs]] for female dancers, or [[ShirtlessScene taking off the shirt]] for male dancers). This works regardless of the genders of the dancer and the ally.

** Professor Harvey is either a [[LoveToHate delightfully despicable]] and [[EvilIsHammy hammy]] villain, or a one-dimensional CardCarryingVillain who is too over-the-top to take seriously[[note]]It doesn't help that, when the demo was released, a few players believed that Harvey was a figment of Osvald's imagination and that Osvald ''was'' guilty of the murder of his wife and daughter, and were disappointed when Harvey turned out to be RealAfterAll[[/note]]. While it can be argued that him being one-dimensional is [[IntendedAudienceReaction intentional]]--Osvald [[DeadpanSnarker snarks]] during their BossBanter that Harvey hasn't changed at all since they met--it's still debated if this helps or harms his character.

** Claude is rather divisive as the ArcVillain of [[spoiler:Throné]]'s story. [[spoiler:His detractors argue that TheReveal that he is [[TheAgeless immortal]] and has fathered the entire Blacksnakes isn't [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] enough and the suddenness of it potentially makes it feel [[{{Narm}} silly]] in its melodrama rather than horrifying, he is [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter introduced way too late to have the impact he could have had]], and is an AntiClimaxBoss with only 68,000 HP and no second phase[[note]]For comparison, Lucia, the ArcVillain with the lowest HP in the first game, had 84,000 HP, and she began the battle with ''30 shields''. While Claude can summon Phantom Pirro, Mother and Father while hiding himself, they can be skipped if the party deals enough damage to him[[/note]]. However, some people think he is foreshadowed enough, and appreciate the [[NightmareFuel horror]] aspect he brings to an already-dark story.]]

** Claude is rather divisive as the ArcVillain of [[spoiler:Throné]]'s story. [[spoiler:His detractors argue that TheReveal that he is [[TheAgeless immortal]] and has fathered the entire Blacksnakes isn't [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] enough and the suddenness of it potentially makes it feel silly in its melodrama rather than horrifying, he is [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter introduced way too late to have the impact he could have had]], and is an AntiClimaxBoss with only 68,000 HP and no second phase[[note]]For comparison, Lucia, the ArcVillain with the lowest HP in the first game, had 84,000 HP, and she began the battle with ''30 shields''. While Claude can summon Phantom Pirro, Mother and Father while hiding himself, they can be skipped if the party deals enough damage to him[[/note]]. However, some people think he is foreshadowed enough, and appreciate the [[NightmareFuel horror]] aspect he brings to an already-dark story.]]

** Hikari is another popular first traveler as gathering the other travelers aligns well with his goal of seeking allies. Furthermore, [[spoiler:he has strong ties to the Moonshade Order, between D'arqest's relation with Clan Ku and Hikari's involvement with Kazan/Oboro--both in terms of Hikari's family having caused the latter's StartOfDarkness and his major recurring role in Hikari's story]]; notably, choosing Hikari [[spoiler:allows him to personally respond to Oboro before he summons Vide]].

** Claude is rather divisive as the ArcVillain of [[spoiler:Throné]]'s story. [[spoiler:His detractors argue that TheReveal that he is [[TheAgeless immortal]] and has fathered the entire Blacksnakes isn't [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] enough, he is [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter introduced way too late to have the impact he could have had]], and is an AntiClimaxBoss with only 68,000 HP and no second phase[[note]]For comparison, Lucia, the ArcVillain with the lowest HP in the first game, had 84,000 HP, and she began the battle with ''30 shields''. While Claude can summon Phantom Pirro, Mother and Father while hiding himself, they can be skipped if the party deals enough damage to him[[/note]]. However, some people think he is foreshadowed enough, and appreciate the [[NightmareFuel horror]] aspect he brings to an already-dark story.]]

** Hikari is another popular first traveler [[spoiler:because it allows him to personally respond to Oboro before he summons Vide.]]

* {{Fanon}}: Of the eight protagonists, Temenos or Hikari are often favored as the first chosen traveler, [[spoiler:which grants that character additional dialogue and prominence during the final chapter.]]
** Temenos [[spoiler:is the only one whose story receives significant follow-up in the final chapter, namely through TheReveal of the true mastermind, who he gets to personally confront no matter who you chose first.]] Additionally, during [[spoiler:the final scene before the credits, your first character will stand in the center of the campsite before leaving, which is where Temenos is positioned by default.]]
** Hikari is another popular choice [[spoiler:because it allows him to personally respond to Oboro before the final boss.]]

** Claude is rather divisive as the ArcVillain of [[spoiler:Throné]]'s story. [[spoiler:His detractors argue that TheReveal that he is [[TheAgeless immortal]] and has fathered the entire Blacksnakes isn't [[{{Foreshadowing}} foreshadowed]] enough, he is [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter introduced way too late to have the impact he could have had]], and is an AntiClimaxBoss with only 68,000 HP and no second phase[[note]]For comparison, Lucia, the ArcVillain with the lowest HP in the first game, had 84,000 HP, and she began the battle with ''30 shields''[[/note]]. However, some people think he is foreshadowed enough, and appreciate the [[NightmareFuel horror]] aspect he brings to an already-dark story.]]

** Karma is an interesting side quest boss too. First, in order to fight him, you have to bring only one traveler (guided/allured/befriended/hired [=NPCs=] cannot be used either), so you'll be fighting him one-on-one. During his fight, he mainly attacks with increasingly aggressive skills, and if not broken in time, he'd use [[OneHitKill Killer Karma]] to instantly defeat your character (though you can get around it with auto-revive skills if you really can't break him in time). One of his stances include him having one shield with ''no weaknesses'' so you'll have to rely on abilities like Temenos' Latent Power, Ochette's Beastly Howl, and Hikari's Vengeful Blade, or items like Almighty Soulstones. Another stance has him being weak to every type of attack, but you'll need to break his 15 shields in 4 turns. It's a challenging boss that really puts your understanding of breaking to the test.