The visual is just a visual, there are something like 150 options in the poll.

47.) Octopath Traveler 0

An interesting case study on how a mobile game made with years of content can be repackaged into a (long) console game. It's definitely got quirks in its structure, but ultimately I found it an endearing experiment worth taking.

46.) Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter

I think the most impressive part about this remake is that it looks and sounds just right. Every person and place is how I 'remember' it. Looking forward to 2nd chapter, and I hope they don't skip 3rd.

An NPC in Rimuldar says they created the Magic Key but accidentally dropped it in the ocean. It's a funny implication that the Mermaid's reward for saving them is something that fell to them.

Who isn't playable, Sonia?

H/T @quinton.bsky.social for a really big assist here!

You probably just fought the red chaos worm thing? That's definitely the start of it! (Small spoiler, you can eventually fight two of those together).

The second half of the game is very particularly designed. Some people bounce off of it. A big part of it is in boss encounter design, where you have to figure out a strategy to win (and not just overlevel). I personally appreciately it greatly, but it does somewhat belie its Final Fantasy inspo.

Don't want to spoil too much, but more like 30%. Part 2 is much longer than Part 1.

Nice!

Where are they going?

Ah sorry! I didn't have this one since it technically wasn't announced for the west by a publisher, but since they revealed it is coming to Steam, it seems all-but-announced.

Ach sorry, I'm not sure how I missed that considering it's my own Most Anticipated.

One of my favorite RPG tropes is when the battle music changes during the course of a high stakes boss battle. You can't help but pump a fist when the OST transitions from <Daughter of the Dark God> to <Battle at Journey's End>. hell yea

It's an interesting case study on how *years* of mobile game content can be packaged and manifested as a console game.

If I may risk an analogy, which are never perfect, Octopath Traveler 0 kinda feels like Square Enix taking a look in the refrigerator and deciding how to take leftovers and whatever else they have and mix it together and make a dish, and it comes out actually pretty well, if unorthodox.

I did add it to the poll, so you can choose it now! It'll probably be more formally announced at Falcom's investor/shareholding meeting this month (December 18) while the poll is running, anyhow.