Toward the beginning of 2023, I finally ventured into a genre that I had previously left untouched — classic-style turn-based RPGs, especially those made or inspired by Japanese creators. At the time, it seemed obvious which game I should choose as my first foray into turn-based JRPGs, with Octopath Traveler from Square Enix seemingly universally beloved by its players.
Fast forward a grueling 30 hours later, and I officially gave up on finishing Octopath Traveler. I very rarely decide not to finish games that I've committed to (and when I do, it's usually because of game-breaking bugs, like with Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion), but I simply couldn't force myself to slog through Octopath Traveler. The experience led me to avoid attempting another, similar turn-based RPG for months until Chained Echoes announced its imminent departure from Xbox Game Pass.
