And that’s a fact that’s made rather clear in the game itself. That’s not to say that they’re bad, but it’s pretty obvious that they’re just not as outstanding or prominent as the region themes. One reason is that this is a game about Orsterra, as previously stated, but perhaps a more simple explanation is that the character tracks just aren’t as good. It’s interesting, then, to think about why composer Yasunori Nishiki chose not to close out the Ending Theme with the individual character tracks instead. In fact, they’re probably the best tracks on the entire soundtrack. So, in short, Octopath Traveler’s Ending Theme and Main Theme are astounding and gorgeous.
![octopath traveler ost rainy octopath traveler ost rainy](https://f4.bcbits.com/img/0021970245_100.png)
It’s a fantastic loop that encapsulates the carefree and whimsical nature of the game. We don’t get much of it in this version, but the Main Theme does such a great job with its repeating chorus and multiple uplifting build-ups that it’s hard not to feel so incredibly inspired when you listen to it.
![octopath traveler ost rainy octopath traveler ost rainy](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/octopath-traveler/images/4/40/8pathBreakBoost.png)
The Main Theme is already great on its own, and it has this incredible build-up that brings out this soaring and sweeping feeling -absolutely perfect for a game that’s about going on an epic adventure that spans the entire world. The way it transitions into the Riverlands theme is sublime as well, as we’re essentially going from a more melancholic melody into an almost similarly sad tune that invokes the same kind of nostalgia we’d get from old-school JRPGs, and even some classic Studio Ghibli movies with that background percussion track.Īfter we’ve made our rounds of the eight regions in Orsterra, the Ending Theme ends off with a final burst of energy by covering the game’s Main Theme, which might very well be one of the best JRPG main themes we’ve heard this generation. Then there are regional themes like the heartbreaking and beautiful Sunlands that simply shine in an orchestral cover. I suspect it’s because the clip is so short, and the way the track itself ebbs and flows between the different themes, that makes it easier to appreciate it as a whole.
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The tune itself is meant to be highly ambient, however, and this, along with Woodlands, are not as full of flair as the other tracks.īut in Octopath Traveler’s Ending Theme, Cliftlands’ orchestral rendition is lovely. The production value is certainly on point, packed with live flutes and strings to create a very classic JRPG sound. Take the Cliftlands for instance, the original track itself isn’t that impressive. But in this beautiful orchestral medley, they all sound impressive. Some of the region themes are excellent, while the others are a little forgettable. We get short snippets of Frostlands, Flatlands, Coastlands, Highlands, Sunlands, Riverlands, Cliftlands, then Woodlands in that order. Starting off with the Frostlands piece, the musical arrangement goes clockwise if you’re looking at a map of Orsterra. It’s interesting, then, to see that the Ending Theme is a medley of the eight region themes rather than the character themes, and what a glorious track this is. Taking a look at the track list, there are individual themes for every character, as well as each of the starting towns and regions you can explore. So, the ending theme of Octopath Traveler, aptly named Ending Theme, is the best example of how the game is more about Orsterra than its characters. I don’t typically enjoy ending themes in RPGs and games in general, and it feels a little unorthodox to start an article like this by talking about the ending theme, but that’s what we’re gonna do today. As I got into listening to the game’s (mostly) excellent soundtrack, that world focus became increasingly clear to me as well. Without getting into heavy spoiler territory, after having had some time to ruminate on the game’s strengths and flaws, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the developers were highly focused on fleshing out Orsterra, along with its history and lore.
![octopath traveler ost rainy octopath traveler ost rainy](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9eO8Zb3aQbY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Possibly one of the most divisive aspects about Octopath Traveler is its split focus on its eight protagonists and the in-game world, Orsterra.