Playing Through

Those of us in Central North Carolina are looking at a nasty ice storm this weekend. In preparation, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time: I bought a video game. Until a few days ago, our PS4 wasn’t even working because you couldn’t connect a controller to it. By some strange methods, I was able to get it back to functioning. Seeing the forecast, I reasoned it would be a good time to purchase something engaging for the days being homebound. Naturally, I chose a JRPG with oodles of playtime.

I’ve been looking at Octopath Traveler 2 for a while. The 2D HD graphics on this and other Square Enix games (like Triangle Strategy) completely draw me in. They take place in worlds that I want to inhabit, with lush scenery and colorful characters. Playing a game like this is a move to introduce some escapism into my life when I just can’t read the news anymore.

I haven’t played much yet, and I probably won’t be devoting the time that serious gamers do to this sort of adventure, but I’m enjoying it. I play a cynical cleric named Temenos whose first companion is a young, inexperienced, and idealistic knight. Their dynamic is an interesting one, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out as they investigate strange happenings in the church.

Unfortunately, we are being told to prepare for power outages due to the amount of freezing rain we are supposed to get, so my plan for this weekend could fall flat.