Octopath Traveler – DPops

If you liked this concert, please drop a like + subscribe to our channel! Thank you ♥ __________________________________________________________________ Octopath Traveler Music by Yasunori Nishiki Arranged by David Wang ′28 Conducted by David Wang ′28 __________________________________________________________________ ABOUT THE WORK Octopath Traveler (2018) pays homage to the golden age of Japanese role-playing games, drawing inspiration from classics like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger. Set in the richly imagined world of Orsterra, the game follows eight distinct heroes, each embarking on their own journey across the land. Among them are Cyrus, a royal scholar in pursuit of a stolen tome, and Tressa, a young merchant inspired by an old traveler’s journal to leave her seaside home and seek adventure. As their paths unfold, these stories intertwine into a larger narrative that reveals a hidden conspiracy threatening all of Orsterra. Throughout the journey, players explore a wide variety of locales—from desert mining towns to snowbound parishes—and interact with the many characters who populate the world. Each protagonist has a unique “path action” that shapes how they engage with others: Cyrus may extract hidden knowledge from townsfolk, while Tressa might strike a bargain for rare goods. The game’s success has since grown into a franchise, including the mobile prequel Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent (2020), the sequel Octopath Traveler II (2023), and the upcoming Octopath Traveler 0. The score, composed by Yasunori Nishiki, was widely acclaimed, earning nominations at the 2018 Game Awards and the 2019 SXSW Gaming Awards, and winning Best Game Music at the 2019 Famitsu Awards. This arrangement seeks to capture the spirit and arc of Octopath Traveler through three main sections. It opens with the “Main Theme”, heard on the title screen, setting the tone for adventure. The first act is largely expository, visiting two major cities—”Atlasdam, City of Learning,” and “Grandport, City of Commerce:—and introducing Cyrus through his character theme, “Cyrus, the Scholar.” The middle section builds suspense as the journey continues, beginning with the ominous “Tension,” moving through a medley of the game’s upbeat and energetic overworld battle and mini-boss themes, and resolving in the solemn yet hopeful “Determination.” The final act features several of the game’s climactic end-game battle themes: “They Who Govern Reason,” which accompanies the post-game duel with the archmage Dreisang; a brief excerpt from "Daughter of the Dark God," heard in the final confrontation against Galdera, the thirteenth god of Orsterra; and "Battle at Journey’s End," in which each hero faces the shadows of their past adversaries to resolve their personal journeys. The arrangement closes with the coda of the “End Credits Theme,” bringing the listener full circle via a triumphant recap of the title theme. Hopefully, this piece can capture for listeners the sense of wonder and adventure which accompanies every step of this fantastical journey. ~ Program notes by David Wang #octopathtraveler #orchestra #gaming