Here in the west, most RPGs are defined by open worlds, open choices, and open action systems. After the smash success of Skyrim and Fallout, it became the go-to for developers. In Japan, though, older combat systems for RPGs can still lead to success. That’s where Square Enix’s newest RPG for the Switch comes in. Octopath Traveler has plenty of old school elements for veterans as well as some ideas on how to make party members more interesting.

The big gimmick behind Octopath Traveler is the eight main characters. Each character has a different story as well as different Path Actions and Talents. A Path Action is a unique out-of-combat ability that lets a character interact with the world. For instance, Cyrus the Scholar has the Path Action Scrutinize. This Action can provide useful story details, unlock items or events as well as explore secrets and mysteries. Other characters have abilities to pick fights, to lure townspeople into helping in combat, or even to gain money. This also ties into Talent abilities in combat.

The game will also feature options to recruit the other 7 protagonists of the game and to explore each characters story in a single playthrough. It isn’t yet known if the introductory meetings between characters will vary depending on the hero being controlled or at what point in the story a player goes to recruit a character.

For now, the verdict is still out on Octopath Traveler. The Path Action and Talent abilities are interesting ideas, but the execution isn’t overly impressive. One character collects gold while walking, another unlocks chests only he can, and one character can Duel people in towns. Two of the characters – Ophelia and Primrose – even have identical abilities. Both girls convince townspeople to follow them (one charms and one guides) and both can employ them in battle.

In this way, Octopath Traveler doesn’t really try to do anything new, but they are trying to combine several previous ideas into one setting. Even the multi-person protagonist system has been done many times, by games like Seiken Densetsu 3 and SaGa Frontier in 1995 and 1998 respectively. But, just because Octopath Traveler isn’t doing anything new doesn’t mean that it can’t do it well.

The combination of characters – scholar, cleric, dancer, beast tamer, etc. – are unique enough to make the game rather intriguing. And if the story for each character holds together, with well written characters and exciting motivations, then the less than stellar combat and character mechanics will be more fun accompaniments than the backbones of the game.

We will find out if Octopath Traveler can do justice to its 8 heroes on July 13 when it is released for the Nintendo Switch.