I cannot express the sheer amount of pros I found playing this game. Like... Jesus and here I thought the first Octopath Traveler was good!? This game takes it's first game, dropkicks the cons it had and manages to carefully place multiple QoL changes and more in their stead.

The music is DELECTABLE. The fact that you get DOUBLE the amount of tracks and themes due to one of the game's main mechanics. I could sit at my PC for days on end listening to this game's OST. 10/10

I LOVED the characters, yet again. Sure the first game barely gave the original eight a lot of banter or even time chatting with one another, but this game actually changed and improved on that, too! And it isn't just small little quips or remarks here and there, no no. No matter your party composition, or what time it is in a character's chapter, or where you are, the game has some kind of short conversation between at least two of the party members. It helps so much with lore and story telling that I really hope that the next major installation of this series takes it to the next level.
On top of that, there's voice acting... A lot of voice acting... MUCH more compared to the first game, I'd argue. Sure, it may not be that every single little line is voiced, but I don't think they need to be. 8/10

The graphics.. Oh man, the comparison of this game and it's older edition are like night and day (haha). Character sprites look so much better, have way more life and body to them. Enemy sprites were taken and enhanced doubly so, giving every enemy at least one additional animation when attacking, or using a skill, etc. Even Bosses got a nice polish to them and I adore the living hell out of it all. 9/10

Like the other aspects of the game; They took the game play and just overall made it better. They re-balanced jobs, their actions, etc. as well as gave each individual main character a unique special ability AND a couple unique skills, if you find the ways to unlock them. I enjoyed the combat and idea of utilizing enemy weaknesses to actually BREAK and stun an enemy temporarily to do extra damage as opposed to simply just doing more damage with said weapons. I don't think there's too much more to be desired from this part of the game, at least for me. 9/10
I have a little bit over 100 hours on the game and I also was able to 100% the game in that time frame. Compared to the first game, the hardest achievements to get are a lot more laid back and toned down and I really appreciate that! 9/10

Overall I'd give this game a 9.5/10 and to be totally honest if I made a review for Octopath Traveler 1 I would drop that game's rating down quite significantly after playing this game.

THAT BEING SAID both games should be played, I cannot stress that enough AND the first should obviously be played FIRST for that proper experience, IMO.

Definitely pick this game up when it goes on sale, you won't regret it.