But if the resolution is HD, wouldn't they be HD 2D? It just seems so weird trying to give HD 2D a meaning other than 2D graphics with HD resolution.

Looks spectacularly beautiful and the game itself shows a LOT of promise, I'm extremelly hyped for this one.

I thought it was going to be a bit of a letdown, but it has JRPG fans extremely excited from what I've seen on youtube and such.

Personally, I'd love it if they used this exact engine for a remake of Final Fantasy VI. Lord would that be lovely.

They are using the same engine for FF VII Remake if that counts.

It's a stylist choice as said. When playing the game on the switch it looks great. It like blends itself into the black switches border. It also gives the look kind of an old dungeony look. Especially when your in a dungeon. Kind of like the little torch your character is carrying is what is lighting up the switch's screen.

I think it fits well. I have to check when I get home what the desert looks like. I feel like the border shadow is not really as present in that area, which makes sense since it is in a dry/hot/sunny dessert. It might have a sort of border, but would be cool if it was like a sort of transparant wavy border that made it give the feeling of heat/hot.

The game is effing beautiful, really. I've been trying the demo and I'm really impressed, love the art style! Hope some day they remake FF6 or DQ1-2-3 with this 2D HD style, looks retrogorgeous!

Wow. It's the first time I saw gameplay of this game, and it looks beautiful.

Tried the demo. Really engaging storyline and beautiful art direction.

And the music is godly.

I totally agree. This is one of those turning points in design, where many people can agree on "this is how HD 2D games are done now". Well done to the developers for totally changing how this is done :D

Octopath looks great, but to me it looks like a SNES game that got modded on PC. :/

Vanillaware's Dragon's Crown and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is actually how you do 2D HD games. And even NSMB Wii U or the Rayman games.