Bravely Default 2 Reviews
Bravely Default II did not have a great reception in its day. This PC version, in addition to demonstrating once again how well the JRPG genre performs in compatible, reminds us of the outstanding game that is the work of Claytechworks. Unless you are interested in the genre, Bravely Default II is a must. I hope that with the PC version you get the love you deserve.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Bravely Default II is a solid title in all its sections, which helps to scratch that itch that only classic adventures and with their good turns can scratch. There is still work to be polished, but the base is still fantastic.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While the combat system of the Bravely Default 2 is unique and offers a high risk, high reward style of gameplay not seen elsewhere, the overall experience plays out in classic JRPG fashion. Luckily it does an excellent job of being a classic JRPG. I had fun grinding out XP for the jobs I wanted, with it never feeling like a chore, the true sign of a well made JRPG. The lack of mouse support for the PC version though is next to unacceptable with all the menus you work in. Classic JRPG style, not necessarily a modern day classic. No true innovations keep it from perfection.
An essential JRPG to have in our Steam libraries if you love the genre and missed the classic games.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The addictive moment-to-moment gameplay and the amount of content on offer is well worth the price of admission on either Switch or PC, but it’s hard not to prefer the latter for its higher resolution and smoother framerate. It really gives the game’s beautiful artwork the treatment it deserves.
As much as Square Enix are steering their flagships towards more fast-paced and modern gameplay philosophies, they are still committed to providing old-school JRPG experiences and you probably can’t get more old-school than Bravely Default II which brings you “the grind”, fun characters, beautiful backgrounds and also puts its own unique spin on one of the video game industry’s oldest formulas.
Review in Persian | Read full review
In short, Bravely Default II gives you reasons to grind, reasons to explore, reasons to learn, and reasons to listen. Square Enix and Claytechworks have ported an already fantastic Switch JRPG to PC (Steam), albeit with mostly graphical improvements. Bravely Default II (PC) is an excellent JRPG for those new to the series and want to relive the strategy found in Final Fantasy V OR for those familiar with the Bravely series who have yet to play BDII on the Nintendo Switch. The improvements that exist in the PC (Steam) version elevate BDII's quality, but there is little reason to purchase this game if you're already playing it on the Switch.
Bravely Default II is a very flawed but good RPG that deserved a better PC port. With a lack of options that still somehow result in smeared textures, the console version is still the way to go at this price.
Overall, Bravely Default 2 is a mixed bag of highs and lows. It was very refreshing to go back to that classic JRPG style of gaming while being introduced into a new battle mechanic to keep my interests afloat. Aside from that, and a typical masterclass of musical arrangements, sadly, Bravely Default 2 doesn’t have much else going to go spreading the word. It’s just a game I played because it plays very well and not because I truly cared to.
However, with that incredibly addictive gameplay alone, along with the plethora of side-content, I can see traditional Final Fantasy fans having a lot of fun here, even if it’s a bit of a shallow adventure. Now that this engine has proven it’s worth in terms of gameplay, I am very excited for their next project if they have more time to spare in the writing room.
Overall, Bravely Default II is a satisfying follow up to the Bravely Default series, but it could have benefited greatly from a delay instead of cutting content.
JRPG fans should know what to expect here. JRPGs are typically a slow-moving grinds, and Bravely Default II is no different. If you’ve never been a fan of the genre, it’s tough to envision this game changing your mind.
Bravely Default 2 on the Switch is a competent JRPG that doesn't really try anything new, but it does everything so well that it doesn't even matter.
Bravely Default II is a classic RPG for fans of old school turn-based games. These types of games are a treat these days, as most modern RPGs have gone to a more active-based combat system. Old guys like me love to play games in the style we grew up with but with a modern spin, and this game does just that. Some folks will think this one is grindy, but if you use the bait that allows for multiple battles at once that give big EXP and JP bonuses, you can build up your party really quickly. I put about 75 hours into this one and achieved the true ending with all jobs mastered. This is a wonderful return to form for this franchise and worth every penny of the $59.99 price tag. If you are fan of classic RPGs or love a good story, don’t sleep on this one, snag it up as soon as possible. You’ll be glad you did.
Bravely Default II is a tightly-designed and well-written Japanese RPG with gameplay ideas rooted in the 1990s, but lacks the polish and amenities expected of a Square Enix RPG of the 2020s.
For those looking for a throwback JRPG with heart and an addictive combat system with the ability to blend together job combinations, there’s nowhere else to turn.
Taken as a whole, Bravely Default II plays like the 3D remake of a 16-bit JRPG that never existed, but it misses something important. Games like Pillars of Eternity and Streets of Rage 4 play the way fans remember games of the genre playing, and memory has a way of editing out the annoying bits. Bravely Default II does not. It's aggressively grind-heavy and repetitive in precisely the ways that the games that inspired it often were. The battles are not interesting enough to make the leveling process anything but a necessary evil for those hoping to keep pace with the game's challenges. At 60+ hours long, it will test all but the most dedicated retro JRPG game lover's patience. If you are such a dedicated JRPG fan, you will undoubtedly find a lot to enjoy and appreciate in Bravely Default II. If you're not, Bravely Default II will do little to make you a believer.
Square Enix are the best at what they do, aren’t they? Mastering a genre and providing hit after hit takes years of experience, and Square Enix have that in abundance. Be it Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or the Saga series, they continue to invent and reinvent whilst keeping the heart and soul of these games at the forefront of all they do. Bravely Default II, the sequel to the 3DS original from 2012, is the latest game by Square Enix to be given the same treatment.
Despite falling a bit short in the story and characters department compared to its predecessors, Bravely Default 2’s satisfying combat encounters, deep job customization and stellar soundtrack makes it a worthy comeback for this fan favorite series.
Bravely Default II doesn't deliver more than the bare minimum on all levels - gameplay-wise, technically, narratively and musically - and is thus, despite a still excellent job system, unfortunately one thing above all: generic.
Review in German | Read full review