Bravely Default 2 Reviews
Bravely Default II is a great way to get into RPGs. A combat system and a spectacular soundtrack accompany a story that no fan of the genre should miss.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The reason to question Bravely Default 2‘s existence boils down to its inability to think for itself. The Brave and Default combat system strikes a near-perfect balance between two rival battle mechanics that have struggled to coexist over the decades, but that’s about the extent of the game’s individuality.
Bravely Default 2 brings us back to an older era of simpler RPGs with deep systems and shallow stories. If that sounds like a feature, not a bug, then this is the RPG for you.
Bravely Default II borrows much from the games and franchises that came before it, while still carving out a fun and thrilling identity of its own.
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.
Bravely Default II is a fun sequel that does it's best to improve on it's predecessor. While the dungeon designs are simplistic and the side quests lack variety, it's hard to ignore what Bravely Default II does well. A combination of great artistic and audio direction and an engaging battle and progression system make Bravely Default II stand out from the rest. Make no mistakes. It's an earnest throwback to an often forgotten era of RPGs and a stellar modernisation of the classic Final Fantasy formula.
With innovative combat mechanics and an enormous variety of in-game enemies, Bravely Default II offers up an engaging strategy experience that’ll hook seasoned strategy fans. It also boasts gorgeous visuals, with hand-drawn backdrops and panoramas popping off the screen, making the world delightful to explore.
Its flaws are plain to see, and your mileage will vary depending on what you value in RPGs. But if you're willing to spend time looking for the best of Bravely Default II, you'll find a great, rewarding experience.
Bravely Default 2 - the long-awaited JRPG for Nintendo Switch - turned out to be a good, craftsmanship job, free of flaws and problems of the esteemed genre. A position for fans of old Japanese games who are not afraid of an hour-long grind.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Ultimately, Bravely Default II wants to put a fresh coat of paint on traditional ideas. In so many ways Bravely Default II accomplishes this, be it familiar overworlds or robust lands to explore, it's just that these concepts cut both ways. There isn't much that makes it stand out next to the games it's trying to mimic. As a result, those who love JRPGs will likely also love this, though those looking for a bit more will likely be underwhelmed.
Bravely Default 2 left me feeling quite depressed. As pulse-pounding as the game’s everchanging, high-stakes battles can be, marathoning my way through them felt like a siphon on my serotonin. There’s a harsh limit on how many times I can feel elated by seeing the numbers go up, and once the cheap thrill of leveling fades I’m left wandering a desolate world lacking in identity and conviction. The game’s a grim reminder of where “love letters” can go wrong—I need a little more than a reminder of a game I enjoyed 15 years ago to keep me going, especially one built on expectations set up by its own predecessor. Sometimes adoration for former greatness isn’t enough.
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.
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.
Without straying too far from the formula set by its predecessors, Bravely Default II proves there's still life left in old-school JRPG ideals with challenging and addictive combat and some beautiful sights and sounds. Its punishing nature might put some players off, but the satisfaction of mastering its systems is well worth the time and effort.
Bravely Default 2 is what you're looking for if you're on the hunt for an extremely traditional yet (at times) punishing JRPG, both on the go and at home.
Review in Italian | Read full review
While just falling short of being towards the top of my favourite JRPG's, Bravely Default does a lot right. Its job systems and battle system are great fun and the sleep mode sailing game always gives you something fun to return to. The characters and voice acting, in parts, leave a bit to be desired and some of the environments are a bit fuzzy. On the whole you get a lot of game for your money, its an enjoyable, challenging experience and worth your time.
At the end of the day, Bravely Default 2 is a classic JRPG with coats of new paint.
As you level up and progress, new jobs open up, but it's not a tacked-on system, choosing jobs changes the game's makeup and that of your party, so simply unlocking a new job doesn't necessarily mean you assign someone to it.
Bravely Default II is a well made, mechanically expansive, JRPG.
Looked at through the nitty-gritty of its stat-based party management, Bravely Default II is a commendable third outing that at its best reaffirms just how joyous the IP's approach to both RPG gameplay and nostalgia remains all these years on.