Bravely Second: End Layer Reviews

Bravely Second: End Layer is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10.0
Feb 17, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer schafft es zwar nicht die Geschichte des Vorgängers zu toppen und recycled doch einiges an Schauplätze, überzeugt aber trotz allem mit einem umfangreichen Aufgebot an Klassen und Ausrüstungsmöglichkeiten. Vor allem die Chemie zwischen den Charakteren und die Art und Weise wie sich die Entwickler in Bravely Second teilweise sogar selbst parodieren, ist mal wieder großartig ausgefallen und wird vor allem Fans des Vorgängers wieder in seinen Bann ziehen.

Review in German | Read full review

9 / 10
Feb 18, 2016

Bravely Second is a sequel that is bursting in flavour. It features a world with so much depth, a story which twists and turns in meaningful ways, and clever tweaks to the combat that make the turn-based battles fun. Some sections drag on a little bit and a mild amount of dialogue tries to spoil the broth, but this adventure has had me hooked from beginning to end.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 18, 2016

Bravely Second is a well crafted follow-up to a strong role playing game. While the sidequests are a big bummer, the terrible loop at the end of the journey is now fully gone. The mixture of old and new characters, locations and ideas works quite well, though the feeling remains that more could have been done to the world as a whole. That doesn't mean that you won't be charmed by most of what the game offers, because faces like Yew's or Magnolia's are hard to ignore. It helps that it moves along at a solid pace and the battle system is still a joy to behold.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 18, 2016

Bravely Second is one of the few JRPGs to play purely for the gameplay. While the story is good, the writing tends to spoil one too many potentially great moments with unnecessary fluff and comedic skits. On the other hand, everything else about the game is fantastic and was more than enough to hold my attention. Though the writing may make you cringe, the fun and incredibly deep battle and customization system makes this an easy recommendation to any JRPG fan.

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8.5 / 10.0
Feb 18, 2016

From grind-happy obsessives, to those whose love for the genre might have lapsed, and are looking for something to bring them back, this a must-buy game for fans of Bravely Default, as well as anyone who loves JRPGs.

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9 / 10
Feb 18, 2016

As a sequel, Bravely Second: End Layer does everything right. It improves on its predecessor in nearly every way, shakes things up enough to still be exciting for players who may have recently poured sixty hours into the first game, and offers a meaningful chance to reconnect with beloved characters. Even better, it's a nearly-perfect JRPG in its own right. Beautiful, well-written, and endlessly engaging in gameplay and story, this is a wonderful example of why people fall in love with the genre. Simply put, Bravely Second is a must-play for JRPG fans, and one of the 3DS' finest games to date.

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7 / 10
Feb 18, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer does not live up to its predecessor's standards but this does not make it any less of a good RPG. Its visual environment is superb, it's loaded with content and its lifespan will keep everyone around it for a long time. It also improves on its predecessor's class system, while it falls out with the soundtrack and narrative.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Feb 18, 2016

A great combat system and world held back by immersion-breaking dialogue choices.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 18, 2016

Too similar to the first chapter, Bravely Second: End Layer has a bland story and a cast of characters not exactly charismatic. It convinces only thanks to the proven combat system and the ability skill management. You could expect a lot more.

Review in Italian | Read full review

9 / 10
Feb 18, 2016

Where Bravely Default delivered revolution, Bravely Second: End Layer presents evolution. Whisking players back to Luxendarc's charm, it is everything that we could have ever wanted from a sequel. Silicon Studio strongly leads the charge in a bountiful year that promises numerous Nintendo 3DS exclusive RPGs, and in Bravely Second have made sure that the bar remains high.

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Recommended
Feb 19, 2016

Bravely Second is an unapologetic sequel to a JRPG that is a spiritual successor to another, and all the better for it.

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Feb 19, 2016

A spellbinding, effortlessly charming JRPG that freaks with the formula while respecting what makes the genre great. While some might find Bravely Second two twee or jokey to be taken seriously, others will find a smart, witty and surprisingly rich adventure, mixing old-school style with brilliant 3D graphics and a knowing, humorous tone. We'd warmly recommend it.

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8 / 10
Feb 25, 2016

Another inspired attempt to modernise old school Japanese role-players, while retaining all the charm and depth of early era Final Fantasies.

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IGN
Top Critic
7.1 / 10.0
Feb 29, 2016

A good combat system and gorgeous visuals are significantly let down by an underwhelming and perfunctory narrative that can make progression a real chore. Whilst there are elements that work in isolation, Bravely Second doesn't manage to tie them together in a way that matches the quality of the original.

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Digitally Downloaded
Matt S.
Top Critic
Mar 7, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer is an absolute delight of a game. Traditional where it needs to be, and wildly humorous when it wants to, this is the perfect follow up to the spectacularly successful original title.

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 9, 2016

To make a fittingly Nintendo-affiliated comparison, Bravely Second: End Layer is to the 3DS what Bayonetta 2 was to the Wii U: a sequel with its own respectable amount of anticipation that, while offering little by way of drastic change, delivers more than enough fresh and returning moments to remind us all (new and veteran players alike) why such a release struck an immeasurable chord in the first place.

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Az Elias
Top Critic
7 / 10
Mar 18, 2016

If it weren't for the utterly brilliant turn-based battle system, freely customisable characters through new and old job types, and the breadth of accessible options that enhance the RPG experience tenfold, Bravely Second would be held in lower esteem, since the narrative that tries too much to hit comical notes and lacks a core that sets itself apart from other role-playing storylines is disappointing. There are some clever ideas thrown in that try to improve on the original game's plot, along with a handful of entertaining characters in amongst the obnoxious ones, as well as great use of 3D, but End Layer should be played for its battle and job systems first and foremost, provided the original title was enjoyed.

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NZGamer
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Mar 23, 2016

Everything you loved about Bravely Default, but with more interesting characters and a more captivating story.

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4.3 / 5.0
Apr 4, 2016

Bravely Second: End Layer is inextricably tied to its predecessor but still manages to be a fun, cute, old-school styled RPG.

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Loved
Apr 13, 2016
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