Developer: Square Enix, Claytechworks
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PC, Switch
Tested on: PC
Bravely Default II (PC) – Review
We reviewed the Switch version of Bravely Default II back in March but are now returning to this majestic world for a look at the PC version. Being the third entry in the series, Bravely Default II veers away from the setting of its predecessors and takes us to the continent of Excillant instead, where an ancient evil is rising. Some things never change though and as with any good JRPG, this means a group of heroes gathers and sets out to save the world from its demise. It’s pretty standard stuff, but only in the sense that we know the awesome adventure that awaits us when we boot up this game.
Story
Despite technically being part of a series, newcomers might be glad to find out Bravely Default II creates a perfect stand-alone entry to the story or even an introduction to the series’ mechanics. The game opens with a sailor named Seth washing up on the beach, who is then taken into the care of Princess Gloria. She speaks of a light guiding her towards him, quickly becoming apparent it has to do with Gloria’s destroyed kingdom and the four crystals she was meant to safeguard. The crystals have been stolen in the destruction, but one could be retrieved and a journey to find the others will need to commence. As it happens to be, Seth is chosen to join her in this quest and the two quickly pick up Elvis, a scholar researching ancient powers, and Adelle, a mercenary who tags along. These four become the new Heroes of Light.
As you’re surely able to tell, there’s nothing groundbreaking happening in Bravely Default‘s storytelling. The cliche plot is backed up by extensive worldbuilding though, and the pacing keeps the game from info-dumping on you, which is a nice change from many other JRPGs that tend to overwhelm you.
Graphics
We stated it in our previous review, so we probably don’t need to say again how amazing Bravely Default II looks. The chibi-style designs of the characters are adorable and intricate, knowing exactly where to add details to make every one of them have a distinct personality. You take your ragtag team of heroes through beautiful environments, ranging from elaborate cities through stretching forests and even into dungeons.
Sound
The music in Bravely Default II also remains of top quality, with the soundtrack being composed by genre veteran Revo. If you’re a fan of JRPGs from the past, it’s sure to spark some fond nostalgia when playing this game. There is voice acting available in both English and Japanese, depending on your personal preference, and for once we can confidently say that both respective casts did a superb job. There is no noticeable decline of quality between languages, so you won’t need to feel like you’re missing out if you prefer one over the other.
Gameplay
With everything mentioned above, it shouldn’t surprise you when we say Bravely Default II works perfectly as a JRPG. Being able to build on mechanics explored in earlier installments, as well as the experience the devs have in this genre, was clearly a good thing because it leaves us as players with a great little romp appropriate for beginners and pros alike. The game sets you loose in an open world to explore and adventure to your heart’s content, with the main quest being the storyline and plenty of side quests to busy yourself with along the way.
When engaging in battle, the game takes a classic turn-based combat approach. All the usual commands are present such as attacking or using items. But the game lends its name from its unique ‘Brave’ and ‘Default’ commands. Brave allows you to stack multiple attacks on top of each other, though they will cost you down the line by making it so you can’t use later turns. Default does the opposite, leaving you in a defensive position to rack up points you can use for future chains. Combine this with each character’s unique skills and there are quite a few tactics to be explored in knowing when to save your strength and when to go all out.
Aside from their skills, you can also customize your party with the enormous amount of different weapons and armor in the game. Combine this with the skills you earn and the job system (which works as a class system basically), and there are a lot of different setups you can have to spice up the game’s battles. It really allows the player to set up their party in a way that feels most natural for their playing style.
Conclusion
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Bravely Default II is an absolute marvel within the JRPG genre. If you’ve ever had the slightest thought that you might want to take a dive into games such as this, Bravely Default II would be the perfect place to start. Not to mention it’s just a ton of fun. We very much enjoyed this meaty game, and those who do not have a Switch can now enjoy it on their PC.
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