Bravely Default 2 was developed by Playtechworks and published by Square Enix. The game was released on Nintendo on 26^th February 2021 and Microsoft Windows on 2^nd September 2021. Bravely Default 2 is available on Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows platforms.

Bravely Default 2 is a sequel to Bravely Second: End Layer.  Default 2 was written from an entirely new and unique perspective. The storyline, plot, and game characters are all new. Many aspects of the gameplay are similar to those of the other games in the series, but an updated version.

Different Game Characters and Their Quests

Bravely Default features 4 major characters that are on a mission to retrieve the four elements’ crystals. Seth is a mysterious sailor whose origin and history are unknown. Gloria is a princess from a different kingdom and a refugee whose village had been destroyed. Elvis is an intelligent scholar, while Adele, the fourth character, is a mercenary. The four characters work as a team to retrieve the crystals. Their quest carries them all around the continent. 

The crystal was originally hidden in Gloria’s village, but stolen by Musa after destroying the village. While on the quest, Elvis tries to decipher an ancient scroll to read its contents. The scroll is said to contain all the secrets of the land. However, you can only read these secrets when you use a magical asterisk. The asterisk is said to grant its holders untold knowledge and power. When playing the game, you can use the asterisk to save your game progress. 

Heroes of Light – Friendship and Unity

Throughout their quest, the four characters were called ‘the heroes of light’. The warriors of Holograd are trying to capture and misuse the crystal, and it is left for the four characters to fight the guards, Holograd’s leader Adam and Edna, his special advisor, and protect the crystals.

The Chosen Ones

The four-game characters were chosen by the crystals that deemed them worthy of fighting the battle against the evil Night’s Nexus. Seth was chosen by the Wind crystal and Adele by the Fire crystal. The Water and Earth crystals chose Gloria and Elvis. The four then begin their quest to destroy the nexus when they encounter Edna, who Adele revealed to be her sister.

After sealing away the Nexus, one of the characters had to sacrifice herself to restore the powers of the crystals. However, this is not the end of the game. Players can choose to continue the game, which would bring a major twist to the game’s storyline. The Heroes of Light discovered that the Night’s Nexus could not be truly defeated as long the magical books remain untouched. The Heroes then begin a new mission to destroy the Night’s Nexus.

Compelling Battle System

Bravely Default 2 has an amazing battle and job system that lets you keep your head in the game. Based on the option you choose, you can fight in an offensive or defensive mode. If you set the battle mode to ‘brave,’ you will gain some attacking moves to combat the enemies.  When set to the ‘default’ mode, however, you will fight in the defensive mode. It’s best to choose the ‘default’ mode when you intend to bid your time for the next battle. To succeed in the battle, it is important to know when to hold, and when to lay it all on the table. 

Battles in Bravely Default 2 are all about critical thinking and strategies. For instance, if two or three of your team members were defeated in a previous game, you could fight in the ‘brave’ mode to help boost the defeated fighters. However, you should note that a ‘brave’ turn leaves your team members open to critical attacks in the next turn. Hence, your choice should depend on the previous turn, and the next turn.

So Many Jobs to Choose From

Aside from the amazing battle system, Bravely Default also has an excellent job system that makes players look forward to playing the game. The job system makes the combat a bit more complex.  In other role-playing games, the system sets the game characters in a predetermined class. Bravely Default 2 takes the system to another level by allowing players to do as they wish.  You can add abilities and strengths depending on what is available in each character’s base stats.  

You can gain job levels, which are different from the usual experience points.  You can unlock new abilities by leveling up. The abilities could be passive or active, physical or magical. Bravely Default 2 also returned some jobs from the previous games. Some of the returned jobs include thief, freelancer, and white mage. Although the jobs aren’t as much as the jobs in Bravely Second, they are more challenging, with more content.

A Thousand and One Ways to Fight the Bosses

Before you begin a boss fight, always make sure you think carefully about the kind of abilities to use, the attack method, etc. My passive abilities were quite helpful during the boss fights. It is very easy to match the abilities in ways that will suit your characters’’ needs on the battlefield. Thanks to the game’s autosave feature, I could always try again if my strategies don’t work out favorably. 

The best part of any boss battle is to find the bosses and fight them. Although the Bosses are usually in possession of the items that can unlock jobs, the real satisfaction lies in knowing that you defeated the boss. I am always happier when I defeat the bigger and tougher bosses. The massive rewards after every win are also a bonus.

Conclusion

If you are a fan of the Bravely game series, you will enjoy the recently released Bravely Default 2. Unlike the first two games in the series, this game does not follow the same storyline or plot. It doesn’t even feature the same characters.  The game was set in the same world as the first two games but on a different continent. However, Playtechworks did a great job as always.  The game has the right amount of adventure and combat.