Bravely Default II

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 317 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 230 out of 317
  2. Mixed: 46 out of 317
  3. Negative: 41 out of 317
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  1. Dchad
    Mar 2, 2021
    9
    This game is beautiful and fun to play! It reminds me a lot more of the original over second layer. Music 10/10. Gameplay 9/10. Art style 9/10. Difficulty 10/10
  2. Hagakuree
    Mar 2, 2021
    9
    Music 10
    Difficulty 9
    Graphics 8
    History 7

    Anyway, the art is amazing, the music really beautiful, is a must buy if you like JRPG
  3. JAGUAR10
    Mar 2, 2021
    1
    I've just played the Demo and the game is bad. Poor writing, stupid characters, same old, same old. Don't waste your money.
  4. Bene86
    Mar 2, 2021
    10
    Great classic Jrpg-Game exactly what im expected and wanted. If you like the old final fantasy-games you also will like this!
  5. Zerpad
    Mar 2, 2021
    6
    It hurts a bit to give BD2 a score this low, since the original is a 10/10 game for me. This game retains the basic elements and key features of the first game, but misses out on a lot of the details and polish that made the original such a great game.

    First of all is the combat. The combat in the first game was so memorable to me because each encounter felt like a miniature puzzle    It hurts a bit to give BD2 a score this low, since the original is a 10/10 game for me. This game retains the basic elements and key features of the first game, but misses out on a lot of the details and polish that made the original such a great game.

    First of all is the combat. The combat in the first game was so memorable to me because each encounter felt like a miniature puzzle where you needed to use the brave and default system along with your abilities to counteract the bosses attacks. It made the fights interesting and added a little bit of challenge. You'd struggle at first, but the fight became easier once you learned the boss's moveset and then adapted your actions. You don't find that in BD2. I think this is one of the things that got lost when combat was moved to an ATB system from a strict turn-based system.

    Additionally, they apparently felt the need to make things super challenging, so most monsters in this game will hit you with status effects and counter-attack you for performing certain actions. Bosses are pretty much the same, but have a ton of HP, multiple status effects, and multiple actions that they'll counter-attack. Giving these tactics to specific bosses can make the game interesting by mixing things up and preventing every fight from being the same. However, using these tactics for every boss and most of the trash monsters just makes the game tedious. I like things to be challenging, but the fights are just slow slogs as you deal with all of the hurdles that the boss throws at you.

    Then there's the weight system. It's an interesting concept that was sold as a way to restrict some classes from equipping heavy armor, but in practice is an extra annoyance. This is mostly because as the game progresses, you end up focusing more on balancing speed with lighter armors vs. survivability with heavy armors. Once you get to that point, the weight system loses its relevance.

    Finally, the characters for this game echo the original game's character a bit too much. It feels like the same group, but with all of the endearing quirks removed. The cast for BD2 is enjoyable, but isn't very memorable.

    It's also worth noting, that the game has a couple of technical issues on the Switch. Loading any cutscenes causes the game to lag. For example, starting a party conversation cutscene will freeze the game briefly as the data gets loaded into memory. Next, the thumbstick is very responsive and overly twitchy in some menus. In other menus, it's almost dead. This is most pronounced when selecting a combat action (twitchy), and then a party member for the action (almost dead). I should probably stop using the thumb stick and just use the d-pad until this is fixed.

    Overall, the game is decent, but doesn't live up to the original game for me. They probably needed to spend more time play testing the game and hash out the new ATB combat. Allowing the player to customize your team with different jobs and abilities adds a lot of complication to the balancing of combat. If anything, I'll remember this game for the boss fights being super annoying to get through.    … Expand
  6. mishayangg
    Mar 1, 2021
    10
    10/10, played 100 hours and would easily play a hundred more. Give me BD3!!!
  7. adelonmedeiros
    Mar 1, 2021
    10
    Original graphics, dignified history gave a good rpg, classic battle system and impeccable soundtrack
  8. EmCza
    Mar 1, 2021
    1
    At first, the game seems quite enjoyable, but after a few hours of playing it turns out to be very repetitive. I can't feel her at all. While the first part on 3DS seemed quite nice, this one is extremely boring.
  9. Truthhurts
    Mar 1, 2021
    9
    Superb. Resounding success in my eyes, brings back all those feelings of old school jrpgs, great music, combat, and serviceable story, job system keeps you hooked as always trying to find that mixture of classes that suits your own playstyle

    -1 point only because the switch performance is pretty bad, regular hitches and slow downs during battle and on the world map
  10. Ravampt
    Mar 1, 2021
    10
    The music and atmosphere for this game is fantastic! The cast of characters are real fun and intriguing to learn more about. And the creative freedom we have over the expansive job system and mechanics is astounding. Overall, this truly feels like a well-deserved sequel to the series.
  11. NhatTrung
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    This is a game I really like, it reminds me of my memories of playing through chrono cross game, final fantasy ix
  12. Wdias1989
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    Really proud of what Square Enix delivered. It’s amazing to feel the experience of a traditional JRPG nowadays. Great battle system, jobs diversity,storylines and soundtracks. The B’n’D minigame is also awesome!
  13. Renzokuken
    Feb 28, 2021
    6
    The good:
    The characters are likeable.
    The job system is as on point as the previous iterations. The updated graphics are nice and the hand drawn locations are stunning. The bad: Speed is now a god tier stat and dictates not only turn order but also how many turns you get before your opponent acts. Most bosses outspeed you and therefore get multiple turns in which to abuse braving    The good:
    The characters are likeable.
    The job system is as on point as the previous iterations.
    The updated graphics are nice and the hand drawn locations are stunning.

    The bad:
    Speed is now a god tier stat and dictates not only turn order but also how many turns you get before your opponent acts. Most bosses outspeed you and therefore get multiple turns in which to abuse braving and defaulting.
    The game entirely lacks any means of telling which order turns are going to be taken in.
    The addition of equip weight adds nothing of value to the game.
    Counters can be triggered even if you don't do anything to an enemy, for example enemies can counter white magic.
    There's no way of telling what enemies resist, what they counter and what status effects they're susceptible/immune to as the magnifying glass ability only gives you their weaknesses.
    The soundtrack is by far the most mediocre of the series.
    All QoL features related to encounter rates and move presets have been removed for no real reason.
    The game is the grindiest in the series, and it's made even worse by the removal of the aforementioned QoL features.
    The story is the least interesting of the series.
    Framerates struggle in docked mode.
    There's input lag but only on specific inputs.

    All in all, if you REALLY loved the previous games, pick this up. But in all regards this feels like a budget JRPG rather than something tied to Square-Enix.    … Expand
  14. iamSephiroth
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    Fantastic nod to the classics, with enough modern flair to feel Jew. Fans of FFXIV, FFV and the other Bravely Defaults will find the job system amazing. Side quests are both easy and challenging enough to make you continue seeking them out. Spent over 10 hours in the first area finishing side quests and exploring - the characters come to life through awesome storytelling - this gameFantastic nod to the classics, with enough modern flair to feel Jew. Fans of FFXIV, FFV and the other Bravely Defaults will find the job system amazing. Side quests are both easy and challenging enough to make you continue seeking them out. Spent over 10 hours in the first area finishing side quests and exploring - the characters come to life through awesome storytelling - this game crosses every want off my list.… Expand
  15. WereSuricat
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    A really good JRPG game, love the first 2 ones on 3ds. The next one on switch it's a dream come true !! Pretty good graphic for this kind of game. Lot of possibility... wow 20 differents jobs (class) !! A lot to do !! Already played 40 hrs !! Just love this game !!! If u love good JRPG with a lot a possibilty, good story and a prettry cool graphic !! Then Its the game to play !!
  16. lalahand
    Feb 28, 2021
    2
    The grinding part is annoying. Characters too small when you use handheld mode. Does not feel like a modern game.
  17. Sleepytea_
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    Listen, I've read a bunch of reviews from various people. This genre of RPG is niche and always will be. With the advent of action rpgs turn based classic rpgs will almost never rise as high as those will. With that said, if you are a fan of turn based rpgs, this is the game to get. I've played Bravely Default, Bravely Second, Octopath Traveler, and now BD II. The things I loved about allListen, I've read a bunch of reviews from various people. This genre of RPG is niche and always will be. With the advent of action rpgs turn based classic rpgs will almost never rise as high as those will. With that said, if you are a fan of turn based rpgs, this is the game to get. I've played Bravely Default, Bravely Second, Octopath Traveler, and now BD II. The things I loved about all of those games was the gameplay, art, and music. The story was never important to me and that still holds true here. I'm about 20 hours in. The story is average at best. But the gameplay? The job system? The art(not the models) THE MUSIC? Absolutely top notch and deserves a 10/10 on it's on. If you are not a fan of the grindy aspects of old school rpgs, you will not like this game as much as I do. That's okay! The only real gripe I have is some characterization here and there and the character models. Everything else is beautifully done and gives me bravely default one vibes. Do I think it's better then the original so far? No. Is it close? Yes. Tldr: Play this game for it's gameplay, music, and art. Don't play it for it's story or the character models.… Expand
  18. AtelierRann
    Feb 28, 2021
    9
    The game is an amazing jrpg that everyone should try.
    I don't understand how some reviews complain about grinding when thanks to the Bravely system you can finish a battle in 3-4 secs. This is the easiest game to grind!
    My favourite thing is how good all the costumes look on the characters.
    Such a joy to play! 9/10
  19. BeeBoss
    Feb 28, 2021
    0
    very poor game, apart from beautiful graphics, it offers nothing but a continuous and repetitive grind
  20. Crazyhydra89
    Feb 28, 2021
    9
    Tons of fun so far! The amount of ability combinations you can pull of with jobs is staggering. The difficulty is spot on. The story is somewhat generic so far, but the game has that lovable old-school JRPG charm from the 90s.
  21. mademuse89
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    Best old-school RPG in a while. It sticks to the formula and add its own flavor. Battle system is fun. Story and voice acting (Japanese) is engaging and there are lot of things to do other than side quests and main quest. If you are looking for good old JRPG fun. This is a must buy. Don't have to play Bravely Default 1 and Second Layer to enjoy the game
  22. ShhSleepyzZ
    Feb 28, 2021
    9
    Hits a lot of the nostalgic beats of the first in the best ways.

    There's a fair balance of grinding vs boss strength. Story has that JRPG warmth; overwhelming at times but I'd rather that than lack of personalities. Artwork is seductive, which adds to the world exploration/grinding experience. Soundtrack is in the same vain as the Artwork; sucks you in. It's a safe bet    Hits a lot of the nostalgic beats of the first in the best ways.

    There's a fair balance of grinding vs boss strength.

    Story has that JRPG warmth; overwhelming at times but I'd rather that than lack of personalities.

    Artwork is seductive, which adds to the world exploration/grinding experience.

    Soundtrack is in the same vain as the Artwork; sucks you in.

    It's a safe bet keeping closer to the first than experimenting with the formula too much, but I'd argue that's not a bad thing with how enjoyable BD was.    … Expand
  23. ryker2004
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    The game is very addicting to play. It has ticked all my checklist for very good JRPG game.
  24. falloutguy
    Feb 28, 2021
    8
    This game feels like a callback to FF9. Feels very similar to FF3 an 4 on the DS. Heck, chuck in the DQ 7 and 8 on the 3DS in there too, And I completely dig it. Having played both Bravely Default and Second, I can honestly say this is the best entry thus far. The tone in dialogue seems far more serious than the previous 2 games which I found extremely corny at times, so thank goodness forThis game feels like a callback to FF9. Feels very similar to FF3 an 4 on the DS. Heck, chuck in the DQ 7 and 8 on the 3DS in there too, And I completely dig it. Having played both Bravely Default and Second, I can honestly say this is the best entry thus far. The tone in dialogue seems far more serious than the previous 2 games which I found extremely corny at times, so thank goodness for the change in tone. The music is very, very good and suitable for the most part. One thing I did notice was a bit of slow down in parts, gameplay wise whilst in the hub worlds, but all is forgiven. If you enjoy the previous old school Square Soft/ Enix games of yesteryears, then this game will feel quite familiar and you will have a blast.… Expand
  25. NonsenseUser
    Feb 28, 2021
    10
    Amazing game. Deserves all the love it can get since the media hates turnbased JRPGS that aren't Persona or Pokemon
  26. Darkstar81
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    I almost didn't buy this title. That would have been very dumb as this game turned out to be one of my most favorite titles on the switch.

    The game play is reminiscent of older ATB JRPG games and it does it very solidly with its own flavor. So If you like ATB JRPGs of old, especially ones with a job/class system. I think you'll feel comfy in its embrace. I personally enjoyed the    I almost didn't buy this title. That would have been very dumb as this game turned out to be one of my most favorite titles on the switch.

    The game play is reminiscent of older ATB JRPG games and it does it very solidly with its own flavor. So If you like ATB JRPGs of old, especially ones with a job/class system. I think you'll feel comfy in its embrace. I personally enjoyed the battling experience. Simply put, I had a lot of fun.

    The voice acting is well done and I absolutely love the music. (i'll be buying that OST when it drops) It really helped me get immersed into the story which I very much enjoyed. The art direction is beautiful and I find the character models charming. (I was put off at first but I grew into it and love it now)

    I'm leaving a lot out but I'm short on time but wanted to give my two thumb support to this game. Its worth checking out if you're into RPGs of this ilk. This was my first time in the Bravely universe and it left a great first impression.    … Expand
  27. drunkoni
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    Story-9/10
    Soundtrack-11/10
    Battle system-9/10
    Art/Graphics-10/10
    Misc- Job/Party System- 10/10

    One of the most polished and charming (retro-styled) JRPGs I've played. It's like expertly made comfort food. It gives you exactly what you want and does it well.
    Overall - 10/10
  28. Hirets1
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    I've played about 20 hours so far, and I can say it's a game with a really good combat system and a brilliant soundtrack.
  29. davidretr0
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    Best RPG in a while. Definitely better than P5R where there is only repetitive combat.
  30. Alexander2209
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    Very good game. If you love JRPGs in the slightest, give this game a go. Much better than Octopath and the story is more engaging!
  31. DoctorZack
    Feb 27, 2021
    4
    It's a very long winded and ugly looking game. Its sadly just another JRPG with nothing substantial to contribute to the genre. If you're a diehard wait for a sale.
  32. pockets679
    Feb 27, 2021
    9
    I've been having a blast with this. I haven't played the original games so I don't know how it compares to them but for me this is a very Dragon Quest-esque JRPG. It doesn't do anything crazy or new but it's a chill adventure with great characters, locations and a fantastic battle system. It's a very traditional JRPG and that's not a bad thing at all. It doesn't have the wide expanse ofI've been having a blast with this. I haven't played the original games so I don't know how it compares to them but for me this is a very Dragon Quest-esque JRPG. It doesn't do anything crazy or new but it's a chill adventure with great characters, locations and a fantastic battle system. It's a very traditional JRPG and that's not a bad thing at all. It doesn't have the wide expanse of something like DQ11 but it's a perfect Saturday afternoon game that will have you losing plenty of hours.

    My only real complaints are that the character models are ugly as sin and the game can be a bit messy looking in handheld but you get used to both suprisingly quick.    … Expand
  33. sarisa
    Feb 27, 2021
    6
    After 12 hours of gameplay and few bosses defeated, I have to tell that BD2 is solid, but by all means very average JRPG. It may disappoint you if you were counting on the Octopath Traveler quality product. It's not that league, unfortunately. However this game is certainly better and more polished than titles like I am Setsuna or Lost Sphear (i'm comparing only turn based jrpgs). It'sAfter 12 hours of gameplay and few bosses defeated, I have to tell that BD2 is solid, but by all means very average JRPG. It may disappoint you if you were counting on the Octopath Traveler quality product. It's not that league, unfortunately. However this game is certainly better and more polished than titles like I am Setsuna or Lost Sphear (i'm comparing only turn based jrpgs). It's clear that developers put a lot of passion to make this title pure JRPG and similar to the old Final Fantasy games, but at the same time tried to make this title as much mainstream and generic as possible. And as you probably know, what tries to please everyone, won't please anyone and end up as bland product. That's what Bravely Default 2 unfortunately became. Only for die-hard JRPG fans.

    Here is my list of the bigger sins that I have noticed so far in BD2:
    - idiotic fetch quests & boring gameplay (I've once fall asleep while making one of these quests..)
    - you're carried by the hand in whatever you do. This results in suppressed immersion by design. So why not creating autoplay? Or simple button "do that game for me"? Oh wait... they actually implemented sailoring where you get items when you turn your Switch in sleep mode
    - subjectively eclectic and bland music (biggest disappointment to me)
    - unconvincing voice acting
    - Elvis. I have no idea what genius made it up to create idea of scholar being complete dork like this guy
    - main character is as bland as possible. In general it may be hard to like whole party
    - narrative aspects leave much to be desired

    And here is a list of cool and good features I liked:
    + Special monsters
    + Difficulty level
    + I liked the graphics and visual style and can't confirm there were framerate issues. Everything is allright in that matter

    Rest is average and not worth mentioning :(    … Expand
  34. Ketzuken1269
    Feb 27, 2021
    10
    Brilliant game with a world class combat system. Great story, awesome cast and music to die for. Best jrpg on switch since XBC:DE.
  35. Aranea_
    Feb 27, 2021
    8
    It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel and that's why I personally enjoy the game a lot.
    You either know what you're getting yourself into; i.e. an old-school RPG in the image of the golden days of Final Fantasy, or you don't and you might feel surprised by sudden Difficulty bumps at each boss fight.

    Not being able to steamroll through the game like in a lot of modern RPGs? Sign me up.
  36. Mistoltean
    Feb 27, 2021
    8
    The spiritual successor of old-time classic ATB Final Fantasy.

    First, tbh, I partially lose my hope with how SE do jrpg for quite some time and never play new FF after X. This game is a true spiritual successor to classic FF I-V. If you love FF V, this game is quite similar to many aspects such as job system and class change. The story is simple and set in a fantasy world, something    The spiritual successor of old-time classic ATB Final Fantasy.

    First, tbh, I partially lose my hope with how SE do jrpg for quite some time and never play new FF after X. This game is a true spiritual successor to classic FF I-V.
    If you love FF V, this game is quite similar to many aspects such as job system and class change.
    The story is simple and set in a fantasy world, something FF I-V and IX did well. No time traveling or change the timeline bs that the newer FF and even FF VII remake tried to add but failed to execute well, leaving the story as incomprehensible.

    The art style is glorious and beautiful, in particular, background, world map, and town. I hope more jrpgs follow this style, even though it is harder on their artists.

    The downside is that, since it is modernized of ATB FF, it might not be for you if you don't like turn based. Some mechanics are conservative. This means if you are more of a fan of modern jrpg or wjrpg, check the demo first if you still like the game as this game might not be mainstream.

    My score 8/10 is a temporary score as I just got my game today and it is based on the demo and the first few hours of the actual game. Will update my score and review it when I play more.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 111 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 111
  3. Negative: 2 out of 111
  1. CD-Action
    Oct 12, 2021
    85
    I wanted to both scold Bravely Default II for its many flaws and kiss it for some stellar moments when it shone like a diamond. At the end of the day the latter decisively outweighed the former. The game boasts one of the best combat systems I’ve seen in jRPGs, towns that are a work of art, and a breathtaking soundtrack. If you like the genre, there’s a chance you’ll fall in love with Bravely Default II. [04/2021, p.48]
  2. GameByte
    Jun 1, 2021
    60
    There is so much potential here that doesn’t quite reach the mark, and it’s quite mind boggling as to why some of these problems exist when they didn’t in their previous work. 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.
    Read full review
  3. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 17, 2021
    90
    Bravely Default II is one of the Switch's best RPGs, and that's not small praise for an RPG on a system that's already home to some of the genre's best. [Issue #52 – May/June 2021, p. 69]
See all critic reviews »