Play Time: 84hrs
Pros: Pretty visuals, excellent music, great combat system, support abilities add new layers of strategy
Cons: Padding, reused bosses, second half of the game is a drag
Have you found yourself yearning for the turn based battle system of Final Fantasies from yesteryear in a fresh, new game? Bravely Default delivers just that, with a few additions that make the experience better. Gameplay is a delightful throwback to the old days of console RPGs. Fighting your way across the world, Bravely Default builds you up for what seems like a grand finale, an epic climax, but the twist is one you wouldn't expect and not for the better.
The story is classic Final Fantasy - centered around activating crystals and saving the world by doing so. Gameplay, however, isn't so copy and paste. Like the games of old, this is a turn based system where you select which attacks, spells, or items you want each character in your party to use. Upon completion of this, your allies and enemies will execute these attacks. The big difference here is the Brave and Default system. Defaulting allows characters to save an attack and defend for a round. This boosts that character's battle points(BP) by one. Characters can then attack multiple times another round, or opt to use abilities that require more BP. Using Brave subtracts BP and allows characters to attack more than once.
This opens up new avenues for strategy. Not only must you decide how to attack, but whether you should attack now, or wait to bring the hammer down later. BP can be driven below zero, causing you to lose a turn, depending on how many times you use Brave. This is always shown, so you're never left guessing. It's up to you to decide whether the risk is worth the reward.
Defeating enemies gains you general and job experience points. Job experience levels up a character in whatever job they are assigned to. These jobs include White, Black, and Red mages, along with Templars, Knights, and more. Leveling in a job category unlocks new attacks and support abilities. Support abilities can be assigned to a character, regardless of class, as long as that character has unlocked it. For example, if a character is a White Mage, but unlocked the Helm Lore support ability in the Dark Knight job, that character can equip the ability. This feature allows you to diversify your character and perhaps compensate for weaknesses in that character's current job.
Gameplay may be where Bravely Default shines, but its story suffers from predictability and a severe case of padding. The first time you run through the story and activate the last crystal, you will have a blast. Then, things get redundant. You become forced to do all the essential bosses over again, but in a world where everything is harder. Enemies you encounter in the field are different, tougher, and provide more experience points. The mini bosses defeated during your first journey are also available to fight, but don't expect to blow over them any easier than the main bosses in the second round. Bravely Default, at this point, devolves into a grind where you don't go anywhere new. You're put on a hamster wheel, fighting the same main bosses as before. While this does wind up making sense within the story later on, it doesn't excuse the shameless, excessive use of padding.
Voice acting is particularly atrocious. I turned my volume off during cutscenes and read the text instead. The script itself isn't that bad, but execution is the problem. Thankfully, the music makes up for the voice actors. I recommend playing this one with headphones, as you'll get the most out of the lovely soundtrack that, like the gameplay, is a lovely tribute to old school Final Fantasy.
Bravely Default's art style blends 3D character models and prerendered backgrounds. The characters look a bit odd, but fitting. They're not particularly impressive. The backgrounds, though, are something to behold. Places like Florem are downright beautiful with their original artwork and vivid colors. The 3D effect works well enough, but there's nothing in this game that makes using it a worthwhile experience.
The first journey, from start to finish in Bravely Default is wonderful. Bear in mind that what seems like the end, is not and the last half of the game drags its feet for no good reason. Bravely Default's achilles heel is its padding, which causes it to become a chore for the user. Had this game ended sooner, or brought you to new lands instead of recycling old content, I could recommend it more. Proceed with caution.