Bravely Default II is a turn-based RPG that refines the formula established by early Final Fantasy games. I find it most similar to Final Fantasy III.
For context, I haven't played much of the first Bravely Default, so I won't be talking about that game in this review. You don't need to have played the previous games to enjoy BD2, as they are completely separate. Let's get started.
A nostalgic Class System
If you enjoy oldschool RPGs, this game was made for you. It's a game where you control a party of four characters on a journey, and you're free to change the Job of each character as you unlock new ones. The roleplaying element given to the player there cannot be understated. You are naturally given a lot of choice in how you want to tackle combat and how you want each character to look. How long will you stick to the Freelancer job? Will you switch jobs based on the location you're in? Or perhaps based on the personality and backstory of each character? Maybe the Berserker outfit seems fitting in the snowy region. You ask yourself these questions as you play, because the game lets you make these decisions for yourself.
An innovative Weight Limit
An important addition to the formula is the equipment weight limit per character. You can freely choose to roleplay a character not wearing any hat or helmet and not feel like you're handicapping yourself, as you can use the weight freed up from that decision to give them a stronger weapon, for example. You can also hold on to early equipment for a long time, as there's always a use for it. Early armor is more lightweight and offers a lower "Chance to be Targeted" to the user, so you may want to keep those for your less resistant characters.
A note about Difficulty
It should be said that I wouldn't recommend playing on Hard if you wish to fully engage in the immersive roleplaying aspects mentioned above. That option is there for those who prefer figuring out what the optimal strategy is against every boss; not for those who wish to stick to their choices. You can change the difficulty at any time, so if the game seems too hard at any point, don't be afraid to lower it. It affects how often the enemy gets a turn, making more strategies viable.
Quality of Life
There are many important quality of life additions, such as the ability to fast-forward animations in combat (4 speeds to choose from) and to skip the intro cutscene when entering combat, making repeated combat encounters not feel slow. You never feel like you have to wait for the game to let you control it. It is a video game after all, and you always feel in control of it. There are also no random encounters, which makes exploration more interesting because you can run from fights physically instead of being forced into a fight every few steps. That is a huge change in philosophy that modernizes the formula without getting rid of its essentials, and it is very appreciated. This lack of random encounters means that you can explore some dangerous areas for sweet loot found in chests without grinding first. Beware of nasty surprises, though.
Freedom and Story
Note that this game is not going for the same level of freedom as Octopath Traveler, as you cannot remove a character from the party, and you cannot explore the whole world from the start. Seth, Gloria, Elvis and Adelle are always present, always participate in the story, and have conversations with each other much more often. You certainly don't have to imagine that part. I don't think the game is better or worse for it, it's just a different approach to RPG storytelling.
Speaking of, the characters are very charming in this game. The story feels humble and mostly traditional, but where it shines is in character and voices. If you play in English, each character has a different accent or tone. Gloria's tone is more formal, for example. I love Adelle's voice and personality the most, but even the main character, which is typically mute in this style of RPG (Dragon Quest's protagonists are mute to this day), is his own character here. He's a sailor, so in battle he lets out "yarrs" like a pirate, because why not. It's fun.
A wonderful Soundtrack
The music by Revo is, for the most part, amazing. The battle music is phenomenal, especially when you catch the parts that are inspired by classic FF battle music. It is given its own exciting touch. The overworld music is incredibly catchy, and I adore all of the dungeon and forest music, which ranges from funky to mystical and beautiful. Each track was clearly crafted with a lot of care as it fits perfectly with the region it's used in. Unfortunately, it does stumble around the Wiswald region due to one particular instrument that is annoying to listen to. Only two songs are affected by this instrument, but you do hear them for a while.
A Brave Combat System
The BP debt mechanic is very interesting and adds intensity to battles, as you need to be careful not to go all out at the wrong times or you'll be left helpless for multiple turns, yet sometimes it is best to do so. Along with the quality of life additions I mentioned earlier, it actually makes grinding quite fun, as you can go all out in regular battles and end battles in one turn. Of course, regular battles would grow stale if grinding was that easy, so they added a JP multiplier as an incentive to engage in consecutive battles. It makes sense that you'd get more Job experience by exercising restraint and executing things smartly in a challenging situation. Similarly, there's also an underdog EXP bonus if you go against tougher enemies, encouraging you not to pick on weak monsters and making tougher fights more rewarding. Excellent stuff.
A cozy Art Style
Back when BD2 was first announced, I thought it looked a bit bad, at least on Switch. However, playing this game in HD changes everything. The enemy designs are incredibly cool, the animations at 60+ FPS (and without motion blur) have a lot of flair, the town backgrounds looking like paintings are wonderful, and the overall "clay-like" art style is very pleasant to look at, as it doesn't overwhelm your eyes with too many details. It also stands out from the overused anime art style, making the game feel very unique in 2021.
Conclusion
Whether you've never experienced an oldschool RPG before and would like to enjoy what it felt like to go on an adventure back in the early days of the genre, or you're smitten by this style already, I highly recommend giving this game a chance.