Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster - Switch 2 Review
"A true celebration of classical turn-based RPGs"
The excitement I had during the Switch 2 direct when Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster from Square Enix was shown off as a release title was unmatched through the direct. The original release was a 3DS title and is one of my favourite experiences on the handheld. Now, 13 years later, a new generation of gamers has the opportunity to explore the lands of Luxendarc and the story of Tiz, Anges, Ringabel, and Edea as they uncover the mysteries before them.
The Good
Visually, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is just stunning to look at and captures that storybook illustration design in the cities perfectly. Character models, while looking simple during gameplay, seamlessly fit into the world and the overall design that takes place. However, during the opening sequence, when you see the characters modelled with more detail, it is such a visually pleasing sequence to watch. The continent of Luxendarc is lovingly rendered, and you can genuinely spend an extended amount of time just taking in all the details of the art on display.
The Brave and Default combat system of receiving points by defending and spending points for extra turns is more present in the turn-based genre now; it was a revolutionary shake-up to the formula. It adds another layer of strategy in combat that is expanded further with the multitude of jobs, skills, and equipment. There are some absolutely broken combos you can do that feel so satisfying to pull off.
I love the character writing in Bravely Default; everyone feels like they have their own motivations and past that define their actions and reactions to others. Like the main party will argue after over different events or the party chats, which develop their relationships more. Then you have the side characters who can feel cartoonishly evil sometimes, but you get some amazing developments for them down the line, and it just feels so worth it to explore every sub-story.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster adds two new minigames in the form of a rhythm minigame and a flight simulator, which both use the new mouse controls for the Switch 2. They're fairly serviceable additions to distract from the main game; the best part they do is add more items and lore to the story. A unique currency is scored based on how well you perform, which is then used to buy the equipment and items in merchants' stores.
TL;DR
- Stunning visuals
- Genre-defining combat
- Enticing character writing
- Interesting new additions
The Bad
The complaints of the original release of Bravely Default weren't touched in the Flying Fairy remaster. A lot of the dungeons are one-note with a straightforward path and very few puzzles blocking the way forward. While visually they're gorgeous designs across the board, I just can't get over how boring it feels going through them on an exploration level. Also, the hidden paths to get additional items are a very tedious process to uncover.
Without going into any level of spoilers, if you know, you know that the second half of Bravely Default is a frustrating loop to go through. Although the character developments that happen in this section of the game add so much to the story, which does make the second half worth the pain. So if you're able to go through forced backtracking for great story and character development, this downside is minimised, although still annoying.
TL;DR
- Bland dungeons
- Repetitive second half of story
Final Score: 9/10
Bravely Default is a true celebration of classical turn-based RPGs and the Square Enix golden age that captures players with a compelling story, amazing characters, and one of the best takes on turn-based combat. Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster brings a beautiful coat of paint, additional lore, and some interesting minigames while keeping the core of what made the original so iconic. If you're an RPG fan, this is a must-buy experience to go through, and I can't help but recommend it.
Thank you for checking out our Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Switch review, thank you to Square Enix (via Bandai Namco AU) for providing the review code and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:
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