The original Bravely Default is locked to the Nintendo 3DS no longer. Square Enix has resurrected the series’ inaugural entry as a Switch 2 exclusive, adding notable weight to Nintendo’s new console launch lineup. A Final Fantasy spin-off in all but name, complete with magical crystals and warriors of light, Bravely Default Flying Fairy remains a must-play JRPG and Nintendo exclusive. That sentiment has never been more true thanks to the HD remaster.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster once again whisks away players to the land of Luxendarc. The four elemental crystals—Wind, Water, Fire and Earth—have been plunged into darkness following the catastrophic event known as the Great Chasm. The giant hole that appeared swallowed the town of Norende whole, leaving a single survivor: Tiz, one of the core four heroes. The loss of his hometown, brother included, provides ample motivation for our shepherd-turned-adventurer. Of course, there are three more that come along for the ride. Agnes, the Wind crystal vestal, seeks the end of the encroaching darkness, accompanied by her fairy companion, Airy; Edea turns her back on her empire and their depraved actions, coming around to the ways of Tiz and the gang; lastly, there’s Ringabel, an amnesiac in possession of a prophetic journal. The four band together and travel far and wide to return the world to its former glory.
Endearingly Traditional
The narrative here may not be anything groundbreaking, as it hits many similar beats as past Final Fantasy titles, it still manages to be engaging through its nostalgic familiarity. Plus, even weaker stories can be elevated substantially by their characters. Bravely Default Flying Fairy brings that in spades with their charming, Chibi-like cast. And they’ve never looked better due to the graphical facelift powered by the Switch 2. While we say goodbye to the 3D visual effect found in the handheld version, the tradeoff is a full 1080p view of everything on offer. The character models contrasted against the vibrant, watercolor-style backgrounds make for a visually stunning experience. There’s no shortage of eye candy as the posse ventures from town to town doing good deeds in service of their grander goals.
When the player isn’t ogling the presentation, they’ll be locked in a strategic battle that flow beautifully. Pulled straight from the title, there are Brave and Default actions that supplement the usual attack, spell and item options. Using Brave breaks the usual limited action economy of most turn-based games. Players can opt to stack multiple actions for use on a single turn. However, it’s possible to use more BP, the number of available actions, than are currently stored, dropping the player into a negative BP state. Enemies are then free to wreak havoc for multiple turns until the BP has rebalanced. In low level fights with random spawns, it’s easy to exploit Brave to queue up multiple attacks and consistently wipe out the foe(s) in a single turn, an achievement that rewards bonus XP. Conversely, players can Default, essentially giving up their turn to bank extra BP. It also comes with the added benefit of placing the character into a damage-reducing defensive state. It’s an engaging system, and one Square Enix hasn’t been shy about implementing elsewhere in their lineup since.
Be Brave
Combat goes through regular shakeups with the embedded job system. Although the journey kicks off with a fairly bland Freelancer, it eventually starts throwing other jobs for the characters to take on. With 24 jobs, ranging from Black Mage to Pirate to Vampire, there’s a wealth of different playstyles from which to choose. And although they are leveled independently, the bonuses gained from one aren’t necessarily forfeited upon switching. That said, you will be parting with the job-specific clothing previously worn. This layer makes experimenting with other classes worthwhile, further empowering the characters as they expand their expertise.
In terms of what’s new, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster doesn’t represent the wildest of overhauls. But what it does update, aside from its resolution, are felt in meaningful ways. The UI has been revised to better accommodate a single screen rather than being split across two. There are also extra player-friendly systems embedded within, like a Heal All option. Additionally, the overall pacing can be notably sped up through a fast-forward feature and adjustable encounter rates—a lower rate can be set to limit the number of combat interruptions while progressing or a higher rate can be selected to help grind out additional levels more efficiently. There are also two all-new minigames that put the Switch 2’s joycon mouse mode on full display, providing brief but entertaining distractions.
The fact is, Bravely Default Flying Fairy was already an innovative, exceptional JRPG over a decade ago, and that hasn’t changed. Playing around with its combat mechanics is always a joy, as is recording your own high-damage move to share with friends via a social summoning system. For anything that can be claimed was lost in the transition from handheld was more than balanced out by all it gained from making the leap to a console, and one that allows for on-the-go play to truly reminisce of its original delivery.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review Verdict
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster: Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster has finally liberated a classic from the confines of the 3DS, and its new lease on life on the Switch 2 is a grand one. While it doesn't take its HD remaster as far as other titles, it doesn't need to. This is an epic JRPG that is able to reach new, modern audiences with greater ease. And it's a standout in Nintendo's latest console launch lineup. – Joshua
[Editor’s Note: Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster was reviewed on Switch 2 and a copy was provided to us for review purposes.]