Fans of traditional JRPGs in the style ofFinal Fantasyhave much to rejoice over with the advent ofBravely Default 2. Carrying on both its franchise andthe torch of classicFinal Fantasytitles, it is a much-anticipated release by fans of the previousBravely Defaulttitles.
A lot has already been revealed aboutBravely Default 2. Parts of its world, as well as key players in the form of characters and nations, have been steadily revealed with new trailers. New jobs have also been revealed on a steady basis, although as of this article, not all of the game’s secrets are known. A bit more was revealed, however, after today’s Nintendo Direct.
RELATED:Bravely Default 2 Gets New Trailer and Release Date
The final trailer ofBravely Default 2doesn’t give much information that was not already known. Instead, it reiterates many of the things fans have to look forward to: beautiful graphics, a new world, and a classic JRPG save the world story. Of course, some of the most important gameplay mechanics, likea plethora of available jobs, were already shown before this. In trueBravely Defaultfashion, it looks like these must still be acquired by defeating specific bosses.
An entirely new world, of course, does not mean that theBravely Defaultformula is being shaken up completely. In addition to the jobs,there’s still a militaristic nation with eyes on world conquestthat the main characters must deal with. Four heroes must stop them by protecting four elemental crystals, a staple of both classicFinal Fantasyand earlierBravely Defaulttitles. And, of course, there is almost certainly a deadly twist stemming from ancient forces behind the main plot. What it is remains to be seen, but odds are good it will involve an ancient, divine being.
TheBravely Default 2combat systemremains largely unchanged, which series veterans will like. An evolution of standard turn-based battles, the combat system lets players store additional turns by guarding (default), then spend them to take multiple actions in one turn (brave). It’s a good addition and part of the series' main appeal.
All in all, things look promising for the game, and it’s possible that the series will go even further from here.Bravely Default 2’s breakaway from previous title continuity is likely a good thing, as it sets a precedent for future games. This way, the series need not be bound by one world and can develop any way it pleases. There’s an updated free demo out right now, so players are free to check it out and see if it inspires confidence.
Bravely Default 2releases Jul 18, 2025, exclusively for the Switch.
MORE:Bravely Default 2’s Job System Borrows Heavily From Final Fantasy Tactics
