Bravely Default 2 is the next in a string of games to pay homage to Square Enix's Final Fantasy. The fantasy title features many elements that are present throughout the mainline Final Fantasy games, and this spin-off series might be what helps carry the torch for classic Final Fantasy's legacy into the future.
As Bravely Default 2's release quickly approaches, currently set for February 26, 2021, many players are likely digging into the demo currently available on the Switch and checking out any new information like newest trailer revealing new jobs. As a result, it is worth taking a moment to consider how Bravely Default 2 is continuing a series that is carrying on the legacy of the classic Final Fantasy games.
Carrying On From Classic Final Fantasy
When the first Bravely Default released for the 3Ds back in 2012, players were treated to a charming adventure with beautiful hand-drawn environments and a battle system that harkened back to the old days of turn-based Final Fantasy games. The title doesn't bear the Final Fantasy name but the series carries on many traditional elements of a Final Fantasy game. The items available for purchase bear many of the same names like the Phoenix Down to resurrect an unconscious party member, and the game utilizes a job system with many classes represented that were available in Final Fantasy 3 and Final Fantasy Tactics.
The job system includes many familiar classes like the black, white, and red mages, and jobs adapted from older games like the original's Valkyrie class as an updated Dragoon. The job system was complete with a wardrobe change upon selecting a job, and allowed for player characters to assign sub-jobs in order to maintain skills learned from each class. This again is adapted from the systems in Tactics and FF3. These mechanics have been expanded on and eager players can try the system out in the final Bravely Default 2 demo that's available now on the Switch.
Another integral element of the Final Fantasy series that is on full display in Bravely Default are the magical crystals that exert influence over the game world. In Bravely Default, the crystals have direct influences over the regions where they reside like in the newly shown off snowy country of Rimedahl. It seems that Final Fantasy may be moving away from the crystals direct influence on their game worlds as evidenced by the first trailer for the upcoming Final Fantasy 16.
Story and gameplay mechanics in Bravely Default 2 are not only adapted but innovated on from Final Fantasy titles. In a fun twist to the turn-based gameplay mechanics of Final Fantasy's past, the Brave and Default system encourages strategy in major battles and helps players grinding for levels and gear quickly defeat mobs of lower creatures. A Brave allows for a party member to act more than once in a turn at the cost of losing an action the next turn. Default allows them to assume a defensive position and store an extra action for later. The system is interesting in Bravely Default and its sequel Bravely Second despite that game garnering backlash from some fans. These mechanics are a great way for Square Enix to continue innovating on classic styles of play while moving away with its main series.
Final Fantasy and Bravely Default
As the mainline Final Fantasy games continue to move away from their traditional turn-based gameplay partly to appeal to a wider audience, Bravely Default seems to be a great way for Square Enix to separate the gameplay styles into each of its two related-but-distinct series. It seems with the break away of Bravely Default 2 that Square Enix may be intending to set the franchise aside as something similar to Final Fantasy. Having two games set in a similar universe but with different frameworks appealing to different (and sometimes the same) fans could be a good move for Square Enix.
If the studio does continue the Bravely Default series in a manner similar to Final Fantasy, fans could see separate worlds and storylines in each new Bravely Default title much the same way the multitude of Final Fantasy games do. The demo for Bravely Default 2 is already giving many fans a glimpse at the new storyline that separates itself from Bravely Default and Bravely Second. This could allow for Square Enix to continue innovating on traditional gameplay without the move to real-time action like upcoming Final Fantasy 16. The legacy of Final Fantasy is vast, and Bravely Default 2 is set to help carry its torch moving forward.
Bravely Default 2 releases on February 26, 2021