The recent release of Bravely Default 2 proves that the old-school JRPG formula can still be innovative as it comes to the new generation of consoles. Featuring in-depth mechanics and a compelling narrative, Bravely Default 2 manages to build upon its predecessors without losing any of its charm.
In particular, the job system in Bravely Default 2 is complex and consistently evolving as players will alternate between different combinations of main jobs and sub-jobs depending on the situation. Though the concept of a job system is nothing new for JRPGs, Bravely Default 2 manages to perfect the mechanics and introduce an interesting approach to combat within the genre.
Bravely Default 2's Unique Class System
While Bravely Default 2 draws upon old-school JRPG mechanics, its unique class system separates it from the typical games that fans might expect. Similar to Final Fantasy games, Bravely Default 2 allows players to assign different jobs to their party members in the game. Each job features distinct abilities, stats, and spells to help in combat. However, Bravely Default 2 also actively encourages players to swap between different jobs depending on the situation. Since the characters are equal at their base level, they don't have a natural affinity for any particular job and this allows players the flexibility to change jobs on the fly.
Furthermore, Bravely Default 2 features a sub-job system which allows characters to make use of two jobs at once. Since the jobs change base stats, attacks, and passive skills, there are a number of different combinations that players can use to their advantage in combat. Main jobs which are assigned to characters will gain experience while sub-jobs don't gain experience but offer access to special abilities. Players might want to round out their party with the classic RPG composition of healers, DPS, and tanks but beyond that, the job system allows them to optimize their party any way they like. With over 20 jobs to unlock and combine, Bravely Default 2 offers players plenty of options to find a playstyle they enjoy.
Perfecting the Age-Old Job System
While Bravely Default isn't the first JRPG to feature a robust job system, it manages to use it in a way that offsets the typical problems that players might expect in the genre. For example, grinding is usually a common problem that most old-school JRPGs have. Players must repeatedly battle the same monsters or navigate through dungeons multiple times to gain enough strength to fight the toughest bosses. In the case of Bravely Default 2 however, the freedom that the job system offers allows players to continually experiment with their builds during the grindy sections of the game. Swapping between jobs and testing how their abilities work together offsets the boredom of a typical JRPG grind.
As with previous games in the Bravely Default franchise, the mechanics in Bravely Default 2 also reflect the highly customizable job system. Whereas other JRPGs will feature characters that have inclinations towards certain jobs, the party members in Bravely Default 2 all have the same base stats to allow for experimentation. Some of the monsters and bosses in Bravely Default 2 are also designed in a way that encourages specific class setups so players can figure out what combinations they enjoy using.
In a sense, the flexibility of jobs almost feels like ARPGs such as Grim Dawn or Path of Exile where grinding manages to be enjoyable due to consistent progression and adjustable playstyles. Bravely Default 2 manages to perfect the old-school JRPG formula by using an in-depth job system that encourages experimentation while offsetting the grindy nature of the genre.
Bravely Default 2 is available now on Nintendo Switch.