After first releasing on the Nintendo 3DS, Square Enix's Bravely Default series has seen much success when it comes to the franchise's review scores. Critics adored the first Bravely Default game for its classic approach to JRPG combat and storytelling. Considering that the first game is currently sitting at an overall Metacritic score of 85, fans around the world are no doubt interested in how this new entry is doing.
Is Bravely Default 2 worth diving into for fans of the series, or is it a step in the wrong direction? Thankfully, the review embargo for Bravely Default 2 was lifted today and various gaming outlets are publishing their reviews for the game. Here's what the critics have to say about the new Switch JRPG and whether it's worth picking up today or not.
TheGamer (Dave Aubrey)
"Bravely Default 2 makes a compelling case for itself as a modern JRPG that evokes the classic era, but it doesn’t do as much with the concept as modern contemporaries, and it never quite reaches the soaring highs of those classics, either. This is a game in between a rock and a hard place, and while it will definitely find its audience, it won’t make it onto any list of essential RPGs as its predecessor did."
Score: 3/5
Screenrant (Scott Baird)
"Bravely Default 2 feels like a franchise reboot, yet it's designed more for original fans than for a new audience. The combat system is viciously hard and off-putting to people who prefer more casual experiences. There is a lot to like in Bravely Default 2, as its character class system and story gradually unfold into something engaging and interesting - it just takes a long journey through some rough territory to get there."
Score: 3.5/5
IGN (Seth Macy)
"Bravely Default 2 is a long, familiar journey with excellent customizable combat and jobs systems that let you make your party and your playthrough truly your own. Its character and enemy art that was excellent on the 3DS doesn't translate all that well to the higher resolution of the Nintendo Switch, but the beautiful backdrops and environments get a massive boost from and look fantastic. And while the grind is real and repetitive fetch quests abound, it's so easy to pick up and put back down that it feels like less of a grind and more of a constructive way to kill some time. With plenty of old-school sensibilities and tons of improvements on the formula, Bravely Default 2 is almost everything I crave from a JRPG outside of a grand story."
Score: 8/10
Twinfinite (Zhiqing Wan)
"Bravely Default II doesn’t exactly break new ground in the saturated JRPG genre, but instead refines and iterates upon the foundation of the genre itself and the combat system that was introduced in the first game. It’s a marked improvement over its predecessors in many ways, and most importantly, it’s JRPG comfort food for genre fans. Bravely Default II can get frustrating at times, but it more than makes up for that by being endlessly charming and endearing, and remains a joy to play through from start to finish."
Score: 4/5
GameSpot (Steve Watts)
"I'm left with mixed feelings about Bravely Default II. There's a lot to like and a core that's still fun and engaging. But the removal of some key quality-of-life features gives this experience a lot more friction than the prior games. I've loved the Bravely Default series for letting me feel like I'm 15 again--with all the time in the world to grind out a full set of level-99 characters--while still respecting my time by recognizing I don't actually want to do that. Bravely Default II asked me to put in the tedious work and lost some of the series' identity in the process."
Score: 6/10
GameInformer (Daniel Tack)
"Bravely Default II succeeds at delivering what it’s best at: offering a taste of the past with the emphasis on creative class combinations, hordes of foes, and big boss battles. Bravely Default II deftly harnesses some of the ancient enchantment of classic grind-and-go console RPGs – but don’t expect anything beyond that."
Score: 8/10
So far, it seems that most critics have very positive things to say about Bravely Default 2. Its battle mechanics are as good as ever, the job system is clever and creative, the environments look fantastic, and there are some improvements to the overall experience too. However, many critics disliked the grind and tough bosses that can cause a somewhat frustrating gameplay experience. There are also some people criticizing the game's characters and plot, calling it cliche and a trope that's been done to death.
Regardless, Bravely Default 2 is currently at a Metacritic average of 80, which is just a few points underneath the original game. While the JRPG isn't something that players should rush out to buy immediately, it seems like a solid follow-up that'll make fans of the series happy. For those still on the fence about the game, they can still download the free demo that's out now on the Switch eShop.
Bravely Default 2 will launch on February 26 as a Nintendo Switch exclusive.