Hey, so here’s the thing. I’ve never touched the original Bravely Default on my old 3DS. Yeah, kinda nuts, right? Everyone keeps yammering on about it being the top RPG, just under Final Fantasy. But guess what? Square Enix dropped a surprise demo of the Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster at PAX East 2025. Lucky me! I got to dive into it with totally fresh eyes, blissfully unaware of my previous neglect.
So, right off the bat. No dual screens like the OG version. Kinda a bummer, honestly. But they’ve cranked up the graphics to make up for it. Shiny and new with a spiffy UI. I cornered a Square Enix rep and asked if they’d do the same for the sequel, Bravely Second: End Layer. She sorta nodded, but was all tight-lipped about any real plans. Maybe they’ll run with it ’cause I brought it up. Who knows?
Playing this remaster in a short demo? Not exactly the best setup for diving deep into an RPG. Like, who has time to soak in all the dialogue and those lengthy cutscenes? Anyway, got straight to the combat—it’s wild. The battle system? Super unique. You can go all-out with “Brave” moves, doing up to four attacks, but you’re a sitting duck afterward. Or use “Default,” which is like, defense plus saving a move for later. I ended up just charging in headfirst with Brave, hoping I don’t get clobbered. Not the best strategy, but hey, it was funny. Real deal probably needs smarter moves—balancing Brave and Default like a pro.
Didn’t get to mess with the job system, which was kinda a letdown. But, trust me, I’m seriously wowed. Skipping it on the 3DS? Dumb move. But this remaster’s a sweet chance to hop on board if you missed it too. Mark the date: June 5, Nintendo Switch 2 launch day. Can’t wait!
