Bravely Default II also lacks an "all-out attack" style finisher to cut rote battles short, mitigated somewhat by the ability to raise or lower the speed of combat with a single button touch, which alleviates some of the tedium. Hitting a monster's weakness does some extra damage but hardly has as much impact as knocking a monster down in a Persona game. Monsters are weak against certain weapons or elements, and failing to exploit those weaknesses will prolong battles to a potentially fatal extent. In a devious way, the system micro-weaponizes the fundamental truth behind all JRPGs, which is that time equals power.Īt first glance, the combat system seems to take some inspiration from Persona games. During the game's challenging boss battles, players will have to be more judicious, or their foe - also capable of using the Brave Point system - will level the party before they have a chance to respond. Against average dungeon-dwelling monsters, it's easy enough to go wild on the opening turn and wipe out most if not all of the enemies. The system allows players to spend points to take up to four actions on a single turn, delaying their next turn in accordance, or bank them for higher defense and to use at a more opportune time. The opposite side of that coin is that the earlier you find a build you enjoy, the less you have to look forward to as the game progresses.īravely Default II uses an updated version of the "Brave Point" system introduced in the original Bravely Default. That opens up many customization options, especially for those willing to grind a job to the maximum level to unlock the one passive ability they plan to use. There are more than 20 jobs for players to unlock and level up, and each character can equip two while also having five independent passive ability slots.
The game doesn't have much to say about these topics, but their presence is notable nonetheless. It also includes some surprisingly relevant villain ideas, such as a self-absorbed artist willing to kill and ruin lives for their brilliant vision. The plot is littered with allusions to climate change as the heroes deal with changing weather patterns, unusual animal migrations, and water shortages in response to the imbalance caused by Adam's lust for control and power. The heroes are endearing enough that they don't wear out their welcome over the scores of hours spent with them, and the voice acting is strong all-around, despite the seemingly random assortment of character accents.