Bravely Default II is filled with punishing battles that push you to the limits of what you believe to be possible. You might start a battle with someone and suffer greatly, but grinding is the only way you’re going to succeed. It may frustrate, especially as difficulty ramps up from boss to boss and area to area. Even though there’s a ‘casual’ difficulty, trying that out I found it to be no different from the normal setting.
Old school JRPG fans will think nothing of it, though, as anyone who has played a hardcore turn-based game from the east will know the learning curve is steep, and the challenges are great. Whilst the cities and environments are beautiful, some of the cutscenes and character animations are a bit weak. The music is wonderful at times if a little repetitive, but it is the variety in your battle options that make it stand out from the rest. If you’re willing to be patient and spend time fighting relentlessly throughout, Bravely Default II is hugely rewarding.
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