Bravely Default Flying Fairy had been a game I had always wanted to play, but with the cost of games here in Canada alongside the 3DS costing $300+, I completely missed an entire library of art. This HD Remaster launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 is able to rectify for players like me who missed out on the start of this franchise. Outside of visual updates, the game brings all-new minigames using the Switch 2 Joy-Con in interesting and wild manners.
My character starts as a Freelancer for their Job, and though there is an inkling about more jobs being available later in the game, I can only assume it would be more specialized jobs like magic wielders, hardened sword users, and swift assassins. Though the demo we played did not get to more Jobs to try out, the knowledge it provided piqued my interest in the full game.
Since we did not have much allotted for the game’s story demo, we had aid from PR to basically rush the opening cutscenes/town, so we could get our weapon to then begin battles in the starting cave, since I wanted to see and play the original alongside titular Brave and Default gameplay system in action. The Brave and Default system is the core gameplay mechanic, as it has been on the 3DS. Each unit–friend or foe–has a Brave counter. This can be expended multiple times to unleash a flurry of attacks at once. Rather than having one attack action in a turn-based RPG, you can expend Brave Points to deal three attacks in succession on the enemy, for example.
The other part of the Brave and Default system is the Default mechanic, which allows characters to defend, mitigate damage, and build up Brave Points that can be later spent in the battle to unleash devastation to quickly take care of foes. There is a constant decision-making process of choosing to be wary or take out enemies when an opportunity strikes. With my main character growing stronger in the caves, I began to Default less and in tandem lowered my ability to allot Brave Points, but since the enemies were out-levelled by me, I did not need to spare extra turns to build up Brave Points.
There was not much time left in the demo, since it would automatically shut down, but it gave me a strong sense of the core gameplay mechanics in how the Brave and Default system could be exploited on my end and for the foes I had fought. I was able to reach the end of the cave, defeat a strong boss, and a companion joined me, while we rushed to the cave’s exit, where boulders and debris fell all around. Thankfully, I was able to get a quick random encounter, but this time with two party members, and utterly breeze through these low-level enemies; since I completely Defaulted with both characters, and then Braved. It was extremely satisfying, and they were both Freelancers as their base job, so I wondered what extra actions I could Brave with casting spells or buffing allies, as well.
After the demo timer expired, I wanted to try out the all-new minigames created solely for the Remaster, which can be chosen in the main menu. The first was a rhythm-based game–I had to put the Joy-Con straps on for safety, as I do regularly in my own home–and you would drag or bring the Joy-Con closer together following on-screen prompts. Some of them were tricky prompts, and I was still getting used to dragging Joy-Con on the table as a mechanic due to playing Drag X Drive a month back, but my engagement in the rhythm-based game was not deterred. It requires focus, coordination, and active movement that can require the whole body while sitting.
The second minigame was piloting an airship. This was the most physically hectic experience I had at PAX East, but in all of the coolest fashions. The left Joy-Con had to be pulled down as it was a lever to lift the airship, using the ship’s steering wheel, and also the airship can break down; so your right Joy-Con has to grab a wrench to fix pipes and leaks happening at the same time you are using the left Joy-Con to steer the airship. It was a hot-mess-express in the best of ways.
Both of these minigames add active functionalities to the original game, and though there was no confirmation of what the rewards actually were, both of these new minigames would provide some sort of rewards to the main story. Both minigames had many different difficulty options, levels, and rankings to obtain, giving players access to parts of the game outside of the main story or the original Brave and Default system.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster essentially feels like an all-new game for the Switch 2’s launch in comparison to the other Switch 2 titles dropping, and even before playing the hands-on demo, it has been my most anticipated Switch 2 launch game. Very much looking forward to diving into the full release and having more of a positively hectic time in the new minigames. Might even try to get others to strap on the Joy-Con and dive into the wild minigame components. A 13-year wait for me to play this, but I am looking forward to feverishly flying with the fairies in full.
