Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remastered Review

When Bravely Default first launched on the Nintendo 3DS back in 2014, it was a game that hooked me pretty quickly, and at the time, I was really looking for a great new RPG to jump into. It felt like a love letter to the golden era of turn-based JRPGs, yet it had enough modern ideas to keep things fresh. The chibi characters, layered job system, and the bold Brave/Default mechanics—everything clicked well. Now, with the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, the game has been reworked into Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remastered. I was curious when it was announced if the game that was so well suited to the 3DS could be ported and if Square Enix were able to breathe enough new life into a game that’s over a decade old? And after playing it. Yes, they absolutely did. This is still one of the most rewarding RPG experiences out there, and the HD upgrade brings it into the current generation with grace.

The story kicks off in classic fantasy JRPG style: a cataclysm hits the world, and the four elemental crystals are thrown into chaos. You start off as Tiz, a young shepherd whose hometown is swallowed by a massive chasm. He sets out on a mission for answers and soon crosses paths with Agnes, the Wind Vestal who’s desperately trying to awaken the corrupted crystals. Ringabel, a flirtatious amnesiac with a mysterious journal predicting future events, joins the crew, and finally there’s Edea, a defector from the enemy army whose shifting worldview becomes one of the narrative’s most satisfying arcs.

What starts as a straightforward quest to restore balance quickly spirals into something much deeper. The game isn’t afraid to pull the rug out from under you. The writing holds up surprisingly well, blending earnest character development with sharp, occasionally self-aware humor. It’s not just about saving the world—it’s about questioning who’s really pulling the strings.

One of the things I loved most playing through again was how well the party dynamic evolves. These aren’t just archetypes thrown together for convenience. Tiz’s quiet resolve, Agnes’s journey from sheltered priestess to brave leader, Ringabel’s surprisingly touching character arc, and Edea’s moral conflict—they all feel like people, not just roles. Their chemistry feels earned, and you see it reflected both in story beats and gameplay.

Progression is tightly tied to the game’s job system. Characters earn experience and job points (JP) from battles. JP goes toward leveling up whatever job class they’re currently assigned to—be it Black Mage, Knight, Thief, Summoner, and so on. Each job unlocks unique abilities and passives, and here’s where things get interesting: you can equip a second job’s skills in addition to your main class. Want a White Mage who can hit like a Fighter? Give it a try. Or a Monk who can cast Magic? The system encourages you to experiment, and the results are often surprising.

That kind of flexibility is rare, and it’s one of the reasons Bravely Default still stands out today. There’s real satisfaction in fine-tuning your party, adapting your loadout not just to your playstyle but to the specific threats ahead. Boss battles especially demand it.

The turn-based battle system isn’t just nostalgic—it’s clever. At its core is the Brave/Default mechanic. Every turn, you can “Default” to defend and store up actions, or “Brave” to spend them all at once. You can stack multiple actions, letting you unleash a flurry of attacks—or burn through your entire stockpile at the wrong time and leave yourself helpless.

This mechanic never got old for me. On normal enemies, I’d go all-in early to finish battles quickly. But with bosses? It became a dance. I had to anticipate patterns, set up defenses, wait for the right moment, and then unload. Sometimes it felt like solving a puzzle, with different combinations of buffs, debuffs, and job synergies. It’s tactical, it’s tense, and it kept me fully engaged for the entire playthrough. Unlike some turn-based systems that wear thin, this one kept me thinking.

Visually, the HD remaster is exactly what I hoped for. The original game had a watercolor pop-up book vibe, and it’s been preserved beautifully for the most part. Character models are now much clearer and more detailed, and backgrounds have gotten a resolution boost that makes towns and dungeons feel more alive. The UI has been cleaned up, menus are snappier, and everything just feels smoother.

Performance is rock-solid. Whether I was playing docked or handheld, I didn’t encounter any hiccups—no framerate drops, no stuttering, no weird bugs. That kind of stability is expected in a remaster, but it’s still nice to see it actually delivered.

There are a few new Switch 2-exclusive mini-games that use the Joycon 2.0s. Think motion-controlled carnival-style distractions. They’re harmless, and I appreciate the attempt to make the game feel like it belongs on modern hardware, but they don’t add much. I engaged with them as little as I had to. Still, it’s a thoughtful gesture, and it shows the developers didn’t just do a bare minimum port and call it a day.

When it comes to the music. Composer Revo’s work is just as good now as it was ten years ago—maybe even better, thanks to improved audio fidelity of the Nintendo Switch 2 compared to the 3DS. The soundtrack covers a surprising range: haunting piano for emotional moments, epic orchestral swells for boss fights, laid-back town themes that set the perfect vibe. There’s a consistent emotional tone that enhances every part of the game. It’s a great RPG soundtrack and it has more than a few tracks that will get stuck in your head long after you put down the console.

As much as I love Flying Fairy HD Remastered, it’s not perfect. The second half of the game is infamous for its repetition—I won’t spoil how or why, but yes, it’s still here, and yes, it can wear on you if you’re not prepared, seeing as this isn’t a full blown remake, I fully expected this wouldn’t be fixed up of coarse. I get what the story is going for, but some pacing tweaks or optional streamlining would’ve gone a long way.

Also, some of the side quests still feel undercooked. The writing is strong, but many follow a basic “go here, fight this” structure. When stacked next to the excellent main narrative, some feel more like filler than meaningful detours.

Final Thoughts

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remastered is more than just a nostalgia trip—it’s a reminder of why this game stood out in the first place. The bold battle mechanics, deep customization, memorable characters, and stellar music all hold up, and the visual upgrade breathes new life into its world without messing with what made it great.

Is it perfect? No. Some structural flaws from the original are still present, and the new content is a bit of a mixed bag. But taken as a whole, this is still one of the most satisfying, strategic RPGs of the modern era. If you’ve never played Bravely Default, this is the best way to experience it. And if you have? This remaster is more than worthy of a second journey, especially if it’s been a while.

A Nintendo Switch 2 review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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