I feel like it's plot over gameplay, really. It feels annoying to have the true ending locked behind being stupid, but it makes sense in context. It's reasonable to expect that you can't beat Ouroborus, and that you should just off Airy and not fall into her trap.
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LTTP: Bravely Default - I'm on chapter 5 now
- Thread starter Trojita
- Start date
Red Liquorice
Member
I hated the mandatory repeat playthrough so much I completly ignored Bravely Second, does it do the same thing?
Trojita
Rapid Response Threadmaker
The whole thing of continuing on to chapter 8 reminds me of Thelma and Louise like the Warriors of Light are holding hands going off a cliff and their car just happens to hit the big bad on the way down.
meltingparappa
Member
The last boss few boss fights are a doozy, but if you did all the chapter 8 sidequests, you're probably well equipped to navigate it.Thanks!
I'm guessing the boss rush after that is the real challenge though?
There's a pretty esoteric but sort of brilliant party configuration that makes one of those final fights easier that might be worth it if you die twice in a row.
I really appreciate that by now, you're probably around level 99-ish, and all that translates to is having all the job "tools" available to get creative in how to handle the swerves the battle system can throw at you, rather than trying to brute force it.
Yeah. They only happen to stumble upon the true ending out of sheer blind reckless coincidence, which I guess... fits.
Also, pretty nice to watch a youtube video of that opening AR movie now that you have context for it. You might recognize a roar or two.
Man.. rewatching that and having the memories come back... this was probably my favorite 3DS rpg. I don't think there'll be another writing/art/music dream team like that in a while.
even if it had to be limited to 8 chapters, they could've just made the last boss stronger and stronger with each passing chapter, basically prompting you with a game over screen after a cut scene at the end of chapter 8.
I absolutely loved the finale of the game, the "true ending" with a really amazing final boss, music, excitement... It really came together after the repetition.
I need to return to Bravely Second... Still only on Chapter 3 or something int hat one, I got burnt out on all the Asterisk quests.
I need to return to Bravely Second... Still only on Chapter 3 or something int hat one, I got burnt out on all the Asterisk quests.
FantasticMrSnake
Member
Is Bravely Default 2 any good?
I finished one, for me it was a little bit of a chore after chapter 5..,
but, above that I really enjoy every aspect of the game.
I finished one, for me it was a little bit of a chore after chapter 5..,
I kind rushed the cristal battles just to get to the final boss
It wasn't quite as well received as BD, but I actually like Bravely Second a bit better. It's mostly just more of the same.
I haven't finished it yet but so far take BD1, remove the ambitious story and the awesome music and add refinements to game play, voilà bravely second!
meltingparappa
Member
I haven't wrapped it up, but that seems like a fair assessment.
The Bravely Default series could have been something really special, but having a b-tier sequel really killed all its momentum. But whoever was in charge of planning out the gameplay systems didn't get the memo, and probably stayed late every night to really raise the bar higher than its ever been.
Bravely Second is pretty much a safe sequel. It doesn't do anything drastically different, but it refines, and advances on the systems. So the game doesn't "wow" you like Bravely Default did, but mechanically speaking, it's very much a better game. Anyone who likes the first will like the second, really.
GeekyDad
Gold Member
Just recently started the game over myself. I put it on the shelf for probably close to two years (and also have had Bravely Second sitting in its wrapper since it was released). Can't really say why I stopped playing, but I am enjoying it again. Honestly, it is a little too easy in the sense of how they let you shut off random encounters, but it's got so many other things that it does really, really right. And though the story and dialogue are very cliche, they're also both very well written. I'm at the Miasma Forest again. I think the last time I got maybe 10 or 20 hours past that, can't really remember. Hope to see it through this time.
SciencePilot
Member
Hope you have fun.
I played this a couple of months ago and it became my favorite 3ds game. There's so much room for creativity when designing your party, and it's really fun to try out all sorts of different strategies on the different bosses.
Are you playing on hard mode, by the way? I found that made the game so much better. It really forces you to learn and take advantage of the battle system in order to win boss fights. The real fun of the game is in the boss fights, not the random encounters, imo.
This is pretty much how I feel about the sequel, too. Also it doesn't have any really bad part like Bravely Default chapter 5+.
GeekyDad
Gold Member
Would love to know what those are.
Thanks
Just playing on Normal. Right now having trouble with DeRosa. I know I beat him the first time, but I don't remember him being this much trouble.
GeekyDad
Gold Member
Just got to Chaugmar. This dude's a doozy.
My opinion of turning off random battles has changed a little. It went from being "making the game too easy" to "a very nice convenience."
They definitely find other ways to keep the game as challenging as you'd want a Final Fantasy game to be. And I don't think any past games (except maybe FFT) have been quite as diabolical in terms of making really clever use of the job system. But I think this game does an even better job than FFT in that department because, whereas in FFT the more powerful you get, the easier the game gets no matter what job and abilities you use (except for the Onion Knight); here you kinda need to experiment with different job/ability combos just to beat certain bosses.
My opinion of turning off random battles has changed a little. It went from being "making the game too easy" to "a very nice convenience."
They definitely find other ways to keep the game as challenging as you'd want a Final Fantasy game to be. And I don't think any past games (except maybe FFT) have been quite as diabolical in terms of making really clever use of the job system. But I think this game does an even better job than FFT in that department because, whereas in FFT the more powerful you get, the easier the game gets no matter what job and abilities you use (except for the Onion Knight); here you kinda need to experiment with different job/ability combos just to beat certain bosses.
sotojuan
Member
Many mixed feelings about this game. I was one of those people who really could not stand the repetition in the last half of the game :-( Almost dropped the game because of it, but I was glad I beat it. Everything else ranges form decent to awesome. Dialogue could've been better. Some characters just kinda repeated the same few lines over and over because "that's their personality!". I did like that the game is not a cakewalk, the music and overall presentation.
SciencePilot
Member
Yeah, those kinds of abilities do stack.
There are certain abilities that don't stack, like merchant's More Money skill, but it tells you that it doesn't stack in the description.
themagicalkitsune
Member
That reminds me I need to get back to Second. Of what I've played though, it's better than Default in some areas (tweaked battle system, better twists, overall a better selection of jobs, not so repetitive) and worse in others (sidequest stories feel shoe-horned, some jobs don't mesh together well, main story is ehh). I'd say they're about even, but Default edges it out a little bit due to coming out first and having a slightly better presentation.
Still Second's got to be one of the best (if not the best) job-centered classic jRPG out there.
tenderbrew
Member
Yah I don't remember plot elements specifically because it was a really long time ago but I only learned the second half was bad once I read GAF. I remember loving every second.
SciencePilot
Member
Bravely Second doesn't do that.
Eeeeeh. Game was chatty to an absurd degree - like, where what should be 30 second exchanges max ballooned out to 5-6 minute cutscenes. Gave up ~20 hours in.
Having to choose between jobs sucked too
yeah, you get them all eventually, but still pretty irritating
I've always said the "second half" complaining was stupid. It's a couple of hours if you just do the crystals. You absolutely do not need to do the sidequests unless you want a challenge in the final two chapters.
Gameplay is even better. Story and music are a little weaker.
Also take a break between Default and Second. It helps if you kind of forget some stuff. They're not intended to be played back to back.
No. It does have it's own take on it that is perfectly fine. Explanation / very minor spoilers:
Gameplay is even better. Story and music are a little weaker.
Also take a break between Default and Second. It helps if you kind of forget some stuff. They're not intended to be played back to back.
No. It does have it's own take on it that is perfectly fine. Explanation / very minor spoilers:
there's a bunch of sidequests where you choose one of two paths, and your choice affects what class you unlock. At a point you can redo the sidequests and take the different route to get the other class and see the other side of the story.
Yup, that's why I quit as well.
I love the dialogue in the hated chapters even more than the really fun challenge battles that show up near the end of it. I love
concepts most of the time.
People exaggerate the length of this part completely. Shut off encounters like I did and the whole thing takes about 90 minutes and you get some really cool fights and character insights.
parallel worlds
People exaggerate the length of this part completely. Shut off encounters like I did and the whole thing takes about 90 minutes and you get some really cool fights and character insights.
BurritoBushido
Member
The padding out is the worst thing about the game, but because I loved Asterisk battles so much and how they mix it up, I actually didn't mind at all. Man I love that game
Mr.Deadshot
Member
I own the second game but never bought the first. I don't like what I heard/read about the second half of the first game. Does it make sense to skip the first game and start the second right away or will I miss too much story/lore?
I wouldn't recommand it, but it's possible if you insist.
The stories aren't related for the most part and there is a summary of the first game in Second.
However, it still take placein the same world with the same characters.
As a result, you will probably feel quite lost a lot of the time.
Mr.Deadshot
Member
Thanks. I read some other boards and most recommend playing the first game because of the exact same reasons you bring up. I will get it eventually and start with the first game.
Dude:
Play the first game. It's necessary for a lot of background in Bravely Second and the second half is really like 4 hours in a 40 hour game.
GeekyDad
Gold Member
Thanks! Trying out the Ninja now. Seems like some good stuff you can do with the job.
What is the max number of ability points that you eventually get, do you know?
Just finished the game. I was kind of pissed about the "do it all again" aspect once chapter 5 hit, but after looking up that the battles are entirely optional, I pressed on.
Pressing X like a madman 16 more times to deal with all those crystals was annoying at best, but the game's battle system really starts to shine once chapter 7 and 8 hit and it throws varied combinations at you.
I honestly can't think of a turn-based rpg battle system that felt more satisfying. Combining classes and passive abilities to your liking feels great and finding strong skillsets makes you feel clever. The way you play around with BP both on your and the enemy's side, balance damage dealing and damage prevention, buffs and debuffs, elemental weaknesses, anticipating and countering attacks... I'm really surprised just how much the Brave/Default system freshens up old concepts like that.
There was a bit too much grinding, but with memorized autobattle and the possibility to set the encounter rate, you can really turn down the annoyance.
Pressing X like a madman 16 more times to deal with all those crystals was annoying at best, but the game's battle system really starts to shine once chapter 7 and 8 hit and it throws varied combinations at you.
I honestly can't think of a turn-based rpg battle system that felt more satisfying. Combining classes and passive abilities to your liking feels great and finding strong skillsets makes you feel clever. The way you play around with BP both on your and the enemy's side, balance damage dealing and damage prevention, buffs and debuffs, elemental weaknesses, anticipating and countering attacks... I'm really surprised just how much the Brave/Default system freshens up old concepts like that.
There was a bit too much grinding, but with memorized autobattle and the possibility to set the encounter rate, you can really turn down the annoyance.
GeekyDad
Gold Member
Huh? I don't remember those crystal battles being optional. I remember the characters basically saying (about four times, I think it was), "let's do it all again," and then having to fight each of the four bosses over and over and over and over again. Was fucking brutal, mainly because the game and even the story are so good. I mean, they do SO MUCH right! Then to go fucking throw that bag of shit in your face multiple times, it was hard to stomach. But I did, and I still love the game. The thing I think I love the most about it is how playfully broken it is, much in the same way as something like FFT. You can tinker with the job combinations for your party to create some silly ridiculous teams. And even if you just pick the jobs you like, it's still so much.
I meant all those blue quest markers for redoing the asterisk battles.
They really could have spruced up the crystal bosses each time, too.
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