Incredibly, Bravely Default creates the one where today fail all stationary consoles JRPGs .....

Well, there are always miracles, the old hit by Katja Ebstein also seems to fit this purpose. After many years of consumption of Super Nintendo, PS One and PS2 Rpgs in American version with up to sluggish Japanorpgs PS3 library I am for a long time once again thrilled. In such a oldschooliges high quality immensely Jrpgabenteuer this design not only I had to wait over 12 years.

Well, Ni No Kuni is a great RPG and Tales of Xilia is not wrong, as compared to Bravely Default but falls particularly the latter called, significantly.

In the 90s, to about 2007, the Japanese developers were the spearhead of creativity, this made especially in the artistic direction of the game felt like Valkyrie Profile, Grandia, Suikoden 2, Parasite Eve, Vagrant Story, etc. In the meantime, however, the West playing technique immensely caught up and overtaken the Japanese. Nowadays rotate Games series like Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty in the drive etc. This is fine, because every generation has its own games and of course there are also great games from the western development studios.

But this is not the issue here and now we focus Bravely Default "Where the Fairy flies", which carries the addition For the sequel in Japan. Bravely is also still represents the spiritual successor to the DS title Final Fantasy "The Four Heroes of Light".

By the way our Bravely Default is also the reamed subsequently published version, but we get Europeans kindly also the one hand by the light pressure of the Community and the other by the localization of Nintendo now even more joyful way.

Since the game comes very extensive, so this time my review turns out even more extensive. My review and my impressions are based on about five hours of gameplay! Everything, however, can probably write nobody!

About the story I want to tell a real spoiler too much but this just cut. At the beginning of sagenumwogene crystal Winders is attacked by an insidious dark power. This also Agnes witnessed one of the casually Haupcharaktere is also the guardian of the crystal. The Phantom Menace proves to be too powerful and so Agnes has no choice but to flee. In another part of the world at the same time a gigantic crater of an entire village forms swallowed. The only survivor is the young boy Tiz.

After some time, Agnes and Tiz meet by accident and in addition to the future meeting of another two other colleagues now opens the story even stage curtain for Bravely Default.

Including betrayal, intrigue, tears, wit, heartbreak, skirmishes, action, magic, poetry and philosophy as always.

The story has succeeded up motivating and exciting. The well-written dialogues bring us closer to the figures and in the course of the story they evolve also. The story manages to awaken emotions and compassion on our part. Of course the story is not completely without certain cliché but compensated quite a bit with a certain looseness and even a pinch of self-mockery of the characters. In addition, it cuts on adults and dark tones. Very commendable!

Let's take something sometimes the gameplay and game mechanics: Classically we move through a world map with musty Dunegons, dark forests, magnificent castles, charming villages, architecturally stunning town and other venues.

Of course, to wait a lot of aggressive opponents and critters that arise Tiz and his companions in the way. The struggles which take all run around here as a special place, and surprise you with a reasonably new system which derived also from the actual somewhat unusual title name of the game.

The so-called Brave and Default commands. These are in addition to the obligatory classic RPG like flight, attack, skills and Itembenutzung the centerpiece of the combat system.

Who uses the Brave command able to perform four actions in a row. But as always, the whole thing has a hook. Pro use of Brave in the same round it is of hardships that you even have to wait one lap longer before the character can act in battle screen again.

The default command represents the contrast. If you use this assumes the selected character a defensive position in which any damage vonseitens the enemy is reduced. However, our figure is then can not intervene in the current round.

Default also means that we earn BP Battle Points serves. Every action of our group consumed a BP. This idiosyncratic system provides an immense tactical appreciation and at the same time for more gameplay depth.

However, the Brave and Default command system is not only reserved for our troops, no, the enemy masses are its powerful and challenge the player also more accurately to reflect what is used for actions and for actions when even with his small groups.

Incidentally, one also has the option to adjust the battle speed to enable a car Battle feature, and the ability High enforce the random battles occurring in the frequency down and also. This option is sometimes sometimes necessary because the hitpoints are filled not by itself, unless you are staying in a guest house (Inn).

For now filling in Dunegons and on the world map, you need potions and healing spells. The all-important magic points are to be brought to a special potion, typical Final Fantasy (ether) back on its feet, which is not to be found everywhere, however, and calls for a buck. Then there is also a special super attack to regenerate themselves in real time for use in eight hours and in each case again brought an associated special potion to these super attack. Apparently you can bring it back into shape even after payment with real money in Nintendo e shop.

As always, we get to reclaimed combat experience points, money, and even Job Points.

Now comes a real blast and even that is a class of its own, the job class system from the grand Final Fantasy Tactics returns in a modified form for Bravely Default. The job class system offers 24 different jobs and bears the name Asterisk.

Of course, each job class has individual strengths and weaknesses, abilities and different statuses, such as hit points, strength, etc.

Through successful struggles Levelt also casually with the currently selected job class of a figure. The character comes to consult with new class-specific skills.

Here is a small selection of Jobs: Freelancer, White Mage, Monk, Black Mage ....

Each character also has the choice of a second job, which is available in addition to the main skill. Also a lot of support or auxiliary properties are the player's disposal.

This job system provides numerous, immense number of combination and customization options, and also hosts a strong narcotic effect.
So should any gambler his preferred style of play can cobble together a pretty powerful team accordingly.

Mention must also be the addition Questes. These go beyond the clichéd mandatory Bring me 10 of them, and bring to me then far beyond. The Side Quest are not as plentiful but itself already quite extensive, partially unique and entice maybe add a new job class as thick reward. Earned in return you look at job classes on normally when you kill one of the elite commander of the dark side. By the way, new information, story-based cutscenes and Dunegons like to wait at the end of the side quests.

A sort of mini-game is also available, where the possibility of standing by the village of Tiz by aid workers to rebuild. This works with the StreetPass function with the 3DS. So I have not yet addressed me.

Now a few more or a few more words to graphics and sound: Above all, the backgrounds are designed opulent and sumptuous. Since holding times like to pause and consider the whole thing ever more closely. The cuddly characters in Chibi - style are not for everyone, although his thing, but they fit perfectly into the overall picture. Graphically the game gets a lot out of the 3DS out and also the three-dimensional depth effect is tidy. Especially emphasize how really everything about this little game is also the sound. Heroic sounds and fanfare, often in classical direction ensure an increase in atmosphere. Even some catchy inherent the soundtrack. The spectrum ranges from mild and rock melodies, up to Irish and Scottish-inspired tones, which would make even an orchestra an extremely good figure.

Very likely commitments also the option to adjust the voice output optionally in Japanese and English. I have chosen the US Speech included English texts. Oddly, the American Speech sounds a bit dull, but get used to it. The voices of the characters are chosen to match and wear their personality.
The game also offers six different selectable languages ​​in written form. Clear and accessible menu, paired with respect pun "brisk operation."

But as every game has also already highly appreciated by me Bravely also a few disadvantages. The immense scope and even more the game mechanical numerous options could overwhelm a newcomer somehow. Some not so important conversation among themselves the party falls sometimes longer. This biting sometimes with the flow of the game and calls for an additional pinch of patience. The difficulty level can be adjusted in three stages, on plain pulls this neat and has its hands full, especially in boss mobs. The Dunegons act partially monotonous or too similar. That would be the moment all times.

Now we come to the (provisional) and probably future Conclusion:

Bravely is Final Fantasy in its purest form, as it should be. It contrasts with the misslungenem, soulless Final Fantasy 13 PS3, which has massively disappointed and even angered many fans. One could degrees mean that Bravely Default represents the apology on the part of Square Enix. I think it is already open and honest as already mentioned above, similar to a masterpiece and by far the best JRPG of this generation of hardware (including consoles) that the tradition and modernity on both sides not neglected, but successfully performs.

(An exception is probably today still constitute the great Persona 4 Golden by Atlus, which however rather comes as a remake of a PS2 title.)

At the breitgefächterten targeted audience of counting Bravely RPGers which have grown up with the Super Nintendo and the PS One and ate the local games pearls in JRPG range the good old days proverbial. Another reason why I can identify with it very well. But younger players with a penchant for games of this type come into their own and enjoy a delightful, modern flavored Old School Feeling JRPG that accommodates the difficult to describe magic former Squaresoft Games is what already perished over the years at the present time in the mainstream.

I forgive five star and even that is not enough!

Thanks to Square, to Nintendo and to the community for this magnificent adventure!

In this sense

Gamblers Greetings to all!

Ullus