Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster – A Sneak Peek

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So imagine this. I’m standing in line on the launch day of the Nintendo Switch 2. Yeah, it’s chaotic—people buzzing about, caffeine-fueled excitement thicker than fog—but there’s one game that’s really catching my eye: “Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster.” Reminds me, wasn’t this thing like a big deal on the 3DS way back? 2012 or something? Honestly, can’t remember exact dates—my brain only has room for the essentials, like coffee orders.

I could dive into the whole saga about how this Bravely Default started off with some Final Fantasy vibes before spinning off into its own thing. But hey, we’ve all got Wikipedia, right? Someone out there probably penned down all that history better than my memory could ever manage. I mean, did they do it 47 years ago? Maybe. Who knows.

Anyway—no, wait—where was I? Oh, yeah, so Bravely Default is this killer turn-based JRPG. Got a buddy who swears by it. The whole game’s got this cool “Brave/Default” mechanic, which basically lets you save up moves or unleash them like a caffeinated rabbit—probably over-explaining, but bear with me. This system stands out, like a good slice of pizza in a town known for tacos.

I get the appeal—I mean, who doesn’t love a nod to the SNES-era with a modern twist? And all for $40 in the States? Heck, that’s less than what I spent on concert tickets last week. Oh, fun fact: It’s cheaper than the usual wallet-shattering $70-$80 new releases. Good move, Square Enix.

I managed to sneak a peek during some PAX East demo thing. Those Joy-Con 2s are surprisingly legit, but then again, I only messed around on the TV setup; the handheld experience remains a mysterious entity. Oh, and don’t get me started on the whole development kit thing—basically, didn’t get the final retail vibe, but the joysticks felt magic in my hands.

Graphics-wise, it’s sharp. You know it’s a remaster and not a full-on remake, and that’s totally cool. There’s this part with hand-drawn backgrounds, and it looks like an art museum came alive. Seriously, extra pretty at high res!

And hey, they threw in some quirky minigames too—Luxencheer something-or-other and Ringabel’s cruise chaos. The Switch 2 now has mouse controls—which kind of feels like when you try those weird foods at a festival: not the best, but oddly satisfying. Played this Luxencheer thing like a rhythm game—clapped Joy-Cons around like some over-caffeinated bird. Felt awkwardly out of rhythm but it was a blast. Then there’s Ringabel, where I was piloting an airship—felt like a circus act trying to juggle all the controls. I’m telling you, it screamed party game vibes.

These extras felt small, like sprinkles on a sundae, not the main course, you know? They also upgraded the UI, added a fast-forward here and there, mixed in network thingamajigs instead of StreetPass—lots of technical bits.

Bottom line: June 5th, snag it if you can. Square Enix gave us a polished peek at a beloved oldie, and yeah, questions still swirl about original features making a comeback, but from where I stand—it looks promising!