Topic: Bravely Default II (Nintendo Switch)

I’m glad they got rid of random encounters. They’re the worst. It works in some RPGs, like Etrian Odyssey, where movement is basically turn based. It made Octopath Traveler dungeons feel sluggish and annoying to explore.

@shining_nexus Yeah, the enemy models are really really good looking, but all the chapters pretty much share the same models, with different skins. Heck, even in chapter 2, the game has that issue. especially a certain boss fight..

The card game is pretty fun and a nice distraction from the main story. For those starting out, I recommend not skipping any side quests and exploring past areas after certain parts of the story. Besides the exp and JP you’re gonna need for the main campaign, some quests offer additional lore, challenges, and rewards. Well worth the time to complete.

I bowed out after 20 hours or so. The grind just became too much. Even though there are no random encounters, the encounters are so frequent (especially in dungeons) that it still feels like you're moving through molasses. I think it's a good enough game but it's just a little too much for me.

@Crispe I'm slowly starting to feel more and more like I want to drop the game. I want to see it through, but at the same time, the game itself is mostly just grinding and the bosses can be extremely unfair, since they can heal themselves.

@VoidofLight try changing jobs and abilities around. I can't say I have been grinding much in this game and I'm near the endgame.

@Crispe you can avoid the enemies quite easily if you try and dodge them as they near you.

I am now about 30h in and early chapter 3 and I felt chapter 2 was an improvment in both pacing and story, however I found a copy of 3d world for 40€ so I decided to give it a go and rest a bit of the griding (well and in one day I finished the main game with all stars, stamps and gold flags... Ups)

@VoidofLight The easiest way to defeat most of the bosses in chapter 2 is (SPOILER ALERT) capturing many Petunias in the forest were you fight one of the Asterisk bosses (END OF SPOILER). I had to collect many of those to prepare to fight the third boss of this chapter. You can use two jobs if necessary and it will be easy that way My phone can't put the spoiler tags, since it's an old model. Sorry for the inconvenience to the others.

@Diddy64 Ah alright, I'll try that out! Thank you.

@VoidofLight Your welcome 😊

I just got to the section where you can play the card game B n' D. Does anyone know if this spoils any future jobs/NPCs? I love being surprised by the jobs when they show up in the story, so I'd hate to see them all now, but I'd also like to unlock the Gambler job. Currently just have the first 8 jobs.

@Cynas If you mean that said job quest spoils future things, then you don't have to worry. I clear that job quest and it didn't spoil or mention anything about the main story. In this one you get to see what happened to a previous character you meet, but it doesn't relate to the crystals or anything important.

@VoidofLight I can see what you mean. I’m in Chapter 2 right now and it seems like a rinse and repeat of previous chapters. Combat is getting repetitive, but the bosses are still challenging for me for now (they are getting easier with more jobs available).

Sometimes taking a break isn’t a bad idea. I’ve done this many times and I usually end up going back to the game having fun.

Personally, I’m still enjoying my time with it. The battles are somewhat of a zen like experience for me and I absolutely love customizing my party. The characters are really growing on me and the story is actually really surprising me with some mature themes. Some jobs seem kind of broken, but that’s what makes this system so fun to tinker with.

@Diddy64 that side quest really surprised me with the extra lore and job. Sure, there are a lot of mindless fetch quests, which seems like it’s there for padding, but then there are cool ones like the card game one.

Looks like it. True, I still think whether it is worth taking it.

@shining_nexus I’m two bosses into chapter 2, and I feel like I’m starting to enjoy it more. It helps that one of the asterisks have a really really op move if you max it out.

@shining_nexus most if the fetch quests are still worth doing, mainly for the fact that you get some free items, as well as grind without actually feeling as if you’re grinding. Plus, most of them aren’t that difficult to do anyways.

@shining_nexus True but thankfully most sidequests are good; the ones focused on lore are very enjoyable. It helps the player in many ways. Like see a side of a previous character, or obtain invaluable items. Sometimes even seen a little of the personality of the 4 main characters.

@VoidofLight yeah, but I think some stories could be a little more interesting. I literally had to go grab some tools for a guy because he left it at Bernard’s mansion. Or how about that quest to deliver lunch to a woman’s husband... and then a fork... and some other pointless thing... we’re the Heroes of Light, not your personal delivery boys ! Actually, that one was kinda funny.

I’m nitpicking though. There were a few that had fun stories. I can’t think of one off the top of my head right now. Overall, it’s good mix of cool and duds.

@Diddy64 my current favorite one was the shoe quest between Adelle and Elvis. It was cute. I like the dynamic between the two and their interactions are quite funny. I get the feeling that Gloria and Adelle don’t really vibe well together, but I’m hoping to see some BFF moments between the two.