Not many games are given the chance to receive an improved update. Bravely Default was granted that opportunity after its initial Japanese release, and our review implies this reworking was of great benefit to the European and North American players who are receiving the updated version.
After taking the time and effort to refresh a game like Bravely Default, however, there may always remain questions as to whether more optimizations could still be made. And yet, having taken all that time and effort does give one good justification for giving a big, resounding "nope" in reply.
Official Nintendo Magazine asked Bravely Default producer Tomoya Asano whether the world map would be improved for the game's sequel. Asano stood by the final decisions of the improved first game:
In terms of Bravely Default [...] we worked specifically on making improvements to it for almost a year after it was released in Japan, so we feel that there is really no need for any more improvements. In my opinion, if there [were] more things you 'could' do with the map, for example, it might make some players feel that there were more things they 'must' do with it.
In Bravely Default, we tried to eliminate all elements besides those which we wanted our players to enjoy, to streamline the experience.
The decisions of the developers can always be left open for debate, but there is a certain sense of honour in a producer saying that his team worked hard enough and should not need to worry over further changes.
Official Nintendo Magazine shared another snippet from Asano's full interview, this one much more lighthearted and cosplay-related:
If I were a pretty girl, I would want to dress up as the Valkyrie job type. Unfortunately, I will have to give up on that idea, since I'm a middle-aged man of 35!
What do you think is more important: the relentless pursuit of perfection or the resolve to declare a project finished?
[source officialnintendomagazine.co.uk, via nintendoeverything.com]
Comments 31
If it isn't broke don't fix it. I believe that applies to the gem known as Bravely Default series.
That's the spirit, Asano! Overimprovements led to the Squeenix desaster! And you stand against it, with pride in your soul!
When you do your work right, there's no need to over-improve stuff. This is good. Wish I could afford the collectors edition but meh, too expensive here in Mexico : (
I'm glad someone is sticking to their vision. So many producers/developers/publishers cave to social pressure and compromise their games vision by tweaking too many things that probably didn't need to be changed.
I pre-ordered this game a long while ago in the EU. Still haven't received my copy. The retailers told me it's hard to get a hold of copies.
This reminds me of the saying, "Art is never finished, only abandoned." There comes a point in any creative endeavor where you have to consciously decide that the improvements to be made cannot outweigh the effort, and to stop. That is exponentially truer when it is a business endeavor as well and there is a literal cost to continuing. The creator has to move on, whether to make a product available for sale, or simply to begin creating something new.
Quote[In terms of Bravely Default [...] we worked specifically on censoring the game]
Seriously is it really true? Seems this way though.
@Smitherenez It took me quite a white to finally locate a Fire Emblem: Awakening copy in my city last year. Let's hope this doesn't happen again this February with Bravely Default.
@ricklongo I hope....
at least square did the right by not making more improvements, sure they did an update to make it better and glad they did but bravely default does not need more improvements, its like trying to improve metroid prime when its already perfect even though retro said it sucked that they didnt include what they wanted like kraid, it would have been cool if he did made an appearance.
@Manaphy2007 It is not that good. (Whole boatload of untranslated Super Famicom JRPG's from before they stopped being legendary). They should have given us Dragon Quest VII instead.
@ricklongo You could always buy it on the eShop!
I am by no means calling this game bad.
I am a huge RPG fan and love to play everything RPG on my 3DS and WiiU.
But I fail to see what's so special about this game...maybe I've played too many RPG games and the clichés are starting to become very "present" if you know what I mean. I know this is what RPG is but somehow I need something very different so I can appreciate each RPG style....or maybe a terrible RPG to show me how good I have it O.o
Edit: I won't completely shut it down. Afterall it is just a demo. I really want to find a reason to play this game. I love mah RPG's. Hopefully I find what I failed to see.
That FACES.
I like this game but the Dragon Quest series is what we really need. (Wii U)
I beat the Demo twice, once on each of my 3DS XL's...
Hate having to wait for the main game... the Demo was great!
Collectors set already preordered!
There must be a balance in between. There comes a time when any further effort you put in will only yield minimal results.
@JaxonH Yeah but if you throw commercial considerations out of the window (By lying to management) and really do go for perfection then the game will be remembered for far longer. The lengths they went to with Shenmue in the end left us with something very special. Depends what the goal is I have played this game and it is mediocre - its not even close to the great Square or Enix ones.
@unrandomsam
Yeah, I hear you, but cost-effectiveness must be taken into account. Nintendo has the right balance imo- they really push the polish but they also know their limits of when to say "enough- time to release".
I haven't played the full game Bravely Default, but I love everything in the demo so far.
I didn't get into the demo of this game much but after I got the game for Christmas I've been playing it more and more and loving it. I wish they could've put noses on them though :S
Trying too hard to be perfect can backfire. Sometimes you just have to know when what you've got is as good as it's going to be.
If I were a pretty girl, I'd cosplay as Franziska Von Karma from AA...
Ahem...
Game is probably fine. Hopefully Western sales are good enough that we don't have to beg for the sequel to come over as well.
Remember the cautionary tale taught us by George Lucas. If at first you succeed, stop changing things because you'll only make it worse.
Having downloaded the demo when it debuted in the eShop a couple weeks ago, I was kinda dumbstruck upon playing it the first few times. In fact, besides not liking it (or what little I could understand of it), the game seemed really average. It wasn't until a couple nights ago when I finally "got" the Brave/Default/BP system - it just "clicked." Not that I need any game hand-holding but the fighting system is intricate to the point where the demo really could've used some type of explanation. Anyway, it's an awesome game, so much so that I preordered the Collector's Edition last night. Just my 2.
I played the demo and thought to myself, "meh"...
If he were a girl his costume would be altered so as not to offend sensitive western audiences
i think there is still some space for improvements. I played it 50 hours now and there are many small things which could be better. (but it really is a really great game)
I would like to unlock the job outfits in addition to the freelancer ones. It's a minor thing but I'd like them to look as I like, irrespective of job class. At least by the end game!
@SanderEvers
TIZ... GOOD...
@tenshinohone
You will have no worries there.
@c1pher_c0mplet
Good choice.. The main game has so much more depth. Glad you stuck with the battle system in the demo and hope you enjoy this amazing game as much as I have.
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