Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster Review

2012’s Bravely Default was a solid JRPG experience that received critical acclaim, but was pretty criminally underplayed. I wasn’t as high on it as some other players back in the day, but it still delivered a solid, old-school JRPG experience heavily inspired by classic Final Fantasy games.

However, like many games released for the Nintendo 3DS, Bravely Default was locked to only being available on the handheld. This is unfortunate, as several incredible games have been left in desperate need of a port to modern consoles. Thankfully, the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is the perfect time to not just re-release Bravely Default, but also remaster it completely.

Complete with improved visuals, enhanced audio, and new quality of life features, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a worthy remaster of a good JRPG, but it’s not without some flaws that still made the transition to the new console.

A Tale As Old As Time

Bravely Default was never shy about its inspiration. The game, story, and characters are all heavily inspired by the old-school Final Fantasy games. From the classic turn-based combat, four party members, and a narrative surrounding the reclamation of four elemental crystals, if you squint your eyes enough, it’ll feel like you’re playing Final Fantasy.

The game’s story isn’t afraid to throw several twists and turns at the player, including a pretty big plot twist as you head into the game’s third act. It’s nothing innovative, but it certainly stands out. Basically, if you’re okay with a mostly box-standard JRPG-style story with some high points along the way, Bravely Default will deliver well enough.

The hook here, though, is the game’s combat system. Instead of being traditional turn-based combat, there are two neat quirks: Brave Points (BP), which determine the number of actions a character can take within a turn, as well as the Brave and Default options. Choosing Default lets you take a defensive stance so you can accumulate BP. You’ll use these BP when you select Brave, which lets you perform multiple actions in a turn.

Additionally, the game’s job system is a high-points due to its flexibility. Your characters aren’t locked to a single role. You can be a Monk one second, and then change things up and be a Thief or a Black Mage. In total, there are 24 jobs you can level up, which unlock new abilities so you can customize your party as you wish. It’s a good balance between the old, tried and true system of older JRPGs with some modern innovation.

All of this gives combat a more tactical feel, allowing players to play defensively to unleash a devastating attack, or play aggressively, go into a BP defect, and try to defeat enemies in one shot. The cost there is that if you have negative BP, you won’t have a turn. If you can’t eliminate enemies, you leave yourself open to counterattack.

The combat system shines during longer boss battles, especially when you can chain together utility abilities to heal your party while still dealing damage to enemies. However, as much as I love the combat, it can feel too repetitive when grinding through normal enemies. This is perhaps the game’s biggest issue.

A Remaster That Leaves A Lot To Be Desired

For better or worse, this is essentially the same Bravely Default experience you know. There are some minor tweaks to the game and story. If you’ve already played the game back in the day, you’ve played the Flying Fairy HD Remaster.

We’ve been spoiled recently with solid remasters of iconic games. Earlier this year, The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion introduced several differences from the original. The UI saw a modern overhaul, and the leveling experience is far better than it originally was.

Even Nintendo got in on the high-level remaster action with 2023’s Metroid Prime Remastered, which is the same incredible Metroid Prime experience you know and love that fixes the original game’s only flaw: its controls.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster isn’t in the same league as these two games. Again, this is the same experience you know; the best parts of Bravely Default are all still here, but so are the worst. It’s still, at times, a tedious grind. Yes, there’s the ability to speed up combat animations and reduce the amount of random encounters, but that doesn’t change the fact that having to grind enemies to complete content is frustrating.

I get that this isn’t a full-blown remake, but you can still label yourself a remaster while addressing the flaws of the original game. The fact that the game’s issues weren’t addressed is a major disappointment.

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From Two Screens To One

The biggest change with the Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is reworking the game’s presentation and UI for one screen, compared to the dual-screen setup of the Nintendo 3DS. For the most part, it’s a job well done.

Even if pulling up the in-game menu is sometimes a little unintuitive, it’s never intrusive. Instead, it’s always tucked away at the side of the screen, waiting for your beck and call. This was far and away the biggest obstacle the remaster had to overcome, and thankfully, it’s up to the task.

Beyond that, the latest content available within Bravely Default is two mini-games: Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise. They’re an enjoyable change of pace from the main game that utilizes new features of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons, but they’re nothing to write home about.

You can also leverage the Switch 2’s internet capabilities to encounter players known as Passing Souls, which replaces the Streetpass capabilities from the original. They can not only assist you in combat, but also help rebuild the town of Norende.

It’s a simple solution, as we may never get to experience the thrill of Streetpass notifications ever again. Transitioning these features to Nintendo Switch Online lets players enjoy the social benefits of Bravely Default in and out of combat, and it works as well as you’d expect.

It’s a nice quality of life feature that makes the game more accessible and enjoyable. Still, it highlights my biggest issue with the remaster: why aren’t there more quality of life features available?

This Is The Best Bravely Default Has Ever Looked

It feels a little too on the nose that the game’s presentation is an excellent representation of my feelings on Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster.

When it comes to the game’s graphics, the environments are absolutely breathtaking and a work of art. The HD overhaul on the Switch 2 screen and the big-screen television do the game justice. Sadly, I can’t say the same about how the characters look. They can’t shake their Nintendo 3DS style and look like upscaled versions of outdated models. It’s a little jarring to see the lackluster characters over these beautiful environments.

Thankfully, the game’s audio is far and away the best aspect of this remaster. The voice lines come in crystal clear, and the music remains as catchy as ever. The game’s visuals may not be up to par, but this is an absolute treat for your ears.

Bravely Default may not have aged well, but there’s still plenty of enjoyment to be found. Sadly, if you’re already familiar with how the adventure goes, there’s little to no reason to pick up the Flying Fairy HD Remaster unless you’re a true, diehard fan. If you never had the chance to play Bravely Default on the Nintendo 3DS over a decade ago, however, it’s certainly worth your time to enjoy an old-school JRPG experience. I’d argue there are better options available, such as the Octopath Traveler games or the Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut, but if you’re looking to see what all the hype was about back in the day, it’s worth a purchase.

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster

Reviewed On Switch 2

Systems

Released

June 5, 2025

ESRB

Teen // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Number of Players

Single-player

Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date

June 5, 2025

• 

Pros & Cons

• The combat system is still great
• Environments look incredible in HD
• The soundtrack is as good as you remember

• It can still be a tedious experience with lots of grinding
• Character visuals are disappointing
• The new mini-games are more miss than hit

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