Sure thing, let’s shake things up.
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Alright, so here’s a thing. Nintendo’s coming in hot with the Switch 2, and on day one, we’re getting “Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster.” Now, back in the olden days of 2012—seriously, where does the time go?—this was a big deal on the 3DS. It hit the West a year later, kinda revamped. Did you know it started as a Final Fantasy spin-off? Me neither, until I tripped over that fun fact. If you’re curious, Wikipedia’s got your back—someone’s probably already penned a novel on it there.
The deets: it’s a turn-based JRPG. People rave about it, and they got this whole “Brave/Default” gimmick going on. Basically, you can save up moves (Default) or go all out and clobber enemies (Brave). It’s way cooler than I’m making it sound. Imagine those epic SNES-era RPG vibes but mixed with some modern flair.
Now, I haven’t dipped into this predecessor yet. But I have tangled with Bravely Default II and Octopath Traveler II. Apparently, it’s a blast—a sprawling 70-hour epic. And here’s the kicker, it’s dropping at $40 in the US. Smart move, especially when top-notch games are cleaning our wallets with $70+ price tags.
Caught a demo at PAX East 2025. Joy-Con 2s in hand—feeling all futuristic. It looked sharp, felt fluid—hello, 60fps? Couldn’t play handheld or capture footage, but hey, trust me, it was smooth sailing. Those original hand-drawn backdrops? Seriously gorgeous.
The remaster’s packing new stuff, like minigames with mouse controls (Switch 2’s party trick?). Luxencheer Rhythm Catch is kinda goofy—waving around Joy-Con 2s, catching beats. Fun, but I didn’t quite feel the groove. And Ringabel’s Panic Cruise? Now, that was an adventure. Flying an airship, juggling controls, and fixing valves. Yeah, I see potential for party chaos.
These minigames? Cute little bonuses. Nothing earth-shattering but add a nice touch. Plus, the UI’s tweaked, StreetPass mode leveled up, and some quality-of-life extras thrown in—fast-forwarding, I see you.
So there it is: On June 5, brace yourself for an HD dive back into a beloved JRPG world. Can’t confirm every bell and whistle from the original is back, but Square Enix seems to have nailed it. And if not? Eh, we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
