It a sequel to the brand new series that Square Enix created in 2012. With the success of the first game, the developers had the motivation to create this second game, to complete the loop. They made several adjustments and improvements to the first game to complete the loop.
WARNING SPOILERS FOLLOW.
I intend to spoil the whole story.
Setting (7/10)
It was 2.5 years in the World of Luxendarc since the Ouroboros attempt to destroy the world. The World of Luxendarc was safe and peace until an unknown Masked Man, who called himself Emperor Oblivion, intruded a chapel and kidnapped Agnes. Agnes, now the Queen of Crystal Orthodoxy, was brought to the Emperor Castle. The adventure started with a team of 3 musketeers to help save their Queen.
Fans who followed the promotion videos and played the demo, some would think that the total number of playable characters is 6. BUT NO! This is half true. The first two characters were accomplices of the Emperor! (I kinda expected actually. :P )
As usual, the story is broken down into 2 parts. The first part of the story developed quite during the first 4 chapters. Each chapter depicted how the characters travelled from one continent to another. After travelled to the last continent, if the players are not smart enough (like me), the game will end with this bad ending, leaving the players totally unsatisfied with the game.
At the end of Chapter 4, this is the part where the meaning of the sub title comes in. The Emperor will activate a device, leaving that time of the world to stop eternally. This phenomenon is called ''End Layer'', where the time layer of this parallel world stops. If the players don't get the hint given in the game, they would not carry on with the story.
At the end of Chapter 4, this is the part where the meaning of the sub title comes in. The Emperor will activate a device, leaving that time of the world to stop eternally. This phenomenon is called ''End Layer'', where the time layer of this parallel world stops. If the players don't get the hint given in the game, they would not carry on with the story.
The second part begins once the players managed to get the hint to release them from the ''End Layer''. By now, the hidden meaning of ''End Layer'' is revealed in the title screen.
Yup. The game revolves this term called SP, which is a power of time. To get off the End Layer world, the players were sent back in time to stop the phenomenon from occurring. By adding S and P to the sub title, it became ''Send Player''. While the developers had their own explanation of the meaning, I would prefer it as ''Sending the Players back into time''.
The second part of the story was far shorter than the first game. It was only 2 chapters. One chapter to stop Emperor Oblivion from activating the End Layer again, and the other to stop the final boss. The fight with the final boss has also quite an interesting plot. But I shall not reveal too much to this instead. (Even though I had revealed so much of the plot...)
A total of 6 Chapters only, this story seems to be a bit shorter than the usual FF kind of game, which I felt is something amiss. The Hidden Meaning of the Sub Title this time doesn't seem like as impactful as ''Lying Airy'. But the part to crack the key to Chapter 5 did blew off my mind. But the most surprising element is just this part... The rest of the story was not too fantastic as the first one. In Bravely Default, we did not know that Airy was the bad guy. It was the time and feeling built up in the whole 8 chapters that we were caught by surprise in the very end. But in Second, when Emperor Oblivion had another same looking fairy with him in the very beginning, we would have all guessed that she was the one controlling that guy. So nothing much really surprising throughout the story other than the truly creative part in the middle.
Many people did mentioned that this story was too closely linked with the previous game, and which is not a good principle when designing a sequel game. Because this will not appeal to new gamers to the Bravely Series. But I thought it might be a nice move to boost the sales of the previous title. It is quite evident when Japanese has introduced a free play of the first 4 chapters to the game, and has greatly decreased the price of the first game as well.
I was also hoping to see the rebuilt Norende, but the place is still shrouded in cloud of darkness...
The second part of the story was far shorter than the first game. It was only 2 chapters. One chapter to stop Emperor Oblivion from activating the End Layer again, and the other to stop the final boss. The fight with the final boss has also quite an interesting plot. But I shall not reveal too much to this instead. (Even though I had revealed so much of the plot...)
A total of 6 Chapters only, this story seems to be a bit shorter than the usual FF kind of game, which I felt is something amiss. The Hidden Meaning of the Sub Title this time doesn't seem like as impactful as ''Lying Airy'. But the part to crack the key to Chapter 5 did blew off my mind. But the most surprising element is just this part... The rest of the story was not too fantastic as the first one. In Bravely Default, we did not know that Airy was the bad guy. It was the time and feeling built up in the whole 8 chapters that we were caught by surprise in the very end. But in Second, when Emperor Oblivion had another same looking fairy with him in the very beginning, we would have all guessed that she was the one controlling that guy. So nothing much really surprising throughout the story other than the truly creative part in the middle.
Many people did mentioned that this story was too closely linked with the previous game, and which is not a good principle when designing a sequel game. Because this will not appeal to new gamers to the Bravely Series. But I thought it might be a nice move to boost the sales of the previous title. It is quite evident when Japanese has introduced a free play of the first 4 chapters to the game, and has greatly decreased the price of the first game as well.
I was also hoping to see the rebuilt Norende, but the place is still shrouded in cloud of darkness...
Characters (9/10)
The game featured 2 same and 2 new playable characters. The previous game setting provided detailed backgrounds to all main characters. However, this time, one character, Magnolia, her background was remained as a mystery. She claimed that she was from the moon, and we did ''reconstructed'' her homeland. But how much do we really know about that? And how much do we know about her commander Blackberry? It would probably be a foreshadow for the next game. But we would never know if the sales of this game is good enough for the third game.
The new Asterisk Holders, like the previous game, had their own stories and touching moments as well. And their plus point, they even added more stories to the previous Asterisk Holders as well. How some of the really bad asses had turned over a new leaf and helped people or the country is many ways.
The new Asterisk Holders, like the previous game, had their own stories and touching moments as well. And their plus point, they even added more stories to the previous Asterisk Holders as well. How some of the really bad asses had turned over a new leaf and helped people or the country is many ways.
Music (7/10)
Till now, I am still wondering why the composer of this game has changed. WHY?!
It doesn't mean that this composer sucks. But the original music guy, Revo, the famous epic music creator, made really cool and epic music that made Bravely Default. The first game is not Bravely Default without this music epicness.
From the first time I played the Demo, I was like... Urgh, what battle theme was that. But glad to see ryo(supercell) tried his best to recreate that epicness. It was still not comparable to Revo's work. It was still a commendable effort in his part. I still quite like a few pieces.
It doesn't mean that this composer sucks. But the original music guy, Revo, the famous epic music creator, made really cool and epic music that made Bravely Default. The first game is not Bravely Default without this music epicness.
From the first time I played the Demo, I was like... Urgh, what battle theme was that. But glad to see ryo(supercell) tried his best to recreate that epicness. It was still not comparable to Revo's work. It was still a commendable effort in his part. I still quite like a few pieces.
Battle and Job System (10/10)
After introducing Bravely Default battle system, now the Bravely Second was implemented in this game. By using it, players can freeze the time in the battle to take attack without using their BP. This feature was actually not the first time it was introduced. It appeared in the first game as well. However, Japanese Players who did not played Bravely Default: For the Sequel will not know about this system.
This feature in Bravely Default was also acted as a key to link the Bravely Second story together. I thought it was a clever move as well.
This SP is also another clever move. It also allowed IAP... which we called it as ''In-App Purchase'', because when player used up his SP. Instead of waiting 8 hours, they can purchase to fill up the gauge instantly.
The developers also added shortcut keys for Bravely and Default options, having auto battle system as well to mature and complete the whole system.
This feature in Bravely Default was also acted as a key to link the Bravely Second story together. I thought it was a clever move as well.
This SP is also another clever move. It also allowed IAP... which we called it as ''In-App Purchase'', because when player used up his SP. Instead of waiting 8 hours, they can purchase to fill up the gauge instantly.
The developers also added shortcut keys for Bravely and Default options, having auto battle system as well to mature and complete the whole system.
Overall Final Verdict (8/10)
Nonetheless, it was a game for Bravely fans. The cliffhanger in the game still somehow hint the plot for the third game. The third key... How about Bravely Third: Last Sword?
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