This game is a new title from Square Enix, the maker of the famous Final Fantasy. This game, BRAVELY DEFAULT is so called to be another Final Fantasy, because this game rekindle the name of the Four Warriors of Light. Hence, this game is known to have only 4 playable characters, namely Tiz Arrior, Edea Lee, Ringabel and Agnes Oblige. The story is set in the world of Luxendarc, a world powered by 4 enormous crystals.
WARNING SPOILERS FOLLOW.
I intend to spoil the whole story.
Setting (8/10)
In the world of Luxendarc, the four crystals suddenly were swallowed by darkness. A hole suddenly appeared and engulfed a little town of Norende, Tiz's hometown. As the sole survivor, he teamed up with Agnes, Edea, and Ringabel, and guided by the little fairy, Airy, they set off to uncover the truth of the Darkened Crystals.
The story was nicely broken down into a prologue, and then 5-9 chapters, depending on the type of endings the player seeks.
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. And also each chapter will purify one crystal. After which, a Holy Pillar should appear to stabilize the whole situation. However, after entering the Holy Pillar, the world seems return back to the state before the crystals were purified!
(This kind of story also remind me of Golden Sun, where the heroes travelled the world to light up 4 lighthouses despite people trying to stop.)
After that, the progression may slow down during the next few chapters, depending on the player's intention as well. Due to the subquests, it may slow the players down. But players could also just go ahead to purify all 4 crystals directly. Purifying all 4 crystals will trigger the next chapter. And this action was repeated for the next 4 chapters, until chapter 8.
On the side note, if a player decided to break a crystal instead of purifying them during any chapter between 5 - 8, this will trigger the bad ending. And the player will not fight the final boss to end the game.
If a player obediently followed the fairy, Airy's instructions until the end of Chapter 8. The story will proceeded to the final chapter. But either way, whether is Bad Ending or True Ending, the story would hint that the characters did not went back in time at all. They taken to another parallel world instead. By unlocking 5 sets of crystals would channel enough energy for the mastermind, Ouroboros to awaken, and the mastermind's assistant was none other than Airy.
By the time, when Airy's true intention was revealed, the Main Title will reveal its true title (by taking out FF) as:
BRAVELY DEFAULT: LYING AIRY
BRAVELY DEFAULT: LYING AIRY
During the final boss fight, when the characters were in despair, Agnes's pendant would reveal that it is a device that could communicate with their other selves in the parallel world. (And that explains the part during all the battle, players could actually summon other players to assist in battle).
When I reached that moment, it was the point when I felt that the struggle I had been through during Chapters 5 -8 was worth it. And which kinda make sense.
Characters (10/10)
The game featured 4 playable characters, with their own background stories, and each character's development along the story progression was well written. Their personalities were all well written, which is why I enjoyed the story even though the second part of the game might be a bit too tiring.
Music (10/10)
Revo, the soul of Linked Horizon and Sound Horizon, was also the soul of this game's music. It went too well with all the places, and especially battle themes. I can just replay the music in my minds. TOO EPIC!!! Trust me, only a good piece of BGM can gain the recognition and having the very own BRAVELY DEFAULT Concert. The concert was really amazing.
Battle and Job System (8/10)
Battle system was quite refreshing with the concept of Bravely and Default, which allows a lot of fighting combinations. The job system was even amazing, adds on to the different fighting combinations too. But the characters can only obtain more jobs when players defeated the Asterisk Holder Bosses, which kinda reminds of Rockman though.
Overall Final Verdict (9/10)
I have only played the Japanese Version of the FLYING FAIRY, not the improved version, FOR THE SEQUEL. So I did not get the experience of the improved battle system. And I didn't expect the concept of Bravely Second (Time stopping) to be featured in it as well. If I played FOR THE SEQUEL, I might give it 10/10! But the part where players can use Bravely Second might not be well explained in the story...
