Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster – First Look

A Switch 2 Launch Day Adventure: Bravely Default Reimagined

So, picture this. It’s launch day for the Nintendo Switch 2, and they’re rolling out “Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster.” I swear, it’s like they sprinkled HD magic dust on the original Bravely Default from the 3DS. I mean, this game first dropped in 2012, and it took a little while to make its way to the West. But who’s counting, right?

Now, I could dive deep into the game’s backstory—how it was supposed to be a Final Fantasy spin-off or something—but honestly, there’s Wikipedia for that, and let’s face it, someone probably did a much better job explaining it anyway. Maybe they wrote it back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. Or at least it feels like that sometimes.

Here’s what’s cool, though. Bravely Default is kind of legendary in JRPG circles (that’s Japanese Role Playing Games, in case you’re not nerdy enough to know). It’s all about this Brave and Default mechanic. Stay with me here—it basically means you can skip a turn to save it for later or unleash a flurry of attacks in one go. It’s a neat twist and, honestly, makes battling monsters a lot more interesting than your usual “hit and hope.”

Why am I rambling about this, you ask? Well, I’m excited. I’ve played Bravely Default II and Octopath Traveler II, but this original gem slipped by me. Everyone raves about it being one of those massive time-sinks, like a 70-hour nostalgia trip to the glory days of SNES-era Final Fantasy. And bonus—they’re not gouging us on price. It’s only $40 in the U.S., which is a breath of fresh air compared to the $70 price tags we’re used to.

I got a taste of the remaster at PAX East 2025—managed to fit it into my chaotic schedule. Played it with these new Joy-Con 2 thingies in the grip for the RPG parts, and you gotta try these two new minigames with mouse controls. Weirdly fun! Didn’t get to play it handheld—just on the TV—but hey, it looks sharp even on a dev kit. Graphics are a step up, for sure, and you can really appreciate those pretty hand-drawn backgrounds.

Oh, and let’s not forget those minigames. Luxencheer Rhythm Catch is like managing a mini dance party with your controllers, which was awkwardly amusing. Then there’s Ringabel’s Panic Cruise—it’s a wild ride. You’re flying an airship, juggling controls like some kind of unhinged pilot. Might be hilarious at parties… if you’re into that kind of chaos.

These minigames are just fun little extras, though. The remaster includes modern perks like fast-forwarding and networked StreetPass stuff. Really, June 5 is the day this HD version pops onto the scene. If you’re into massive JRPGs, it’s definitely worth a look—seems like they’ve put a lot of love into updating it. There are still some unknowns about what’s staying from the original, but fingers crossed, it’ll all come together nicely.