Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster – A First Look

Switch 2 launch hype, anyone? So, here’s the deal: they tossed out “Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster” (I know, wordy, right?). This gem was chilling on the 3DS back in 2012, and then we got it a year late, because, well, why not?

First things first, let’s not dive too deep into its Final Fantasy roots. There’s Wikipedia for that lore, I’m no historian. Someone probably penned a masterpiece on that, years back. But here’s what counts: Bravely Default is this rad turn-based game — complex, yet somehow simple. It’s got this “Brave/Default” thing where you juggle moves. You either save a move or go all out. Simple, right? Handy for when you face off with creepy monsters.

Now, confession time. I missed the original but played Bravely Default II and Octopath Traveler II. They were like time warps to my SNES days, yet kept things fresh. And hey, can we talk about the price? It’s dropping for a nice $40. Smart move in today’s pricey game landscape.

Oh, PAX East 2025? Yeah, I got my hands on it. Well, sort of. Joy-Con 2s were my trusty sidekicks. Had some fun with new minigames, but no handheld play for me. Played it for like, 10 minutes in a cave. Looked sharp, felt smooth. Couldn’t really capture it but trust me, it felt like buttery 60fps. Those backgrounds? Stunning with the new polish.

Okay, minigames! Two new ones up for grabs — Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise. So, the mouse thing? Classic Nintendo — quirky but promises fun. Felt a bit awkward with Luxencheer. It’s like a rhythm challenge but with coffee tables and shoulder buttons.

Ringabel? That chaos was more my vibe. Piloting an airship through ring hoops, juggling dials, levers, buttons — a delightful mess! Seriously, perfect for party chaos.

These minigames aren’t the main attraction, just tiny bonuses for launch day. Cute, not game-changing. Plus, it’s got other neat upgrades like fast-forwarding — yes, I’m grateful for that!

Bottom line? June 5, you get a cool HD remaster of this epic JRPG. Price feels right, and they’ve lifted it well from its 3DS days. Sure, there might be surprises about which features made the cut, but it’s looking promising.