Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster – A First Look

Okay, so here we go — umm, Switch 2 is dropping a game called “Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster” on launch day. Yeah, you guessed it! It was that 3DS thing from 2012. Who’s counting, really? It hit the West a bit later, with a few tweaks. I could tell you the whole saga about its origins as a Final Fantasy spin-off, but honestly, Wikipedia’s right there — someone’s already nailed that story better than I ever could, like, ages ago.

Anyway, what we’re dealing with is a turn-based JRPG. Yup, those things where you take turns doing cool moves. It’s got this “Brave/Default” system, which I’m told is pretty epic — you can “Default” to save a move or “Brave” to unleash them all at once. Intriguing, right? Not your average RPG snoozefest, supposedly.

I’m curious. Why? Because I’ve played the sequels — Bravely Default II and Octopath Traveler II — but never got my hands on the original. They say it’s a nostalgic dive into SNES-era vibes but with a modern twist. Oh, and the price? It’s around $40. A steal if you ask me, compared to those $70 first-party games.

Caught a demo at PAX East 2025. First impressions? Not bad! Stumbled through the first 10 minutes — cave fights and all. It’s got a nice remaster touch. Looks sharper, runs smooth. Joysticks were good too! Though, can’t vouch for the final experience since it was a dev kit.

Now, about those minigames—Switch 2 throws in a couple: Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise, using mouse controls. Luxencheer is basically juggling Joy-Con 2s to tunes. Chaotic fun, but I wasn’t feeling the groove. Took it easy—didn’t want to mess up during the short demo time.

Ringabel’s more my jam. You fly an airship, using mouse hands to steer, tweak valves, hit buttons — just madness. Plenty of party game vibes here!

Bonus stuff includes new UI, revamped StreetPass mode for the network, and handy quality of life features. Fast-forwarding makes life easier, right?

So, summed up: June 5, Square Enix releases an HD take on a beloved 3DS RPG. Priced well, seems polished, but yeah, a couple of early questions from fans linger. Feels promising though, I reckon!