Bravely Default

Unreleased

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is the successor of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, a "" or "spin-off" of the main Final Fantasy series. It is in development for the Nintendo 3DS console in Japan. It is being directed by Takashi Tokita. Character design is done by Akihiko Yoshida, and Silicon Studio. Although the game has an original title, it is considered a spiritual successor of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light by its creators.

Gameplay
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is said to be a "traditional RPG" in the style of Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, by which it is a turn-based RPG with Random Encounters; with a Battle System focused on the Job System. The game uses a system of stocked points called "BP" which characters use to gain extra turns. Every character has their own set of BP. When using the "Default" command, a turn is skipped in order to stock a BP, and the "Brave" command uses that BP to move twice.

Players can move twice and drop into negative BP, which will result in a combo of turns; however, this gives the enemy several turns in a row. BP can also be transferred between the characters. Another new battle command is the "Friend Summon" system, where players can summon the characters of other players using either data transfer between the player's friends or 3DS Streetpass system between strangers. When a Friend Summon is used repeatedly, they will grow in "Affection" and become stronger.

The job system is similar to that of Final Fantasy V in that characters learn abilities from using jobs. Job commands are the special skills of that class, such as Magic and Attack. Support abilities are automatic skills like HP +10% or Cover. Job commands can be set with abilities learned from other jobs, allowing mixed characters with multiple skills. Support abilities can also be customized, but there is a set "cost" as to how many support abilities can be placed on one character. Growth in job mastery is represented by job levels. As characters use a class more frequently in battle, their job level increases. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy features a special system called "Abilink", which allows players to borrow the job levels of their friends' characters.

While the characters are in polygonal 3D, the game's backgrounds are hand-drawn, with the various location elements "popping out" of the screen thanks to parallax scrolling and the 3DS auto-stereoscopic technology. A traditional 3D world map has also been shown. The playable characters can interact with each other using a "Party Chat" system, where battles are interrupted so that the player can watch a cutscene. These Party Chat scenes will expand the story and give game strategies.

Limit Break-style attacks called "Deathblow" are powerful finishing moves based on weapons not unlike Final Fantasy XI's Weapon Skills and can only be used under special conditions. Each of the 9 weapon-types has 1-3 levels of attacks for a total 27 Deathblows. Furthermore the attack names, dialogue when used and aftereffects (such as status effects, elemental properties, better damage versus certain enemy types) of Deathblow can be customized. After a Deathblow is activated, the background music will change a unique theme based on the character and the Deathblow effects can stack. All weapon types have set proficiency that effects the learning rate and damage of each weapon and Deathblow. They're ranked S-E and vary from class to class, for example Frelancers have a B rating in all weapons.

A game-spanning minigame-like sidequest that centers the rebuilding of Tiz's village Nolende by recruiting people can be undertaken. This can also be done via Streetpass or the internet. It normally takes hundreds of hours to complete, but that can be lessen using Streetpass to increase the population. Special shops can be built here such as a "Deathblow Parts" shop to alter the skills. Normal shops built here overtime stock powerful unique equipment that can't be found elsewhere.


 * It has been revealed that Monk, White Mage, and Black Mage will be first jobs gained from one of the first early on in the game,


 * The Dark Knight was revealed via Niconico and noted to look a lot Cecil's from FFIV. Dark Knights have the standard HP usage attacks, and in addition they can cast status effects on themselves like Death Sentence, gaining a "parameter bonus" to increase their abilities

Job System
The game employs a job system that is slightly different from the system in Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. A special item called Asterisk is needed in order to be able to change jobs. A total of 24 jobs can be obtained throughout the game and each job has its own level that will be capped at 10.


 * Freelancer
 * Dark Knight
 * Hunter

Setting
The story takes place in Luxendarc (ルクセンダルク), the land of light and shadow. Many countries exist in this land, one of which was home to Tiz Oria until it was devastated by a disaster that left a giant hole on the continent and Tiz the only survivor. Other countries include Lakrika (ラクリーカ), home to the Wind Crystal Shrine and known for its large clock and sands, the frigid Duchy of Etrania and the scenic Karudisura Kingdom.

Playable

 * Anies Oblige, a 17-year-old girl who controls the "Wind Crystal" and sets off on a journey, lead by the Crystal Spirits.
 * Tiz Oria, a 16-year-old boy who miraculously managed to survive the huge calamity that left a giant hole in the continent. He's deeply depressed that he was unable to save his sister and sole relative in the disaster.
 * Edea Lee, a 15-year-old girl with a strong sense of justice who originates from Etrania and was raised in a strong household. She meets Anies on a mission for the Etranian Army.
 * Ringabell, a 18-year old amnesiac traveling around the world seducing women with his adolescent charm. He is in possession of a special D Notebook that can predict the future.

4th Etranian Air Force Division

 * Argent Heinkel, Knight Jobmaster and commander of the Etranian Air Force, commands respect among his subordinates with a fierce personality.
 * Bearing Out, Monk Jobmaster and airship pilot, rough around the edges, but easy to sway.
 * Holly White, White Mage Jobmaster the Air Force's healer who runs the bridge. She doesn’t have quarters of her own on the airship — so as a female she has lost a lot of sleep amongst her male subordinates as her bed is on the deck.
 * Ominous Crow, A Black Mage Jobmaster, who is very mischievous and combative with Holly — their relationship likened to cats and dogs.

Matamatto Boritori Troupe

 * Malme Konta Matamatto VIII, Time Mage member of the villainous Matamatto Boritori Troupe, who hunt down all believers in the Crystals in the kingdom of Lakrika. He is the King of the country.
 * Nikosguy Boritori, Matamatto Boritori Merchant and head of the company.
 * Jackal, Matamatto Boritori Thief, leads a band of outlaws.
 * Ikuma Naerik, Matamatto Boritori Magic Swordsman. A Mysterious mercenary who serves as a bodyguard and messenger.

Blood Rose Special Forces Unit

 * Fiore de Rosa, Playboy and the Red Mage. In the entertainment district of "Flowell", he is a poor middle-aged man whose love affairs are the talk of the town. His identity is a secret to many, but he is actually the commanding officer of Blood Rose Unit.
 * Einherjar Venus, A Valkyrie belonging to the Blood Rose, she is the eldest daughter of three sisters; she has learned martial arts from the same teacher as Edea.
 * Mefirea Venus, The middle Venus sister and the Blood Rose Summoner. She listens to no one except her elder sister Einherjar.
 * Artemis Venus, Blood Rose Hunter and the youngest Venus sister. She too takes orders from no one except her eldest sister.

1st Etranian Army Division: Sword of Kurogane

 * Kamiizumi, Leader of the "Sword of Kurogane"  and a Swordmaster. Calm and collected, and is prestigious enough of a swordsman the enemy can respect. He is sent to intervene in a civil war against overwhelming odds, and was previously seen sparring with Edea in a previous Bravely Default demo.
 * Barbarossa, Member of the "Sword of Kurogane" and a Pirate Captain. He is Kamiizumi's lieutenant and is known for his hearty laughter. During the civil war he has been put in charge of moving goods and troops by sea.
 * Kikyou Konoe, Member of the "Sword of Kurogane" and a Ninja. Excelling at stealth and disguise, she is ruthless and wields two Kodachi blades. Her talents have all but gone extinct in Luxendarc, and she seems to have a smoldering hostility towards Barbarossa.
 * Doctor Kusurishi Kada, Member the Sword of Kurogane and a Chemist who is described as arrogant, apathetic, and full of hubris. He has been tasked with seeing after civilians caught in the strife, but seems to be concocting some sort of poison.
 * Pudding (Purin) a'la Mode, Superstar Battlefield Idol and a member of the " Sword of Kurogane". A cheerful idol that has been given the role of rallying on soldiers in the civil war through song. Soldiers who hear her song will charge the enemy, unafraid of danger or death.

Story
Tiz is destined to become a Warrior of Light. Anies, Tiz's comrade, is on a journey to free the Wind Crystal from the darkness that has engulfed it. However, she is being pursued by the Jobmasters of the Etrania's Air Force, who seek the power of the crystals and anyone in possession of them.

Music
The music for the game will be composed by Revo from the Japanese musical group Sound Horizon. Members of the said group include RIKKI known for her work "Suteki da ne" for Final Fantasy X and Joelle known for "Plains of Eternity" from Final Fantasy XIII-2. A single was released on August 22nd, 2012 in Japan and includes a redeemable code for a special in-game equipment. Though an official release date for the soundtrack is yet to be announced, it will coincide with the game's. The 2-disc soundtrack will include a fold-out stand for the four protagonists Tiz, Anies, Edea and Lingabel.

Ordering the game's original soundtrack rewards a knight costume for Agnes and the ability to equip the character's respective default outfit regardless of job. However, the game must first be registered to Japanese Square Enix Member's site. Also, purchasing the supplementary album Linked Horizon, available since August 22nd, 2012 in Japan, will reward the player with the "Noble Composer" outfit.

Development
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy entered development as a Nintendo 3DS sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light. However, Square Enix eventually decided to rename the game with an original title so as not to confuse modern-day Final Fantasy fans, as the game's direction is different than the modern games of the series and closer in style to the older installments. The development team settled on the name Bravely Default: Flying Fairy so that the subtitle would abbreviate to "FF", as a reminder of the game's origins.

According to the producer Tomoyo Asano, the Bravely Default means "Have courage and renounce the promises and responsibilities that are expected of you. In other words, don't just blindly do what you're told, act according to your will." This is the core theme behind the game's scenario.

One of requests the Asano made of Hayashi is that he wanted emphasis placed on the characters and scenario that would surprise people. Asano explained further that he wanted both good and bad guys to have appeal and likeability.

Production Credits
Naotaka Hayashi, the scenario writer on Steins;Gate and Chaos;Head, wrote the story for Bravely Default: Flying Fairy.

Release
The collector's edition of the game can be exclusively acquired through the Square Enix e-Shop. This includes a copy of the game, the first print run of the game's original soundtrack, an art album, an original protect case for the 3DS, and a life-size AR poster. . It will be sold for ¥12,800. The standard edition of the game will be sold for ¥6,090.

Demos
On February 27th, 2012, it was confirmed that the game will have several demos, each concentrating on one of the game's aspects, and two days later, on the February 29th, 2012, the first demo, titled "Demo + AR Vol.1 - Crystal Maiden Volume", was released on February 29th, 2012.

Second demo, titled "Demo Vol.2: Heroes of Despair Volume", was published on March 29th, 2012. The second demo allows to control Tiz, as well as walk around a town, visit a shop, and interact with its citizens.

A battle demo was released on June 27th, 2012, which allows for a sampling of the game's battle system, with players selecting two jobs from a total of four available jobs, and making use of the "Brave & Default" system. It also contains new AR movie focusing on the new character of Edea Lee.

A fourth demo was released on August 1st, 2012. This demo gave control to the first three playable characters as they fight their way through a dungeon and fight a golem boss. This demo features full control of the game's battle system and comes with an AR movie focusing on Ringabel.

The final, fifth demo will be released on September 12th, 2012, and will include all elements from the four previous demos, and additionally will add Friend Summons, Abilink, and Noruwend village recovery system. Players will be able to carry up to 20 friends into the Noruwend in the full game. Also, with the release of the fifth demo, the previous four will be removed.