With the worldwide launch ofBravely Default 2,many players may be wondering how many hours it will take for them to complete the game. While the length of the game may pale in comparison to JRPG juggernauts likePersona 5, completingBravely Default 2will be no short task.
AsBravely Default 2reviewscontinue to roll in, several critics have praised the game for its engrossing story, unique combat system, and beautiful environments. However, one point of contention for many critics seems to be the amount of grinding required to complete the game.
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In theBravely Defaultfranchise, players don’t earn XP to level their characters like they would in most JRPGs. Instead,players inBravely Default 2earn job pointswhich are used to significantly increase party members' abilities throughout the game. This grind is somewhat alleviated by the game’s unique combat system which allows players to speed up battles (up to 4x) and even contains an auto-battle function that allows the player’s party members to repeat the same round of action.
Players can expect to completeBravely Default 2’s campaign in approximately 60 hrs. However, much of the playtime is padded out with the aforementioned required grinding to level up character jobs. By comparison, the firstBravely Defaulttook approximately 55 hrs to complete and the game’s confusingly named sequel -Bravely Second: End Layer- took approximately 40 hours to complete.
With a length that surpasses both previous titles in the series,fans ofBravely Defaultwill have no shortage of content as they explore the continent of Excillant. However, for players that are put off by required grinding, it is unlikely thatBravely Default 2will do anything to sway their opinion on the mechanic.
The issue of required grinding is a hotly contentious subject in the JRPG community. While several mainstream JRPG’s such as thePersonaandFinal Fantasyseries have gradually moved away from this gameplay mechanic in their latest entries, titles such asBravely DefaultandOctopath Traveler -which serve more as homages to traditional JRPGs - continue to implement them.
However, players should note that despite the valid criticism of padding out game length through grinding, much of the tedium of the mechanic is alleviated by the Nintendo Switch platform. Due to the portability of the system, players can grind experience with the system undocked without having to pay much attention to the action on the screen.
Overall, fans of traditional JRPG’s have plenty to be excited about with the launch ofBravely Default 2and for those gamers who are looking for a shorter less grind-centric experience, there’s alwaysPersona 5 Strikers.
Bravely Default 2launches on February 26th as a Nintendo Switch exclusive.
