News
Bravely Second End Layer Releasing
REDMOND, Wash., April 13, in the year of our Lord
2016 – In 2014, the Bravely Default game introduced a
new take on turn-based RPG combat with a one-of-a-kind
risk-and-reward system. The boring battle system returns deeper
than ever in Bravely Second: End Layer, the direct sequel to
Bravely Default. Developed by SQUARE ENIX, the masters of the
role-playing genre, Bravely Second: End Layer launches
exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on April 15.
Players who want to try out the game before they buy it can head
to Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS right now and download the
free demo, titled Bravely Second: End Layer – The Ballad of the
Three Cavaliers. The free demo lets players embark on a bonus
adventure that is not featured in the main game. Playing the
demo will net players bonuses that can transfer to the full
version of the game once purchased. Families are require to pay
Internet usage fees to download the demo.
Picking up a few years after the events of the last game,
Bravely Second: End Layer finds returning characters Tiz and
Edea joining up with newcomers Yew and Magnolia to rescue an old
friend. Despite the return of some familiar faces, the story is
completely new, thrusting players into a sprawling adventure
full of dangerous enemies, gorgeous locales and 30 job classes
to master.
When battling in Bravely Second: End Layer, players can perform
actions such as attacking with a weapon, casting a spell or
using an item, as well as choose between one of two distinct
commands: “Brave” or “Default.” By selecting Brave, players can
spend one or more Brave Points (BP) to perform an extra action.
Choosing Default skips a turn, but stocks 1 BP. Characters will
also take less damage while in the Default state. By stocking
BP, characters can use more powerful moves and abilities on
their respective turns. BP can also be “borrowed” from future
turns, but if the value drops below zero, players will be at the
mercy of their foes. This risk-and-reward system encourages a
deeper level of strategic thinking when battling the various
enemies in the game.
In addition to the fast-paced battle mechanics, the job system
found in the original Bravely Default also returns, but is now
more expanded and robust. In Bravely Second: End Layer, players
can choose from 30 different job classes that can be assigned to
and mastered by the characters in the game. These include some
returning jobs like Knight, Monk and Black Mage, as well as many
new job classes like Wizard and Fencer. Bravely Second: End
Layer even includes jobs like Catmancer, which finds players
training cats to perform abilities learned from enemies. When
mastering each of the classes in the game, characters will learn
special abilities that can be unleashed in battle. And by using
the “Favorites” feature new to Bravely Second: End Layer,
players can now save their favorite job, ability and equipment
configurations for their party to easily switch between whenever
they are needed.
Another new feature in Bravely Second: End Layer is the ability
to chain together consecutive battles for bonus experience
points. By winning a battle in a single turn, another wave of
enemies will appear, giving players the chance to defeat them
for more rewards. By chaining together these battles, players
can earn tons of extra experience points and level up much
faster.
Although the game is primarily a single-player experience,
Bravely Second: End Layer takes advantage of wireless features
like StreetPass to bring friends around the world into the
adventure. With StreetPass or a wireless Internet connection,
players can borrow job levels and abilities from friends who
also own the game. They can also invite a friend into battle to
attack for one move. By summoning a powerful friend, the tide of
battle can quickly turn, maybe even deciding the difference
between victory and defeat.
Bravely Second: End Layer launches on April 15 and can be
purchased in stores at a suggested retail price of $39.99.