Bravely Second: End Layer

Bravely Second: End Layer

Developer(s) Silicon Studio
Square Enix
Publisher(s) Square Enix
Director(s) Kensuke Nakahara
Producer(s) Tomoya Asano[1]
Artist(s) Akihiko Yoshida[1]
Writer(s) Tomoya Asano
Shinji Takahashi
Souki Tsukishima
Composer(s) Ryo
Platform(s) Nintendo 3DS
Release date(s)
  • JP April 23, 2015
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Bravely Second: End Layer (Japanese: ブレイブリーセカンド エンドレイヤー Hepburn: Bureiburī Sekando: Endo Reiyā)[2] is a 2015 Japanese role-playing video game developed by Silicon Studio and Square Enix for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to Bravely Default, also released for the 3DS.

Gameplay

The game, like its predecessor, is a role-playing video game.[3]

Story

The game takes place in the same universe as Bravely Default, occurring two and a half years after the events of the first game.[4][5] A new character, Magnolia Arch, appears in the game[6] as one of the main protagonists.[1] She is from the world's moon, and the last of her kind after a demon attacks her homeland.[7] According to Asano, the game explores more of the land of Luxendarc.[8] Edea Lee from Bravely Default also returns as the leader of the Imperial Guard knights.[9]

Development

As early as December 2012, talks of a sequel to Bravely Default arose, with producer Tomoya Asano requesting feedback from fans to be used for a sequel to the game.[10] Talks of a sequel also arose again in June 2013, when game developer Yasumi Matsuno announced that character designer and lead artist Akihiko Yoshida was working on a Bravely Default sequel.[11][12] In August 2013, Square Enix announced Bravely Default: For the Sequel, an updated version of the original that would implement new gameplay ideas developed for a sequel in the series.[13][14] The name Bravely Second was trademarked as early as September 2013.[15] The game's name was officially announced as Bravely Second in a December 2013 issue of Jump magazine.[16] being named after a gameplay mechanic from Bravely Default: For the Sequel.[17] Upon announcement, the game's only announced platform is the Nintendo 3DS.[18] No releases outside of Japan, or in other languages, have been announced.[4] The game was approximately 30% complete around the time of its official announcement.[1]

In December 2013, it was revealed that Yoshida had left Square Enix.[11] Despite this, he states he still plans on continuing to work on the Bravely games,[11] and Bravely Second will still retain the same anime art style established in the first game.[16] albeit with characters having slightly more realistic proportions, being slightly less chibi.[1] Initial brainstorming led to ideas such as having Magnolia wear a space suit or bunny ears, but this was ultimately scrapped to pursue a more "adult look", something the developers felt was missing in the first title.[19] Asano also confirmed that the game will stay story driven as opposed to exploration driven, as with the first game.[8] In April 2014, producer Tomoya Asano announced in Famitsu‍ '​s Rumour Column that the scenario for the game was completed.[20] In late July 2014, Famitsu magazine revealed that Revo would not be returning to compose the soundtrack for the game due to conflicting schedules, and that Ryo from the band Supercell would be taking his place.[21]

On December 10, 2014, a trial version of the game was released on the Japanese Nintendo eShop.[22]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Famitsu36 of 40 (9, 9, 9, 9)[23]

In their review, the Japanese video game magazine Famitsu gave the game the score 36 of 40, consisting of the sub-scores 9, 9, 9, and 9.[23]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ishaan (2013-12-10). "Bravely Second Will Have Larger Fields, More Things To Do". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  2. ↑ "『ブレイブリーセカンド』正式タイトルが『BSEL』に決定！“エンドレイヤー”に隠された謎とは". インサイド.
  3. ↑ Tach, David (2013-10-24). "Bravely Second is a 3DS sequel to Bravely Default". Polygon. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ashcraft, Kevin (2012-12-04). "First Look at Bravely Second, the Totally New Bravely Default Sequel". Kotaku. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  5. ↑ Romano, Sal (2013-09-12). "Bravely Default sequel announced for 3DS". Gematsu. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  6. ↑ Ishaan (2012-12-04). "Bravely Default Sequel, Bravely Second, Announced For 3DS". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  7. ↑ Spencer (2013-12-08). "Bravely Second’s New Character Is A Devil Buster From The Moon". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Ishaan (2014-02-21). "Bravely Second Will Focus On Story Rather Than Exploration". Siliconera. Retrieved 2014-02-22.
  9. ↑ Sato (2015-01-20). "Edea Will Be One Of The Main Characters In Bravely Second". Siliconera. Retrieved 2015-01-22.
  10. ↑ Sato (2012-12-17). "Bravely Default Sequel In The Works". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Gera, Emily (2013-12-05). "Bravely Default character designer leaves Square Enix". Polygon. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  12. ↑ Ishaan (2013-06-05). "Akihiko Yoshida Working On Next Bravely Default Says Yasumi Matsuno". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  13. ↑ Hussain, Tamoor (2012-12-04). "News: Bravely Default sequel announced for 3DS". ComputerAndVideoGames. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  14. ↑ North, Dale (2013-08-28). "Bravely Default For the Sequel expansion announced". Destructoid. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  15. ↑ Ishaan (2013-09-18). "Hey, These Trademarks Sound Like Future Bravely Default Games". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Phillips, Tom. "Bravely Default sequel announced for 3DS in Japan • News • 3DS •". Eurogamer. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  17. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (2013-12-04). "Bravely Second announced as sequel to Bravely Default". VG247. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  18. ↑ Whitehead, Thomas (2012-12-04). "Bravely Default Sequel Confirmed for 3DS in Japan". Nintendolife. Retrieved 2013-12-04.
  19. ↑ Sato. "Bravely Second Producer Aims To Create A New Pillar Of Support For Square Enix". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-12-14.
  20. ↑ Mauro Piccillo. "Bravely Second Scenario Compleato!". EIR Games. Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  21. ↑ Sato. "Supercell’s ryo In Charge Of Music For Bravely Second". Siliconera. Retrieved 2014-07-29.
  22. ↑ SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. "無料で遊べる三銃士編｜ブレイブリーセカンド｜SQUARE ENIX". ブレイブリーセカンド｜SQUARE ENIX.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Brian (April 14, 2015). "Famitsu review scores (4/14/15) – Bravely Second". Nintendo Everything. Retrieved April 15, 2015.

External links