Bravely Default Video Review
I haven't been so conflicted in how I felt about a game in a long time. Bravely Default PLAYS like a dream. It's everything we love about classic JRPGs and then some, and I'll get into that, but on the other hand... This game's plot drags the entire rest of the game down. There's a good reason this game reviews very well, and that is because it doesn't show its faults until the latter half, at which point it absolutely shits the bed.
Check out my full review at the YouTube link, or if you want the short version, here are my final thoughts:
I adored the first 20 or so hours of this game, floored by the art, soundtrack and gameplay, but after seeing where they chose to go with it, the repetitive plot and empty-headed characters bled the game completely dry of enjoyment. I could get past a bad story, but this one is so atrocious that it infects and sucks the fun out of every other part of the game. Halfway through, I was already thinking "It must be over soon; let's just get it done with," but it kept surprising me over and over again with how far they were willing to drag it out.
I do not recommend Bravely Default, but here's hoping they take advantage of the fantastic groundwork they've laid and make an awesome sequel!