Bravely Second: End Layer
Direct sequel to Bravely Default, released 2015–2016.
Bravely Second: End Layer is a 2015 role-playing video game developed by Silicon Studio for the Nintendo 3DS handheld console. It is the direct sequel to Bravely Default, published by Square Enix in Japan on April 23, 2015, and by Nintendo in North America, Europe, and Australia in 2016. The game continues the story of Luxendarc, set two and a half years after the previous game, and follows new protagonist Yew Geneolgia as he seeks to rescue Agnès Oblige from the warlord Kaiser.
- Developer
- Silicon Studio
- Publisher
- Square Enix (Japan), Nintendo (English regions)
- Platform
- Nintendo 3DS
- Release Date (Japan)
- April 23, 2015
- Release Date (English)
- 2016
- Genre
- Role-playing video game
- Sequel to
- Bravely Default
Lore & Background
Bravely Second: End Layer is set two and a half years after Bravely Default. The story begins with Agnès Oblige, now Pope of the Crystal Orthodoxy, attempting to sign a peace treaty with the Duchy of Eternia. The ceremony is interrupted by Kaiser Oblivion, leader of the Glanz Empire, who abducts Agnès. Yew Geneolgia, leader of her Crystalguard, awakens a week later and sets out to rescue her, joined by Edea Lee, Magnolia Arch, and Tiz Arrior. The party pursues the Kaiser across Luxendarc, learning of the Sword of the Brave and the Holy Pillar. The Kaiser is revealed to be Yew's missing brother Denys, who seeks to use a compass of space and time to undo his family's past misdeeds. The game's plot involves time travel, celestial beings, and a final confrontation with Providence, a god-like entity that breaks the fourth wall.
Reader's Guide
Bravely Second: End Layer retains the turn-based battle system of its predecessor, allowing players to build up Brave Points (BP) to act multiple times per turn or Default to guard and gain BP. New to the game is a chain-battle feature, where defeating a random encounter lets players continue battling in succession for up to three times the experience and money. The game features up to 30 Jobs, each obtained by acquiring an asterisk from a character in the game world. Sidequests have been revamped: players encounter two Eternian asterisk holders in an ethical dilemma, and the reward is the loser's asterisk, locking out the other until later. A reconstruction minigame similar to the first game's Norende appears, now involving rebuilding Magnolia's homeland on the moon. The game received generally positive reviews, though some felt it was inferior to its predecessor.
Did You Know?
- The game was announced in a December 2013 issue of Jump magazine, named after a gameplay mechanic from Bravely Default: For the Sequel.
- The story involves a character named Anne who is the younger sister of Airy, an enemy from Bravely Default.
- The game features a post-credits scene where Ringabel is revealed to be an agent of an interdimensional police force called the Planeswardens.
- The Adventurer who helps Tiz is revealed to be a colleague of Altair named Deneb.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bravely Second: End Layer?
It is a turn-based RPG for the Nintendo 3DS that follows directly after Bravely Default. Silicon Studio developed the title, which launched in Japan in April 2015 and reached North America, Europe, and Australia in 2016.
Who is the main character in Bravely Second: End Layer?
The player guides Yew Geneolgia, a young man whose sole driving goal is to free Agnès Oblige from the clutches of the warlord Kaiser. His rescue mission anchors the entire narrative arc of the game.
How does Bravely Second: End Layer connect to Bravely Default?
The story unfolds roughly two and a half years after the events of its predecessor, still set within the world of Luxendarc. Although it centers on a new cast and plot, characters and lore from the first entry continue to matter.
Who developed and published Bravely Second: End Layer?
Silicon Studio handled all development work, while Square Enix published the game in Japan and Nintendo distributed it across North America, Europe, and Australia. It was released exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS handheld.
What kind of combat system does Bravely Second: End Layer use?
Battles are turn-based, with players issuing commands from a menu in discrete rounds for each party member. The system carries over the Brave/Default gauge mechanic from the first game, allowing you to bank or spend extra turns for strategic advantage.
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