Not only was it a shocking success, it got both a direct sequel in Bravely Second and a numbered sequel in Bravely Default 2.

square enix actually refused to localize the first game! nintendo had to do it themselves when bravely second was confirmed and a "for the sequel" release launched in Japan. (which is the version we got in the west) it then proceeded to outsell lightning returns here in the west, which square enix was not expecting AT ALL, since they literally made lightning returns (and ff13 in general) with the western audience in mind, while bravely default was always conceived as a japan-only game

@@maybepolly_ it just shows that Square Enix at least back then really didn't know how much the Western audience's perception of JRPGs had changed from a negative or neutral one to an extremely positive one. I think the biggest issue I see with it is the fact that right before the 3ds one of the most successful Square Enix games without Final Fantasy in the title had released in the form of DQ9 and pretty much revitalized Western interest in JRPGs that aren't just Final Fantasy. Then instead of following on the success of 9 in the west they ended up making us wait for around 9 years skipping over DQ10 entirely while shoving ff13 and 14 down our throats both of which were mediocre entries at best. Like sure ff13 and ff14 were better than ff2 but so is almost every other JRPG that Square Enix has made. At least after bringing in Bravely Default and Bravely Second and re-releasing some of the DQ games they quit shutting down the West for JRPGs, sure we still aren't necessarily as much of a success for the company but JRPG sales only continue to rise every year which has allowed for further remakes of game ips like TWEWY or the constant rumors of a potential DQ9 remake or remaster and the creation of sequels for IPs such as NEO:TWEWY for the TWEWY IP or DQ12 getting announced as under development with intent of same day distribution worldwide whenever it finally does release. TLDR: Square Enix underestimated how much Western gaming had changed throughout the years especially after what was easily the most successful DQ game in the west proved that Final Fantasy wasn't the only JRPG that could work. After Bravely Default and Bravely Second released in the west thanks to Nintendo and further proved that JRPGs as a whole could work, not just exclusively Final Fantasy, by beating ff13 in sales other ips would come back swinging.

Hell the returning IPs are soon to include Chrono Cross the relatively obscure sequel of Chrono Trigger so I think the biggest thing about all this is that Square Enix really got it confirmed that they can experiment and that the west is interested.

Square Enix misunderstanding its western audience??? NEVER.

Actually it's the other way around. Altair was the one forced to go to Luxendarc. Vega was unfortunately left behind. That's why the most powerful, and nearly indestructible, Ba'al is Diamante. It represents the diamond engagement ring that Altair gave her before he was shoved on a rocket to escape the end of the world (it's the strongest and most recent memory). That's also why the secret Ba'al, Firstborn is so difficult to hit. It represents the child they never got to have, and because it's an abstract thought rather than a memory, it can't take on a fully solid form.

Optional town rebuilding monsters in the first, plot relevant actual bosses in second. To the point where magnolia unironically uses the term ba’al buster to describe it. And yes ba’al is pronounce like ball

It's Linked Horizon, which is the side project that works with different media like games and anime (Attack on Titan says hi). Sound Horizon is Revo's main project with the fantasy albums and musical live performances :)

@@WhiskeyTango249 Thank you! Like I said, I was never able to become a fan due to language barrier and... My young, uneducated age lol It's also been a while since I looked them up again.

There's a video out there that has all 12 character themes across the three Bravely games. That'd be a sick react vid, for sure.

I know what you meant there eheheh

magnolia can bust my ba'als ANYDAY!