Features

First things first - Bravely Default is not a satirical banking simulator based on the 2008 credit crunch. No, it's the latest JRPG from Square Enix, exclusive to the 3DS, and one whose deep tactical play rivals the RPG output on any full-fat console.

Depending on how much you like your JRPG storylines, you'll either love or hate Bravely Default's set-up; big brother watches 'ickle brother plunge to his death when their village suddenly disappears down a sinkhole. Cue big brother teaming up with Agnés, 'the Vestel of the Wind Crystal' to find out why the four crystals charged with protecting the land from such disasters are failing.

While the storyline might be Marmite, BD's combat is a certified treat, one that injects new life into the sometimes tired-feeling, turn-based nature of Square Enix's latest RPGs. At the combat's core is the Brave/Default system, which is hard to describe but simple to understand in practise. You use Brave points to attack your foe up to four times in a row; trouble is if you use all your Brave points in one extended attack, you end up unable to attack in the next round as your bravery has quite literally run out. You big yellow belly, you.

Using Default on the other hand puts you in a defensive position and each time it's used, it generates a Brave point. Clear? Erm... Fret not though; all you need to know is that the system is perfectly balanced (and fraught) as you're forced to plan how to deploy your Brave points to your advantage - and when to hold off using them.

Underscoring this unique, engrossing approach is an in-depth character development system. Earn Job Asterisks and Job Points to take on roles from the usual Knights and Mages to the far more cool including Pirates and Vampires. You can also change your job on the fly plus blend skill sets to create a truly customised character.

There's also a host of novel features including an RTS-like mini-game where you rebuild your village, the chance to beam your character to other players via Street Pass and the option to use the 3DS's AR functions to charming effect.

Games like Bravely Default show an irony of handheld gaming; while big brother consoles sometimes strive for more simplified, perhaps dumbed-down experiences, wee handhelds like the 3DS present you with games that boast immense depth and breadth. And Bravely Default is a shining example of the latter - and an essential purchase for anyone with even the remotest interest in the JRPG scene.