History YMMV / BravelySecond

** Holly Whyte during the Hartschild sidequest. You are supposed to sympathize with her because her father was always at work and left her alone all the time, and that she doesn't want the little girl in that side quest to go through the same thing. However if you really think about it, Profiteur's plans (Making a trade route) could save BOTH the country and the little girl, plus there's no guarantee the same thing will happen again. What's worse is that [[FridgeHorror Hartschild is never brought up again if you side with Holly, Profituer just runs off and you don't even confront an NPC and tell them that things will get better. Hell, the little girl will probably have to repair the wreck of a house all by herself, and take care of herself and her grandfather, who will probably die in a few years, and leave her all alone.]] [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Which makes Holly look like a selfish brat who is willing to doom entire countries all because she hasn't moved on from her past.]] Even worse, Profiteur seems to be genuine this time; one of Holly's ways of defending her views is bringing up that Erutus is shacking up with pirates and former criminals, and giving them money. [[NotHelpingYourCase The party immediately realize Profiteur is trying to help the economic recovery by hiring former cons and pirates as a workforce so that they not only get an honest living doing actual work as dockhands, construction workers, and ore miners, something those rough-and-tumble types would be good at,]] [[HeartWarmingMoments but also so they can defend the burgeoning trade route from other pirates. Given the very first sidequest in the game had Jackal, a rather sympathetic character, ''doing just that,'' it's hard to see Profituer as the villain this time.]] At worst, he's being pragmatic and will make a tidy profit while ''saving a country'', and at best he's undergone a genuine HeelFaceTurn, and just happens to still love money. The scenario is ''supposed'' to be a 'the needs of the many versus the needs of the few' scenario, but when Profiteur's plan will still help the few, it's hard not to side with him.

** Holly Whyte during the Hartschild sidequest. You are suppose to sympathize with her because her father was always at work and left her alone all the time, and that she doesn't want the little girl in that side quest to go through the same thing. However if you really think about it, Profiteur's plans (Making a trade route) could save BOTH the country and the little girl, plus there's no guarantee the same thing will happen again. What's worse is that [[FridgeHorror Hartschild is never brought up again if you side with Holly, Profituer just runs off and you don't even confront an NPC and tell them that things will get better. Hell, the little girl will probably have to repair the wreck of a house all by herself, and take care of herself and her grandfather, who will probably die in a few years, and leave her all alone.]] [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Which makes Holly look like a selfish brat who is willing to doom entire countries all because she hasn't moved on from her past.]]

** There are those who find the story interesting and better compared to the previous game's EndingFatigue plus the many points addressed in AuthorsSavingThrow, while others are annoyed with the references to Japanese memes in the dialogue, which they think downgrades the story, at least for Japanese-speaking players as this was more downplayed in the western releases. Some of the Japanese players also criticize the story because the tent events are out of place from the main story. And there are also those who think that the story is a step down from Bravely Default due to several points (One being the ending and the RomanticPlotTumor to some players) [[TakeAThirdOption though there are players who enjoyed the story in both games as a whole]].

** [[spoiler: Almost everyone reacted to this with TheReveal of the game's finale.]]

* PowerupLetdown / UselessUsefulSpell: Some of the abilities gained from [[spoiler:the secret unlockable 11th job level]] are very powerful and useful, while others are...not, but one of the worst offenders is Nova, the Wizard's [[spoiler:level 5 Spellcraft ability]], which is ''extremely'' underwhelming compared to most of the [[spoiler:job level 11]] abilities. Nova allows you to cast a magic spell at double power against all enemies...''and allies'', so it requires some setup with elemental immunities or magic defense tanking if you don't want your party to take massive damage. Nope, reflecting it doesn't work either. And considering how late in the game you get it, you'll already have ''much'' better options for magic damage at that point to boot.

*** As is becoming standard for the series, the theme for the FinalBoss incorporates melodies from the entire game. [[spoiler: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl0R7hMIGYo Battle of Providence]] opens with a blaze of OminousPipeOrgan and OminousLatinChanting, before settling into a somber melody that contrast's well against Ouroboros's from the previous game. As happened with the previous theme, just when all hope seems lost, the four heroes' melodies cut through, accompanied by the game's title screen, and a TriumphantReprise of Battle of Tribulations.]]

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Holly Whyte during the Hartschild sidequest. You are suppose to sympathize with her because her father was always at work and left her alone all the time, and that she doesn't want the little girl in that side quest to go through the same thing. However if you really think about it, Profiteur's plans (Making a trade route) could save BOTH the country and the little girl, plus there's no guarantee the same thing will happen again. What's worse is that [[FridgeHorror Hartschild is never brought up again if you side with Holly, Profituer just runs off and you don't even confront an NPC and tell them that things will get better. Hell, the little girl will probably have to repair the wreck of a house all by herself, and take care of herself and her grandfather, who will probably die in a few years, and leave her all alone.]] [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom Which makes Holly look like a selfish brat who is willing to doom entire countries all because she hasn't moved on from her past.]]

** The localization removing cutsenes from the side quests. Some people are furious that the localization is removing content from the game, while others are glad they won't have to {{Save Scum|ming}} for all cutscenes, especially since some of the decisions render some content LostForever. [[spoiler: There are no good or bad endings. To explain: The first time a decision was made on either side of the sidequest, no matter which Asterisk was chosen, Edea could be seen second guessing herself and her decision. Upon the time reset, if the exact same decision was made again, choosing the same asterisk as before the time reset, Edea could be seen more sure of her decision. This meant that a player would have to play through the entire game twice to get 100% completion and all asterisks. The localization removed at least some of the endings where Edea was unsure of herself, cutting down on redundancy. Or more, a player would have to play through the game three times, if they wanted all the asterisks first, and all cutscenes later. After the outcry regarding Default's repetition, is there any wonder this was removed?]]

* WhatTheHellCostumingDepartment: Like the first game. Special mention goes to Yew's Dark knight asterisk costume as the helmet makes him look like a [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Mega Charizard Y with Shiny Charizard color scheming cosplay.]]

* EvenBetterSequel: Overall, most fans agree that ''Bravely Second'' is a notable improvement over ''Default'', with most of the praise going to the story, characters, new jobs, and refined gameplay. It helps that the most common criticism about ''Default'', the GroundhogDayLoop that made [[DisappointingLastLevel the second half]] [[EndingFatigue feel stagnant]] and [[FakeLongetivity repetitive, is gone entirely in ''Second'', as [[spoiler:you only go through one loop this time, and even then it's different enough so that it doesn't feel like a retread of the first half.]]

* EvenBetterSequel: Overall, most fans agree that ''Bravely Second'' is a notable improvement over ''Default'', with most of the praise going to the story, characters, new jobs, and refined gameplay. It helps that the most common criticism about ''Default'', [[spoiler: the GroundhogDayLoop that made [[DisappointingLastLevel the second half]] [[EndingFatigue feel stagnant]] and [[FakeLongetivity repetitive,]]]] is gone entirely in ''Second'', as [[spoiler:you only go through one loop this time, and even then it doesn't feel like a retread of the first half since it's very different in story and structure.]]

* EvenBetterSequel: The plot, new jobs, and battle mechanic have been rather well received.

* EarWorm: Praline's [[https://youtu.be/Vqhrv6rSaJA new song]].

*** No VII. Snowcap constantly boosts it's stats each time it uses Blizzard, and if allowed to reach full size, attacks with Avalanche, a move capable of being a TotalPartyKill. The basic strategy is to constantly attack, which reduces it's size and power to manageable levels. However, it can prevent this by freezing party members solid, or attacking with Ice fang, a move that drains BP. The following brave attack is almost guaranteed to end with Avalanche.
*** No VI. Urchin can boost it's defenses to 9999, becoming immune to attacks that can't pierce defense. It will also summon shadow clones of the party that attack whenever the person being copied makes a move.
*** No V. Goldie will spawn enemies called comets to aid it. Goldie can devour a comet at any time, absorbing it's health and statuses. The comets can buff themselves with regain, adding to Goldie's self healing. However, the most difficult part of the fight is the move Festival Music. This move has a chance of confusing everyone in the battle, Goldie included. If Goldie is confused, it can Devour party members for a OneHitKO. A confused party member will perform actions at random, to random targets, and may even RUN AWAY, ending the fight.
*** No IV. Aparatti will attack with [[KillItWithFire Flame Test, a fire move that makes the party]] [[KillItWithWater weak to water, Electrolyte Solution, a water attack that makes the party]] [[ShockAndAwe weak to Electricity, and Electrolysis, an electric move that makes the party weak to]] [[ElementalRockPaperScissors Fire.]] In addition, at the end of each turn, it's ability Action Reaction will inflict the damage it took onto one of the party members at random, most likely resulting in a OneHitKo. Finally, Pole shift will reverse all buffs and debuffs on the field, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard turning your own status moves against you.]]
*** No III. Redshirt will inflict the status Gluttony. Gluttony will make it so that taking damage will instead heal, but will KO party members if their health goes above full. It also has a move that will fully heal the party, [[TotalPartyKill which is an unavoidable]] GameOver [[TotalPartyKill if everyone has Gluttony.]] This means that, at any time, [[LuckBasedMission the battle can be over in just two turns.]] If a party member falls, they must be revived with the highest priority, otherwise Redshirt will Devour them, permanently removing them from the battle.
*** No II. Turtle Dove can make Party members fall in love with each other, mimicking the actions of whomever has their affections. If two party members are fixated on the same person, they will instead fight each other till one of them is KO'd.
*** NO I. Diamante will build up a mirror shield each turn. This shield will [[HoistByHisOwnPetard reflect all damage back to the party member currently attacking.]] You must [[CherryTapping Cherry Tap]] until this shield breaks, then unload with as many heavy attack as you can magnate, but Diamante just won't stay dead. Every time it's defeated, Diamante revives itself with full health. The fight would be [[HopelessBossFight unwinnable,]] [[spoiler: if Denys didn't sacrifice himself to take it to the end of time.]]

*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dG2wWJTjtc The second version]] layers on the heavy electric guitar OminousLatinChanting and even '''''Dubstep''''', to show that she's not taken to kindly to [[spoiler:you [[NewGamePlus returning the favor.]]]]

** Stacking attack buffs onto a Charioteer that's quad wielding katana can lead to 4 critical attacks that hit for the damage cap, use a Guardian to transfer stats over to cover the loss of armor and you have a damage dealer that can smash through nearly anything by Braving 4 times. And since the Guardian's Posession is like having two party members in one slot, that means you get twice the effect of any beneficial spell such as say using the Exorcist's Undo BP to keep the pain train rolling all the longer and even the final boss will fall to pieces.

*** No IV. Apiratti will attack with [[KillItWithFire Flame Test, a fire move that makes the party]] [[KillItWithWater weak to water, Electrolyte Solution, a water attack that makes the party]] [[ShockAndAwe weak to Electricity, and Electrolysis, an electric move that makes the party weak to]] [[ElementalRockPaperScissors Fire.]] In addition, at the end of each turn, it's ability Action Reaction will inflict the damage it took onto one of the party members at random, most likely resulting in a OneHitKo. Finally, Pole shift will reverse all buffs and debuffs on the field, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard turning your own status moves against you.]]

*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTMvlIfmdCA Battle of Anne,]] the theme for this game's resident fairy, is especially fitting for facing off against [[spoiler:the one who was really pulling the empire's strings, [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu As well as the player's, from the beginning of the first game.]]]]
*** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dG2wWJTjtc The second version]] layers on the heavy guitar and OminousLatinChanting, to show that she's not taken to kindly to [[spoiler:you [[NewGamePlus returning the favor.]]]]

*** NO I. Diamante will build up a mirror shield each turn. This shield will [[HoistByHisOwnPetard reflect all damage back to the party member currently attacking.]] You must [[CherryTapping Cherry Tap]] until this shield breaks, then unload with as many heavy attack as you can magnate, but Diamante just won't stay dead. Every time it's defeated, Diamante revives itself with full health. The fight would be [[HoplessBossFight unwinnable,]] [[spoiler: if Denys didn't sacrifice himself to take it to the end of time.]]

*** NO I. Diamante will build up a mirror shield each turn. This shield will [[HoistByHisOwnPetard reflect all damage back to the party member currently attacking.]] You must [[CherryTapping Cherry Tap]] until this shield breaks, then unload with as many heavy attack as you can magnate, but Diamante just won't stay dead. Every time it's defeated, Diamante revives itself with full health. The fight would be unsinkable, [[spoiler: if Denys didn't sacrifice himself to take it to the end of time.]]

* ThatOneBoss: [[spoiler:Norzen]], who also doubles up as an early WakeUpCallBoss. It says something when his constant boosting of stats can easily knock out a party member ''defaulting at full health'' if not properly leveled. His only all-party move Thunder Arrow can become a TotalPartyKill if no one is defending at the right time.

* HilariousInHindsight:
** Turns out this game [[VideoGame/{{Undertale}} isn't the only one]] in recent history where [[spoiler: sparing the bosses instead of killing them is an option, the player exists in the setting as an outside entity, and the final boss threatens to delete your save file, and attacks you while you're choosing your actions for the turn]].
** Creator/DaisukeNamikawa is the Japanese VA of Yew. A few years ago, he also voiced a similarly named JRPG protagonist: [[VideoGame/Persona4 Yu Narukami.]]