Tama plays video games

And then talks about them

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Splatoon Lyrics, part 2

Lyrics for Splatoon songs, transcribed from the Live in Makuhari concert CD.

Finally, official lyrics for Now or Never! (the final minute song) and Maritime Melody! Also, lyrics for the new Callie and Marie singles.

This post includes lyrics from Splatune (the soundtrack) which I did a little cleanup on, as well as Live in Makuhari.

Lyrics are posted as transcribed Japanese, then romanized English.

シオカラ節

や　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃれひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　にぃめらに

ちょっぺりぽ　しゅらしゅらふぇ なんにゅるにれ　にふぁふぇらひ

なんにゅれに　うぇらにら　しゅらはらひ にゅるにらはら　ふぇ　ふぇ　ふぇ

や　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃれひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　にぃめらに

な　にれ　じゅて　みれきゃらへりゃ にれ　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　ぬりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　ふぃめらに

Shiokara-Bushi (Calamari Inkantation)

ya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera niimerani

chopperipo shurashurafe nannyurunire nifaferahi

nannyureni weranira shuraharahi nyurunirahara fe fe fe

ya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera niimerani

na nire jyute mirekyareherya nire yu mirekerason

kire hyari nuriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera fimerani

Note: Song repeats starting with the “chopperipo” line.

ハイカラシンカ

てゅりるりみょって　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにっちぇ　なうぇもひ

てゅりるりみょへ　うぃにうぃに ゆうぇに　ゆうぇぬ　な　なにへぬ

ふぃはなんねに ふぃはなんねに　にえのうぇに

のえひにゅへらへ　なうぇのに　しゅめり ひはな　ふぃは　にゅえに

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇな

にょえひぬへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえに

Hey! × 6

High Color Shinka (City of Colors)

turirurimyotte winiwini yuwarinicche nawemohi

turirurimyohe winiwini yuweni yuwenu na nanihenu

fihananneni fihananneni nienoweni

noehinyuherahe nawenoni shumeri hihana fiha nuweni

fihana mifa nienoweni fihana mifa nienowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni nyumeri fihana mifa nuweni

Hey! × 6

キミ色に染めて

うぃにぃ　うぇりあ　とゅってらてそかも ひゃりひゃり　へらほら　ふぃにぃにぃ

うぃにぃ　うぇりあ　とゅってらてに　うぇのあ にぃにぃねの

Hey! × 6

ほにゃひらえ　にゅるりの うぇねにの　のに　うぇねのお

ほにゃひらえ　にゅるりの うぇーにぃ　うぇーぬー　ののにぬ

めにふぃらえ　ないねあ ののうぃねに　ののねお

ほにゃひ　うぃーにーねえ ほにゃひ　にーにーぬーぬーな　な

Kimi iro ni somete (Ink Me Up)

winii wera toyutteratesokamo hyarihyari herahora finiinii

winii wera toyutterateni wenoa niiniineno

Hey! × 6

honyahirae nyururino wenenino noni wenenoo

honyahirae nyururino we–nii we–ne nononinu

menifirae nainea nonowineni nononeo

honyahi wi–ni–nee honyahi ni–ni–nu–nu–na na

イマ•ヌラネバー！

ゴスティックゴシッキュ　チャーズサービ ゴスティックゴシッキュ　ストーザレーシ モイシコユール　モングシャーヒ ジャーデ　ジョーギ

ウォンチャモチュッタ　（ウィニ　ゲータ） ウォンチャコニューラ　（ウィニ　ダスティ） モイシコニュール　（ジャニ　デール） ジャーレ　チャーデ

La~ La~

ゴスティックゴシッキュ　チャーズサービ ゴスティックゴシッキュ　ストーザレーシ モイシコユール　モングシャーヒ ジャーデ　ジョーギ　ジョーギ トゥダー

Ima Now Or Never!

gostikgoshikyu chazu sabi gostikgoshikyu stoza reshi moishiko yuru mongu shahi jaade jyogi

woncha mochutta (wini geta) woncha konyura (wini dasti) moishiko nyuru (jani deru) share chade

La~ La~

gostikgoshikyu chazu sabi gostikgoshikyu stoza reshi moishiko yuru mongu shahi jaade jyogi jyogi touda

Note: These lyrics apply to the normal Now or Never version of the song, too.

マリタイム・メモリー

てゅりるり みょへ 　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにしぇ　なへもひ

てゅりるりみょへ　うぃにうぃに　 ゆわり ゆうぇり　ふぃゆめのしぇちゅ

てゅりるり みょへ 　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにしぇ　なへもひ

てゅりるらっちぇ　うぃにうぃに　ゆうぇに

ふぃはなんねに ふぃはなんねに　にえのうぇに

にょえひにへらへ　なうぇのに　しゅめり ひはな　ふぃは

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇな

にょえひにへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅえぬ

みゃ　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃらひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらふぇらそ

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇな

にょえひにへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり ひはな　ふぃは　にえの

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえのうぇな

にょえひにへらへ　なうぇのに　ゆうぇに

Maritime Memory

turirurimyohe winiwini yuwarinishe nahemohi

turirurimyohe winiwini yuwari yuweri fiyumenoshechu

turirurimyohe winiwini yuwarinishe nahemohi

turiruracche winiwini yuweni

fihananneni fihananneni nienoweni

noehiniherahe nawenoni shumeri hihana fiha

fihana mifa nyuenoweni fihana mifa nyuenowena

nyoehiniherahe nawenoni nyuenu

mya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yuraferaso

fihana mifa nyuenoweni fihana mifa nyuenowena

nyoehiniherahe nawenoni nyumeri hihana fiha nieno

fihana mifa nyuenoweni fihana mifa nyuenowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni yuweni

Note: Interesting subtle differences in lyric pronunciation compared to Calamari Inkantation and City of Colors.

トキメキ☆ボムラッシュ

めげぱらぴ　げら　うぇりうぇりうぇりうぇり　ぼら めげぱらちょ　げら　めりめりめりめり　にゅ

ちょれ　ちょれっきそぱけらてぃ　でりっちょんにゅるめる りっきょらっきょれ　うぃりうぃりにゅ にゅる　め　め　めれめれにゅ

でっきゃんしー　でら　りっちぇれ　ちぇりら ぼれぼれぼれ　うぇけらぽに ちょらぺ　ちょらぺなぺ　ゆっちょもらびにゅ

でっきゃんしー　でれ　りっちぇれ　ちぇりら げれげれげれげれ　めらにゅる ちょらぺ　ちょらぺ　よりっちぇ　にゅるめり

Tokimeki Bomb Rush (Bomb Rush Blush)

megaparapi gera weriweriweriweri bora megaparacho gera merimerimerimeri nyu

chore chorekisopakerati terichonnyurumeru rikyorakyore wiriwirinyu nyuru me me meremerenyu

dekyanshi dera richere cherira boreborebore wekeraponi chorape chorapenape yuchomorabinyu

dekyanshi dere richere cherira geregeregeregere meranyuru chorape chorape yuriche nyurumeri

Note: Callie’s single.

スミソアエの夜

もらにふぇ　てゆりに　めりけらにんしゅ （まとぅぬしゅしゅ） らってぃんしゅ　うゆれに （らにてゅられ　てゅられ）　めれめれぬ

らってぃぬ　てゅりれとぅゆ きれりとぅら　きりきりに めらんけらしぇ　ゆうぇにるうぇにるね

わのゆらりしゅえる　てぃれてぃれぬ　なりぬしゅ わのゆらりしゅるる　みれみれぬ　ふりむくゆ られてゅられ　てゅって　みえるに　うねらとぅね めできゅえら　きゅえら　けらるにふぇ

Sumisoae no yoru (Tide Goes Out)

moranife teyurini merikeraninshu (matounushushu) rattinshu uyureni (raniturare turare) meremerenu

rattinu turiretouyu kireritoura kirikirini merankerashe yuweniruwenirune

wanoyurarishueru tiretirenu narinushu wanoyurarishururu miremirenu furimukuyu rareturare tutte mieruni uneratoune medekyuera kyuera kerarunife

Note: Marie’s single.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Wallpaper versions of my Katamari Damacy irasutoya remake! A tall version for phones and a wide version for desktops.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Katamari Clip Art

Now I’m appearing in articles...

http://www.inside-games.jp/article/2016/03/09/96693.html

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Today I was tuned into an amazing Twitter hashtag by nameoftheyear: #いらすとやさんでゲームパッケージを再現する or, “Game packaging remade with irasutoya-san art”

irasutoya-san refers to a Japanese royalty-free image site, irasutoya.com, which has a pretty good stock of illustrations in a specific, hand-drawn style. (The name can be read as Illustration Shop.) This meant all the remakes looked cute and cartoonish in an endearing way. In particular, the rounded lettering made everything look like a spin-off of Katamari Damacy (which I noted, and I later learned nameoftheyear also noted.)

Work was frustrating me as the server I was trying to work with refused to do what I asked it to do, so I started browsing irasutoya.com. I found that it has  decent organization and a pretty good search engine for finding the exact piece of art you want to use, like rainbows and Mt. Fuji and cows and whales. And so I made a Katamari Damacy version.

Then my Twitter exploded.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

2015 in Video Games

2015 has come and gone, and brought a bunch of games with it. I played a bunch, and generally had a good time with them.

Here’s some of the main games I played this past year, in alphabetical order.

Box Boy

Completed: Main game, a few levels in the bonus worlds

A cute little puzzle platformer for the Nintendo 3DS. A simple premise that expands with each world until you’re juggling a variety of different box patterns for a variety of different traps and traversals to create some very cool challenges. A great way to spend ten minutes or so, a very endearing game.

Also, a sequel just came out!

Bravely Second

Completed: Main game, bonus boss

The sequel to Bravely Default, for the Nintendo 3DS. It should come out in NA some time in 2016. It expanded on the world of Bravely Default and brought some fun new jobs and locations, but in the end I didn’t really connect with the new characters, and even bought the Ringabell novels because he didn’t have that big a role in the game, just to see what he was up to. I did not enjoy how the game broke the fourth wall, as it felt invasive instead of interesting.

Broken Age

Completed: Main game

I was a Kickstarter backer for this game so I was very happy when it was fully released. A fun trip back to the days of point-and-click adventures, although some of the puzzles were obtuse, just like always. The characters and writing were sharp, even though some of the puzzles got annoying.

Dragon Quest Heroes

Completed: Chapter 6 (of 12?)

A Dragon Quest skin applied to the Dynasty Warriors formula, for the PS3. It’s very cathartic to jump into battle and mow down waves of slimes and wyverns, but I got Tales of Zestiria about the same time, and ended up stopping this in favor of Tales. I never got back to it.

Earthbound

Completed: Up to Stonehenge dungeon (2015), main game (2016)

The quirky SNES RPG that was released in the Wii U e-shop. I know a lot of people who are extremely fond of this game so I gave it a whirl. The story and characters are definitely different from the typical JRPG, even now. I got stuck at one point trying to get the Sword of Kings, and dropped it for a while. I finished it in January after playing Undertale and reading how Earthbound was one of its major influences.

The Great Ace Attorney

Completed: 4 of 5 chapters, started chapter 5

The Great Ace Attorney is a new entry in the Ace Attorney series for the Nintendo 3DS. It takes place during the Meiji era in Japan and features Phoenix Wright’s ancestor. It’s a new look at the old formula, taking place in both Japan and England. There are some new facets to the investigative portions (the best involve great detective Sherlock Holmes making a variety of bad inferences based on the situation, and you have to untangle them to come up with the truth behind a person’s story) as well as the trial portions (you can talk with a jury directly.) I didn’t finish it because it’s just loads of Japanese text and I have to be in the right mood to read through all of it.

Legend of Legacy

Completed: Garnet’s story, started Filmia’s story

A turn-based JRPG for the Nintendo 3DS. The world building was nice, but the plot felt thin and the characters thinner. Leveling up was random and extremely grindy, but the artwork was beautifully rendered. I doubt I’ll get through anyone else’s story since it just takes so long. Apparently the NA version had a bunch of adjustments made based on feedback from the JP version, which may have reduced the grinding bits (or at least made the random power-ups less frustrating.)

Lumino City

Completed: Main game

Cute indie point-and-click adventure game. The art style is the main draw for this, as the whole game was created physically with papercraft and clever mechanics, shot on video, and rendered into the game. The puzzles were rather obtuse at times, even with the in-game hint book, but the whole thing was otherwise delightful.

Nights of Azure

Completed: Main game

An action-based RPG with a some Dynasty Warriors trappings, for the PS3. The first Gust game I played, the art and world were nicely rendered although character models were rather stiff. I actually enjoyed the battle system a fair amount once I had unlocked all the weapons and gotten some more interesting demon summons. The story was okay, although I liked how both protagonists were female and were romantically involved.

Rhythm Heaven: The Best +

Completed: Main game, completed Blue and Yellow challenge modes

My main exposure to Rhythm Heaven was through friends (and the arcade machine in SF Japantown Center) so this was the first Rhythm Heaven game I played. I loved it! Cute art style, great music, and fun gimmicks. The story mode is a little annoying when all you want to do is play more levels, but once it’s complete you can jump into any game you want. The challenge modes are fun and get really hard, especially with more stringent requirements (can only miss 3 times, music sped up, etc.)

Splatoon

Completed: Single player campaign, most of Inkling Girl challenges

Nintendo’s colorful shooter for the Wii U. I wasn’t sure I would like it, since I’ve never gotten into shooters (for one thing, first-person shooters give me motion sickness.) However, Splatoon is open to players of all experience levels, and provides a variety of methods in which to learn and improve. The single-player campaign teaches you movement, weapon usage, and gives you targets to go after, and some maps are the same as in multi-player mode. Turf War is a low-key way to get used to multi-player battles and learn maps, while ranked battles are a way to learn strategies for each mode. I even got to play some rounds with friends on those rare occasions when enough of us were online at the same time. This is the game I played the most since it’s easy to jump in for a few battles or a lot of battles. I could definitely see myself improving as I slowly made my way up to A rank. My favorite game of 2015 for sheer amount of fun I had with it.

Tales of Zestiria

Completed: Main game

The latest Tales game for the PS3. It was okay, neither great nor terrible. Despite using the branching artes system from Tales of Graces (which I did not enjoy) I found the battle system pretty fun, especially the Kamui fusion mode. I didn’t mind that Alisha was not the female lead since I liked Rose so much more than Alisha, anyway. However, once I finished the main story I was pretty done with the game despite Tales games having tons of post-game content available.

Undertale

Completed: Neutral route, True Pacifist route

The indie RPG for PC. On the outset it looks like a quirky homage to JRPGs of the NES/SNES era but quickly becomes something significantly more. It examines the relationship of a character to the world around it as well as of the player to the game they are playing. Excellent writing and characterization and spare but thorough world building transcended the simplistic 8-bit art/music style, and the game knew when to break out of those styles to provide emphasis to a moment. Definitely the most emotional a game has ever made me (I was crying nonstop during the final boss battle in Pacifist route). My other favorite game of 2015, and the one that will stay with me for a very long time.

Yo-kai Watch Busters

Completed: Main game, started chapter 11 (post-game chapter)

An action RPG based off the Yo-kai Watch franchise for the Nintendo 3DS. Although one of its draws is the multiplayer functionality (local or over the internet) the single-player story mode is actually pretty long and entertaining. Unlike the main Yo-kai Watch games, in Busters you get to play as the yo-kai themselves, gathering up a team to take on problems in the yo-kai world. No humans ever appear in the game, just lots and lots of yo-kai. If you ever got frustrated with Yo-kai Watch’s ring system of battle where you don’t actually battle, this game is great. Each yo-kai has up to 3 battle actions, which can be attack, magic, healing, buffs, dodges, etc. You get a team of four to take on the challenges. A large update was provided in December which I haven’t started on yet (since I want to finish the bonus chapter of the main version first.)

Yoshi’s Woolly World

Completed: Up to World 4-5

I got a Yarn Yoshi way back in August when I went to Japan, and couldn’t wait for this game to come out. When Nintendo commits to an artistic style, it really commits (see also: Splatoon and its ink metaphor.) The whole game being rendered as yarn and other crafts is really beautifully done and incredibly charming. The game is a fairly forgiving platformer, but it’s cute and full of enough challenges for me since I’m not really that good at platformers.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Splatune Lyrics

Transcribed lyrics from the Splatune soundtrack.

Man, squidlanguage transcribed to hiragana transcribed to romaji sure is weird. Kind of a pain to do, let me know if you see any mistakes so I can fix them orz.

EDIT: See newer version of the lyrics at http://tamaplaysvideogames.tumblr.com/post/147731906142/splatoon-lyrics-part-2

シオカラ節 (Shiokara-Bushi) AKA the song that plays during final Octavio boss battle

や　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃれひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　にぃめらに

ちょっぺりぽ　しゅらしゅらふぇ なんにゅるにれ　にふぁふぇらひ

なんにゅれに　うぇらにら　しゅらはらひ にゅるにらはら　ふぇ　ふぇ　ふぇ

や　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃれひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　にぃめらに

な　にれ　じゅて　みれきゃらへりゃ にれ　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　ぬりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　ふぃめらに

ya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera niimerani

chopperipo shurashurafe nannyurunire nifaferahi

nannyureni weranira shuraharahi nyurunirahara fe fe fe

ya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera niimerani

na nire jyute mirekyareherya nire yu mirekerason

kire hyari nuriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawera fimerani

NOTES: Song repeats starting at “chopperipo”. Lyrics also apply to the Traditional version of Shiokara-Bushi, with lyrics starting at “chopperipo”.

ハイカラシンカ (High-Color Evolution) AKA the song that plays in the plaza during Splatfests

てゅりるりみょって　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにっちぇ　なうぇもひ

てゅりるりみょへ　うぃにうぃに ゆうぇに　ゆうぇぬ　な　なにへぬ

ふぃはなんねに ふぃはなんねに　にえのうぇに

のえひにゅへらへ　なうぇのに　しゅめり ひはな　ふぃは　にゅえに

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇな

にょえひぬへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえに

Hey! × 6

turirurimyotte winiwini yuwarinicche nawemohi

turirurimyohe winiwini yuweni yuwenu na nanihenu

fihananneni fihananneni nienoweni

noehinyuherahe nawenoni shumeri hihana fiha nuweni

fihana mifa nienoweni fihana mifa nienowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni nyumeri fihana mifa nuweni

Hey! × 6

キミ色に染めて (Ink Me Up) AKA the song that plays during Splatfest battles

うぃにぃ　うぇりあ　とゅってらてそかも ひゃりひゃり　へらほら　ふぃにぃにぃ

うぃにぃ　うぇりあ　とゅってらてに　うぇのあ にぃにぃねの

Hey! × 6

ほにゃひらえ　にゅるりの うぇねにの　のに　うぇねのお

ほにゃひらえ　にゅるりの うぇーにぃ　うぇーぬー　ののにぬ

めにふぃらえ　ないねあ ののうぃねに　ののねお

ほにゃひ　うぃーにーねえ ほにゃひ　にーにーぬーぬーな　な

winii wera toyutteratesokamo hyarihyari herahora finiinii

winii wera toyutterateni wenoa niiniineno

Hey! × 6

honyahirae nyururino wenenino noni wenenoo

honyahirae nyururino we–nii we–ne nononinu

menifirae nainea nonouineni nononeo

honyahi wi–ni–nee honyahi ni–ni–nu–nu–na na

リタイム・メモリー (Maritime Memory) AKA the song the plays in the end credits from single-player campaign

てゅりるり みょへ 　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにっちぇ　なうぇもひ

てゅりるりみょへ　うぃにうぃに ゆうぇに　ゆうぇぬ　な　 ゆうぇのっちぇ

てゅりるり みょへ 　うぃにうぃに ゆわりにっちぇ　なうぇもひ

てゅりるりみょへ　うぃにうぃに ゆうぇに

ふぃはなんねに ふぃはなんねに　にえのうぇに

のえひにゅへらへ　なうぇのに　しゅめり ひはな　ふぃは　にゅえに

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇな

にょえひぬへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり

や　うぇに　まれぃ　みれきゃれひれ じゅり　ゆ　みれけらそん

きれ　ひゃり　よりへらへ　にゅらへら ぬんにゅら　うねら　ゆらうぇら　にぃめらそん

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇな

にょえひぬへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり ふぃはな　みふぁ　にゅえの

ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇに ふぃはな　みふぁ　にえのうぇな

にょえひぬへらへ　なうぇのに　にゅめり

turirurimyohe winiwini yuwarinicche nawemohi

turirurimyohe winiwini yuweni yuwenu na yuwenoche

turirurimyohe winiwini yuwarinicche nawemohi

turirurimyohe winiwini yuweni

fihananneni fihananneni nienoweni

noehinyuherahe nawenoni shumeri hihana fiha

fihana mifa nienoweni fihana mifa nienowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni nyumeri

ya weni marei mirekyare hire jyuri yu mirekerason

kire hyari yoriherahe nyurahera nunnyura unera yurawerason

fihana mifa nienoweni fihana mifa nienowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni nyumeri fihana mifa nuweno

fihana mifa nienoweni fihana mifa nienowena

nyoehinuherahe nawenoni nyumeri

NOTES: These lyrics are not officially in the booklet, but are reconstructed from High-Color Evolution and Shiokara-Bushi which this is a medley of. A few syllables appear to be changed so I also tried to change them here to match.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Tama, the Super Station Master from Wakayama, mixed with Jibanyan the feisty cat spirit from Yo-Kai Watch. It’s Tamanyan!

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: Fun with new jobs

Now that I’ve finished the main story of Bravely Second I’ve got a good feel for a lot of the newer jobs. They bring a lot of variety to the game by allowing for new methods of magic, attack and defense.

Wizard

Wizard is an offensive magic class whose base magics are mid-level AOE spells that affect a specific element (there is also a spell called Spirit which actually does physical damage). The true feature of this job is its Postscript ability (2 support slots if this is not your primary job). The Postscript ability tacks on a change to the magic you’re casting at the cost of an extra BP, and these abilities can be used very strategically. For example, Base + Darts allows you to attack a single enemy for 1.5 damage, plus it’s the first attack to go out in the turn. Base + Wall allows you to counter a physical attack with an attack of the Base element for 3 turns. Base + Mist allows the spell to activate at the start of the turn for 3 turns, although the damage is a bit split.

Postscript can be used on any spells, including Summons. Defensive spells + Mist can free up your healer to do other things, I was constantly using Curada + Mist in boss battles, and there were a few where Arise + Mist or Esuna + Mist were real savers. Single-target spells can be made multi-target by using + Blast, and spells can be turned into a physical attack with + Hammer.

Because you need to use an extra BP to do this, you do need your casters to default a bit more often to keep up their BP, or give them skills that raise their BP.

Chariot

The Chariot job is about dealing huge amounts of single-target physical damage. As a primary job, all weapons are initially wielded as Rank C but during battle the more attacks you do with those weapons, the better your mastery is, until you can use them at Rank S, meaning weapons are all very effective. You can throw weapons for a big damage boost (but you loose the weapons unless you actively recapture them). Its main support skill is the ability to equip weapons on your armor slots; initially you can only put a weapon on the head (helm) slot, at 50% of its initial attack, but when maxed, you can equip a weapon on your body (torso) slot as well. Of course, your defense suffers, but if you suddenly feel the need to wield four knives, well, here’s your chance.

Chariot also gets the passive 20% boost to P.ATK.

Fencer

Probably the thing I like most about Fencer is Edea’s costume for it. Otherwise this is a fighter job which specializes in stances. Different stances give you different boosts; for example the Blazing Wolf stance improves your attack while the Robust Bison improves your defense. There’s a passive which allows you to counterattack when you’re in Bison stance. You can switch stances during battle with moves that will deal increased damage, but most of the time you’ll want to use a particular stance throughout a battle for its stat boosts (either Wolf or Bison, since increasing agility via Falcon stance isn’t usually as useful as improving attack or defense.)

I wasn’t that fond of this job, except for using physical counters while in Bison stance. The counters are weaker than Swordmaster counters, but the stance is passive so you are free to attack while in a stance, and the counter is just a bonus.

Bishop

Bishop is an alternative White Mage job except it is solely focused on healing, while White Mage has several attack spells for Wind and Light magic. Bishop’s power comes through in how its healing is calculated: based on the target instead of the caster. White magic depends on your INT value so a character with higher INT will heal more per Cura than one with low INT. Bishop doesn’t care about that; heal will heal 30% of a target’s max HP, cure will heal 50%. If multitargeted then that value is halved (multi-target cure will heal 25% of each party member’s max HP.) This means putting Bishop as a secondary class on a character with low INT (for example a character who’s focused on physical damange, not magical damage) means that you always know how much they’ll heal without worrying about equipping them with stuff to boost their INT.

Bishop also provides some useful spells to give MP to other party members (about 100) as well as Calm, which negates all damage for one round (similar to Stillness from Bravely Default.) All in all it is a powerful support job despite its similarities to the traditional White Mage job.

Bishop’s passive ability is Double Talk, which allows a spell, if cast twice in a row, to be cast at once, with a high chance of higher effect than if actually cast twice in a row. I didn’t find this all that useful but at level 10 you get a passive (costly at 3 slots, though) that gives you a 50% of using Double Talk on any single-cast spell, which could be a lot more useful.

Astrologer

Astrologers provide party buffs and protection against elemental and status-inflicting attacks. Their main draw is that they have a passive ability that allows their buff/protect spell to be the first cast in a turn, meaning that they will always cast their buff before anyone attacks. For allies it means they can benefit from the buff before hitting, for enemies it means your ally will be protected before they can attack.

Some of the protective spells are very specific (for example Element Guard costs only 3MP but you must specify the element you want to protect against) but are cheap to cast.

I used a fair amount of P/M.ATK up spells, and Element Barrier can be quite useful for shielding your party when you expect to see a lot of spells against you.

Cat Master

Cat Master has the best costume, as it’s basically a cloak with a GIANT CAT STUFFED TOY sticking out the back. The girls are white cats and the boys are black cats. Also the girls get cute headbands with cat ears on them and I kind of really want one of them.

Anyway, Cat Master is basically the Blue Mage, and works similar to the Vampire job from Bravely Default except you must use Cat Items to use skills instead of MP/BP. The attacks are varied, from elemental attacks to team boosts, and you have to learn each one from a monster first.

Summoning cats never gets old.

Also they have an ability called “Apologize” which will make them less likely to be targeted, which is basically the character getting on their knees and bowing, which is also super funny.

Cat Master’s variety is useful, assuming you have enough Cat Items to do the things you want. You can get more items by digging for them during battle, as drops, or in treasure chests.

Tomahawk

This is a fighter class which has some aspects of Ranger, but also a few aspects of the old Sword Mage job from Default. Sidewinder is a useful multi-target attack (and you can choose exactly who to target, in case there is an enemy or two you DON’T want to hit) but there’s also warhead, which allows you to attach an element to your weapon to do elemental-based attack. This is extremely useful for many boss battles to take advantage of elemental weaknesses in a fighter job.

Otherwise, Tomahawk has a few attacks which ignore default/defense, making it useful against enemies who are known to guard a lot.

Patisserie

This is a class that is all about status effects. The animations are hilarious -- your character decorates a cake and then throws it in someone’s face, to do status effects. Like Cat Master, these cakes require ingredients to be used. There’s also Flambe, which is an AOE fire attack, decoration, which increases an ally’s chance of being targeted by the enemy, and a couple of passives that affect item use.

I haven’t used this class a whole lot except to Charm enemies so I could learn their Cat Skill or Cat Attack, but being able to cast a huge variety of status effects can be useful.

Exorcist

Exorcist is a primarily supportive job, and it’s something of a doozy. Its main ability is Undo, which allows you to reset an ally’s (or enemy’s) HP, MP or BP. BP is really expensive (at 3BP per use) and turning back MP isn’t usually as effective as using ethers unless you’ve mashed Brave and run through everything in one go (also it costs 1BP which is a bit heavy.)

Undoing HP however is an extremely effective method of healing, as you can instantly revive a downed player with it. However, you have to be quick about it, unless it’s your primary job (or have the Trois passive enabled) you can only Undo one turn, instead of 3.

Undoing HP is also effective on a few bosses who heal themselves a lot. It’s also an extremely easy way to take out Revenant after he returns to his body from possessing somebody; since in the previous turn his body had 0HP (it was all in someone else) Undoing that is an insta-kill.

Apart from Undo, Exorcist gets the ‘recover 30MP after each turn’ passive that Summoner had previously, meaning that should go on all your casters. It also gets “Purify” which is a spell that nullifies status up/down effects (and a few other things), making it a great way to remove party debuffs as well as enemy buffs.

Guardian

Guardian is a fighter job with a number of useful support abilities. It works by storing up spiritual power -- its main passive is the ability to increase spirit power each time you are attacked. You can then unless this power back on the enemy; Spirit Blast uses 50% of your spirit energy for a powerful AOE attack and by setting a passive that allows you to start a battle with 50% spirit energy, you can basically slice through groups of small fry in no time. Guardian can also cast a spirit barrier on an ally that reflects physical damage for 3 turns, very useful for keeping your casters alive. Finally, you can possess someone (ally or enemy, although most Bosses are immune to possession) for up to 6 turns. When possessing an ally, your stats are combined (including HP, MP and physical/magical stats) so you can get a super-powered character, at the loss of having the Guardian act independently. You can also possess an enemy and prevent them from doing anything.

I used Guardian a lot as a secondary job during the latter part of the game.

Emperor

You get the emperor job late in the game, so I haven’t had time to try it out.

Spirit Fox

This is the last job you get. I haven’t really used it yet. The yamabiko passive seems kind of useful, though; after using magic, there’s at 25% chance you’ll use the same spell again at no cost. Would be a nice passive to attach to an offensive mage.

Spirit Fox also gets a passive that allows you to boost your job levels to 11. You get access to some very powerful spells for casters at 11, and some useful skills for fighters, but I haven’t maxed anyone to that point yet.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 33

Chapter: 6 Location: Caldisla Party: Edea (Templar), Magnolia (Ranger), Yew (Exorcist), Tiz (Astrologer) Level: 82 Play Time: 65 hrs 30 mins Good Gravy count: 20

After a bit of a break gathering up the 7 Sins for the Spirit Fox summons (and picking up a few more Cat Special Moves for the Cat Master job), we’re ready to move on with the story.

We’re gunning towards the end! Up next: confronting Anne and determining who she’s really working for. Can you stop her before more Demon Kings are summoned?

To Caldisla Ravine to find out!

Anne’s floating about the prominence where, in Bravely Default, Tiz met Agnes for the first time. She’s not the mastermind behind the summonings. That’s her master, and she’s not referring to Deni.

Her master is Providence of the God World, a god who arrived in Luxendarc a long time ago. Providence kept trying to recruit Demon Kings but the people on the Moon kept getting in the way. Anne’s job was to take out the Moon so Providence could work unfettered.

She doesn’t need to worry about the Moon anymore, though. There’s a direct path to the God World here.

Anne draws on power from Providence to level up and fight you.

When you defeat, Anne laughs, saying you’re too late. Providence is already starting to move...

Altair believes Vega has been possessed by this evil spirit. He apologizes to Magnolia for Diamante being born of Vega’s memories. Magnolia disagrees. It’s not Altair’s or Vega’s fault. It’s the influence of this evil spirit.

Yew invites Altair to join them as they go take down Providence and rescue Vega. He’s their friend, too.

Even if he’s just possessing Tiz every so often.

From here, they can go to the God World. He can help forge a path from this spot. The great hole that was Norende is currently covered by angry dark clouds, but he can clear them by appealing to people from other worlds using the power of the pendant.

Everyone, pray! Agnes helps out too.

Oh good, they did remember to keep in the “mash X for victory” minigame ._.

Also this is the second time in the game the characters appeal directly to you, the player, for help. I’m not sure whether I like the fourth wall breakage or not. Your face appearing in the ravine is kind of ... creepy.

Whatever. To the God World!

It’s hella creepy here. The backdrops you see when fighting Demon Kings is very apparent here.

They’re apparently memories from both Altair and Vega, when they first met.

Apparently it was on a lift at a ski resort. Hence the first Demon King is a giant snow machine monster.

In the second level, we see a stormy spring day, and Altair remembers that he first introduced himself to Vega because they shared an umbrella.

STILL NOT A GOOD IDEA (see: Nozaki-kun)

Good Gravy count: 21

Hence the second Demon King is the sea urchin with the umbrella shield.

The third level appears to be a summer festival with fireworks. Altair took Vega on a date here. He also confessed his love for Vega.

Hence the third Demon King is a goldfish (a common game at Japanese festivals is catching goldfish to take home as pets.)

The fourth level is a laboratory. Altair and Vega worked together here. Hence the fourth Demon King is a floating test tube monster.

The fifth level appears to be a winter day in a restaurant where he proposed to Vega. Except he was broke and couldn’t buy a ring. Hence the fifth Demon King is a red robe-wearing monster that’s obsessed with food.

The last level is a church. Hence the sixth Demon King is a veil wearing turtledove. Here we hear Vega... but she’s angry. She’s angry that Altair wasn’t able to protect her.

Vega, or rather, Providence, who consumed Vega, wants to consume even more sadness and tragedy. But your team won’t allow that. It’s time to fight for the fate of the world!

While fighting Providence, Vega’s voice can suddenly be heard. Altair apologizes profusely to her. He finally completed his research on the Space-Time Compass for her! Come on, everyone! We must defeat Providence and rescue Vega!

After destroying Providence, Vega’s spirit rejoins with Altair’s, who finally stops possessing Tiz.

Best Gravy count: 1

Uh, what the heck, Magnolia?

Anyway, Altair and Vega are together again, how sweet~!

Altair wishes the team good luck in life, and he and Vega float away.

As you leave the church, another battle triggers.

Providence II is a lot bigger than its previous form, and the giant eyeball pyramid keeps making me think of the US dollar (which prominently displays the Eye of Providence on the back.) But you can just keep beating it down!

This version is way easier than the first one because you don’t have to worry about a 99999 damage party attack wiping out your team. I got through that by having Arise Mist (revives falling comrades at the end of a turn) and having a Guardian possessing a second character. Then when the 99999 damage hits, the Guardian character gets kicked out into their own body, so they survive the attack (albeit with 1HP) and the rest of the group gets revived with Arise Mist. Getting the timing for that to work while still trying to do decent damage to Providence was tricky until I had Magnolia (Guardian) possess Edea (Templar). Edea could dish out extra hurt this way (when an ally is possessed their stats are combined, and Magnolia was a ranger so her physical stats comboed well with Edea’s). Soon Edea was smashing Providence for over 5000 damage per turn. By contrast, Providence II couldn’t do any significant damage no matter what attack it had, and I could focus on smashing it with all sorts of fun attacks, like summoning Susano-o and using Soul Blaster.

Then Providence talks to you, the player, directly, asking how you’d feel if your party started ignoring you and attacking each other. And then they start attacking each other, and Providence makes fun of you and tells you it’s all over.

You’re kicked out to the title screen where the game tries to erase its data.

This is the weirdest thing I’ve seen in a game in a LONG TIME.

Yew suddenly stops the game before it can go any farther, and then he and all the others give you a pep talk.

Uh, what?

The battle restarts, but again, I had a good team setup with excellent equipment and lots of extra levels, so it was just Susano-o, Soul Blaster, and Desperation (Edea’s armor meant that dropping her base P.Def to 0 didn’t mean she took significant damage.)

When it’s down for good, you’re back in Norende Ravine, above where Norende was. Instead of a giant hole, there appear to be some nice rolling hills below.

Stuff’s just begun, of course. There will need to be a lot of rebuilding of the Orthodoxy Knights and more,

Good Gravy count: 22

We can worry about that later. Edea’s hungr~~~y.

Tiz apologizes, and falls down.

He says he was prepared for this for a while. He’s at his limit. After all, without Altair’s spirit supporting him...

Agnes freaks out.

Tiz apologizes to her. He also tells Edea to stop eating so many sweets, that he wanted to hear more stories of the Moon from Magnolia, that he wanted to enjoy the hot springs again with Yew, that he wanted to see the new era you would all create together...

Suddenly, an Adventurer (those red hatted people whom you talk with to save your game) shows up. She thanks you for helping fulfill Vega and Altair’s wish. She asks, what is a spirit? It’s thoughts. The thoughts of Vega and Altair to meet eat other again were strong enough to reach each others spirits.

Yew pulls out the Bravely Second hourglass and starts shaking it over Tiz. It’s not working, but the Adventurer takes it, breaks it, and disappears.

A green hatted Adventurer meets up with a Tiz from Bravely Default (based on his clothing), then reappears in front of Yew and returns the hourglass. Their thoughts and feelings of wanting to meet Tiz again can be used to pull Tiz’s spirit through the hourglass into his body. Agnes will send all her feelings to you!

The Adventurer reveals herself. She is Deneb, Altair and Vega’s best friend. 

Cut scene! Agnes running through Norende Ravine to meet up with you guys.

CREDITS to Great Distance.

Agnes meets up with your party.

She puts her pendant into the hourglass.

Tiz wakes up, for real.

Later, Agnes tells Tiz she’s renouncing the Oblige name. She’s done with the Orthodoxy. Others are taking over and she knows they’ll do a good job. The apprentice Crystal Priestess is also doing fine. She’s going to take on a new name: Agnes Arrior.

...that is, if Tiz is okay with it.

Of course he’s okay with it!!

Meanwhile...

Magnolia sits in her restored ship, and says farewell to Luxendarc.

Yew runs to Gravemark Village. He wants to speak his thoughts.

Magnolia walks up. What thoughts?

HE LOVES YOU MAGNOLIA.

He’s blush~ing!

That feeling will pass through space and time!

Her response? Come a bit closer...

If they’re going to be together, he should know her real name...

In the Geneologia house, the portrait of Fandall is replaced of one with Deni, Yew, and the rest of the party.

Ringabell(?) reports to the Vice President.

He mentions the Third Key?

Bravely Sword?

END

I guess this is possible setup for a third game? Looks like I gotta get through those Ringabell novels...

New Game + is available for real this time. Maybe... later.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 32

Chapter: 6 Location: Caldisla Party: Edea (Swordmaster), Magnolia (Guardian), Yew (Summoner), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 78 Play Time: 61 hrs 15 mins Good Gravy count: 20

The Vampire Castle. Just the mention of it gives Yew the heebie jeebies. Too bad, kiddo. You’re going to have to suck it in and go get that last asterisk. Are you a completionist or not??

Previously the keystones were missing, so you couldn’t enter. Tiz is worried, wondering who the heck found and put the keystones in so they could enter.

When they enter they find...

Anazel’s (Alternis) helm?

Edea freaks out.

Tiz calms her down. Let’s go find him, mm’kay?

As they get to the first landing, they find a painting with... Yohko?

Yohko didn’t attack Anazel, did she?

Yohko pops in. Edea demands to know what happened to Anazel. Yohko shrugs and says the masked man is fine, ‘cuz he ran off.

Yohko asks why you guys are here, in the Vampire Castle, also known as the Inn of Truth. What could you possibly want to know?

The truth, duh!

Yohko will explain it all to you if you make it through all the floors. She explains the encounter rate is fixed (apparently at +/- 0%). Dang. Guess you actually have to fight your way through here. Time to level up some jobs!

Edea is worried about Anazel when they get a communication in from...

Anazel? In Cadisla?

He appreciates your concern but is perfectly fine.

Since he’s fine, do you HAVE to go to the top floor to fight Yohko?

Um, yes? Do you want that asterisk or not??

Plus, the truth will be useful for something, I’m sure!

Like when you met Vampire Lord DeRosso here during Bravely Default the paintings here tell a story, which Yohko explains to you. I guess she redecorated when she got here. She goes through a lot of backstory about the Geneologia family, particularly about Greed, who is Yew’s father, and the Second Pandemic.

Apparently Greed’s machinations caused pretty much every person from the Empire you’ve fought in this game (Janne, Nikolai, Ayame and others) misfortune. Thanks, dad!

It’s a lot for Yew to take in.

Yohko’s not above messing with others in your party. She delves into Edea’s mind and makes her confront a truth in her past, why Edea betrayed the Eternia Duchy two years ago. Edea believes it was to prove herself to her father and to the others around her, but Yohko says it was because she was lonely. Everyone else has a partner: Tiz and Agnes, Goodman and Elenoir, Amy and Panettone...

Edea wants to meet...

Ringabell.

“EDEA!”

“RINGABELL?!”

Ahahaha he IS the second Anazel, the one with the ribbon. I knew it! Buying that novel was useful! Apparently in his wibbly-wobbly dimension hopping he ends up in the Bravely Second world. I definitely need to get the second book to see how that all works out. Right now I’m at a point in the first book where he’s dropping between worlds but hasn’t yet encountered the one where Second takes place!

Ringabell: “I’m always by your side, Edea!”

Edea runs into his arms, crying.

*melts into pile of goo*

He’s still REALLY full of himself, and it’s great. He’s been chasing after Yohko for a while, it seems. So let’s go fight!

Afterwards Yohko explains a bit more of who she is, a spirit fox who knew both Fandall and Greed, so she’s seen a fair amount of history of the Geneologia family. Both were ambitious, and Greed’s ambitions may have brought a lot of misfortune... but it was also one of the keys to stopping the Second Pandemic. So he wasn’t all that bad, after all. Now Yew has to take up the mantle, and all its history. Thanks, dad!

Spirit Fox asterisk acquired! It’s a summoner role but you have to beat up demons (not Demon Kings, just plain nasty old demons, most of which were Nemeses in Default) in order to be able to summon them. There are seven of them (representing the seven deadly sins) scattered around the world in the stone pillars, similar to how the Keystone Dragons had to be fought in Bravely Default. Except you get summoning books instead of keystones.

Time to go get some new summons!

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 31

Chapter: 6 Location: Caldisla Party: Edea (Swordmaster), Magnolia (Guardian), Yew (Summoner), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 76 Play Time: 58 hrs 0 mins Good Gravy count: 18

The Kingdom of Caldisla. Where it all started in Default. So many memories here. But what does the future hold for our intrepid heroes?

This memory loss is very strange. Tiz even forgot about his little brother! Let’s go talk with the King. Perhaps he knows more.

Tiz is welcomed to the country as its savior. It’s a little embarassing.

Egille shows up. He’s grown up a bit in those two years. He’s now a young soldier, finding his way in the army. He reports that a giant monster has shown up at Lotano Villa. That sounds ominous.

Tiz says they’ll investigate. Egille should join the other soldiers in protecting Caldisla.

Oh boy, giant monsters. That can’t be good.

There’s a great shaking when you exit the castle. Look! Up in the sky! It’s...

A floating bathhouse!

Good Gravy count: 19

Looks like your transport is back.

So you COULD go to Lotano...but let’s go exploring instead. A new subscenario has opened up!

Looks like you have to retrieve some stuff for Braev, then fight him. Templar Asterisk acquired!

Afterwards, Braev announces he’s retiring, since the cause of the Eternia Duchy is safe in Edea’s hands. Also he’s moving to old Sage Yulyana’s house in the forest. And taking up crafts.

I wonder how long it will take for him to get bored.

Now, let’s get back to that situation the King mentioned in Lotano. There’s a... strange object floating in the sky above the villa. It turns out to be the 1st Demon King, Ba’al Turtledove! Magnolia freaks out. Why are there more Demon Kings? Why hasn’t Blackberry or anyone from Moonfault contacted her about this?

Don’t worry Magnolia. We got this. Let’s fight!

Afterwards, Magnolia finally is able to connect with Blackberry. He’s surprised as she is that Demon Kings are still showing up on Luxendarc. She asks permission to investigate further, and he agrees. Looks like Magnolia’s sticking around for a little longer!

Egille shows up now that everything’s safe. He’s a bit freaked out that Agnes is trapped inside a tiny pendant until he realizes it’s just a communicator. How high-tech!

Um, do you even know what “tech” is?

Anyway, Agnes also just regained her memory about Caldisla. This is very disturbing. She’s going to meet with the King to try and figure out what the heck is going on.

She’s accompanied by Anazel (Alternis). It seems that Caldisla disappeared, and everyone forgot about them? Then when they remembered, it appeared again!

Huh...?

Edea is distracted. Anazel’s not wearing her ribbon anymore, so he must be alllll better. She asks if he knows what Yohko is up to. Anazel seems confused by this line of questioning.

Yew butts in. They’re trying to figure out what’s happening with Caldisla, remember? And where are the Demon Kings coming from?

Magnolia doesn’t know and it’s really bothering her. How can she have the title of Demon King Buster if she doesn’t know this about Demon Kings? Yew tries to cheer her up. She knows more about Demon Kings than anyone else in Luxendarc, and it’s been a big help.

Well, Altair seems to know more. He’s got Good News and Bad News.

Good news: He knows the true form of the Demon Kings.

Good Gravy count: 20

Bad news: The true form of the Demon Kings are Vega’s thoughts.

Bad Gravy count: 2

More clearly, they’re the memories of Altair and Vega from the God World.

Can we go there to save Vega?

Altair’s been looking for a way to return to the God World for a long time and never found anything. But maybe with their help, he can find a way?

What about Anne? She was pulling Diamante’s strings. But she’s working for someone. Who?

Let’s go find her and find out.

In the Norende Ravine, above where Norende used to be, Anne has found a route to the God World. She can summon Demon Kings from here.

As long as that annoying brat Yew Geneologia stops getting in her way...

A new subscenario is available at the Vampire Castle. Earlier I tried to go there but the keystones were missing so I couldn’t enter. Looks like it’s open now, though...

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 30

Chapter: 5 Location: Gaterateo Party: Edea (Swordmaster), Magnolia (Guardian), Yew (Summoner), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 76 Play Time: 57 hrs 10 mins Good Gravy count: 18

What’s going on at the Floating Castle? Who’s controlling it? Can it be stopped?

Time to go back to the Audience Chamber, to see what’s going on.

In the Tent event, Yew and Magnolia talk. Yew is thankfully for all the help Magnolia has provided even though he hasn’t been able to do anything to help her take down the Demon King. He asks if Magnolia will go back to the moon when this is all done. They are interrupted by Blackberry who says he had some strange dream about the moon going away, but everything seems to be okay. He also tells Magnolia to return when her mission is done.

So much for Yew trying to follow Deni’s advice.

In the audience chamber is the Florel matron and the apprentice Water Priestess. They’re not sure what’s going on. When they came to, they were there.

Anne is highly amused by your antics. She has one objective: drive the Floating Castle into the Holy Pillar and destroy the moon.

Deni won’t allow that. He break’s Anne’s pendant before she can draw in too much power.

Anne’s talking to someone. But who? Anne’s not going to tell you. After all, it’s lights~ out~ for~ you~.

She summons the most powerful Demon King, Diamante.

Magnolia freaks out. Diamante was the Demon King who destroyed her home on the moon.

The great diamond crystal of the Floating Castle breaks. And it’s time for a fight with a hella freaky monster.

It keeps reviving itself which is really annoying. Also, Anne’s laugh is really annoying.

There’s no way to defeat Anne and Diamante as they are now. Anne’s going to destroy Luxendarc the way she destroyed the moon.

Deni won’t allow that. He takes the Space-Time Compass and uses it to transport himself and the Demon King into a distant future. This is his true ganbarevenge.

END CHAPTER 5.

START CHAPTER 6: Bravely Second.

Oh hey, they didn’t run Great Distance this time.

Yew wakes up in an inn. In Caldisla. In a scene that recalls the opening scene of Bravely Default.

Anyway the rest of the team seems to be okay. Deni is gone. Blackberry calls in. The Demon King on Luxendarc is gone?

Yeah, it’s gone.

Blackberry praises Magnolia and tells her to come home.

She will... but she wants to rest up a bit more first. Blackberry signs off.

Magnolia thanks everyone for their help. They thank her in return. Edea asks if they’ll meet again. Magnolia says, of course!

Tiz and Edea have a nice chat with Carl, the inn owner. It’s been a while since they last saw him.

Wait...

What?

Welcome to the “Country of Endings, Caldisla”. Looks like this is the mirror to Bravely Default where Caldisla was the Country of Beginnings...

How could Tiz and Edea forgotten about this place until just now?

Anazel (Alternis) shows up. Guess he found them in the ruins of the Floating Castle and brought them here.

Anazel repeats that whenever Edea is in a pinch, he’ll be there to help.

Aw, Edea is blushing~~

Anazel also thinks its strange he’s forgotten this country until just now. Could their memories have been sealed until just now?

Could it have been Yohko’s fault? She mentioned they should go to Caldisla back when they were in the Source of Springs. He’s going to go after her!

Edea is worried at him running off on his own (again), but he seems to be pretty okay, so Edea sees him off.

Pet theory time: Is Anazel Ringabel? This Anazel has Edea’s ribbon on him, which she tied on his arm during the Source of the Springs/Yohko incident. I don’t recall if other times Anazel showed up he was wearing the ribbon or not.

Also, I’m half way through the first novel spinoff for Bravely Second, The Pocketbook of R Second which is told from Ringabel’s perspective, and takes place apparently between Default and Second. In it, at one point he takes Anazel’s armor in order to lead a search party astray, as both Anazel and Braev are injured and he is not.

Also he’s been traveling through time and space all wibbly-wobbly like with Airy, and hitting what appear to be parallel worlds. Perhaps he eventually syncs up with game!Yew’s world. He’s already met a different version of Yew, Janne, Nikolai and Magnolia.

I really do hope it’s Ringabel! He’s my second favorite character (after Edea) and that’s why I bought the spinoff novel (and now I have to worry about getting volume 2!)

Anyway, time to go ask around the lower town and maybe even talk with the king. Surely SOMEONE knows what’s going on...?

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 29

Chapter: 5 Location: Florel Party: Edea (Swordmaster), Magnolia (Guardian), Yew (Summoner), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 74 Play Time: 54 hrs 15 mins Good Gravy count: 17

To Sagitta Village. Lotus has something ready for us! I love presents!

Looks like the SP Cannon is ready to fire! Aim at the Floating Castle! FIRE!

Within Castle Diamante, Minette believes her cat network has failed, and takes responsibility. Looks like she’ll be the next one you fight.

Minette brings Bismarck with her. After all he is technically a cat. A very, very large one. With big teeth and claws.

After the fight, Minette thinks the Emperor will no longer have anything to do with her and she feels all alone. That is, until the cat network weighs in. Tsubaki talks to Minette about how his master Kamiizumi is really nice to cats, and treats him really well, and tries to convince that not all humans are bad.

Kamiizumi appears and invites Minette to join his family. He talks about all the great things about his home in Eternia, the best one being that when it’s cold outside, you can rest under the kotatsu.

KOTATSU~!

Minette seems pretty enchanted by the idea of having a family.

Uh, I guess that includes Bismarck?

After Kamiizumi leaves, Lotus arrives and reports that the Floating Castle has fled to near Eternia. Magnolia calls upon Norzen to cast a whirlpool spell to trap the Castle like he did when it was near Lakrica (Ancheim). Leafa and Marmall help out. The Castle is trapped in a great waterspout.

Norzen also gives some backstory on Minette, and talks about the “Second Pandemic” that he was researching with Minette’s mother.

Another “Second” ...?

Anyhow, let’s go to the castle and stop Oblivion. Or rather, Deni.

During the Tent Event, Altair talks a little more about Vega. The two of them come from a different world than yours, the god world. Something happened on this world and the two were forced to flee and arrived at Luxendarc, but Vega went missing at this point. He’s been looking for her ever since. Surely her spirit still exists...?

To the castle’s audience chamber. But... it’s empty?

Janne and Nikolai inform you that the Emperor has already headed out. The two of them waited at the castle for you. Time to fight.

Yew refuses to deal the finishing blow. After all, they’re his friends. He understands he can’t change past history, but he can still change the world. Here. With their help! Janne can’t change anything by only thirsting for revenge, but together they can change the future of the Orthodoxy Knights. With Agnes and Braev and Goodman and Norzen and Lotus bringing together the major powers of the world. One step at a time, they’ll make things better.

He finally convinces Nikolai and Janne to work with him. Nikolai tells Yew that Oblivion has gone to Gaterateo, to the Geneologia family crypt.

Guess we have to follow...

Alfred isn’t sure he wants to open the gate to the family crypt. Especially not with those traitors -- Janne and Nikolai -- waiting in front of it!

But the gate is already open. Oblivion has already gone through.

Alfred can’t figure out how it could be open. The only other person with a key was Deni, who used to lay flowers at his mother’s grave.

Yew has to break the bad news.

Anyway, Janne and Nikolai are going to turn themselves in. Yew tells them to talk with Agnes, surely they can figure something out between them and the holy knights.

Meanwhile, we have an Emperor to stop.

There is a lot of dialogue here. Mostly it’s about Deni’s reason for trying to use the Space-Time Compass. Apparently the Geneologia family history is pretty dark. He wants to change that by killing their forefather, Fandall Geneologia, himself.

I guess he never learned about the Grandfather Paradox.

After the battle you acquire the Emperor asterisk!

Deni wakes up in the Geneologia house. He is pretty depressed and thinks he only deserves death after all the things he’s done and the friends he’s sacrificed. Agnes tells him to join him at the cathedral. There, he submits to Braev, but Agnes invites all his old pals in. Deni is surprised that they’re all still alive.

Agnes asks for Deni’s cooperation to help bring peace to the world. We’ll have ganbarevenge to~ge~ther~

Uhhhh

Afterwards the team’s having a feast cooked up by Alfred. Edea is ecstatic. Magnolia is wondering if she can get the recipe.

Good Gravy count: 18

Agnes joins the group. She asks Magnolia that once her duties are done, will she return to the moon?

Edea sighs. After all, it’s only natural for Magnolia to return home when she’s done here on Luxendarc. Yew isn’t feeling so good about the direction of this conversation. Magnolia points out she doesn’t quite have a ride home right now since her spaceship is apparently still broken out by Gravemark Village. Yew wonders if Lotus can help with it. Perhaps they should ask him...

Meanwhile, Deni thanks Alfred for the food. It’s been a long time since he’s had a meal like that! Yew drops by and wants to have a brotherly chat at the bathhouse.

Convenient, that bathhouse.

Yew apologizes for Deni’s lost right arm. Deni doesn’t seem to mind it much anymore, but he appreciates the thought. He’s glad they can regain some of their sibling bond.

Now, as a big brother, he’s here to give Yew some love~advice~ Namely, is Yew really just going to let Magnolia go back to the moon without saying anything??

Be strong, Yew!

All of a sudden a great burst of light starts shining.

The Holy Pillar??!

Tiz... as well as Edea and Magnolia burst into the bath to talk with Yew.

THIS IS THE GUY’S SIDE, GEEZ.

Edea kind of forgot in the hubbub. Oops.

Anyway, NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO ARGUE. What is going on with the Holy Pillar?! How is the Floating Castle headed towards it?

Who knows?! Let’s go investigate!

...by the way, what happened to Anne? I bet she’s up to no good...

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 28

Chapter: 5 Location: Gaterateo Party: Edea (Ninja), Magnolia (Guardian), Yew (Summoner), Tiz (White Mage) Level: 72 Play Time: 51 hrs 30 mins Good Gravy count: 17

Went through and collected all my missing job asterisks, as well as gathered up the summons for my Summoner class. Also started collecting the blue chests as I got the key for it at the start of chapter 5, so got some sweet new equipment.

Enough fooling around. Let’s get back to the story. Time to get the Space-Time Compass from the sea cavern. Which Imperial soldier will we have to fight for it?

During the Tent Event, Altair possesses Tiz again allowing him to chat with the others. He’s surprised by the turn of events, and starts muttering about Vega... someone who was very close to him. Magnolia remembers the name from the Sagitta Ruins. Altair doesn’t know what happened to Vega... that was all in the past now. He wishes you good luck.

Yew takes the Space-Time Compass. They’re finally a step ahead of the Emperor.

Edea takes it... and says she’ll give it to Papa.

Oh no! She’s been possessed by Revenant! Now Geist has the Compass! They flee, and your team is in hot pursuit.

Until Geist runs into... Braev? Apparently the Paladin has surrounded the cavern with 500 soldiers, so Geist and Revenant won’t be able to escape.

Time to fight Geist and Revenant.

Geist wonders why you don’t kill them. Edea is pretty pissed off. She just wants the Compass back. She doesn’t want to fight them, as she told them before the battle even started.

Apparently Geist wants the Compass because by turning back time, he can go back to when Revenant was alive. Revenant seems to be okay with his current situation of possessing a suit of armor, though.

I suppose it’s appropriate to have this father/son moment on Father’s Day. Plus, Braev, Edea’s father, is also here, and Edea gets to tell Revenant how important it is to have a father to look up to, and who looks after her, but she also needed to grow up and grow a bit apart from him. She hopes Revenant can grow up a bit too.

Braev takes the two away.

Space-Time Compass has been recovered! So... what do you do with it now?

Magnolia suggests asking Master Kamiizumi. Through the pendant, Kamiizumi says he’s in the Florel Gardens, and they’re having some difficulties, so if you wouldn’t mind popping on over...

Time to get a move on.

In the Tent Event, the teams gets a little carried away by the convenience of pendant-calling people. They talk to Braev (Edea thanks him for his help earlier), Norzen (who talks overly loud into the pendant, leaving Yew’s ears ringing)... Altair butts in, saying hey, this seems a lot like video conference technology!

EVERYBODY SKYPE GOOGLE HANGOUT!

Apparently Altair used to VC with Vega a lot.

Edea tries to VC Lotus but ends up calling Kamiizumi instead, who is kind of pissed off at them using the power so flagrantly. Guys, let’s get back to work~~

Anyway, time to meet up with Kamiizumi. What’s with all the people here?

Well, for some reason there’s an IHOP here now. IT’S VERY SUSPICIOUS.

Also Panettone and Amy are running it.

They only recognize you from their “dream”.

Apparently Panettone also remembers the letter Amy wrote him in the “dream” so he’s actually nice to Amy this time around instead of being a scumbag to her, which is a nice touch.

They seem like a nice couple. Surely they’ll just let us through...

No, they’re kind of annoyed with how they were treated in the “dream”, so I guess we gotta fight. Then we can all eat pancakes~!

I don’t get it, but um, making bacon pancakes?

The two are miffed they lost the battle, but Amy still thinks Panettone makes the best cakes so it’s alllll right. Right?

Uh, I guess.

Yew gives them a letter of introduction, signed by the Geneologia family of Gaterateo, and tells them to talk with Alfred. Perhaps they can get set up somewhere better than the middle of a forest.

Anyhow, now that they’re not in the way, Kamiizumi wants to keep moving forward.

Suddenly they’re in a grove full of... cats!

Aaah I want to go there~~

Kamiizumi runs into his old friend... the cat, Tsubaki.

Tsubaki still doesn’t seem to like you guys. Until he gets close to Kamiizumi and remembers who he is.

Anyway, now that Kamiizumi is reunited with his beloved pet, time to get to more important matters. The Space-Time Compass is too important to leave around, so he suggests hiding it in the Sagitta Village.

Conveniently, Lotus contacts you at this time to say that “It” is ready -- the SP cannon that is. The team just doesn’t want to say that out loud because the cat network might alert Minette/the Empire as to their plans.

Anyway, let’s go chat with Lotus.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 27

Chapter: 4 Location: Floating Castle Diamante Party: Edea (Ninja), Magnolia (Tomahawk), Yew (Black Mage), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 68 Play Time: 46 hrs 15 mins Good Gravy count: 17

The audience chamber is just ahead! Emperor Oblivion and Anne are waiting! Let’s bring the fight to them!

Yew thanks everyone for their support so far. He reminisces a bit on how much he’s grown over the short time he’s been trying to rescue Agnes. Admittedly he has gotten a bit better. He stopped whining over Janne faster than I expected. The others iterate their support for him. We’ll definitely win this one!!

Magnolia mentions “Bravely Second” (in English/Lunarian) as the “courage to start over”. It’s something all four of them possess. Everyone agrees. Now let’s rescue Agnes for SURE~!

Emperor Oblivion has carrying an unconscious Agnes and is ready to dive into the Holy Pillar. Anne says that with the Space-Time Compass he can surely find the space-time he is looking for.

But Yew shows up.

Oblivion was rather expecting this to happen but is going to push forward anyway. You’re too late. He throws the TARDIS core space-time compass into the Time Rift Holy Pillar and jumps in after it.

Too late, again!

Anne gets in your way. She summons a great power from her brooch and Castle Diamante and...

The moon disappears!

Also the colors get really washed out...

Magnolia is SUPER PISSED OFF. So angry she forgets herself and speaks in English for several sentences. What’s happened to the Lunarians?! She is unable to hail Blackberry on her wrist communicator.

Anne doesn’t know. Or care.

Bad Gravy count: 1

Time to take down Anne.

Anne says you’re too late. Her role is complete.

What does that mean?

Let’s get back to the ship.

Something strange is going on.

The moon is gone.

Everything is suuuuper quiet. Not even the wind or clouds are moving...?

What’s going on?

Has the world stopped?

No... not quite. But something’s definitely strange.

Yew appeals to the gods. And by gods, he appeals directly to you, the player, to “try again”.

Everyone’s repeating the words, “Bravely Second is the courage to start over.”

What?

In Instantul, Leafa talks about the term “End Layer” being at the end of despair. Is everything over?

The game pushes you to a New Game+ at this point as the option is now unlocked in the main menu.

Well, okay then.

AR Movie option is also unlocked.

The movie is the same one that shipped with the demo, but now there is full context. Agnes is stuck in an unknown space. She must have gotten separated Oblivion when he entered the Holy Pillar. She appeals to you, the player, through her pendant, to summon the warriors of light once again. Meanwhile, you can hear Oblivion’s voice calling out, searching for her.

It’s actually creepier this time around now that you know who Oblivion is.

Back to the menu.

The menu screen has changed. END LAYER is, as expected, a coded message just like how the FLYING FAIRY subtitle was a coded message for LYING AIRY in Bravely Default. This time the message requires you to add letters: S P.

SEND PLAYER.

Ok, this took me a little while to figure out. At first I thought with everyone talking about Bravely Second it meant I had to use Second in a battle, before I had gone into New Game+ mode. Then I thought it meant a friends summon, which also wasn’t true.

In fact, you need to go into New Game+ and use Bravely Second (1 SP) during the opening scene, which is a battle against Oblivion.

“Bravely Second!”

Magnolia appears.

“--Is the courage to start over!!”

Edea and Tiz appear too.

END CHAPTER 4

START CHAPTER 5: Ganbarevenge

This chapter starts off immediately with a battle scene against Oblivion. He’s baffled as to where you came from.

“The Future” isn’t really making sense to him right now.

Let’s fight.

Oblivion’s mask breaks in the fight.

Yew recognizes...

His older brother, Deni.

A bunch of Orthodoxy Knights show up and arrest Oblivion.

Agnes is overjoyed you came to save her. Especially Tiz~~~!

Edea is so happy to meet up with Agnes too.

Braev and Anazel (Alternis) look... mighty confused.

...one long explanation later...

Agnes mentions having some strange feelings... almost like a dream. That wasn’t a dream, but hazy memories of a future that hasn’t happened yet...?

Space-time discussion is hard.

Still, Braev thanks you as the Emperor has been detained. But Magnolia points out that you’re not out of the woods yet -- there still appears to be a Demon King in Floating Castle Diamante.

A little earlier I realized that Diamante appears to be a crystal made from the same material as the hole in the earth when you visited Dimension’s Hasp (where you fought your first Demon King.) Pretty sure this is NOT coincidence...

Agnes gives a speech; the efforts of the Orthodoxy and the Duchy of Eternia must be combined, despite their past differences and conflicts. Everyone in the world must combine their efforts, to defeat the Grantz Empire and the Demon King.

It’s Ganbarevenge!

I... really hate that term.

Oh no! The empire is attacking! They’ve broken the Emperor out of prison!

It’s Janne and Nikolai who rescued the Emperor. The other knights are baffled by this betrayal. Ayame and Cu Chulain also appear to help out.

Looks like you have you have to fight Ayame and Cu Chulain again, while Oblivion escapes with Janne and Nikolai.

However, Ayame and Cu Chulain survive the battle. Yew doesn’t want to kill them again and go through all that once more. Ayame thinks Yew is being too soft. He can’t stop the Empire like that!

Still, they are grateful.

Yew turns them over to Othar and the Orthodoxy Knights and asks them to show them to Agnes later.

Agnes will see them now! And tend to their wounds. She understands better than the others why Yew is handing them over, so he doesn’t repeat his mistakes from the past.

In a gathering of leaders (including Braev, Anazel, Norzen, Kamiizumi, Goodman and Lotus) Yew iterates that Emperor Oblivion is actually of his house (Geneologia) for which he apologizes. Anyway, we know his plans, to get the crystals power to overflow in order to create the Holy Pillar. With that knowledge it should be easy to stop him, right?

We must protect Agnes!!

Magnolia talks about how to get to the floating castle. She has an idea. Norzen is all in, so is Lotus.

Lotus seems to remember what happened so knows they need to talk to Sakura and (re)create the floating bathhouse.

Before you leave, Agnes gives everyone a fragment of her pendant! It was broken in the previous fight, so it’s okay. It’ll be more useful this way since everyone can use it to communicate with her no matter where they are.

Magnolia points out that they should get the Space-Time Compass. They bid farewell to Agnes for now.

Ooh, looks like subscenarios are available all over the place... Apparently because you “reset” the world they’re in their initial state. Which means you can choose the opposite of what you did before, and gain the asterisks you’re missing.

How handy.

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 26

Chapter: 3 Location: Grandship Party: Edea (Ninja), Magnolia (Tomahawk), Yew (Black Mage), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 66 Play Time: 44 hrs 30 mins Good Gravy count: 17

The Empire’s dire plans are moving closer to completion. That looks really, really bad. We should try to stop them. Because I now have a Time Mage asterisk. I can literally cast stop on them.

That probably won’t work too well...

After that fun little break on Grandship, it’s time to get back to business. You’ve got a flying ship bathhouse now. Let’s make our way to the floating castle and rescue Agnes!

Tiz warns that if the Floating Castle enters the Holy Pillar it may not come out again. Same goes for them. Are you ready for this?

HELL YES.

END CHAPTER 3.

Great Distance is kind of growing on me.

BEGIN CHAPTER 4: I wanted to see your visage

Edea lands the flying bathhouse on the Floating Castle. The party prepares to head out.

Floating Castle Diamante is pretty massive. Yew goes over their objectives: Rescue Agnes, defeat the Demon King, defeat the Emperor. Okay, check. First, let’s get Agnes back.

Meanwhile, Anne is distressed that the bathhouse is landed. Oblivion seems to have been expecting it. Janne is waiting for a rematch. Re-rematch. At least he can buy time for Oblivion to guide the castle into the Holy Pillar. Oblivion won’t let the sacrifices of his soldiers... no, his friends... be in vain.

He’ll make a new world.

The party reaches a familiar room, the one seen through the crystal when they’re talking with Agnes. But where is she?

Magnolia suddenly turns on the group!

She seems to be possessed. By a being called Revenant Grace. Geist Grace’s... son?

He’s really pissed off that you took out his dear ol’ dad.

The spirit suddenly slips into a suit of armor instead. Looks like we’ve got a fight on our hands.

Guardian asterisk gained! It apparently uses spirit power to unleash attacks.

Okay, this possessed armor thing is really reminiscent of Full Metal Alchemist but Geist is hella creepy for doing it instead of being all family sacrifice heroic about it.

So, um, where IS Agnes?

Searching deeper in the castle, you encounter Janne. Yew doesn’t hesitate this time to fight. That doesn’t stop him from crying after the battle is over though.

Ok I think this time Janne is finally really actually dead.

The team keeps pressing forward... to the audience chamber! To where Anne and Oblivion are!

[tamaplaysvideogames]

Bravely Second: T’s Journal 25

Chapter: 3 Location: Florel (Florem) Party: Edea (Ninja), Magnolia (Tomahawk), Yew (Black Mage), Tiz (Exorcist) Level: 64 Play Time: 42 hrs 30 mins Good Gravy count: 17

To the water temple! Can you get there before the Empire does?

Let’s find out.

When you arrive at the temple, Tiz starts getting a baaad feeling about this. Uh-oh... At the altar, you see someone... Agnes?

She appears to be feeding power into the crystal. Is it going to go out of control? Tiz yells at her to stop... but it’s too late. Could it be that she also cause the other crystals to go out of control?

Anne is pleased. She says you are too late. All the crystals are out of control, and their plan is in the final stages. To the world boundary! Yew wants to stop her, but Pollan and Challan show up with a new machine weapon. It transforms between a bird thing and a robot thing. Break it!

After destroying it, you find a second challenge in the form of... Nikolai.

He apparently joined the Empire as an act of atonement for the the same actions that killed Janne’s father. He wants to remake the world and prevent those events from ever happening.

Yew’s having none of this. He has a speech about how the others have inspired him and that together they will stop the empire and save the world~!

Another fight.

Meanwhile, in Grantz...

Oblivion and Anne discuss Nikolai’s defeat. Anne doesn’t care because the crystals’ powers have been released. Oblivion isn’t happy that so many of their comrades fell for this to happen.

Not everyone has fallen. Janne is still alive, somehow. They’re off to the world boundary, to create a new world.

...Back at the Water Temple...

The appearance of the Holy Pillar means the world boundary has been breached. That sounds really bad. You need to get there too! But... how?

Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s...

A flying bathhouse?!

Lotus worked with Sakura to get the bathhouse ship to fly, using Yew’s idea of attaching some of the SP Cannon’s outer walls on the ship. Sweet.

Let’s go on a flight.

Subscenario has opened up! Hey look, it’s Grandship! It’s so quaint when compared to a flying bathhouse.

Although, if you examine the piano in the bar you’ll get some nice piano arrangements of a few of the game’s tracks.

Looks like the proprietress, Datz and Latz are all doing well.

Also, Anazel (Alternis) has been helping them out.

In all the food scenes, it always amuses me that Edea eats with two forks, in a constant shoveling of food into her mouth. That girl sure can pack it away!

Dark Knight vs Time Mage. Hm... probably Dark Knight. It should be fun to piss off Anazel.

Actually, never mind. Manumatt (Khamer) is a huge jerk and I just want to punch him. Time Mage asterisk acquired!