I didn’t attend any of the early Nintendo Switch 2 events, so walking into a small room with the new console to play Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster was an interesting experience. This was during PAX East 2025, where Square Enix showed off the game to a handful of publications. I’ve been a huge fan of Bravely Default since it first released more than ten years ago, and I’m sure modern audiences will embrace it on the new hardware. Still, I chose not to play the game during my meeting. You see, I’ve already completed this adventure, so let me just say you should absolutely play Bravely Default and, while you’re at it, toss Octopath Traveler 2 into the cart. No, I was there for one thing only: the rhythm mini-game, Luxencheer Rhythm Catch.
Rhythm Mini-Games: What is Luxencheer Rhythm Catch
Ah, rhythm mini-games, a genre that keeps evolving each generation and remains as accessible or challenging as you want. As a fan of the Persona rhythm spin-offs, I appreciate when developers get creative with their IP. It’s even more intriguing when the team builds fresh rhythm systems that challenge genre veterans. Sometimes that approach misses the mark, as Gunvolt Records Chronicle showed, but there’s usually fun to be had. Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster enjoys an extra perk by landing on hardware that pushes new features. In the Switch 2’s case, that means using the Joy-Con’s mouse-style functionality for rhythm sections.
Joy-Con Mouse Mode: A Learning Curve
I’ll admit that it took me a bit to get comfortable with the mouse feature. In the short fifteen minutes I had, I never quite nailed the new grip. It works decently, but playing on a coffee table with a fabric tablecloth or on your lap while wearing pants seems best. Sitting cross-legged on the floor at the table felt the most comfortable, though it’s hardly intuitive. Anyway, enough of that; it’s time to dance.
During the dancing mini-game, you can choose any party member to groove to the soundtrack. A neat touch lets characters wear unlocked in-game outfits. I couldn’t confirm whether the previously altered outfits from the Western 3DS release appear here; none were unlocked in my session, and the publisher wouldn’t comment. I’d be surprised if they slip in, given Nintendo’s usual approach to Western remasters such as Xenoblade or Tokyo Mirage Sessions. Costumes aside, there’s plenty of variety to keep your favorite character looking stylish on the dance floor.
The mini-game mixes several mechanics. First, you trap notes between two on-screen pointers by tilting both Joy-Con in mouse mode. It’s the most common input, but clever positioning can help you snag notes efficiently. Other prompts have you tap the left and right shoulder buttons in time, then bring the controllers together for a simultaneous hit. Everything feels intuitive yet slightly challenging, especially as you decide where to position your cursors.
Final Thoughts: A Brief but Fun Nostalgia Trip
I had a good time, brief but fun, and the background choreography from Edea Lee and Agnès was charming. The developers even repurpose animations from the characters’ special abilities for dance moves. Their strained facial expressions are a bit distracting, but missing a note is worth it to hang out with this crew a little longer. Doing well during these dance segments will unlock some in-game journals that highlight new aspects of the game’s narrative, which is basically icing on the cake for those who have played this game on 3DS more times than they’d like to admit. Kinda similar to the adventure as a whole, I will likely be returning to this mode more than a few times.
Although my session was short, I spent every second dancing with old friends. Bravely Default Flying Fairy remains a wonderfully creative JRPG that’s sure to captivate newcomers on Nintendo Switch 2. I’m still not sold on the Joy-Con mouse mode, and the price of video games today has me hesitant to call anything releasing on new hardware a “must-buy.” Still, I assure you, no matter when or where you play Bravely Default, you will surely have a grand adventure that rivals your favorites across the JRPG genre.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.
