Square Enix has just bestowed upon us another glimpse of Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster before its April 2024 launch on Nintendo Switch 2; however, the players have yet to celebrate it. Instead, the discussions have been engulfed by throwbacks about its physical release-or lack thereof.
The official tweet showed a lovely little prequel-style illustration of Agnès, the protagonist of the game, living an ordinary life right before the actual story kicks in. Art by Naoki Ikushima, scenario by Keiichi Ajiro-a dream for any cult classic JRPG fan? Uh, no. The replies? Total chaos.
Gamers are downright angry at the fact that the remaster only has a digital release of a “game key card” for sale: no cartridge, download code-only in a box. That backlash must have been extremely powerful.
“Give us REAL physical copies you cheapskates!” opined @ultimablackmage, calling phantom cartridges “anti-preservation.” Some outright refused to buy it, such as @jpgames_de: “I wish I could buy this on a classic cartridge … I’ll opt for other games.” Even @neil_wisneski, perhaps one of the most excited guys, said: “No physical, no buy.”
There is still more raging put upon Square Enix for others to join. However, some allege Nintendo to be squarely to blame for accommodating only 64GB cartridges that make it terribly impracticable to physically release smaller games like this one. “Nintendo only give them 64GB cards which are too big and expensive,” they said. In return, others say: “Square Enix has the ability to put on a real cartridge… they have no excuse.”
In the meantime, some fans such as @TechyChann keep shouting hype into the void: “LOOK AT AGNÈS BEING A WHOLESOME WIND NUN ICON… GAME OF THE YEAR!!” Yet they, too, are drowned by the swell of counter-voices, #PhantomCartridges.
Then there comes the talk of Switch 2. Some, including @JayConquersX, also want a PC port and find Switch 2 anti-consumer. However, others fear a stumble for the game-not due to lack of quality, but really due to the shaky reputation the console holds during its nascent days: “@SquareEnix if this doesn’t sell, it’s not because Bravely Default is dead,” said @JosCastill66369, “We just don’t want to deal with whatever Nintendo is doing here.”
Oh yes. We sure do want to rocket a hype train for the much-beloved remaster on-the-other-hand turned has become an entire revolt against preservation, pricing, and platform loyalty. Would Square Enix backtrack? Almost never. But there is one certain thing: gamers are not going to let this one slide.
Hey, at least Agnes looks great. Small wins.
