No! Bad Square Enix! Bad!

Bravely Default looks like one of the most gorgeous games on the Nintendo 3DS with a new batch of screenshots further showing off how doused it is in old-school JRPG charm. It’s just radiating with character from a more fulfilling and innocent age of gaming, and that is why the addition of microtransactions hurts so badly.

The new Bravely Default: For the Sequel version features an in-battle mode called “Bravely Second” that can stop time and make battles much easier through mercilessly hacking away at defenseless monsters.

Of course, this special tactic doesn’t work at will and the required SP points can only be recharged by putting the 3DS into sleep mode. Eight hours of real-world time refills one SP point. You won’t be able to actually play the game while recharging SP points, nor will you be able to play any game at all!

Your 3DS must just sit quietly, humming away while it busily regains points allowing you to cheat the battle system.

Those not willing to wait have the option of jumping straight into the Nintendo 3DS eShop directly from the game and purchase these points on the spot.

Producer Tomoya Asano explains:

“Bravely Second isn’t a de-merit, but a system that gives players an advantage. It’s convenient, and very powerful.”

Of course, there is always the option of not cheating and simply playing battles as you were supposed to. I don’t intend to use this mode because coughing up both money and time seem like a horrible waste when I could be enjoying it fully for free.

And I still intend to fully enjoy Bravely Default when it comes stateside in 2014. These microtransactions will be an option in the updated Bravely Default: For the Sequel version of the game in Japan, the same one Americans will get.