[PlayStation 5] Review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II, produced by NIS America and Nihon Falcom, is the newest installment in the cherished Legend of Heroes/Kiseki series. Picking up where Trails through Daybreak left off, we find Van Arkride once more navigating the intricacies of the Calvard region, only this time he’s plunged into a fresh murder mystery. Dive into our review to uncover the secrets of Trails through Daybreak II!

Let’s journey back to the Calvard Republic as chaos threatens to rise again. A sudden string of murders kicks off a new unfolding of fate. Amid this brewing storm, spriggan Van Arkride is approached by an unexpected visitor. Just who is orchestrating these crimes, and why?

Trails through Daybreak II is a straightforward sequel to its predecessor and stands as the 12th mainline game following the inception of the Kiseki saga with Trails in the Sky. After exploring the Liberl, Erebonian, and Crossbell regions in previous games, this latest chapter continues to chart Van’s adventures, delving deeper into the enigmatic Calvard region.

Each sub-series—like Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, Trails from Zero, and Trails through Daybreak—offers standalone experiences but takes place in a meticulously crafted, interconnected universe. There’s plenty of crossover, with frequent nods to events from other games, enriching the experience for dedicated fans.

Since Trails through Daybreak II is a direct continuation, it’s highly advisable to play its forerunner first. While there is a video recap at the beginning, it hardly captures the essence and intricate character arcs within a sweeping 50-hour narrative. If you’ve completed the original game, you can transfer your save data, which will carry over your past choices and unlock bonuses.

Van Arkride, a spriggan by profession, takes on cases rejected by others due to their legally murky nature. Just like the first game, Daybreak II follows Van as he explores society’s shadows. His unique gift, an extraordinary sense of smell, helps him pick up on clues and anticipate trouble, making him an exceptional asset in the ever-changing conflicts of the Calvard region.

As the story begins, Van is confronted by Elaine, a returning character who alerts him to some troubling news—he’s now the prime suspect in a mysterious event. Without giving too much away, the narrative lands in non-linear territory, which I found utterly fascinating. True to the Trails series, the storytelling is immersive, packed with plot twists, character depth, and complexity.

Returning players will find the combat system familiar, maintaining its action RPG feel for standard encounters. The real-time combos simplify battles with basic attacks. When characters are close to each other, Combo Skills activate automatically, reminiscent of earlier games. By pressing the Square button, players transition seamlessly into a turn-based combat mode, providing a more tactical approach when casting Arts or Crafts—skillsets that are crucial for challenging battles.

Van can also assume a powerful mech form, tipping the scales in tough fights. The Orbment system returns, allowing you to equip Quartz and unlock magical spells while enhancing stats. Despite its complexity, the menu system can be cumbersome. A particularly frustrating bug I encountered involves the game freezing after selecting the healing spell Tear, but fortunately, the autosave feature minimizes disruption. As with previous entries, you can save anywhere, which is particularly helpful for navigating the game’s extensive dungeons.

Visually, Trails through Daybreak II builds on its predecessors with mild enhancements. While character models echo a past console generation, strides have been made in clothing textures and facial expressions, though animations could use some polish. Audio-wise, the English voice-acting shines, especially for main characters, and you have the choice between English or Japanese voiceovers. True to Nihon Falcom’s legacy, the game’s soundtrack is delightful.

The game challenges players with 53 trophies, including a prestigious Platinum trophy. Progression, key milestones, and crafting—like fishing and cooking—are all integrated into these achievements, providing ample ways to immerse yourself in the game.

With its blend of action and strategic combat, Trails through Daybreak II keeps the player engaged with its rich storytelling. As a sequel to Trails through Daybreak, it’s worth starting from the beginning to fully savor both story and character evolutions. Look for The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II on PlayStation 5, coming February 14, priced at $59.99.

This review was based on a PlayStation copy provided by NIS America.