The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2 is an Action, Adventure, RPG developed by Nihon Falcom, PH3 and GmbH. At the same time, it was published by a well-known company in the industry, NIS America. As the title of the game informs you, this is the sequel to the previous entry of the same name without the number. Returning to our favorite spriggan and continuing where we left off in the last game. That means getting closer to knowing who that crimson beast is.
Just like in Trails into Reverie, we’re given a character chapter system between Van and Swin. Due to the fact that not everyone can be in the same place at once, i.e. the original method we were introduced and worked with. At the very least, with the amount of characters we have to work with and expanding our playstyle a bit more, I’m glad they choose to go with this mechanic with a group so large to just be going to one place.
Storyline
Spoilers for those who haven’t played the first game: I will be going over the ending before continuing. So, we find out that Van was meant to be the vessel for a demon, and instead of becoming the demon, he throws the core of the demon into the void. Leaving in the air if the demon is still in the core or residing in Van. Now, a couple of months pass as we’re shown a group of soldiers who have trapped a man in a trench coat. We then see a slight family face and hear a name similar to Van’s alter ego Grendel get called out, but he’s completely red and performing some weird tricks.
The scene cuts out when the crimson Grendel approaches the camera. With the start of that scene, we get slightly introduced to the B side of the story since we’re then introduced to S and N. We then cut to Van asleep on the couch as he would normally be, but he gets woken up by Elaine knocking on his door. She comes to Van not for any pleasantries but because it seems she’s been keeping an eye on these weird incidents happening since the start of the new year.
Van is then shown a slightly distorted video of what we witnessed earlier in the starting cut scene and seems unwell from seeing it. Because it seemed like Van since he’s the only person anyone knows who can use Grendel, he’s placed on the top on everyone’s Most Wanted list.
Van then tries to solve the case of who’s really behind all this to clear himself of all wrongdoing. Will he succeed, or will we find a deeper plot going on in the background?
Sound
The wondrous music being played everywhere is as addictive as it’s ever been. While traversing the overworld, entering battle and having my usual battle of attrition in a boss fight. Each has me on my toes and doesn’t have me resorting to my Spotify playlist for attrition battles like these. Besides this BGM, the voice-overs and narrations are as solid as ever thanks to both Nihon Falcom and NIS America’s hard work to make sure that when translating and voicing the characters worked well and was balanced beautifully.
Even added sounds from the improved fishing and the other mini-games we have added to the game’s list of things to do.
Graphics
Either my eyes are getting old, or the graphics when doing attacks are either the same, or it got a little brighter than usual. I do love the look of the new locations since it’s as breathtaking as the rest of the environments, both rural and urban. The action scenes and cutscenes look a lot smoother than ever. From the movement done by every NPC in a scene to the attacks we perform when either doing Cross Charge or EX Chains.
I didn’t see any wasted movements or anything that seemed like it was ridged by someone using a mouse to try to mimic natural movement. Don’t know if they either upgraded their budget for the game to use motion capture or they got talented people who are making those movements look natural, frame by frame.
Now, the new mini-games and puzzles are added to the game because of the turn of events happening in the game. I would reveal everything that was added and ruin the surprise, but the only thing I should mention is the improved fishing mini-game and the basketball mini-game that weirdly reminded me of how we had the snowboarding mini-game in Trails of Coldsteel II. Regardless, Nihon Falcom has always excelled at improving and increasing everything they did before by leaps and bounds. And this entry shows they haven’t lost their touch yet.
Mechanics
The battle system that The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2 had in its previous entry, being the field and command battles. Which by far is the biggest addition ever that I love. Like I said earlier, Nihon Falcom has the tendency to go above and beyond and boy, did they. We’re now able to use spells while in field battles, yet that’s not the only thing they added. They added Cross Charge, It’s a move that happens when you perform a perfect dodge in any field battle; you’ll hit the right button combo to do a united attack.
Then there are EX Chains that can be done automatically when certain conditions are met during battle automatically. Usually, I’ve been popping them off more often if not when I extremely need to, but can’t since, you know …it’s automatic!
Replay Value
The fact that I compared the amount of time I played between the first Daybreak and the second is shy of about 7 hours if I stick to the main story. The part of me that wants to do my usual Completionist run is screaming because I have mostly been trying to make sure I win or get top on any and all mini-games. I still haven’t completed the game because I’m still knee-deep in Seven Hearts to continue the story quest. But, the fact that a minigame and the story has me held hostage that I almost forgot to write this review.
Closing Statement
The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2 was the most roller coaster of a time that I’ve had since Cold Steel IV. Sure, I haven’t finished The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2 completely, but that’s because I have a responsibility to get this done and to not get into everything a bit too much. But I can say that it’s extremely worth sinking some time into the game. Yet, I’m hoping down the line they are able to make the game fully compatible on the Steam Deck to have it continue on the go.
The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2
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The code was provided by the Publisher
Written by Ruddy Celestial
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