[PS5] Review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II

Diving into the newest installment of the cherished The Legend of Heroes/Kiseki series, Trails through Daybreak II spins another captivating tale from NIS America and Nihon Falcom. Picking up right where Trails through Daybreak left off, we’re once more drawn into the world of Van Arkride and the intrigue of the Calvard region. This time, a fresh murder mystery beckons. For those curious about how this sequel fares, dive into our review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II!

Returning to the Calvard Republic, Trails through Daybreak II challenges players with solving the enigma of the crimson beast amidst a backdrop of turmoil. A shocking spree of murders shakes things up, setting fate’s gears in motion yet again. With chaos on the horizon, Van Arkride, the indomitable spriggan, receives an unexpected visitor. The key question looms: who’s behind these killings, and what drives them?

Trail through Daybreak II is a continuation of Trails through Daybreak and marks the twelfth installment in the mainline series since Kiseki’s inception with Trails in the Sky. Following adventures from Liberl, to the Erebonian region with the Trails of Cold Steel, and across to Crossbell, players now find themselves deep in Calvard territory. This release continues to deliver the intricate storytelling and expansive world-building that fans adore, focusing again on Van Arkride as he delves deeper into Calvardian mysteries.

The interconnected universe of The Legend of Heroes is what makes it truly shine. With each sub-series, be it Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, Trails from Zero, or Trails through Daybreak, the games offer unique but intertwined tales. While you can enjoy each as a stand-alone experience, they often nod to each other’s events, enriching the overall narrative depth.

For those embarking on Trails through Daybreak II, it’s highly advisable to immerse yourself in its predecessor first. Though a brief recap is available, the intricate character arcs and storytelling demand the full journey that only the first game can provide. Completing it also means you can bring over your save file, unlocking special bonuses and carrying past decisions into the new installment.

Our protagonist, Van Arkride, is something of a maverick—a spriggan who takes on cases too murky for typical law enforcers. His keen sense of smell is a peculiar talent that lets him sniff out clues, dangers, and culprits, proving invaluable in the tangled web of Calvard’s underworld mysteries.

Starting with a visit from Elaine, a familiar face with troubling news pinning Van as suspect number one in a recent incident, the game takes you on a non-linear narrative journey teeming with twists and character depth, maintaining the series’ hallmark for compelling storytelling.

Fans of the previous game will find solace in the battle system, familiar yet refined. Standard skirmishes commence in a real-time action RPG style, allowing basic attacks and swift tactics. Closer allies will collaborate via Combo Skills, reminiscent of previous linking strategies between characters in the series.

To switch things up, activating Arts or Crafts turns the battles strategic with a turn-based system. S-Crafts, powerful attacks akin to Limit Breaks, can tip the scales in tougher battles, while Van’s mech transformation offers an overpowering edge.

Continuing the tradition of the Trails games, the Orbment system lets you equip Quartz, unlocking potent spells and boosting stats. Although the menus can be somewhat labyrinthine, the inclusion of an auto-save feature greatly alleviates the frustration of navigation issues in the main menu. An unfortunate bug sometimes freezes the game when casting healing spells, although frequent auto-save mitigates the hassle until it’s patched.

The game doesn’t revolutionize its graphics but builds on its predecessor with noticeable improvements, particularly in textures and facial expressions, maintaining a familiar yet polished presentation. While animation work could be more fluid by current standards, audio shines through with superb voice acting in both English and Japanese options, and a consistently engaging soundtrack ties it all together.

Completing Trails through Daybreak II fully means embarking on a trophy hunt, with 53 in total, including a coveted Platinum. From story progression to reaching milestones and enjoying minigames like fishing and cooking, there’s plenty to explore.

Trails through Daybreak II skillfully blends action-based and turn-based combat, offering varied gameplay depth. Its rich story, filled with enticing twists, is best appreciated after playing Trails through Daybreak, ensuring players grasp the full narrative impact. This eagerly anticipated sequel drops onto the PlayStation 5 on February 14 for $59.99.

Disclaimer: This review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is based on a PlayStation copy provided by NIS America.