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

The latest release from NIS America and Nihon Falcom, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II, brings us back to the cherished The Legend of Heroes/Kiseki universe. Continuing right where Trails through Daybreak left off, this sequel thrusts Van Arkride back into the thick of things in the Calvard region, now facing a new murder mystery. Let’s delve deeper into what The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II has to offer in this review!

Step back into the complex world of the Calvard Republic and help uncover the enigma of the crimson beast in Trails through Daybreak II. The tranquility is shattered by a shocking series of murders that restart the cycle of fate. With chaos brewing, Van Arkride, our trusty spriggan, gets an unexpected visitor. Who’s pulling the strings, and what are they after this time?

Trails through Daybreak II functions as a direct sequel to its predecessor and marks the 12th mainline entry since the series began with Trails in the Sky. After exploring various regions like Liberl and Erebonia and expanding with multiple games, this new installment continues Van’s journey deep into the heart of the Calvard plotlines, staying true to the franchise’s tradition of intricate storytelling and rich world-building.

Like its predecessors, including Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, Trails from Zero, and Trails through Daybreak, each sub-series can stand alone while weaving into a greater, interconnected universe. The interplay of these different installments often serves to enrich the overall experience for those who have followed the series over the years.

Given that Trails through Daybreak II builds directly on the events of the first game, it’s advisable to play them in sequence. Although the game provides a brief video recap, it hardly captures the full depth and character arcs of the expansive 50+ hour experience. For those returning to the series, loading your completed game data can unlock bonuses and carry over choices, enhancing continuity.

Our protagonist Van Arkride returns as a spriggan—an investigator who takes on cases others avoid due to legal ambiguities. Continuing from the first game, Trails through Daybreak II sees Van maneuvering through society’s darker corners. His heightened sense of smell gives him an edge, allowing him to pick up on clues and anticipate where danger might lurk, making him an astute detective amid the unfolding chaos in Calvard.

As the story kicks off, Elaine, a familiar face from the previous title, pays Van a visit with some unsettling news—a grim incident implicates him as a suspect. Without giving too much away, the non-linear narrative approach is a refreshing angle, packed with twists, layered storytelling, and deep character exploration, hallmark qualities of the Trails series.

Fans of the previous game will find familiar ground in the battle system, which retains its core mechanics. Standard encounters begin in a real-time, combo-driven style akin to action RPGs, streamlined for easier fights with combo skills activating automatically. For strategic depth, pressing the Square button switches to the turn-based mode, echoing past series entries, where you can access Arts and Crafts for more challenging battles. The powerful S-Crafts and Van’s formidable mech transformation add layers to combat dynamics.

The Orbment system returns, holding the key to equipping Quartz that grants abilities and boosts stats. Though effective, navigating the menu to access healing Arts can be tedious, with the occasional glitch freezing the game during vital moments. Thankfully, a generous auto-save system mitigates this frustration, preserving your progress until any bugs are resolved pre-launch.

Graphically, Trails through Daybreak II takes a step forward, building on its predecessors with enhanced textures and facial animations. Although it still reflects its PlayStation 4 roots, the improvements in aesthetic details are noticeable. The game’s audio maintains high standards, offering English and Japanese options, and the series’ signature musical compositions continue to impress.

For completionists, the game offers 53 trophies, including the coveted Platinum. Achievements span story progression to mastering minigames like fishing and cooking, ensuring a comprehensive gaming experience.

Blending action and turn-based mechanics, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II stands out as a noteworthy JRPG, delivering an immersive storyline with unexpected twists. Its recommendation comes with the caveat of playing Trails through Daybreak first to maximize the narrative payoff. Set to launch on PlayStation 5 on February 14 for $59.99, this sequel promises to captivate long-time fans and newcomers alike.

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