Review of “The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II” for PlayStation 5

The latest chapter from NIS America and Nihon Falcom takes us back into the world of The Legend of Heroes with Trails through Daybreak II. Building on the gripping tale of the first game, this sequel continues Van Arkride’s saga in the sprawling Calvard region, where he gets caught in a perplexing murder mystery. Dive in as we explore the thrills and spills in our review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II!

Join us back in the Calvard Republic as the saga unfolds. With a string of mysterious murders, chaos seems inevitable once more. Our hero, the spriggan Van Arkride, finds himself faced with an unexpected visitor and a perplexing question: who’s orchestrating these crimes, and why?

As the successor to Trails through Daybreak, this installment is a linchpin in the Kiseki franchise, marking the 12th mainline entry since Trails in the Sky set off the epic journey. Having explored the regions of Liberl, Erebonia, and Crossbell, we now dig deeper into Van’s adventures in Calvard. The series maintains its hallmark of captivating storytelling and a richly interconnected universe.

These sub-series—Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, Trails from Zero, and Trails through Daybreak—all share a universe bursting at the seams with lore and references to each other, though they can each be enjoyed on their own merits. Yet, for players ready to hop into Trails through Daybreak II, playing its predecessor is highly recommendable. While there’s a handy recap to get you started, nothing beats firsthand experience of the intricate narrative threads and lively characters from the previous game. Returning players can even carry over save data to unlock special bonuses, with past choices influencing this new journey.

Van, a spriggan or a sort of off-the-books private detective, tackles cases that fall through the cracks between official law enforcement and mercenary work. His extraordinary sense of smell becomes an essential tool for unraveling the dangerous mysteries in Calvard’s underworld, once again proving invaluable in this sequel.

The action picks up with a familiar face, Elaine, who has unsettling news. With Van implicated in a crime, the narrative takes a fresh and unpredictable path. True to form, Trails through Daybreak II weaves a tale filled with unexpected twists, noteworthy character arcs, and immersive storytelling that fans have grown to love.

Returning players will recognize the combat system, which keeps its established style yet delivers enhancements. Battles start in a fast-paced, action RPG manner ideal for quick encounters. Combo Skills are triggered automatically when characters are close, akin to the linking mechanisms from earlier titles. A more strategic battle mode kicks in with a tap of the Square button, where turn-based elements come to the fore for tougher matches. Our protagonist has more tricks up his sleeve, transforming into an overwhelming mech form during intense battles, an ability carried over from the first game.

The Orbment system offers some continuity, allowing characters to boost their powers and stats through Quartz. However, navigating the menus can still be cumbersome, especially when accessing healing Arts. Occasionally frustrating, the game might freeze, particularly when selecting the Tear spell, but at least frequent auto-saves help mitigate any loss of progress. Hopefully, these hiccups are addressed in an update soon.

Graphically, Trails through Daybreak II steps up slightly from prior games but doesn’t quite break into cutting-edge territory. Characters may remind you of the PS4 era in terms of aesthetics, but there’s a noticeable improvement in textures and expressions. On the flip side, the audio, particularly voice work, shines, delivering strong performances from the main cast, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that fans of the series have come to expect.

For trophy hunters, there’s lots to tackle across 53 trophies, with a coveted Platinum up for grabs. Progress through story chapters, achieve ranks with Arkride Solutions, and dive into minigames like fishing and cooking to complete this rewarding challenge!

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II offers a compelling blend of real-time action and strategic turn-based battles. Its engrossing plot, filled with delightful twists and developments, stands as a testament to its lineage. Preceded by Trails through Daybreak, I urge newcomers to embark on that first journey to enrich their experience of this sequel. Launching on PlayStation 5 on February 14, it comes with a $59.99 price tag—a worthy investment for fans and newcomers alike.

(Note: This review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II was based on a PlayStation copy provided by NIS America.)