Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Steam
Genres: Role-playing Game
Developers: Nihon Falcom
Publishers: Clouded Leopard Entertainment, NIS America, NIHON FALCOM CORPORATION
Series: The Legend of Heroes: Trails, The Legend of Heroes
Style: Anime, Shonen, Crime, Kamen Rider
Trails Through Daybreak II captivates players from the start with a compelling opening, setting the stage for another adventure in Calvard’s underworld. As a sequel, it refines its predecessor’s combat mechanics and expands player options in meaningful ways. However, while the gameplay sees notable improvements, the narrative falters at times, struggling with pacing and focus. The result is a mixed experience—one that excels in combat depth but falls short of delivering a consistently engaging story.
Story
The game picks up three months after the first installment, with Van Arkride drawn into a murder investigation where he is the primary suspect. The early chapters thrive on a gripping crime drama and investigative angle, reminiscent of the first installment. The addition of timeline-hopping adds an intriguing twist, maintaining player engagement early on. However, as the story unfolds, its focus begins to waver. While Falcom’s world-building remains intricate, the overarching plot often feels like filler rather than a significant progression of the Calvard arc. Some character arcs—such as Quatre’s reckoning with his past and Feri’s search for self-identity—are handled well, but the game leans heavily on references to Trails into Reverie and previous storylines. This reliance makes Daybreak II less accessible to newer players.
Structurally, the game’s split-route system, where Van leads one side while Swin and Nadia take the other, effectively provides different perspectives and helps with pacing. While the broader narrative lacks tight cohesion, characters are given more meaningful roles rather than being sidelined due to the large cast. Among those, Quatre’s story stands out as one of the most well-developed. Daybreak I subtly hinted at his gender expression, but Daybreak II delves deeper, exploring how his upbringing and past experiences shaped his identity. Falcom approaches this theme with surprising nuance, treating it with the depth it deserves. Quatre’s arc adds emotional weight to the story and provides some of the game’s most impactful moments.
Gameplay & Mechanics
If the story wavers, the combat system takes a significant leap forward. Falcom has refined the battle system, making both real-time and turn-based combat feel more cohesive and engaging. Real-time Arts is a standout feature, allowing characters to cast magic in action mode. Previously, only characters with field-based magic attacks could damage certain enemies, but now, all party members have access to at least one Art in real-time combat. This balances encounters while ensuring players still transition to turn-based battles for full spell access. Additionally, Cross Charges provide an incentive for perfectly timed dodges by enabling powerful follow-up attacks, enhancing real-time combat and making defensive maneuvers more rewarding. EX Chains introduce a satisfying way to deal significant damage, particularly as the game discourages S-Craft spam with a recast timer. While this limitation encourages more strategic play, it can sometimes feel restrictive when an S-Craft is needed for an emergency recovery. Meanwhile, the Märchen Garten, inspired by Falcom’s past dungeon-crawler elements (Sky the 3rd, Reverie Corridor), offers a space for leveling, resource farming, and testing new party compositions. Combat balance has improved, though the episodic structure can sometimes catch players off guard with consecutive boss fights. Despite this, the challenge feels more deliberate, making battles more engaging than in the first game.
Visuals & Music
Visually, Daybreak II features subtle but noticeable improvements over its predecessor. Animations are smoother, and character models have received a slight polish, though the changes aren’t drastic. The music remains as strong as ever, continuing Falcom’s legacy of excellent soundtracks. Voice acting is generally solid, though certain performances—such as Renne’s—feel somewhat off compared to past portrayals, which long-time fans may notice.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Trails Through Daybreak II is a worthy but uneven sequel in the Trails series. While its combat system sees meaningful refinements, the narrative loses some of the first game’s focus, making it harder to recommend to newcomers. The game demands familiarity with previous titles, particularly Reverie, which may alienate those who haven’t followed the series closely. However, for dedicated Trails fans, Daybreak II offers enough compelling character moments and improved combat mechanics to make it a worthwhile experience, even if it doesn’t rank among the series’ strongest entries. If you enjoyed the first Daybreak, you’ll likely appreciate the gameplay refinements—despite the narrative shortcomings.
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