The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak Review

Welcome to our in-depth review of The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak, the latest installment in the beloved Trails series. From its innovative gameplay mechanics to its rich narrative exploring moral gray areas, Daybreak sets a new benchmark for RPG storytelling.

Game Details:

Developer(s): Nihon Falcom
Publisher(s): NIS America, Clouded Leopard Entertainment
Director(s): Takayuki Kusano
Producer(s): Toshihiro Kondo
Programmer(s): Yuki Hirata, Toru Endo, Nobuhiro Hioki
Artist(s): Katsumi Enami
Writer(s): Hisayoshi Takeiri, Yuuta Miyazaki, Syunsei Shikata
Composer(s): Hayato Sonoda, Shuntaro Koguchi, Yukihiro Jindo, Mitsuo Singa
Series: Trails
Platform(s): PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Nintendo Switch
Release Dates:
- PlayStation 4: JP: September 30, 2021 | WW: July 5, 2024
- PlayStation 5: JP: July 28, 2022 | WW: July 5, 2024
- Windows: CHN: July 28, 2022 | JP: March 1, 2023 | WW: July 5, 2024
- Nintendo Switch: JP: February 15, 2024 | WW: July 5, 2024
Genre(s): Action role-playing, Role-playing
Mode(s): Single-player

Story

Edith, the capital of the Calvard Republic and the largest city in Zemuria, is a vibrant metropolis teeming with points of interest. The city’s many districts are home to everything from publishing houses and movie theaters to bustling commercial areas. Amidst this backdrop, in the bustling city of Edith, Van Arkride operates the Arkride Solutions Office as a Spriggan, a unique combination of bounty hunter and private detective.

One day, Van is approached by Agnes Claudel, a high school student from Aramis Academy, who seeks his help in finding an orbment called Oct-Genesis, the final invention of her late great-grandfather, Claude Epstein, one of history’s greatest scientists. The quest to locate the Oct-Genesis brings Van and his team into conflict with the terrorist group Almata, led by Gerard Dantes. To counter this threat, the Arkride Solutions Office forms alliances with various factions, including the Bracers, the government, and even criminal organizations like Ouroboros and Heiyue. Almata is backed by Garden, a secret organization established by Ellroy Harwood, the fourth Anguis of Ouroboros, who merged remnants of the D∴G cult in Crossbell with his former group, the Order of the Moonlight Horse. During this tumultuous period, Van reunites with Elaine Auclair, a Bracer and his childhood friend and former lover, as well as Rene Kincaid, a government secretary and another childhood friend of both Van and Elaine. Both which help to shape Van into the person he is today.

The story of “Trails Through Daybreak” is masterfully crafted. It presents a darker tone without becoming bleak, perfectly marking the series’ tonal shift. The narrative is rich with complex factions, relationships, and alliances. One of the game’s central themes is the exploration of moral gray areas, challenging the notion that everything is black and white. While previous arcs have touched on this idea, “Daybreak” delves into it deeply and effectively. The latter half of the game, in particular, is filled with intense moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. Unlike some earlier entries in the series, which relied on familiar plot twists, “Daybreak” offers a fresh cultural experience.

Calvard, with its contemporary and modern feel, stands in contrast to Erebonia and Liberl. As a republic rather than a monarchy, Calvard’s political intrigue feels more relatable. The country’s “melting pot” philosophy introduces diverse perspectives from various races, enriching the narrative with dynamic and varied scenarios. The game’s exploration of cultural diversity and gender expression adds depth to the storyline. These cultural clashes create thought-provoking and engaging situations, contributing to the game’s themes of renewal and fresh beginnings. Additionally, the game’s focus on gender and sexuality, previously less prominent in the series, is handled with nuance and sensitivity.

The cast of characters in “Daybreak” is the strongest the series has seen. Van is an excellent protagonist, supported by a compelling ensemble of deeply flawed yet fascinating characters. Each character has a well-developed story arc that adds emotional weight to the narrative. Unlike some previous games, where characters served as mere cheerleaders or placeholders, “Daybreak” gives each character purpose and depth. Overall, the story of “Daybreak” is outstanding and a testament to exceptional storytelling.

Gameplay

Battles
“Trails Through Daybreak” introduces an exciting evolution to the series’ Action Time Battle system, incorporating dynamic, fast-paced melee Field Attacks. This innovation allows for smooth transitions between real-time Field Battles and turn-based Command Battles, blending the thrill of action with strategic depth. With a simple button press, players can switch modes, swiftly eliminating weaker foes with enhanced Field Attacks before transitioning to Command Battles for tougher opponents.

Command Battle mode retains the classic AT Battle mechanics, using Attack, Crafts, Arts, and Item commands to conquer enemies. Players can exploit the power of the seven elements with arts or use unique character crafts to outsmart their foes. Skillful use of these abilities can even enable players to defeat enemies that are significantly stronger.

The new battle system strikes a perfect balance between action and turn-based gameplay, offering players greater control over combat scenarios. Real-time engagement is a fantastic addition, though Field Battles could benefit from more commands and magical options to make them feel more substantial. Enhancing the complexity of Field Battles in future titles could make them more engaging and satisfying.

Field Battles in Trails Through Daybreak

New Orbment System
The characters are equipped with Xiphas, advanced tactical orbments that provide temporary boosts, enable follow-up attacks for nearby allies, and enhance the power of arts. Four lines extend from the central holo core: Weapon, Shield, Drive, and Extra. The attribute values of the quartz placed in each line determine the deployment of shards, which activate various shard skills in battle. Different shard skills require specific elemental values to activate. By arranging quartz strategically, players can unlock stronger shard skills. Each Arts Driver comes with a set of pre-installed orbal arts. Installing a driver into a Xipha allows its user to activate those arts, and a higher-level holo core grants access to more powerful arts.

The new Orbment system offers deep customization but can be overly complex when creating specific builds for characters. In previous games, setting up character loadouts was more straightforward, whereas “Daybreak” requires more time to fine-tune the Xipha with the right Quartz, Core, and Plug-ins. Acquiring new spells can be challenging early on, and obtaining new Shard Skills often feels laborious due to their specific requirements. Grinding for Septum is necessary to maximize the system’s potential. A significant improvement is that Linking is now based on characters’ proximity on the battlefield rather than being tied to specific characters, which is a welcome change.

Alignment System
As players progress through the story and side quests, their choices influence Van’s alignment values of LAW, GRAY, and CHAOS. These values impact Van’s combat stats, certain plot points, the allies Arkride Solutions can recruit, and the adversaries they face. A high LAW affinity enables alliances with public organizations like the Bracer Guild, while increasing GRAY and CHAOS values affects gameplay in other ways. These values change based on the player’s decisions and actions throughout the game, with some choices significantly altering Mare’s abilities, Van’s personal holo core.

The Alignment system, while intriguing in concept, has limited payoff in practice. Aside from changing Van’s Holo core properties, the system’s impact on the game is minimal. There is a critical moment where players must choose a faction to team up with, but beyond that, the system does not significantly influence the gameplay or narrative. With better execution, the Alignment system could add a richer layer of depth to the overall experience.

Audio/Visuals

“Trails Through Daybreak” upholds the series’ tradition of featuring a robust English voice cast, with each actor delivering exceptional performances in their respective roles. The English voices effectively mirror the quality and essence of the Japanese cast, maintaining a strong connection to the original characters and their emotions.

As expected from Falcom games, music stands out as a highlight in “Daybreak.” The soundtrack boasts a diverse range of compositions spanning genres from ProgRock to Orchestral, enhancing the game’s atmosphere and emotional depth.

Visually, “Daybreak” represents Falcom’s pinnacle in graphical fidelity. The visuals are sharp, colors vibrant, and animations noticeably improved compared to its predecessors like “Trails into Reverie.” Moving away from the PhyreEngine to a new proprietary engine has allowed for more dynamic animations and enhanced graphical detail, elevating the overall visual experience of the game.

Conclusion

“Trails Through Daybreak” marks a compelling beginning to the new arc set in Calvard. The introduction of a fresh yet familiar cast injects renewed energy into the series while staying true to its core essence. The addition of new gameplay elements successfully revitalizes the series’ formula, maintaining its unique charm and appeal.

However, the new Orbment system could benefit from improvements to enhance its intuitiveness and accessibility, especially for newcomers to the franchise. Despite this, “Daybreak” offers a challenging experience enriched by exceptional characters, an outstanding soundtrack spanning various genres, and unforgettable moments filled with sociopolitical intrigue.

What sets “Daybreak” apart is its focus on human stories, a departure from previous arcs. Here, every character experiences a deeply human journey, each fighting for their beliefs amid the chaos. It is within this turmoil that we discover hope for tomorrow, our shared humanity, our strength, and our resilience.

In summary, “Trails Through Daybreak” delivers a profound and heartfelt experience that not only honors the series’ legacy but also propels it forward into new narrative and gameplay territories.