Overall, Deltarune Chapter 2 was a pleasant time from beginning to end and especially resonant with me as a fan of the past games. While there were some minor gripes I have with the storytelling or battles, I was generally having a great time going through the locales, enjoying the cast and charming writing throughout.
Hajimari no Kiseki is a deeply flawed JRPG with a main story that barely stands on its own but is supported by a fantastic cast and great individual moments throughout. The story may feel like one which didn’t need to be told for the series to move forward, but what is contained in the routes and episodes feel like concerted attempts to fix many issues brought to the table in Cold Steel, and set many of these characters and story beats straight so they can excel in future arcs.
If you’re already a Trails fan, I doubt you will hate the game. Hell, if you’re a Trails fan you probably already OWN the game, but could I recommend Trails of Cold Steel IV to a newbie or even just a fan of the genre? Not really. I’d recommend the Sky trilogy on Steam, or even just the first Cold Steel game to see if the series interests you.
It’s a game that feels so much more than the sum of its parts with one of the most engaging narratives and cast of character’s I’ve ever seen in a video game, especially one of its length. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone into the visual novel genre, and even just to people who enjoy mystery and slice of life stories.