The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II Reviews
Trails Through Daybreak II is a slightly disappointing sequel to the first part into the Trails through Daybreak story arc. While I enjoy the character building and grinding the optional dungeon to unlock everything the game has to offer, the campaign itself feels bloated and seeing the same scene and rewinding time overstays its welcome long before the game would reach its conclusion.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is a niche Japanese RPG that continues the adventure of Trails Through Daybreak, and does so by expanding its world and improving the gameplay. With a well-constructed narrative, evolving characters, and a refined combat system, this installment offers a solid experience for fans of the saga. If you enjoyed the first Trails through Daybreak, this sequel is a must. And if you haven't yet explored the Calvard Republic, now is a good time to delve into one of the most narrative-rich niche sagas within the Japanese RPG genre.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Trails into Daybreak II is a riveting conclusion to another excellent arc of the series.
Albeit not perfect, Trails Through Daybreak 2 is still a solid entry in the series: it's innovative, full of content, it has great characters and it brilliantly reiterates all the saga's features we know and love. Its weaknesses lie in the nature of the title, which does not provide many answers lore-wise and instead functions as a sort of transitional stage leading to Kai no Kiseki.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you have the means of playing this on any other platform, it’s a good recommendation to those looking to immerse themselves into the already packed, story-rich universe that The Legend of Heroes is. Like the original, it’s the best jumping in point, and in case you haven’t played that game, there’s a handy glossary that will get you up to speed on the events that precede it, letting you get into the action right away. And you’ll surely want to do so, since even the worst of these tends to be a step above most RPGs of its kind – even with warts and all, Daybreak 2 is no exception to that rule.
Trails Through Daybreak II builds on its predecessor with refined combat and strong character moments. While the story’s pacing can feel uneven and the focus on character arcs slows the main narrative, the game’s strategic battles and solid presentation make for an engaging experience. Although some technical issues and repetitive content may detract from the overall experience, Daybreak II still offers a rewarding journey for both newcomers and longtime fans of the series.
If you’re already a Trails fan, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is a no-brainer of a purchase, kicking off a fast-paced story on all fours and ready for you to catch up to what’s going on. If you’re new to the franchise, at the very least, I recommend you start with the first Daybreak, but the game does what it can to bring you into a new episode of Van Arkride’s weighty life with the information you need to understand why he cares deeply about some people you’re meeting for the first time. The only major question is what format you want to play in, and if you prefer to make the Switch your JRPG machine, you won’t be disappointed with Daybreak II’s performance. It’s a cozy way to play a convoluted (affectionate) story in a world that’s already weathered countless trials, and is up for weathering a few more. Another solid entry for a grande dame franchise.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is an exceptional sequel that builds upon its predecessor in every conceivable way. Its gripping narrative, compelling characters, and innovative gameplay mechanics make for an unforgettable RPG experience. With its intricate world-building, meaningful character interactions, and thrilling combat, the game stands as a testament to Nihon Falcom’s storytelling prowess.
Trails Through Daybreak II delivers another dramatic episode in the long-running and consistent series. It breaks hardly any new ground beyond a few additions to combat and some new places to explore, but the story is a wild and mature sequel sure to delight fans.
While it may not be the most meorable entry in the series, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II still has plenty that series fans thoroughly enjoy. Spending more time with the memorable and delightful cast is never a bad thing, and even though there are elements that don’t quite hit the same or feel a bit superfluous, there’s never any point where the game is in danger of becoming grating.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II is a sequel that refines and expands the gameplay formula of the first game, offering a deep and highly customizable combat experience. However, despite having incredible characters and captivating interactions, the game errs significantly on its pacing, which ends up hindering a little its extremely high quality.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Trails Through Daybreak II expands on the previous game with better mechanics, more in-depth character customization, and a larger story. On the other hand, the tempo is disrupted by the forced narrative framework and the recurrent boss fights. Although the Mare Garden and Time Leap mechanics introduce new features, they also bring with them the potential for some boredom.
I’ve no doubt The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II may be a somewhat contentious entry depending on what peoples’ expectations are and what they play these games for. Still, even though I found it generally easier than its predecessor, I had fun the whole time playing it. The core gameplay mechanics are fun to play around with, and the cast of delightful characters and their dialogue and relationships make for a sweet treat. This series has had trouble reckoning with the consequences of its escalating stake, and alas Daybreak II is something of an odd entry that does little to fix any of this while also having its share of problems of its own. Nonetheless, taken as its own game, it has enough marginal improvements in certain areas and some interesting concepts brought forth that I still probably liked it a sliver more than the first Daybreak overall, which was already its own pretty fun (if uneven) experience.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is a good RPG with a fun combat system, great visuals, and a strong soundtrack. Unfortunately, this game is a prime example of one step forward and two steps back. It definitely improved upon the battle system and overall gameplay, but it’s hampered by a flawed story with a plot hole that’s too big for me to ignore, which is a shame because it had the foundations and the potential to be one of the best in the series. If you liked Trails through Daybreak or are a Trails series veteran, you’ll most likely find something to enjoy in this game, and I do recommend it. If you’re a newcomer to the series, at least play Trails through Daybreak before jumping into this one.
Longtime fans of the Legend of Heroes games will love this latest entry in the series, while newcomers will find the perfect place to jump on and start experiencing this rich world.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II refines its unique combat while telling an engrossing story that can’t help but stumble due to odd writing choices and poorly utilized plot elements.
Trails through Daybreak II is a good continuation and a consistent step up in Calvard's saga. Despite some slip ups and how it feels like the events are more limited when taking into account the general series setting, this is yet another quality work and an easy recommendation for RPG fans.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I walk away from Trails Through Daybreak II feeling very little beyond “well, that all worked distressingly well.” In some ways, that is kind of a bad thing. This is a game that does nothing badly in a large sense. There is nothing I can point to and say “holy crap, that is a huge misfire on a fundamental level,” and in some ways that makes the game a bit boring. It accomplishes all of its goals in a very reliable fashion and doesn’t shoot beyond those goals and, as someone who generally gets invested in characters and story, the fact that those didn’t totally connect renders the experience a bit lukewarm for me. Sorry.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is an ambitious sequel that builds on its predecessor with deeper worldbuilding, refined combat mechanics, and engaging character dynamics. However, inconsistent writing, a rushed third act, and underwhelming new features prevent it from reaching its full potential. While longtime fans will appreciate the expanded lore and combat improvements, the uneven storytelling may leave some players frustrated.
I still loved it, and I can’t wait for the next entry in the series, but Daybreak II doesn’t take the series to new heights like its predecessor did.