Shuanshuan The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II Review

A low point in the series for sure. I went into it without expecting absolute disappointment but still came out of it satisfied. The premise is actually pretty good, the whole groundhog day element is cool, but the execution and overuse of it is just comical. Chapter 3 is atrocious, with perhaps the most pathetic Scooby Doo main villain in the series, so bad that I think it warrants a rewrite. The best parts are the side contents and worldbuilding, NPCs are still fun to talk to, and I think the character bonding events are absolutely the saving grace of this title. The interlude and finale had some of the best character bonding events in the series. Some made me tear up and some made me lol. The dynamics of Calvard cast really does some heavy lifting here. Great music as usual, probably one of the best title screen themes. Post-Daybreak era Trails have some of the best JRPG combat in the genre (Metaphor tried to copy it but fell laughably short), and while it holds true here, Marchen Garten still overstays its welcome. The fact I gotta go through it all to truly finish the game is just another level of bad design. The overall experience is 79/100 and I think chapter 3 and marchen garten are the biggest culprits.