Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak by developer Nihon Falcom:
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak (The Explanation)
Developed by Nihon Falcom, The Legend of Heroes continues with Trails through Daybreak. Although first released in September 2021 for the PlayStation 4 in Japan, after nearly three years, Trails through Daybreak is now finally getting the chance to trail across the globe with a multiplatform release on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and PC.
Like all The Legend of Heroes games that came before it, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is a role-playing game, full of compelling characters, plot twists and a larger than life story, which raises the stakes at every opportunity. The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is the first instalment of a new arc, which includes The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II, but the sequel is only available in Japan currently, but a localisation announcement is expected, following recent leaks.
As for the setting of this new arc, Trails through Daybreak takes place in the Calvard Republic during the year 1208. A Spirggan by the name of Van Arkride, is our leading protagonist and working as a bounty hunting-type detective, Van runs his own business in the form of Arkride Solutions Office. Although he starts off as a one-man band, it won’t be long before others start to call the Arkride Solutions Office home.
While operating on the edge of what is and isn’t legal, Van’s world is about to be turned upside down when Agnès Claudel, a high school student, comes to him, seeking his assistance in trying to locate a lost family heirloom, only for the object to turn out to be one of eight Oct-Genesis, powerful items created by Claude Epstein, which must be gathered in order to save the world. With enemies all around, powerful foes to face and demon lords to conquer, Van and the gang have their work cut out for them.
In terms of progression, Trails through Daybreak uses a chapters to divide its main story. During each chapter, players get the chance to spend a day in Edith, the main city that Trails through Daybreak takes place in, where they can complete side missions and interact with NPCs. But, when the main mission of each chapter is reached, players can be whisked away to other locations that were previously unreachable to the player. It is just worth pointing out though that Trails through Daybreak does, in fact, have one of the biggest overworlds seen in a Trails game and that there are no loading screens when entering and exiting buildings.
Additionally, since Trails through Daybreak makes use of causality thanks to its Law, Gray and Chaos (LGC) Aligment system, during the events of Trails through Daybreak players can align themselves with certain groups and factions. In no way does this affect the game’s ending, nor the events of the main story, but it can present you with unique pieces of dialogue and character interactions that would otherwise have been unavailable to the player.
As for gameplay, all of the typical button inputs have returned for switching your leader character when exploring and prompting them to run faster. So for the most part, Trails through Daybreak still plays like a Trails game, but two methods of combat have made it in this time. First there is the typical turn-based combat that we have seen time and time again from this series, but then there are also real-time battles, where players can simply attack monsters in the otherworld and defeat them this way.
While it is possible to take on powerful monsters in this manner and dodge their deadly attacks where possible and even stun them when prompted to do so, when it comes to the actual boss fights, unfortuntely, they are entirely turn-based, making bosses the only main enemy you can’t run circles around, attacking them freely.
It is worth pointint out, however, that should you choose to fight a monster via a Field Battle, where you can attack them with Field Attacks, by deploying shards you can turn a Field Battle into a turn-based Command Battle, and finish off an enemy that way if it is giving you trouble. Both are effective, but I wholeheartedly welcome the Field Battles as its a nice way of keeping the game flowing at a faster pace.
When in Command Battles, it is business as usewell, as players can use a variety of moves in the form of a simple Attack, Crafts, Arts and special moves. Then by mastering the seven different elements and knowing which one to use against which enemy, you can deal maximum damage. Only, in these battles, since charatcers are now supported by Xipha orbments, they can perform follow-up attacks, boost each others arts or just gain temporary boosts. It all depends on how you build each character and make the most out of what you have.
Then, of course, there is the second type of Command Battles. Once players reach a point in the prologue, they will get the chance to see Van transform into his Grendel. Once this happens, the Command Battle becomes a Grendel Fight, where players can command Van, but with boosted power and the means of making two attacks each turn.
During the prologue, when Van is in his Grendel form, Van is the only one playable, but as you progress through the game’s story, Van can be joined by a party member. Unfortuntely, they don’t get a boost like Van does, as their attacks and functions remain the same, but at the very least they can properly support Van to make sure he stays in the battle longer, and, preferably win.
Now, while there are some bugs in the Switch and PlayStation versions of Trails through Daybreak, such as text issues, graphic issues during tutorials, English audio needing to be adjusted for better timing, and on Switch, allowing players to import save data from the demo that is available now, let us reassure you, a Day One update will be available to put these issues to rest. Although to be honest, neither of these issues seemed to overly present themselves too much during our playthrough of The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak.
Thus, once again Nihon Falcom have knocked it out of the park with another engaging Trails title for The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak does not dissapoint. Thanks to its compelling characters and growing story, there is a lot to enjoy about this new adventure and, should the leaks ring true, it makes us all the more eager to pick up its sequel, when The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II makes its western debut.
The Field Battles make for a wonderous addition that flows smoothly and should you require any further convincing that The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is the next Trails game for you, we implore you to head over to the Nintendo Switch eShop and play the demo. With a new arc getting underway, the time for a new trail is here.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: NIS America
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Role-playing, Adventure, Action
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: July 5, 2024
Price: $59.99
File Size: 8.6 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
