Happening mere months after the occasions of Trails by way of Dawn, its sequel — merely titled Trails by way of Dawn 2 right here within the west — usually appears like a character-driven epilogue quite than a full-blown follow-up.
The primary Dawn advised a whole story; the form of storyline that Falcom often splits throughout two video games. Positive, Van and the gang’s preliminary journey left varied questions unanswered, however structurally, it was sturdy. It had a transparent starting, center, and finish, to the purpose the place it nearly felt like a standalone factor, with the saga’s broader storylines set to be addressed in later video games.
Dawn 2 isn’t a kind of later video games. As a substitute of taking the overarching narrative and working with it, it makes an attempt to construct upon plot factors unique to its predecessor — plot factors that, arguably, did not want to be introduced again into focus.
The story will inevitably disappoint some followers. As alluded, Dawn 2 leans on its giant solid of characters, utilizing their growth to offset narrative beats that may appear both convoluted or repurposed. And to be truthful, a lot of the character growth is worthwhile and fascinating.
To its profit, the sport splits its story between totally different teams of heroes — similar to in Trails into Reverie. This permits the plot to be unfurled from separate views, whereas additionally giving necessary characters extra room to correctly categorical themselves.
If you are okay with Dawn 2’s lack of serious, general narrative development, then there’s really loads to love about its extra private threads. In that sense, the sequel finally ends up being a terrific companion piece to the unique Dawn — however once more, your expectations must be stored in test.
And that additionally applies to the reuse of… nicely, nearly every thing from the primary sport. Each visually and mechanically, Dawn 2 may fairly simply be mistaken for its predecessor. Exterior of some admittedly big new environments, the sequel is very happy to recycle as a lot stuff because it probably can.
Falcom developed Dawn 2 in a reasonably quick house of time — and it exhibits. To be clear, this is not some low cost cash-in that would have been DLC, however the sport does battle to face by itself benefit at occasions — like its solely actual function is to bridge the hole between Dawn and Kai no Kiseki.
Nonetheless, it is arduous to not get pleasure from Falcom’s sometimes partaking characters and the detailed world constructing that surrounds them. The title’s padded storytelling might grate once in a while, however its extra dramatic moments retain their impression due to the solid’s general attraction.
Certainly, protagonist Van Arkride stays one of many developer’s best-realised leads, and his closest companions act as incredible foils. Plus, it helps that lots of Dawn’s secondary characters are welcomed into the Arkride Options fold. Some turn out to be key social gathering members for a number of chapters at a time, whereas others come and go — however all of them carry new and entertaining dynamics to the present group.
As you possibly can in all probability inform, we’re quite torn on Dawn 2’s storytelling, however there’s one explicit plot machine that — 40 or 50 hours in — actually began to check our endurance. With out spoiling something particular, there is a MacGuffin that wears out its welcome lengthy earlier than the credit roll.
At first, it affords one thing new to Trails — a singular twist on Falcom’s traditional narrative design. However over the course of the journey, it devolves into being an extremely predictable, extremely handy story staple that comes dangerously near cheapening the expertise.
Fortunately, this particular plot machine would not fairly diminish what Dawn 2 will get proper — it is simply one thing that may (and possibly will) frustrate those that already need extra from the collection’ overarching themes.
It could be right down to the truth that the sequel would not should spend tens of hours introducing a model new solid, however we expect Dawn 2 strikes a greater gameplay stability than the earlier instalment. There are extra dungeons and higher boss battles, whereas aspect quests, typically talking, supply a larger diploma of participant enter and interplay.
There are a number of minigames to check out as nicely, which had been noticeably absent from the primary Dawn. Fishing returns (hurrah!), there is a hacking exercise the place you’re taking management of a digital assemble and transfer by way of maze-like ranges as a way to open particular treasure chests, and there is even one-on-one basketball.
None of those minigames are particularly in-depth or, to be trustworthy, all that rewarding — however they assist break issues up while you’re between cutscenes and fight, and Trails simply feels proper when there are enjoyable little distractions available right here and there.
Talking of fight, there’s masses of it in Dawn 2 — principally due to the Marchen Garten, a digital dungeon that progressively expands as you progress by way of the principle story. One other Reverie-inspired addition, the Garten helps you to collect a celebration of your selecting and grind to your coronary heart’s content material, unlocking randomised rewards and character cosmetics as you go.
Repetitive environments reduce the Garten’s pull considerably, however very like the aforementioned minigames, it makes for an honest distraction — particularly for those who get pleasure from Dawn 2’s fight, and enjoying round with character builds.
The fight system itself stays the identical: an preliminary, action-based escalation adopted by turn-based battling. The motion half continues to be fairly primary, however now you can swap between social gathering members after a profitable dodge, leading to highly effective counterattacks. There’s only a bit extra aptitude to it.
In the meantime, the satisfyingly tactile, turn-based meat of fight has been tweaked and refined. Varied character skills have been rebalanced, abusable mechanics have been toned down, and efficient additions like staff assaults and dual-element magic arts carry new techniques to the desk.
However as teased, it is the larger, extra necessary encounters that stand out. Dawn 2’s story may not hit as arduous because it ought to, however Falcom pulls out all of the stops with sequenced boss fights and spiralling stakes. Add some banging battle themes to the combination and that is usually Trails fight at its most intense and interesting.
