Games Happy

There aren’t many RPGs on the market that I’ll shout from the mountaintops that everybody ought to play, however The Legend of Heroes: Trails collection is one among them. This can be a collection that has soared to the lofty heights of my favourite franchises, standing alongside the likes of Closing Fantasy, Tales, and Kingdom Hearts. It was a mere seven months in the past that fellow Legend of Heroes followers obtained their first huge style of the Calvard area together with Van and the remainder of the Arkride Options crew, kicking off the newest arc of this monolithic collection. Now, the following chapter, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Via Dawn 2, is on our doorstep, and it’s time to select up our Xiphas and get to work.

Trails Via Dawn 2 picks up two months after the dramatic conclusion of the primary recreation, with the workers of Arkride Options separated and caring for their very own enterprise, leaving Van to as soon as once more maintain down the fort on his personal. It isn’t lengthy, nonetheless, earlier than issues go haywire and rapidly escalate, with Van encountering one of many big-bads of Dawn 2, the Crimson Grendel. Acquainted faces return (from each the primary Dawn and earlier Trails video games), and extra surprises unfold. Taking part in by it, I can’t bear in mind one other Trails prologue that’s fairly as packed as this one, which I recognize—I like it when a recreation throws me to the wolves instantly.

The central plot this time revolves round Van and firm monitoring down the final of the eight Genesis units, created by Agnes’ great-grandfather, Professor Epstein. This final system additionally appears to have a connection to the Crimson Grendel—a beast that has an eerie resemblance to Van’s Grendel kind—and its accompanying purple fairy. The story expands with its share of twists, turns, and intrigue, however at its core, Dawn 2 is about acquiring the ultimate Genesis and discovering the reality behind this different Grendel. As somebody who admittedly wasn’t the most important fan of the primary Dawn’s story (most of my points have been with its antagonists, the mafia group Almata), I loved the sequel way more on this regard. Nevertheless, I did discover it missing in new areas to discover, because the overwhelming majority of your time is spent revisiting locations from the earlier recreation.

Trails characters have all the time been one of many shining highlights of the collection, and almost all the solid from the primary Dawn returns in its sequel whereas additionally giving way more display screen time to ancillary characters from the earlier entry. Aaron stays one among my favourite characters of the Calvard arc, with some improbable strains, a few of which borderline on self-aware fourth-wall breaking, talking ideas that Trails followers worldwide can relate to. I liked spending extra time with characters like Shizuna (aka the Divine Blade of Silver) and the 2 Dominions, Celis and Leon. Shizuna, specifically, gained me over along with her carefree, “I’m simply doing this as a result of why not” perspective, which is so distinctly completely different from her fellow Divine Blades. I can’t watch for future video games to point out her interacting along with her extra severe friends like Rean or Cassius. Dawn 2 deepened my love for the characters I had already grown connected to, and it even improved my emotions towards characters like Agnes, whom I used to be somewhat unimpressed with within the earlier recreation.

For gamers who’ve beforehand skilled Trails into Reverie (and in case you haven’t, it is best to return and play it), elements of Dawn 2 will really feel acquainted, resembling the sport’s move and even some recognizable Reverie characters. A lot of Dawn 2 is cut up into branching narratives the place you’ll play as one group of characters in a single location whereas one other group is elsewhere. In contrast to Reverie, although, you gained’t be capable of freely leap between teams as you want. On the flip aspect, development with one group gained’t abruptly halt and pressure you to change views till you attain a sure level. As an alternative, you full one act in full earlier than leaping to the following, somewhat than being required to hop forwards and backwards. As a fan of Reverie’s move (minus the occasions the sport compelled me into one other perspective), I desire Dawn 2’s methodology of letting me full a narrative first earlier than transferring on. That being mentioned, how a few of these tales are offered is a blended bag that will flip some gamers off.

The third act is probably the very best instance of this, with a number of the highest highs and largest reveals of the sport, but additionally burdened by repetition and an general sense that it drags on too lengthy. Taking part in by this portion of Dawn 2 took me again to after I was experiencing “that” half within the authentic Bravely Default on the 3DS. If you understand, you understand. Relaxation assured it doesn’t attain these heights of annoyance, however I nonetheless discovered myself skimming dialogue and simply ready for the following huge battle to occur. Fortunately, there are many enjoyable boss fights, however this part might really feel like a story brickwall to some. If it had been perhaps a half, or perhaps a third, shorter in size or had been extra artistic in its use of Dawn 2’s huge plot system, it may have been one thing larger.

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A significant plot thread launched right here is that the Genesis units have the power to ship an individual again in time in the event that they die, permitting them to decide on a greater path that ensures their survival. In principle, I dig it—it’s a neat thought. Nevertheless, it raises a ton of questions, like why this didn’t occur when Creil obtained nuked. As an alternative, it’s used to replay an occasion with almost equivalent dialogue, aside from one further motion that modifications the result. There was no selection or problem-solving concerned, which may have made it way more fascinating. As an alternative, it boiled right down to “select the brand new choice, do the factor, rewatch the scene the place you misplaced, however this time you win as an alternative.”

Now, think about having to do that 5 – 6 occasions, and also you begin to see the issue, and this can be a huge a part of what makes the third act really feel so repetitive. If the sport had given precise decisions as an alternative of the phantasm of them, this mechanic may have been actually neat and made you are feeling like your decisions mattered and had penalties. As an alternative, it comes throughout as an overused trick to fill out the sport time, which is disappointing. 

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While you want a break from the story, Trails Via Dawn 2 presents a stunning grind outlet with the Marchen Garten. Much like the Reverie Hall, it supplies a strategy to acquire ranges, particular consumables, Quartz, and different varied objects whereas additionally incomes Shards that may be redeemed for cosmetics, music tracks from earlier video games, and extra. Marchen Garten is the last word grinding useful resource, and I like it.

New mechanics like Fast Arts, Cross Cost counters, and EX-Expertise add depth to fight. EX-Expertise, specifically, enable for highly effective team-up assaults that really feel immensely satisfying. Moreover, minigames like fishing, the cardboard recreation Seven Hearts, and basketball present enjoyable diversions, although I discovered Seven Hearts inferior to Vantage Masters.

With Trails Via Dawn 2’s launch, Western followers at the moment are just one recreation behind Japan—a feat that appeared unimaginable only a few years in the past. Even with its faults, Dawn 2 left me stuffed with questions, theories, and keen anticipation for the following title within the Calvard arc. I am keen on this collection and might’t wait to see the place this path leads me subsequent.

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