The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Review

When Trails Through Daybreak launched last year, it felt like a fresh start for the long-running Trails series—a game designed to welcome newcomers while still offering plenty for long-time fans. Trails Through Daybreak 2, however, takes a different approach. It’s not a standalone entry but a direct continuation of Van Arkride’s story, picking up right where the first game left off. If you haven’t played Daybreak 1, I highly recommend starting there first. There’s a recap available at the beginning, but it only scratches the surface of everything that happened in the first game.

As someone who has now played through a number of Trails games, I found Daybreak 2 to be an engaging follow-up, but it’s clear that this is the middle act of a much larger story. It introduces new mechanics, expands on the existing combat system, and delivers some incredible character moments, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights that Daybreak 1 gave me. Still, for fans of the series, there’s plenty to love.

Van Arkride returns as the protagonist, and from the start, it’s clear that things aren’t going to be easy for him this time around. The game wastes no time throwing him into a dangerous situation—he finds himself accused of murder, setting off a chain of events that force him to navigate an increasingly treacherous web of intrigue, shifting alliances, and deeper conflicts brewing in the shadows.

Compared to Daybreak 1, this sequel has a noticeably darker tone. While the first game was about establishing Van’s role as a Spriggan, Daybreak 2 explores the consequences of his work in ways that feel more intense and personal. The story structure is also quite different this time around, with multiple character perspectives unfolding simultaneously. This narrative choice makes for some fascinating storytelling moments, as events play out from different angles, but it can also be a bit overwhelming at times—especially if you’re not already familiar with the wider Trails universe.

Speaking of which, Daybreak 2 leans much more into the larger Trails mythology than its predecessor. There are numerous references to past games, characters, and events from earlier arcs of the series. Long-time fans will likely appreciate these connections, but newcomers might find themselves lost without the proper context. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make Daybreak 2 feel a bit less accessible than Daybreak 1 was.

Gameplay-wise, Trails Through Daybreak 2 sticks closely to the foundation laid by the first game. The hybrid combat system—allowing players to switch between fast-paced action combat and traditional turn-based strategy—returns and still works really well. The game introduces a few refinements that help keep things fresh, too.

One of the biggest new additions is the ability to perform dual attacks when an enemy is stunned, adding a satisfying layer to combat that rewards careful planning. Additionally, perfectly dodging an attack now grants a bonus strike, which encourages a more reactive and skill-based approach to fights. These tweaks don’t radically change how battles play out, but they do add more depth and flow to encounters, making the combat feel a little smoother and more engaging.

Mini-games also make a return, and while they’re mostly side distractions, they add to the overall charm and world-building of the game. There’s a certain joy in stepping away from the main plot to engage in smaller, more lighthearted activities, and Daybreak 2 does a great job of making these moments feel worthwhile.

Something I did notice, however, is that Daybreak 2 feels a bit tougher than the first game. Enemies hit harder, and certain encounters demand more strategic thinking. This added difficulty isn’t a huge issue, but it’s something to keep in mind—especially if you found the first game’s combat to be on the easier side.

One of the game’s more ambitious features is its time travel mechanic. Conceptually, it’s fantastic—it allows for some creative storytelling moments and interesting puzzle-like elements within the gameplay. However, in execution, it feels a bit undercooked. The game doesn’t give the player as much agency with time travel as one might hope, and at times, it feels more like a pre-determined story mechanic than an interactive system. It’s a cool idea that doesn’t quite reach its full potential, but it does add an intriguing wrinkle to the narrative.

A consistent strengths of the Trails series is its character development, and Daybreak 2continues that tradition. The team-building moments and character interactions are some of the game’s biggest highlights. Spending time with NPCs, building relationships, and uncovering smaller, personal stories makes the world feel alive. The bonding moments are often wholesome, funny, or deeply emotional, and they provide a great reason to engage with the game’s side content.

Unfortunately, Daybreak 2 struggles with pacing. The game starts strong, drawing you into its central mystery, but the middle portion feels uneven. Certain scenes rush past major story beats, while others linger too long on filler missions that don’t add much to the overall narrative. This inconsistency makes the second third of the game feel sluggish by comparison, which is a shame because when Daybreak 2 is at its best, it delivers some truly gripping moments.

On the PS5, Trails Through Daybreak 2 runs well for the most part. The visuals are clean, and the performance is solid, though I did notice some minor frame drops in certain battles and dense areas. Nothing game-breaking, but it’s worth mentioning.

The English dub remains one of the game’s strongest aspects. The voice actors give stellar performances across the board, with emotionally charged scenes landing particularly well. Whether it’s intense confrontations or quieter character moments, the voice work adds a lot to the experience and makes the story more engaging.

Final Thoughts

Trails Through Daybreak 2 is very much a middle entry in what feels like a planned trilogy. It doesn’t reinvent the series the way Daybreak 1 did, nor does it push the story forward in a massive way. Instead, it builds upon what came before, refines the combat, and lays the groundwork for what’s coming next.

While the game has some pacing issues and its time travel mechanic doesn’t fully live up to its potential, it still delivers a fun and engaging experience. The character moments, world-building, and combat refinements keep things interesting, and the connections to the wider Trails universe will be a treat for long-time fans.

If you loved Daybreak 1, this sequel is worth playing—but go in with the expectation that it’s setting up bigger things rather than delivering a mind-blowing story on its own. It has its ups and downs, but at the end of the day, it left me excited to see where the Daybreak saga goes next.

A PS5 review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.

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