Among the hundreds of RPG series we have out there, The Legend of Heroes is among the longest and most beloved, especially the Trails series. And while some players have been able to dip their toes into this long-standing franchise, it wasn’t until last year that Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter opened its doors to a more modern reimagining of the game that started it all. Now, one year later, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter continues the amazing Liberl Arc and makes this sequel a huge improvement over its predecessor in several ways.
A Bracer’s Journey Never Ends
While I always try to make my reviews as spoiler-free as possible, it is almost impossible in the case of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter given its predecessor’s heartbreaking cliffhanger. Still, I’ll do my best not to go over some of the meaty details, especially for those jumping into this sequel for the first time.
2nd Chapter kicks off right after the final scene in Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, which, as kids say nowadays, if you know, you know. Our dear Estelle wakes up confused, takes a quick trip home, and after yet another heartbreak, decides to train for a few weeks to polish her skills as a Bracer. After that, the job remains the same: track down the evil organization that was behind every unfortunate event in the Liberl Kingdom, gather as many allies as possible, and rescue a few who have lost their way.
Now, I know I’m being extremely vague in terms of talking about the plot, but it is necessary, as I would ruin the narrative surprise otherwise. What I can say is that, of all three titles in the Liberl Arc, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, or SC as many knew it first, is still the best.
The main reason the story is so flawless is that it’s extremely grounded and relatable. Yes, there is a world-ending threat of sorts, but at times, it takes a bit of a backseat. You’re mostly a Bracer trying to help people while also attempting to rescue a beloved character. And speaking of which, the Trails series has some of the best characters in any RPG franchise I’ve seen. Despite its huge roster, every character stands out on its own with endearing dialogue and memorable moments.
One thing I also found odd, in a good way, is how the pacing never really felt off. The predecessor felt like it had these slow moments where I actually had to take breaks between sessions. I never felt the need to do that here. The narrative excels at building up the conflict and characters during the first half and keeps pushing all the way until you reach the ending in one of the series’ most satisfying finales.
More Tactical Than Ever
On the surface, the combat system of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter feels extremely similar. It still has quick combat and command battles you can start whenever you want. However, a few new additions make it feel fresh without taking away what made the first remake’s system work so well.
For starters, you now have Brave Rush attacks, which you can trigger during quick combat. You basically use two of your Brave Gauge points to deal a lot of damage with all team members and hopefully trigger an advantage for command battles.
Also, crafts and arts have been expanded, with the Orbment system being just as customizable, if not more. Since all slots are now unlocked, you can just focus on enhancing them to add more powerful Quartz and unlock even better Orbal Arts.
The truth is that I found this system in the predecessor a bit overwhelming at first, but it was just so easy to understand here, and I actually tinkered with a few builds, especially with my Scherazard, who became my “Orbal Nuke” capable of deleting almost all enemies with one quick art.
During the turn-based part, you still have your timeline bonuses, which you can steal from other enemies, and they can steal from you. I feel this is what truly makes the turn-based aspect shine so much, as one Zero-cost Orbal Art buff can turn the tide around for the one who steals it.
Another thing I really liked, and something that leans heavily into the fact that Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a direct sequel, is how you don’t start “weak” at all. You actually start at a higher level, and enemies are much more difficult this time around. I have to admit that I even turned my difficulty down to Easy for some encounters, as the Normal difficulty was pretty challenging in some scenarios. Not a complaint, though.
If there is one small gripe I have about the combat system, it is that there are just so many characters that not all of them really get to shine. Aside from story reasons, I never really saw something that encouraged me to swap my Olivier, Scherazard, or Kloe for others. Even if it was great to see all of them use their beautifully animated crafts and hit those side or back bonus hits, I didn’t feel a lot of encouragement to swap some of my party members when I was doing some of the Bracer Guild’s quests.
Other than that, I would say Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter has an even better combat system than its predecessor, which was already flawless in many aspects. The new additions to existing systems give everything a fresh coat of paint, but nothing ever feels daunting. It feels like a natural progression for a sequel that I wish more RPGs would try to copy.
The Gold Standard of Remakes
Exploration is another huge part of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, with many zones returning from 1st Chapter, albeit full of new enemies. There isn’t much to say about the design, at least in terms of new additions, as much of it remains unchanged. However, there are still a lot of chests to open, secret foes to beat, and side quests to complete.
Still, despite how similar some areas may feel, the world’s reactivity is what makes everything stand out so much. All NPCs will react depending on what you’ve done in the story, and some will even acknowledge things from the first title. I love this about the series as it enhances the world-building, which was already strong in the predecessor and only gets better in this sequel.
Furthermore, I also love how the game handles side quests. Some continue a few we saw in the first remake, and others have different narratives, ranging from treasure hunts to heart-wrenching moments to pure chaos among the party. Every single piece of optional content is superb. Even if I didn’t dive too much into fishing or poker, it was great that those activities were there for those who enjoy a bit more leisure between their adventures.
Visually speaking, I didn’t notice any standout changes, but that is fine by me. These remakes are still perfect in terms of performance, at least on PC, and I prefer that over whatever new anime-themed games are doing by adding real-life-like scenery that tanks the framerate. On top of that, I also appreciate the new sets of animations, especially for arts and crafts, that show how much every single character has grown between games.
One More to Go
Just like its predecessor, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is yet another grand RPG and a must-play for fans of the genre, especially for those who have followed the series or just got into it last year. The story is among the best in the series, and the characters shine even more than in the first installment, which is quite a feat given how large the roster is.
Now, I can only hope Nihon Falcom and GungHo complete the Liberl Arc so we can see this beloved trilogy on the modern stage it deserves. The truth is that, among the many RPG series we have out there, the Trails series will always be among the best, full of true timeless classics that I would love to continue seeing with this superb remake treatment.
Review copy provided by the publisher.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (PC Reviewed)
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter brings one of the most beloved stories in the Trails series to a modern stage and also surpasses the already high bar that its predecessor left last year. Nihon Falcom and GungHo have once again set a golden standard for remakes, and one I hope continues if they decide to modernize other classic titles.
Pros
- A superb narrative with excellent character development
- An expanded combat system that is highly rewarding
- A gold standard for RPG remakes
Cons
- Not a lot of encouragement to swap party members
