If I’ve already played the original game, it takes a lot for remakes to grip me, especially if they don’t offer enough new content. For a time, I was fairly certain that the first two remakes for The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky series, the launching point of Falcom‘s grand worldbuilding Trails opus, would struggle to keep me engaged. I’m happy to be proven wrong, as Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter in particular is a delight for both potential Zemurian newcomers and returning players alike!
That said, I need to preface this review by stating that 2nd Chapter is a full-blown sequel, so knowledge of the first Trails in the Sky game—whether through exposure to the original or the much more recent remake—is encouraged, even if you do decide to recap that title’s events when prompted upon starting 2nd Chapter. Truth be told, it isn’t nearly as intimidating as trying to catch up with all of the other Trails games, so it’s not only manageable but also serves as a great entry point to the hefty lore and world-building that the series is known for. I even picked up on things I hadn’t realized would become more important later on through this playthrough, such as the Reinford Company name-dropping or the references to Crossbell’s political situation at this narrative juncture. Replaying the story was a great refresher for me, too! It allowed me to appreciate just how much detail Falcom poured into the overall Trails narrative.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter continues Estelle Bright’s quest after the first game’s cliffhanger. I won’t spoil exactly what happened. Still, a distraught Estelle becomes even more determined to reach senior bracer status to help protect the civilians of the kingdom of Liberl and reunite with a lost loved one she cares deeply for. With a nefarious society unafraid to use underhanded means from the shadows, can Estelle and her companions keep the general populace safe as they uncover exactly what the mysterious organization is after? The plot build-up is amazing and really hits the ground running, from the emotional prologue to the intensely heartfelt finale, culminating in a story that feels conclusive but still leaves lingering hints of larger things looming on the horizon.
In true Trails fashion, the characters are also colorful and memorable. The always flamboyant and surprisingly knowledgeable minstrel Olivier, enigmatic and flirty big sister Scherazard, gently noble and searching for her path Kloe, brusque-but-secretly-caring Agate, meek young mechanic Tita who can handle an orbal cannon like no one’s business, and the equally diligent and heavy-hitting Calvardian bracer Zin are notable standouts. I also love Estelle’s dandy mustachioed dad Cassius, newly introduced wandering priest Kevin who brings a lot of intrigue to the table, the playful photographer with an interesting definition of cute Dorothy, Olivier’s long-suffering and yet steadfastly capable friend Mueller, and the always-keeps-you-guessing Campanella amongst several other compelling characters! Even tertiary NPCs often have names and developing story arcs, creating a world that feels alive and constantly evolving alongside the main plot.
As you can guess from my character examples, there are some intriguing antagonistic characters amongst the members of the Society, many of whom become central figures in their own right later on in the series. Joshua also has an amazing character arc in this game, given certain revelations from the previous one. This game also serves as a fresh reminder that Estelle is still one of the best protagonists in the Trails series: her developing, tentative relationship with a certain someone, and her determination to look out for those around her even when she feels in over her head, make her a compelling figure throughout the story.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter consists of chapters that act like individual story arcs, each highlighting a different region of Liberl. You can unlock various helpful fast travel options on the world map once you reach them for convenient backtracking, which you do frequently for main plot progression and your standard Bracer Guild side quests. Depending on how well you perform Bracer quests, you earn Bracer Points that can help Estelle rise in rank and net you some pretty nice bonuses. While the game might contain many of its chapters in specific regions, the areas and dungeons you get to explore within them are still immense.
Combat is more action-oriented than those who played the original version might remember, taking cues from later Trails games, such as the Daybreak titles. You come across enemies onscreen as you traverse the area, and you can either wallop them good using combo/button-pressing mechanics straight out of a Ys game, or you can activate the turn-based battle mode where you strategically position party members onscreen to initiate the best course of action. Both combat modes are surprisingly fun, but I spent longer than in previous Trails titles comboing enemies before eventually switching over to turn-based to finish them off. Then, you can set up special group attacks, and the different area effects for spells and craft skills also add strategy without slowing the sense of intense action.
Magic functions by equipping characters with Orbments, which are this game’s version of materia. You have to collect a special resource to upgrade Orbment slots and gain access to higher-tier ones. You can also customize equipment to strengthen it further, making weapons and armor fairly effective for long stretches of time. There’s also a surprisingly fun version of the obligatory fishing minigame this time around, and the cooking element is likewise fairly robust and entertaining when discovering new recipes. Basically, the developers took a game that was solidly designed beforehand and made it even stronger and more refined. I smiled so much while playing that I honestly hurt my face a bit, but I had too much fun to notice, and time flew by despite the game’s hefty length!
Visually, I think the appeal of the new 3D graphics and artwork for Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter depends on personal preferences. I loved the PSP version‘s graphics and am thrilled that the party member low-polygon 3D models are at least included during loading screens. I liked the original game’s art direction too, but you can’t deny the 3D graphics on display are some of the prettiest yet in the Trails series, and the new character artwork isn’t without its charm. In fact, I like that we have more of it for certain secondary characters now! The backgrounds and areas are also accurately recreated from the original game’s designs, which is certainly impressive. If I had one issue with the new graphics, it might be that certain locales feel a tad emptier by comparison and that the UI is serviceable but somewhat plain, but that’s more nitpicking than anything else.
Sound-wise, the partial English voice acting is phenomenal. Major kudos in particular to Estelle’s English voice actor, Stephanie Sheh, for so deftly capturing her emotional range throughout the narrative, though everyone did their best to deliver passionate and impressive performances. In fact, one of the only other cons I can think of is that this game has the same sporadic voice-acting issue as other Trails titles, where one character has a voiced line in the dialogue but another doesn’t. There’s a ton of text, but it still comes across as strange when random lines are voiced or not voiced. As is to be expected from Falcom soundtracks, the music is pure gold and a true delight to listen to, as the opening theme alone shows. The localization is top-notch as well, with nary an error to be found.
Can you enjoy this remake if you’ve already played through SC? I can wholeheartedly say yes, as replaying the story again illuminated some plot points for me in ways I hadn’t expected. From a storytelling standpoint, even the remake’s 3D graphics and voice acting help present key story reveals, shedding additional light on things. Is this game worth playing if you’re a relative newcomer to the Trails series? Absolutely, especially if that newcomer has prior FC or 1st Chapter knowledge! In that regard, this game is easily the best of both worlds and a shining example of how a remake can offer something new while maintaining what made the original so special to begin with. I’m extremely grateful that I got to return to Liberl with Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, especially knowing how the Trails series in general evolves from here!
