The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is a Japanese role-playing game by Nihon Falcom and the direct sequel to the story of Van Arkride in the Republic of Calvard. The Spriggan, who takes on difficult jobs beyond ordinary investigations, looks into a series of murders linked to a crimson-red beast.

The story picks up where the first Trails through Daybreak left off. Knowing about Van, Agnès and the Republic helps you make sense of the many political and personal relationships.

Released Feb 14, 2025 for PC, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch in Europe and North America. NIS America publishes the Western version with English and Japanese language options.

The role-playing game has native versions for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The PC version is available on Steam, among other places. On Nintendo Switch 2, the original Switch version can be played via backward compatibility. A standalone Switch 2 version is not part of the release.

The combat system combines fast real-time attacks while exploring with a turn-based command system. In field combat, characters can hit enemies, dodge and switch to command mode. There they use attacks, spells and specialised skills in a targeted way.

Switching between the two modes is a key feature of the Daybreak games. In the sequel, Cross Charge and EX Chains expand teamwork within the group.

Alongside the base game, digital editions are offered that include different collections of costumes, accessories, music, Holo-Core voices and items. Individual packs are also available separately as add-on content. They do not replace the base game.

The content of the Deluxe, Ultimate and Complete editions differs. If you want to use additional packs, you need the matching platform version of the base game.

The PC version needs a 64-bit Windows system, at least 8 GB RAM, a GTX 1050 and 22 GB of free storage. For higher resolution and frame rate, the developer lists 16 GB RAM and a GTX 1650, among other things. The performance figures differ between the recommended graphics profiles.

After the threat posed by the Almata organisation ends, calm seems to return to Calvard for now. Then a special unit of the CID intelligence service is wiped out. Witness reports of a crimson-red beast lead various factions onto the culprit's trail.

After a visit from an unexpected person, Van Arkride begins his own investigation. At the same time, Agnès is searching for the last of the eight Genesis artifacts.

Calvard is an economically and culturally diverse state on the continent of Zemuria. Technological progress, immigration, political rivalry and criminal groups shape its cities. The story uses these contrasts as a backdrop for investigations and conflicts.

The story takes you through larger cities, smaller towns and districts, whose residents are woven into their own missions and story threads.

Van Arkride is a Spriggan who takes on both legal and morally difficult jobs. Through his company Arkride Solutions, he comes into contact with investigators, the underworld and ordinary citizens. His connection to the Genesis artifacts and the Grendel armour again plays a role.

Agnès Claudel works with Van alongside her schooling and searches for the eight so-called Oct-Geneses. She has already found seven of them. Elaine Auclair is also pursuing the new case as an experienced Bracer. The different character perspectives ensure that not every mission is carried out by the same group.

After a perfectly timed dodge in field combat, the option for a Cross Charge appears. Another party member is swapped in and immediately attacks the enemy. The swapped-in character then temporarily gains an attack bonus.

In turn-based combat, EX Chains form when the necessary conditions are met and a stunned enemy is attacked. Allies whose SCLM link is active then launch a coordinated attack that can also hit nearby enemies.

Certain story sections split into several chapters, each experienced with different groups of characters. You can choose the order of these chapters. Once they are complete, the story threads come back together and continue the shared story.

Some missions use special abilities instead of regular combat. The Holo-Core AI Mare can, for example, be directed to intervene in the Orbal network. Swin can follow people discreetly. Such sections interrupt the usual exploration and combat flow.

The PC version supports English and Japanese on-screen text, subtitles and voice audio. Trails through Daybreak II is designed as a cohesive single-player story with a controllable party of heroes.

The base game includes the full story and the regular game systems. The larger digital editions mainly add costumes, equipment accessories, background music, extra Holo-Core voices and item packs. This content is optional and not a replacement for an additional story.

Alongside combat, conversations and investigations, Van and his companions can cast their fishing line. The fishing mini-game is a standalone side activity in which timing and the fish's reactions matter. It adds a calmer pastime to exploring the cities and regions of Calvard.