The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

About

In the prosperous nation of Calvard, follow Van, a local spriggan, as he becomes entangled in a request with far-reaching consequences, amid descriptions of economic growth and political reform. The AT battle system has been reimagined for a seamless turn-based combat experience, incorporating the new sixth-generation orbment, Xipha, which offers a unique and innovative battle system. Additionally, the Topic System enables strategic conversational advantages in combat through engaging with characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 665 reviews

story105 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game features a more mature tone and character stakes, making it a refreshing change from previous installments.
The combat system has been revamped, allowing for a hybrid of action and turn-based gameplay that feels fluid and engaging.
The story is compelling with a great cast of characters, and the world-building in the Calvard region is well-developed.

The game can feel too easy, even on higher difficulty settings, which may disappoint players looking for a challenge.
Some players found the pacing slow, particularly in the early chapters, leading to a drag in the overall experience.
The localization has inconsistencies, with some dialogue being unvoiced or poorly translated, which can break immersion.

story
449 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
73%
4%
The story in "Trails Through Daybreak" is widely praised for its depth, character development, and mature themes, marking a significant evolution from previous entries in the series. While it features a new protagonist and setting, many reviews note that it retains connections to the overarching narrative of the franchise, making it both accessible for newcomers and rewarding for long-time fans. However, some players feel the pacing can be uneven, with certain plot points feeling rushed or predictable, yet overall, the storytelling is considered a highlight of the game.
- “Amazing story and world, though with a couple of returning faces from previous games as guests.”
- “The story is well told through a vast array of new characters; Van and Alkride's solutions will always get the job done for those that don't want to use the police or the guild.”
- “The story has a bit more of a darker edge compared to past entries, with a fluent combat system and a lovable cast that features a lot of memorable interactions.”
- “The whole story is based on a device not-artifact not-magic created by Prof. Epstein that somehow functions very much like an artifact, which feels lazy.”
- “The story is all over the place and feels like it's going nowhere, with many repeated human boss battles throughout.”
- “Unfortunately, the story felt like a retread of familiar plot points, and the constant references to previous games created a barrier for new players.”
gameplay
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
69%
4%
The gameplay in this title has received mixed feedback, with many praising its hybrid combat system that combines real-time action and turn-based mechanics, making battles feel more dynamic and engaging. However, some players found the overall difficulty to be lacking, describing the combat as too easy and repetitive, particularly in the early stages. While the game introduces new mechanics and improvements, opinions vary on whether these changes enhance the experience or detract from the depth and challenge expected from the series.
- “Excellent story and gameplay, though battles are on the easy side compared to previous installments.”
- “The gameplay is what stuck out at me the most being a hybrid between real-time action combat and turn-based with the ability to switch on the fly.”
- “The gameplay is very new and different compared to the previous games.”
- “Writing-wise, I can see where it might have the potential for it to at least be better than Cold Steel's writing, but I didn't get far enough to see if it lived up to that potential because the gameplay was so unbearably boring that I stopped playing and probably won't be coming back to this series except possibly replaying the Sky trilogy at some point.”
- “In summary, playing this game really felt more like a chore for the first 80%, and after the story picked up, I could start to forget about the disappointing gameplay.”
- “The gameplay loop is very repetitive; about 70% of the game just feels like fetch quests.”
music
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
3%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the soundtrack as top-notch and filled with memorable tracks, while others find it underwhelming compared to previous entries in the series. Notable highlights include strong town and emotional themes, but many reviewers expressed disappointment in the battle music, describing it as forgettable or lacking the impact of earlier games. Overall, while the soundtrack has its standout moments, it appears to be a step down for some fans of the franchise.
- “The Falcom music team hits a home run again with another excellent soundtrack; they seriously never disappoint.”
- “The soundtrack is really good on average, and there are a few absolute bangers in there.”
- “The music continues to be mostly beautiful and very loopable.”
- “The main one I want to point out is how unremarkable the OST is.”
- “Other than that, most songs end up either forgettable or somewhat grating.”
- “The soundtrack: I think the main problem with the OST isn't the songs themselves, but their usage within the game.”
graphics
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The graphics in the latest installment of the Trails series show noticeable improvements, particularly with the introduction of a new engine that enhances character models and environments, making them more vibrant and detailed. While some reviewers note that the visuals still fall short of AAA standards and can feel reminiscent of older console generations, the overall art style and optimization have received praise for their aesthetic appeal. Despite not being the primary draw of the game, the graphics contribute positively to the immersive experience, complementing the narrative and gameplay.
- “The graphics and animations are a massive improvement.”
- “The graphics are fantastic with vibrant colors and plenty of attention to detail.”
- “The graphics got noticeable improvements from the character models, the field area looks beautiful, and the new assets and city designs are done nicely.”
- “The graphics are clunky as hell, characters move around like robots.”
- “Graphics are pretty outdated and there's too much content that's not voice acted, resulting in me skipping a huge part of it; come on, it's 2024.”
- “The game uses very similar graphics as instituted in Cold Steel 3 - not much is changing there in any regard.”
optimization
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance across various platforms, including PC and Switch, with minimal stuttering and frame rate issues reported. The art style and graphics are noted to be impressive, especially considering the game's budget, and the voice acting adds to the overall experience. While some minor performance hiccups were mentioned, the general consensus is that the optimization is well-executed, making for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Graphically, it's evident it's not high budget, but the optimization and art style really shine, making it look super great. The locations and character designs are excellent, and the OST has a great selection of tracks that enhance the experience.”
- “In terms of PC performance, the game runs very well and has a lot more options to choose from than most other Japanese-developed titles.”
- “The game looks so good, and the optimization done by PH3 is incredible.”
- “For performance, I played the demo prologue on Switch, and I noticed some enemies clipped into the floor sometimes, and there were frame rate drops during Van's 'Take the Grendel'. This also happened on the Steam Deck, but not as badly, only the FPS.”
- “My only real complaint is that the performance of the game seems a bit lacking.”
- “Make sure you get this version if you want the official localization when it comes out + better optimization!”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
89%
11%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it delightful and entertaining, particularly praising characters like Melchior and Aaron for their comedic performances. While many appreciate the quirky interactions and lively character dynamics that lead to genuine laughter, others feel that certain jokes fall flat or are misaligned with the audience's expectations. Overall, the game strikes a balance between humor, drama, and emotional depth, contributing to a well-rounded narrative experience.
- “Melchior is such an entertaining villain with how unhinged and funny he is; absolutely delightful to hear him talk. His voice actor really knocked it out of the park with his performance.”
- “The game has the right balance of humor, drama, action, romance, and slice of life, giving you a pretty much complete anime experience without making it feel like too much.”
- “Great story, amazing characters, fun dialogue and story beats. The characters interact so well, with a lot of moments that cause me to burst out laughing. Everything makes sense story-wise, complemented by a spectacular soundtrack.”
- “It's not funny, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be.”
- “Calling a 24-year-old van 'old' is so dumb. I'm pretty sure the core Trails audience nowadays is older than that. Why they did this is beyond me; it's not funny.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its darker themes and character development, particularly through the protagonist Van, whose journey and interactions evoke a range of feelings. While returning players may find deeper connections due to their familiarity with past characters, newcomers might struggle to grasp the emotional weight of certain moments due to a lack of context. Overall, the game successfully delivers a mix of humor and poignant storytelling, creating an engaging emotional experience that resonates with many players.
- “Solid story with themes that are noticeably darker compared to previous arcs, fluent combat system, lovable cast with a lot of memorable interactions, both emotional and comedic, and what I think is the best main character in the franchise to date.”
- “As stated in the overview, the plot takes all the best parts of the previous titles and takes the player through a most engaging and emotional experience.”
- “Kuro no Kiseki serves as a testament to Falcom's ability to continue providing pure unfiltered emotional experiences that draw you in and capture you within its world.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
Character development in the game is generally well-received, with notable growth in characters like Agnes, who transitions from insecurity to confidence. While the main cast benefits from a tight-knit dynamic that enhances their depth, some villains lack sufficient development. Overall, the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and quality, contributing positively to the game's experience.
- “Agnes's character development was a highlight, as she grew from an insecure student to a confident young woman.”
- “The cast is smaller, more tight-knit resulting in better character development.”
- “Beautiful music, combat is different but improved upon, story is interesting and characters have good depth to them.”
- “The enforced status quo in romance options is just sad when it spans multiple games over years of character development.”
- “The villains are sadly a little undercooked when it comes to character development, but not to a degree that it detracts from the fantastic overall quality of the experience.”
- “The enforced status quo in romance options is just sad when it spans multiple games over years of character development.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while grinding in the game can feel tedious, especially with repetitive combat against trash mobs, the implementation of experience multipliers and streamlined combat systems significantly alleviates this burden. Players appreciate the balance between grinding and engaging boss challenges, with some noting that the game encourages a more action-oriented approach to combat, making the grind less pronounced. However, those who aim for 100% completion may still find themselves facing a grind-heavy experience.
- “Starting on the gameplay side of things, my biggest gripe with turn-based games is how tedious combat becomes when clearing zones, especially when it comes to trash mobs.”
- “Unless you are a masochist and love to suffer through hours of farming and battles.”
- “It can get a bit grindy if you try to collect everything.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers some replay value, primarily due to its engaging gameplay, strong story, and well-developed characters, but many players feel that most significant experiences can be completed in a single playthrough with careful planning. While side quests enhance replayability, the overall experience may feel complete after the first game.
- “The gameplay is incredibly smooth, the story is great, the characters are memorable, and the side quests are also fantastic, making it highly replayable.”
- “There is some replay value, but you can experience most of the important and interesting aspects during your first playthrough if you plan your activities well.”
- “Some replay value, but you can do most of the important and interesting things during the first game if you plan your activities a little.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the story is great, the characters are engaging, and the side quests are enjoyable, but the replayability is limited.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game runs smoothly on various systems, including the Steam Deck and high-performance setups like those with an RTX 3070 and Ryzen 5800X, indicating strong stability across different hardware configurations.
- “Runs great on deck.”
- “From a technical standpoint, it runs great on my RTX 3070 and Ryzen 5800X build.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The atmosphere of the game is noted for its raw and mature tone, which many players find to be a refreshing departure from the series' usual style. This shift contributes significantly to the overall storytelling experience.
- “One of the highlights most people will mention is the tone and atmosphere of the story, which is admittedly a bit more raw and mature than usual. It's a welcome change in this series for me.”
- “The atmosphere feels disjointed and lacks the immersive quality that I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the overall ambiance is flat and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The world feels empty and lifeless, which detracts significantly from the overall experience.”