What happens when an inseparable franchise duo spend time apart?
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/77356/trails-in-the-sky-2nd-chapter-switch-2-review
I finally got around to finishing Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky FC, a few months ago. This really heightened my anticipation for its sequel, the aptly named Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, and given how the second game picks up almost immediately where the first ends, it's helpful to have abundantly fresh memories of 1st Chapter. The proximity can also be a double-edged sword, as I've found that the similarities in structure, returning characters, and of course the absence of a key protagonist to mostly be detrimental to my experience with 2nd Chapter. Don't get me wrong: it's still an enjoyable and intriguing RPG, but it suffers under the weight of a near perfect predecessor.
After a flashback to the end of the first game where Estelle’s partner, Joshua, up and leaves her behind, 2nd Chapter begins proper with Estelle training at a mountain retreat to hone her skills as a newly minted senior bracer, partnering with fellow bracer Anelace. Upon completion of their training, the pair head to the city of Grancel where one of the game’s larger missions is assigned: tracking down and uncovering the whereabouts of the covert Ouroboros group. From there, you’re given one of 2nd Chapter’s more interesting choices, whether to pair with Agate or Scherazard, who players will be very familiar with from the first game. I went with Agate for his rippling muscles and Buster Sword lookalike, but going back and dabbling with choosing Schera, I was able to see that you’re treated to unique dialogue and conversations based on your decision. It’s a neat early-game conceit that adds some definite replay value to an already full experience.
One pairing that I would sorely miss for 80 percent of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is that of Estelle and Joshua. The supporting cast is really great, especially Olivier and his interactions with the rest of the party–Schera in particular–but you grow so close to Estelle and Joshua as partners in 1st Chapter that their separation blunts the narrative of 2nd Chapter to some degree. I completely understand that the sequel is meant to be a hero’s journey or Bildungsroman, (journey of development) for Estelle, but there’s something so special about the two of them together that I can’t help but find the first half of 2nd Chapter to be a bit boring and definitely lesser than the final third especially. It’s not a matter of “RPG good after 20 hours,” but if you’re freshly off finishing the first game, then the second feels a bit too much like a runback.
2nd Chapter sees you visiting each of the major Liberl cities one after the other, which is exactly what Joshua and Estelle do on their journey to become senior bracers in 1st Chapter. While the battles are still challenging and the combat system is still fun to play around with, the gathering of familiar party members and then completing tasks for the respective bracer guilds is far too similar a loop when comparing the two games. The inclusion of Ouroboros as a more compelling group of villains helps push the story along, but it’s hard to stay committed to the bit of wanting to raise your bracer ranking via sidequests when we already did this in 2025.
What certainly buoys the experience is excellent visuals and performance on Switch 2, including dedicated graphics and performance mode options. The frame rate is steady throughout the game’s 50-plus hour runtime, and I only encountered any kind of glitch near the end of the game, with a few cutscenes that didn’t load-in properly, forcing me to look at an empty sky as dialogue continued to play out. The vibrant colors and larger than life bosses are wonderful to behold in both docked and handheld mode, with few compromises being made for playing portably. Of course, you can also carry over your save data from 1st Chapter, which leads to some nice nods to your exploits from the first game with the folks you meet in the various towns.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter truly knocks it out of the park with bringing to life some major character moments, like those between bracer Agate and young engineer Tita. Touching scenes between the two that showcase the bond that develops tug on the heartstrings and make me want to spend more time with them. The sibling dynamic that grows between them adds to the charm of the whole experience, and its interactions like theirs that happen in quieter moments of the main story that make The Legend of Heroes games so memorable. There’s also the constant womanizing of Olivier and jokes made at his expense about Schera and others drinking him under the table that mix in some nice levity among the heavier story beats. I’d be remiss not to mention the sheer spectacle of the airships and creatures you encounter in 2nd Chapter’s latter half that make the viewing as enjoyable as the playing of the game.
I loved the music in both the original Trails in the Sky FC and the 1st Chapter remake, but the soundtrack for 2nd Chapter probably tops them both. There’s a song that plays early on in the game that stopped me in my tracks, surpassing even my fondness for “The Whereabouts of Light.” It’s often a hot topic among RPG fans about whether the original soundtrack is better than that of a remake, but I’m personally happy to hear new versions of songs I already fell in love with. The English voices are great, too, and help bring to life this lengthy RPG while making its most heartfelt moments all the more endearing.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a significantly bigger video game than its predecessor, so if you’re open to an RPG that can easily take 60-100 hours, you’ll find one here that’s worthy of your time. I did find the impact a bit muted compared to the tighter 1st Chapter and its focus on Joshua and Estelle as a pair, but Estelle herself does well to carry the sequel with the help of her familiar comrades. Even though 2nd Chapter doesn’t bring a lot of new innovations, it runs exquisitely on Switch 2 in both configurations. Certainly, you’d want to play the first game beforehand, but when you’re ready for more Trails in the Sky, 2nd Chapter is a great follow-up to the almost flawless 1st Chapter.
Topic: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter (Switch 2) Review (Read 14 times)
