Trails Through Daybreak - Review [A great entry point!]

[@RPGStory]

This is my first trails game and I agree it feels like a great place to start I don't feel lost at all. I'll go back and play from Sky after I'm done with Daybreak.

[@BillyLavoie]

The 'partial' voice acting to me feels really cheap. I'd rather them do LESS voice acting but the scenes that are voice acted should be FULLY done

[@HellFireRPGs]

Absolutely! It's the strangest thing. There's no other series that does it like this.

[@Mystra]

@HellFireRPGs Yeah that part was so weird in Cold Steel too but oh well lol

[@Trace153]

They are one of the main reasons with Owlcat where I am like F it let’s do AI voice acting.

[@Jack_80]

never really bothered me. these games have quite a lot of voice acting compared to the average game, so i definitely wouldn't call it cheap. a little weird maybe but i got used to it.

[@Trace153]

@@Jack_80 it would be better to fill voice a scene or none of it. That’s where the odd feeling comes into place for most. At this point fully voiced games are common so scattered VO in a scene breaks up and flow it would have.

[@Trace153]

As always thanks for the video sir. This series is one of the few that still make me feel like the 90’s peak RPG’s. They just always delivery a fun game even the weak ones in the series. Happy we keep getting more from them every few years compared to Square AAA games that drop half a decade or whole decade.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Thanks :)

[@uppernimbus]

Great review man, I'm still disappointed we didn't get physical of this game in Australia, so I'll have to import it from the UK at some point!

[@HellFireRPGs]

Thanks mate! I'll need to do the same.

[@femtrooper]

I am super curious about this now! I've only ever played Cold Steel but maybe I'd like this one. I feel like there has to be a Trails game out there for me...XD

[@nocturne6362]

The Side content will be fixed and fleshed out in chapter 2 with the new updated engine, finished last year.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Looking forward to playing it!

[@ShadowWarriorLuke]

I think my big hope for this one is that they cut down on someone else finishing a fight for you. I get that one theme of Trails is that no one can do things alone, but when basic enemy soldiers are getting back up for a second wind only for someone to show up and take over the fight it just feels like I'm not accomplishing anything. Sword of Biting Gale just kind of became eye rolling by Cold Steel 4.

[@Grimjaw-rw1sz]

calvard lets go

[@superblanco444]

Not in a hurry to play daybreak (still need to play through reverie) but it’d be nice if I can get a confirmation on my limited edition version. Purchased it as soon as it dropped too lol

[@bhoqeem1975]

I completed this game in 18 days or 117 hours on PS5, according to the final savegame. I loved it. It's not all good, sure, but definitely miles better than the previous Trails stories (I've completed them all the last 20 years)--especially in terms of story, mature dialogs and characters--oh, and of course, the revamped battle system. I enjoy that one immensely! For those who ask, YES, you have to play all the previous games before venturing into this one. It's just better that way, story-wise.

[@RPGStory]

It's my first Trails game and I don't feel lost at all but I'll definitely go back and play them all in order whilst I wait for Daybreak 2.

[@Shaded_Sol]

I started with Sky (first game) late last year. I’m in the middle of Second Chapter and playing Daybreak with my 17 year old son. He’s only played a couple JRPGs but is really liking it and not feeling lacking for past games.

[@darksoleride7466]

Trails Through Daybreak was amazing. I loved everything about it with the exception of the combat. The Cold Steel combat system whether it be the 1 & 2 or the revamped combat in 3-5 it was perfect. The combat system in this new arc I just don't understand it. Planning your moves to get say like X4 or X5 battle tactic result is impossible when you have support characters and even during the best of moments when you it's hard to see which person's turn it is next which can mess you up when you are planning it. NISA messed up the translation too making the western version harder than the. Japanese version for filling our the notebook achievements. "Hidden quests" are not actually hidden they are just marked with a blue caution sign showing you where they are once you arrive in the map. Nothing like previous Trails games when they would only show up when you spoke to the appropriate quest giver. Voice acting is a budget thing Falcom despite it's success with The Legend of Heroes series still is a small studio and can't pay out for full voice acting which this trend of some voiced and some not voiced is still a thing! But hey it's better than Trails in the Sky where you only get voice acting during cut scenes 😂 and only have text to read outside of that 😅 Other than that it's excellent. Great video too.

[@trailerhero]

Glad to see you reviewing this man, big fan of the channel! This is my favorite trails game and I imported it when it first came out in 2021 or so. I’m very excited for this game to come out here for newcomers to experience! It’s also good to see how close to the final English script my reading of it was (I know Japanese so I import trails games). The voice thing is really grating…never understood why they do that tbh. Also, what do you think of Van in comparison to yuri Lowell? In Japanese I thought it was a decent comparison but in English I actually think Van is a bit more of a loner at times and more of a flirt (? lol). I think Van is some weird mix of Yuri Lowell and Gintoki 🤣. Gonna miss the daybreak games after Kai comes out in Japanese. This series has ironically followed me my entire return to school with Kuro 1 coming out when I started and Kai coming out now that I’m finishing up grad school lol.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Thanks mate! I wasn't a van of Vesperia, but Yuri was the best part of it. I really like Van, and can't wait to see what happens next (I try to stay completely away from spoilers from the early Japan releases).

[@trailerhero]

@@HellFireRPGs yeah I definitely feel you on the spoilers! All I will say is that the next game definitely has better gameplay! Lol

[@ASMRPongpoom]

i start play zero and azure now after play first sky at 2004 it kinda peak about story it like watch twist movie 🎉🎉

[@Xebusc]

The voice acting was weird but it kind of becomes important to the scene by focusing on the voiced characters and the others being seconds to the scene

[@sayummmm]

damnit it was so satisfying to steal an enemy's bonus by jumping in with an S-craft, too bad that's gone

[@Averi0]

It returns in Daybreak 2, thankfully.

[@Jack_80]

​@@Averi0daybreak 2 is already out in japan? i really wish they'd do something to speed up us getting these games. waiting 3+ years longer than japan for a series that is pretty successful in the west is strange. i also hope they release the sky trilogy on modern consoles. seems weird if they don't, since they are the only ones missing now and many fans consider them to be the best in the series.

[@Averi0]

@@Jack_80 Daybreak 2 has been out for a bit over a year now. Falcoms publishing practices lead to western localization being impossible to do at the same time, and they did not start for many years. We're only finally cutting the time between release and localization to less than two years, and for Ys X(?), less than one year.

[@HellFireRPGs]

And Daybreak 2 will apparently be here early 2025, which is amazing!

[@albundy1485]

@@Jack_80 Daybreak 2 is coming in early 2025.

[@Andrew-lj6hh]

4:23 это решение с частичной озвучкой мне тоже не очень нравится.

[@thebatman8957]

I'm new to the series trying to get into daybreak. I'm only a few hours in and I have very mixed feelings. I feel like I'm playing a visual novel with the amount of dialogue it's a bit of a slog. I'm not really a fan of how it continuously switches between voice acted and not. One minute you're listening to a conversation, and then it suddenly switches to text. I want to like the game because I like the characters so far and the combat can be fun. I don't like when I am falling asleep because of the amount of text it makes me completely lose interest.

[@HellFireRPGs]

I felt that this is a bit slower than most of the others, but not by much. They're all slow burners, but this is also what makes the major moments so impactful.

[@thebatman8957]

@HellFireRPGs I did buy the game so I do plan on continuing to play to see if I start to enjoy it more as I do mostly prefer JRPGs with good story. I think I'm just more used to games like Xenoblade, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Persona, etc. I just might take it slow and play on and off.

[@albundy1485]

The frame rate drops on ps5 seem jarring. I'm debating playing it now or wait for the ps5 pro for a better experience.

[@RPGStory]

That seems quite odd since the graphics aren't exactly that groundbreaking 😅

[@darksoleride7466]

I have a feeling Falcom are designing for PS4 first then porting it to PS5 and then just doing optimisation. Which is why the game has some issues. This is not the first Trails games to have issues on PS5.

[@normandorian4103]

This is my first Trails game and now that I’m a few chapters in I can easily say it’s one of my favourite RPGs of the last few years! The hybrid combat system is sensational!

[@HellFireRPGs]

Great to hear! You intersted in going back and trying the first 10?

[@lovelace3046]

Oh I didn’t know the voice acting was lacking- yikes ! I might not get it after all

[@HellFireRPGs]

It's so annoying, but I'm unfortunately used to it after the cold steel games

[@lovelace3046]

@@HellFireRPGs I keep looking at your review: it’s like I still want the game I’m just debating. I’m in my RPG (PS4) ERA until I get my PS5 back in a couple of months.

[@HellFireRPGs]

@@lovelace3046 have you played any of the trails games before?

[@lovelace3046]

@@HellFireRPGs I have not: that’s why I want to try this 1.

[@Chamele7n]

I feel like Cold Steel 1 & 2 did a great job of having most things voiced by everyone. But I believe there was a change in localization company afterwards :(

[@dustingonzalez8080]

Cold steel 1 and 2 was originally like this but had more voice lines added when they got their rereleases on ps4 and steam.

[@R3GARnator]

I was playing through Trails in the Sky, and wondering how the series progressed, decided to play the demo for one of the Trails of Cold Steel games. It turned out, there was a MASSIVE story spoiler about one of the Trails in the Sky companion identities just in the hour or so of that demo. I don't get why so many people lie that you can jump in anywhere in this franchise without ruining moments like that? I mean, this is one of my favorite game franchises, but that doesn't mean you have to lie to get people into it.

[@HellFireRPGs]

I think you're in a rare position having played a bit of the ealier games, then jumping forward. But either way, it's far more imporant to get new people playing and enjoying the series, rather than creating barriers for those who haven't. Would a gamer get more enjoyment with Daybreak if they've played the first 10? Very likely. Would a new gamer have a great time jumping straight into Daybreak without playing the others? 100%, and that's what matters.

[@Spr1ggan87]

Nah, the best and only great starting point is Sky FC and always will be. You are missing out on so much world context by starting at w/e the latest entry is. *inb4 Sky Trilogy isn't accessible* They're on Steam and can be run on a 20 year old PC.

[@---nd2yx]

HATE the partial voice acting. All or nothing please.

[@HellFireRPGs]

Agreed, focus on fully voicing more key scenes! please!

[@Mystra]

People still can't buy the damn game even though NISA over 3 hours ago said it's fully out. What a clown this company is.

[@HellFireRPGs]

I guess it depends on where you're from in the world. Fun fact! If you change your location to New Zealand, you'll get most things before anywhere else in the world.

[@BillyLavoie]

They said 10am Pacific which is in 15 minutes from this post

[@HellFireRPGs]

So is it late right now from there?

[@Mystra]

Anyways it will be out. I'm just saying NISA has poor communication. Look at their Twitter page.

[@Mystra]

@@BillyLavoie They made Twitter post 3 or 4 hours ago saying it's available right now when it wasn't. Replies are full of comments saying the same thing.