Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was a revelation of what an RPG remake from Falcom could look like, and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter undoubtedly takes that to the next level. Like the original Trails in the Sky SC, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a memorable sequel that doesn’t let up in its story and character development, and its gameplay is just as great as the world you explore. This was an easy layup from Falcom, and despite meeting my expectations on paper, the experience of playing Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is even more satisfying than I would have thought.
Editor’s note: there will be spoilers for the ending of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter and some beginning story points of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter.
Sticking to the story of the original sequel, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter puts you directly into the aftermath of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. Estelle Bright wakes up from her sedative-induced slumber to find that Joshua Bright—now running with his former alias of the “Black Fang”—has run away. Left befuddled in the Royal Capital of Liberl, Estelle confronts Cassius to reconfirm some of the details she heard from Joshua. Ouroboros is ramping up their plans in Liberl, and in a deeply emotional state, Estelle sets out to find Joshua and get some answers. In the process, she meets Kevin Graham, a wandering priest that helps her find her footing again and take up the calling of a bracer once more. A motivated Estelle enrolls in a rigorous Bracer training regiment at La Locle, where she becomes a senior bracer and sets out to find Joshua, with friends and companions joining her along the way.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a Comprehensive and Engaging Remake
I loved Trails in the Sky SC when I played it several years ago, so naturally, I found Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter to be just as amazing of a game. The story is well-paced in the remake, and the inclusion of English and Japanese voice-acting and the quality-of-life improvements enhances that further. The remake is so refreshing in how it tells the story, and visiting all of the locales and towns again was quite fun and engaging. This also applies with 1st Chapter, but I think the sense of adventure is heightened in 2nd Chapter thanks to Estelle’s own motivations and the sense of world-building you get as you travel around Liberl on your steadfast mission.
New players will learn about Ouroboros and what makes this antagonistic organization so special to the series, while returning fans will be reminded of what makes 2nd Chapter’s story so special for the Trails series. 2nd Chapter is immersive, emotional, and exciting to play, especially if when you’re so motivated after witnessing 1st Chapter’s cliffhanger. What’s more, the superb voice-acting makes many moments feel lifelike and important. With many reprising voice actors in the mix, 2nd Chapter feels like a dream come true. There were some recasts in 2nd Chapter—most notably Liam O’Brien stepping in for Weissman and Stephen Fu for Loewe—but their performances work seamlessly and fit their respective characters to a T.
In regards to combat, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter has some big improvements over 1st Chapter, though you might not notice it immediately. The Command and Field Battle systems return in all their glory, allowing you to fight enemies with action RPG-like gameplay and switch to turn-based battles. It feels like the overall difficulty balancing has been greatly tuned, with Normal difficulty being slightly more easy this time. Despite that, notable boss battles and encounters can still present some challenge, especially with Ouroboros members and boss enemies being able to perform a power-up—Enforcer Boosts for Ouroboros and Rage Boosts for enemies. You have some tools up your sleeves, though.
There are new wide-range Brave Rush attacks that deal high damage and look quite flashy, in addition to the returning Follow-Up, Chain, and Burst attacks that use up points on the Brave Gauge. The Orbment system is also back with seven slots, so you’ve got one more Orbment slot to expand your Arts selection in combat and improve your stats. There are more Arts to unlock this time around, so 2nd Chapter’s combat feels really varied and comprehensive, especially when you spec out each party members’ Orbments. You are able to unlock a lot of powerful arts very early on in the game, making 2nd Chapter’s combat much more fun compared to 1st Chapter’s.
A Great Sense of Adventure and Strength
As I’ve mentioned, the story of 2nd Chapter is well-paced, but that also extends how you play the game. As Estelle, you’ll travel around Liberl with your party as you complete assignments from the Bracer Guild, and in the process, you’ll get leads on what Ouroboros is up to. While progressing the story, you’ll also be able to explore the region you’re in and complete optional requests for the Bracer Guild to earn rewards, including Quartz for your Orbments and more powerful gear. You can also earn rewards from fishing, which also makes its return as one of Trails’ staple mini-games.
If you want to progress the story, you could focus on that and actually get through the game’s chapters at a fairly modest pace. If you want to be a completionist, you could search every nook and cranny and take on all the requests that come your way for rewards, all while experiencing more character interactions that flesh out the party. 2nd Chapter’s side quests are really good in that regard, so I highly recommend completely them as they become available.
1st Chapter did a great job re-introducing the country of Liberl and its key locations, and 2nd Chapter does well to make Liberl feel vast and cohesive—even more so than the original SC. For example, Ruan is one of the first regions you’ll explore in Liberl, and you can explore all of its paths and towns to get a good sense of scale in the remake. There are treasure chests, loot drops, fishing spots, and additional quests off the beaten path, so 2nd Chapter always makes sure that there’s something to find or explore.
Just like in 1st Chapter, as you complete content, you’ll unlock achievements and earn rewards by meeting certain objectives, such as cooking a specific amount of meals or unlocking a number of unique Arts. In 2nd Chapter, the game feels more rewarding in this sense, however. You’ll earn powerful Quartz, cosmetics, and other useful items fairly early on since you’ll have access to a fleshed out party much sooner. Earning these rewards fortunately doesn’t make boss fights and enemies trivial. Instead, the rewards help you make the most out of the game’s mechanics.
A Fantastic Nintendo Switch 2 Version
Aside from the story, exploration and combat, the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter makes this experience seamless for Nintendo fans. The demo showed that the game was running really well on the original Switch without compromising too much on visuals, but the Switch 2 version is clearly where it’s at. Not only can you transfer save data and upgrade to the Switch 2 version, but the performance and image quality is really good overall.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter includes Graphics and Performance modes on Switch 2, with Graphics emphasizing a 4K resolution at 30 FPS and Performance targeting a locked 60 FPS at 1080p in docked. In handheld, either option will aim to make full use of the 1080p screen, but Graphics will result in a clearer image. Performance mode in handheld is really great for that 60 FPS as long as you’re willing to compromise visual clarity. I noticed some NPC models looking slightly hazy and fuzzy due to the drop in texture quality and overall detail, but it’s not bad enough for me to dwell on.
Frame rates virtually never dropped when I played in docked mode, and if it did drop, it wasn’t perceived enough for me to pick up on. Combat feels fast and fluid in field battles, and the world is fleshed out with foliage and detail. 2nd Chapter is a bright and colorful game full of locales that you can gaze at for long distances, and the Switch 2 version keeps that artistic vision intact. I think the Switch 2 version is a fantastic way to play 2nd Chapter, and the same certainly applies for 1st Chapter, Trails from Zero, and other Trails games.
You can really take in the artstyle of 2nd Chapter in the game’s new “Viewer Mode” feature. It’s essentially a photo mode that lets you select characters, costumes, animations, scenery, and much more based on what you’ve unlocked and where you’ve been to in the game thus far. Viewer Mode is only accessible from the Extra menu at the title screen, so it’s not a photo mode you can use at any time in the main game. It’s more of a novelty, but there are so many options you can use to create a photo of your favorite characters.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is Remade Sequel Worth Celebrating
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a brilliant sequel that expands the world of Trails and addressing many plot points that 1st Chapter opened up—just like Trails in the Sky SC back then. It’s a tale full of introspection and surprising twists and turns, but it’s also one full of hilarity and wholesome moments with Estelle and her crew, all moving with individual and common goals. With Falcom’s updated game engine, 2nd Chapter is a worthwhile remake that both expands on the original story with voice acting full of memorable performances, an improved and extremely fun combat system, and a setting that feels more fleshed out and alive than ever before.
Liberl has never felt so much like home before, and as a Trails fan, I’m extremely pleased with what Falcom and GungHo have brought to the table here. 2nd Chapter, and the recent localization update to 1st Chapter, have also addressed some of the few complaints I had with the story thus far, so I’m pleased to say that this is a home run of a remake. Whether you’re coming back after catching up with Trails beyond the Horizon or a new fan who just finished 1st Chapter, 2nd Chapter is a must-play game and a masterclass in what a RPG sequel should be like.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter launches on September 17 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. The Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Steam versions cost $59.99, while the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition costs $64.99. Players who own the Nintendo Switch version can upgrade to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition by purchasing the $4.99 Upgrade Pack.
Disclaimer: GungHo Online Entertainment provided a Nintendo Switch 2 key of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter for review purposes.
