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Game Information

Game Title: The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak

Platforms:

• PC (Jul 5, 2024)
• PlayStation 4 (Jul 5, 2024)
• PlayStation 5 (Jul 5, 2024)
• Nintendo Switch (Jul 5, 2024)

Trailer:

• The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak - Announcement Trailer

Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: NIS America

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 88 average - 95% recommended

Metacritic - 84 average based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic Reviews


8Bit/Digi - Stan Rezaee - 9 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is the beginning of a new chapter regarding the story and direction of the series. Players will explore the Republic of Calvard within a familiar game with welcoming improvements and lovable new characters.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 8.5 / 10

Trails Through Daybreak is the strong start to a new chapter that The Legend of Heroes franchise needed.

Console Creatures - Matt Sowinski - Recommended

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is another hit in the beloved series, delivering a darker narrative, revamped combat, and an excellent cast of characters. It has a ton to offer to both new players and existing fans of the series.

Everyeye.it - Antonello Bello - Italian - 8.8 / 10

While not matching the epic nature of Trails of Cold Steel IV, which for its part had the advantage of being the final chapter of a painful and well-oiled tetralogy, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is configured as one of Nihon Falcom's best recent productions.

Final Weapon - Raul Ochoa - 4.5 / 5

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak serves as a brilliant introduction to the Republic of Calvard, the setting for what appears to be the most exciting Trails story arc yet. Van Arkride explores the gray areas of Calvardian society alongside allies that are just as tough and driven. The game's story is complemented by a revamped combat system that retains the identity of Trails, and there's of plenty of improvements made that make this one of the best Trails games to date.

GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 9 / 10

A dark, more mature story, a great new cast of characters, and much improved turn-based action make Trails through Daybreak a fine addition to the franchise that's accessible to fans and newcomers alike.

Hardcore Gamer - Jordan Helm - 4.5 / 5

Nihon Falcom needn't have gone about overhauling things as radically as they have. But with a newfound energy and purpose to its real-time/turn-based hybrid of a premise, as well as a bountiful amount of new and returning mechanics to experiment with, Trails Through Daybreak is nothing less than another fantastic reinvention for what was already some of if not the best turn-based combat in any JRPG series. Aided on top by that familiar dedication to player customization, intriguing world-building and that ongoing desire to spend a bit longer in getting the most out of the systems on show. Countless entries later, Trails continues to prove itself as one of the most satisfying and engaging role-playing experiences available. It wasn't exactly begging for such reinvention, but with The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak, Nihon Falcom's opener to the Calvard arc is as close to perfect a new chapter, as you can possibly get.

IGN - George Yang - 8 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak’s new cast of characters, revamped battle system, and engaging story is exactly what the series needed to reach new heights.

IGN Italy - Alessandra Borgonovo - Italian - 7.5 / 10

An eleventh chapter that tries to revamp the series from a gameplay point of view, only partially succeeding.

Nintendo Life - Mitch Vogel - 8 / 10

Trails through Daybreak stands as another great entry in the storied Legend of Heroes series, making the most of its new setting with its memorable characters and engaging turn-based combat. Though it's held back a bit by things like the awkward introduction of action-based combat and some irritating quirks (and nearly unreadable text in portable mode), this is still an entry that we would strongly recommend to both series fans and, yes, newcomers, too. Trails through Daybreak is a strong inaugural outing, offering another fresh start for this franchise; we'd suggest you give it a shot.

NintendoWorldReport - Jordan Rudek - 9 / 10

Van is a charming and vocal protagonist who gives as good as he gets, and rest assured, he isn't shy about giving a loving head patting when the opportunity arises. Those who have played earlier Trails games will enjoy the returning characters, mentions, and nods to earlier events and people, but even if you're an RPG player unfamiliar with the Trails games, you'll find plenty of reasons to sink your teeth into this latest one. It's no surprise that the hero of Daybreak has a proclivity towards indulging in cakes and pastries; he happens to star in one hell of a sweet adventure.

NookGaming - Rob MacIntosh - 8 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak made for a rather enjoyable playthrough that was hard carried by its main party and how fun combat was. I also like that it trims some of the fat that had begun building with the bloated previous arc. This is one of the best put-together Trails games in a long time, complete with some solid cutscene choreography and a near-seamless feeling of play in between combat and cutscenes.

PSX Brasil - Thiago de Alencar Moura - Portuguese - 90 / 100

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is a darker and more interesting take on one of the best JRPG franchises of all time. The gameplay additions enrich the experience, but what really makes it so remarkable is the excellent cast and storytelling that lives up to the series' fame.

RPGamer - Alex Fuller - 4.5 / 5

Offering an incredibly welcome refresh for the series with its story, cast, and gameplay, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is a delightful way to re-enrapture existing fans while being an excellent opportunity for newcomers to get on board.

Siliconera - Cory Dinkel - 10 / 10

Trails through Daybreak is a triumph for both long-time fans and newcomers to the series. For veterans, it builds upon and expands nearly every aspect that makes the series great, from its intricate storytelling to its deep character development and strategic gameplay. For new players, while it’s a challenge to dive into such a complex series, the game makes a commendable effort to provide an accessible starting point into the rich world and lore without feeling overwhelmed.

Spaziogames - Gianluca Arena - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Trails through Daybreak marks the first time Falcom takes a bet with its franchise, changing its combat system to a degree and some of its gameplay mechanics. The changes are all good for newcomers, which will find an ideal entry point here, but are not so for the longtime fans, who could dislike the action-focused shift and the decrease in the overall level of challenge.

The Games Machine - Danilo Dellafrana - Italian - 8 / 10

Trails Through Daybreak is a rather classic role-playing game and will delight Nihon Falcom fans, if only to inaugurate yet another narrative strand in a now endless dynasty. The combat system isn't quite as polished as the one seen in Trails of Cold Steel, however, and the plot likes to keep the pace a bit too slow, but as a start there's nothing to complain too much about, thanks also to the charisma of a protagonist like Van and an intriguing game world as only Falcom is capable of creating.

The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 5 / 5

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak gives us a new area of Zemuria and a lot of new characters to love. Van Arkride is a great character and I hope to see more of him going forward.

TheSixthAxis - Miguel Moran - 9 / 10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is the spark that this series needed, and an incredible new chapter for such an iconic franchise. The shift in tone for the story and the addictive dual-mode combat had me hooked from beginning to end. If you play any game in this series, make it this one.

Twinfinite - Cameron Waldrop - 5 / 5

Though I will always have a soft spot for the Cold Steel games, Trails Through Daybreak arrives as the new best game of the series. Between giving a more mature protagonist and redefining the combat, the Calvard arc starts with its best foot forward. The fact that things have already become this hectic with the very first game means we're looking at probably the craziest arc to date. Sadly, these take a bit of time to localize, and we'll be two behind in September, but I will be right there when the next one hits.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

 

[adamsapple]

 

[SantaC]

Reviews doesnt matter. Day 1 for calvard arc

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Okay, just done updating the OP with most if not all the reviews that have gone up so far. Will continue to update it as more reviews come in.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Has some of my favorite character designs in the series yet

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

 

[mayham2199]

Man so pissed I have to wait to play this. Persona 3 is taking way longer than expected. Once I'm done with that I'll be going on vacation soon after. This is day 1 when I get back. Telling my wife we've hung out enough I'm playing games now.

 

[HercRaato]

I'm in! Take my money. I've been looking forward to this arc.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Great interview here with Durante from PH3, the studio doing the PC port for Trails through Daybreak.

PH3 Interview – Peter ‘Durante’ Thoman on Trails through Daybreak, Falcom’s New Engine, HDR, DLSS, Steam Deck OLED, PS5 Ports, & More – TouchArcade

Next week, NIS America will launch The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak (known as Kuro no Kiseki in Japan) in the West for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5. It is a masterpiece of an RPG and my current favorite Trails game. Read my review of it here.

toucharcade.com

 

[StereoVsn]

I just couldn’t get through the whole demo, got bored honestly.

For whatever reason the first five Legend of Heroes games hit me much more than anything since.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

OP updated yet again with more reviews. I've also added new screenshots for MC and OC.

Oh and it looks like OC/MC score keeps increasing as more reviews come in.

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Bonus, here's some IGN drama:

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I just couldn’t get through the whole demo, got bored honestly.

For whatever reason the first five Legend of Heroes games hit me much more than anything since.

Have you played through all five Cold Steel Games? (I consider Reviere a Cold Steel Game)

I noticed that the Cold Steel Arc is when people either stick with the series or drop it. As for me I love the Cold Steel Arc, it does have it's issues and I do get why some fans drop the games after playing that Arc. For me Cold Steel 1 and 2 are the first Kiseki games I played.

OP updated yet again with more reviews. I've also added new screenshots for MC and OC.

Oh and it looks like OC/MC score keeps increasing as more reviews come in.

---

Bonus, here's some IGN drama:

Eh it's IGN. Anything Japanese that's full of fanservice aimed at straight men they are gonna to give an 8 or lower no matter what. I just refuse to click on that site and give them any views

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt I think the Twitter mob is onto you.

Spoiler: 👀

Eh it's IGN. Anything Japanese that's full of fanservice aimed at straight men they are gonna to give an 8 or lower no matter what. I just refuse to click on that site and give them any views

Be naughty and use an adblock.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Man, I so need this Limited Edition.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt I think the Twitter mob is onto you.

Spoiler: 👀

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I think I've also found you on X/Twitter, but you're using the wrong pfp...

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I think I've also found you on X/Twitter, but you're using the wrong pfp...

I don't have a X/Twitter account though

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I don't have a X/Twitter account though

My bad

 

[PanzerCute]

"- How many amazing japanese games are gonna release in 2024?
- Yes"

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

My bad

I have no social media

Well only Reddit if you consider it social media

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I have no social media

Well only Reddit if you consider it social media

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I only use it for the porn

 

[AmuroChan]

 

[mayham2199]

I don't have a X/Twitter account though

Haha reminds me of this:

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

I only use it for the porn

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Sorry double post

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Haha reminds me of this:

 

[Deerock71]

That looks like Nihon Falcom's response to having to release this game on, YET AGAIN, a Nintendo system.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

That looks like Nihon Falcom's response to having to release this game on, YET AGAIN, a Nintendo system.

As I said before it's funny how Falcom is one of the few Japanese Developers that has a weird grudge against Nintendo

 

[Northeastmonk]

Why does Steam say March 1, 2023 if these reviews are for a game coming out soon?

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Why does Steam say March 1, 2023 if these reviews are for a game coming out soon?

That's the Japanese version of Trails through Daybreak (Kuro no Kiseki) which released on the date from your screenshot. This version will automatically receive English language support in an update scheduled for July 5, 2024.

I think they've done this with the more recent Trails releases on Steam, although I believe there should be a big warning message stating that the English patch is not yet available, so I'm not sure what's up with that. Oh, and it seems like they're making lots of changes in the backend.

https://steamdb.info/app/2138610/history/

I wouldn't worry too much, but NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt or any other Trails fans playing on PC can correct me on this.

 

[StereoVsn]

Have you played through all five Cold Steel Games? (I consider Reviere a Cold Steel Game)

I noticed that the Cold Steel Arc is when people either stick with the series or drop it. As for me I love the Cold Steel Arc, it does have it's issues and I do get why some fans drop the games after playing that Arc. For me Cold Steel 1 and 2 are the first Kiseki games I played.



Eh it's IGN. Anything Japanese that's full of fanservice aimed at straight men they are gonna to give an 8 or lower no matter what. I just refuse to click on that site and give them any views

I barely crawled through Cold Steel 1 which I found very much mid. I tapped out on CS2. Can’t see wasting more time on CS series as I just don’t particularly like the MC or a lot of other characters.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

I barely crawled through Cold Steel 1 which I found very much mid. I tapped out on CS2. Can’t see wasting more time on CS series as I just don’t particularly like the MC or a lot of other characters.

Yeah might as drop it if it's not you're thing

I totally understand ^^

 

[Darkmakaimura]

One of the best Japanese role playing games ever made. I pretty much put it up there with Lunar 2.

The Trails series is pretty much the equivalent of Japanese Star Wars. You know when Star Wars was actually good.

Oh what a night, in beginning of July 2024.

 

[Vlodril]

Just finished Cold steel 2. So far i have really liked all the trails games i have played (tits 1, cold steel 1 and 2). It would be nice if tits 2 was on PS5 but..

Now i am pondering if i should continue with Cold steel 3 or just jump into daybreak. Played the demo for it and it looks great (but i liked how cold steel looks as well). The problem is that the pricing on psn is random. Cold steel 3 is 70 euros while 4 is 40. How does that make sense?

I see on the us psn it's 23.. Unfortunately i got the first one on the us psn and the second one on the eu and you cannot import your save file. I am guessing this will happen again if i buy it on the us psn.

 

[Skifi28]

Just finished Cold steel 2. So far i have really liked all the trails games i have played (tits 1, cold steel 1 and 2). It would be nice if tits 2 was on PS5 but..

Now i am pondering if i should continue with Cold steel 3 or just jump into daybreak. Played the demo for it and it looks great (but i liked how cold steel looks as well). The problem is that the pricing on psn is random. Cold steel 3 is 70 euros while 4 is 40. How does that make sense?

I see on the us psn it's 23.. Unfortunately i got the first one on the us psn and the second one on the eu and you cannot import your save file. I am guessing this will happen again if i buy it on the us psn.

Both Cold steel 3 and 4 appear to be 40 euros here. Are you sure you're not looking at the double pack with both games that is 70?

 

[Vlodril]

Both Cold steel 3 and 4 appear to be 40 euros here. Are you sure you're not looking at the double pack with both games that is 70?

You are right. It says when you pick it cold steel 3 but if you get i n it shows both 3 and 4. I see 4 alone but i can't find 3 (Jesus psn sucks.. they need to make this store from scratch at some point..). Although the psn site on the web shows it for 23 something when i log in i can't find it. On my console its 40 for both regions so whatever i guess..

 

[LukeAJN]

Where would be a good jumping in point for this series?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Where would be a good jumping in point for this series?

Start with this game that's about to be released on the 5th. New story arc, new main characters, new location on the continent.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Guess I gotta update the OP once more. It's sitting at 88 now on OC!

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Guess I gotta update the OP once more. It's sitting at 88 now on OC!

Should be at 100 for Top Critic Average and 100% for Critics Reccomend

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Should be at 100 for Top Critic Average and 100% for Critics Reccomend

 

[LukeAJN]

Start with this game that's about to be released on the 5th. New story arc, new main characters, new location on the continent.

OK great, thanks a lot it was the answer I was hoping for

 

[night13x]

I'm very surprised IGN France has not weighed in : "2/10, game doesnt feature enough diversity. I saw a white character and cried. The women are truely unrelistically beautiful and has now led to I and majority of women of gaming to ponder suicide for not being able to meet fake pixel standards."



Anyways - game is a leap forward in many departments so I am glad it is reviewing well.

 

[Gambit2483]

As I said before it's funny how Falcom is one of the few Japanese Developers that has a weird grudge against Nintendo

If it wasn't for Nintendo and its immense popularity in Japan (and Western aficionados like in this thread) where even would these niche Japanese developers/ publishers be right now? I highly doubt the Playstation brand would still be single-handedly carrying this market, especially in Japan.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

If it wasn't for Nintendo and its immense popularity in Japan (and Western afficinados like in this thread) where even would these niche Japanese developers/ publishers be right now? I highly doubt the Playstation brand would still be single-handedly carrying this market, especially in Japan.

The Japanese market has left Playstation behind. Which is a good thing. I was getting tired of Sony trying moneyhat all the Japanese 3rd Parties when I think all those games should be multiplatform from the start. My two cents

 

[BacklashWave534]

My only annoyance with the trails series is that you have to follow the guide step by step or miss out on stuff including good endings to the games. Still one of my favorite games series though.

 

[Thief1987]

My only annoyance with the trails series is that you have to follow the guide step by step or miss out on stuff including good endings to the games. Still one of my favorite games series though.

Beside ToCS IV there were games with different endings? And even there it's pretty hard to miss true ending.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]