Kicking off a complete new saga in Falcom’s storied Trails sequence, Trails via Dawn represents a step ahead for the franchise in so some ways. Boasting an up to date sport engine, pretty vital gameplay additions, and a totally new setting, that is in all probability the freshest that Trails has felt because the unique Trails of Chilly Metal — and that was 5 complete video games in the past.
The Republic of Calvard has at all times been a staple in Trails lore, however in Dawn, followers lastly get to discover this much-discussed nation. The place Chilly Metal’s Erebonian Empire was a rustic on the cusp of technological revolution, Calvard is borderline futuristic by comparability. It is acquired supercomputers, laptops, its personal F1-style sport, robotic pets, and a thriving movement image business. It is a nation that is significantly benefitted from its conflict with the aforementioned Empire, with reparations paving the way in which for an enormous financial growth.
Taking all of this under consideration, Calvard makes for an thrilling backdrop. Falcom is ready to push themes and concepts that might have felt misplaced in earlier titles, and the result’s a surprisingly mature instalment. This newfound maturity is mirrored in Dawn’s protagonist, a 24-year-old ‘spriggan’ by the identify of Van Arkride.
Van’s been across the block. He is basically a mercenary working out of Calvard’s capital metropolis, and he is not averse to selecting up jobs that the majority would deem shady. The place prior Trails leads have been righteous through-and-through (obnoxiously so, at occasions), Van is a real breath of recent air — a hero who’s prepared to get his arms soiled. His considerably aloof character finally ends up being a incredible point of interest, as he is slowly surrounded by a vibrant forged of get together members and supporting gamers.
Certainly, Falcom’s managed to create yet one more crop of memorable characters — a feat that grows increasingly spectacular with each sport that it releases. Dawn’s acquired so much of latest faces — and fairly just a few returning ones — however maintaining observe of so many roles not often overwhelms. That is largely all the way down to the title’s methodical pacing, as every story chapter regularly introduces new locations, characters, and ideas. The Trails video games proceed to be a masterclass when it comes to world constructing.
That mentioned, there is not any getting away from the truth that Dawn is very heavy on textual content. The script — which spans a marketing campaign that lasts round 100 hours — is completely colossal, and issues get extremely wordy at occasions. Once more, this method helps Falcom in its makes an attempt to flesh out virtually each doable element — and it is engrossing if in case you have the endurance for it — however it does gradual proceedings to a crawl every so often.
Nonetheless, we have to reward the localisation crew. The English script is immaculate and emotive, and that is one hell of an achievement given the sheer measurement of the factor.
Talking of localisation, Dawn comes with an elective English dub, however very similar to its Japanese counterpart, it skips nearly all of the dialogue. Now, when a script is that this huge, it is simple to simply accept that corners should be lower — however fashionable Trails video games have this jarring factor the place some characters’ strains will probably be totally voiced, whereas others will reply with voiceless textual content packing containers. We dare recommend that you simply get used to it, however it’s a problem that stands out in Dawn as a result of there are simply so many interactions.
Happily, the storytelling holds up all through, and we would go as far to say that this is without doubt one of the greatest, most well-rounded narratives you will discover in a Trails title. Sure, it leans on occasions from earlier video games — particularly in a while — and sure, recurring characters may have far more affect for those who’re truly conversant in them, however as a standalone story, Dawn feels full; this is not a case of 1 huge sport being sliced into two halves, like with Chilly Metal 3 and 4.
As such, we would advocate Dawn to newcomers, with the caveat that you simply may need to work backwards via previous titles with a purpose to get the complete image. Its solely new setting and most important characters go a great distance in making the sport really feel like one thing of a recent begin. And who is aware of, you may simply spark a long-lasting relationship with this very good sequence.
Anyway, let’s speak in regards to the gameplay. Essentially the most vital change to the Trails blueprint comes within the type of an overhauled fight system, which now incorporates a full-on motion section earlier than leaping into a conventional turn-based mode. Out-of-battle assaults are nothing new for these video games, as you’ve got at all times been capable of smack an opponent on the sphere with a purpose to acquire a bonus when the correct struggle begins — and that mechanic has advanced fairly dramatically in Dawn.
Van and his allies can assault, dodge, and straight-up stun enemies earlier than opting to enter a turn-based battle. The controls are a little stiff throughout these action-based assaults, however they add an pleasurable rhythm to the same old dungeon crawling, as you seamlessly swap between the 2 modes of play. For the report, the motion portion of fight is solely elective — though as talked about, beautiful a foe does afford you an enormous benefit forward of the complete encounter, and you’ll be able to defeat a lot weaker enemies outright if you cannot be bothered taking turns.
In the meantime, on the tactical facet of issues, fight is extra fluid. Throughout their flip, get together members can now transfer freely throughout the designated area, whereas making use of intelligent positioning to overwhelm opponents with crew assaults and talents that hit tougher from the facet or behind. The system strikes a very nice steadiness between strategic pondering and turn-by-turn adaptation, as encounters are typically extra dynamic general.
However the underlying mechanics of previous Trails titles stay in place, they usually’re nonetheless among the greatest you will discover in fashionable RPGs. Every character has entry to a variety of magical arts and distinctive crafts, in addition to omnipotent tremendous strikes. You have acquired plenty of choices to mess around with proper from the beginning, and exploring the person toolkits of your get together members is a constant pleasure.
Nonetheless, there is not any doubt that Falcom has tweaked fight steadiness as a complete. Within the Chilly Metal video games, you may fully break the system via particular character builds and methods, and though you’ll be able to nonetheless unleash some pretty busted mixtures in Dawn, the mechanics merely aren’t as abusable as they as soon as had been. This adjustment might come as a disappointment to some gamers, however we do suppose that the title’s overarching issue curve is healthier for it; battles are typically a bit extra backwards and forwards, with consideration afforded to defensive techniques, versus merely nuking your enemies as rapidly as doable.
On the subject of character builds, the sequence’ returning quartz system has been given a fairly substantial overhaul. In previous titles, objects known as quartz granted new spells and stat boosts when outfitted — not in contrast to materia in Ultimate Fantasy 7. However in Dawn, quartz is tied solely to stat will increase and passive perks, whilst you acquire entry to new spells — or arts — via totally different objects, often known as ‘drivers’. Separating these two components of get together customisation offers you extra freedom, however it does really feel convoluted — particularly throughout the opening couple of story chapters, whenever you’re nonetheless making an attempt to wrap your head across the fundamentals.
A part of the issue is that the sport virtually starves you of motion at factors. When fight encounters could be this a lot enjoyable, it is an actual disgrace when Van and the gang are pressured to tackle detective work that sees you run round city, speaking to a seemingly countless provide of NPCs as a substitute of walloping all method of monsters. Certainly, a few of Dawn’s facet quests fall into disappointingly tedious territory — the type of duties that, in idea, ought to solely serve to bolster the sport’s world constructing. However in observe, they quantity to little greater than trekking between goal markers and wading via a brief novel’s price of dialogue.
Fortunately, the all-new ‘alignment’ system provides a contact of spice to those in any other case dreary escapades. Being a morally murky man, Van will typically must determine on methods to settle a quest, selecting between conclusions which can be both law-abiding or rule-bending. In flip, your selections can decide sure story beats, and though it stops in need of being a very branching narrative, your alignment does have some cool implications down the road. We would like to see Falcom dig deeper into this form of stuff.
Earlier than we wrap up, we must always talk about Dawn’s improved visuals. It isn’t a huge leap over the later Chilly Metal video games — and it is undoubtedly not what you’d name graphically spectacular by right now’s requirements — however it’s a gorgeous launch given the developer’s comparatively restricted assets. The primary character fashions specifically look nice, though their glow-up does imply that the usual NPCs can look tough by comparability. Nonetheless, the general artwork course’s robust, and Falcom’s crafted a few of its greatest, most detailed environments up to now.
