Kicking off an entire new saga in Falcom’s storied Trails collection, Trails by Dawn represents a step ahead for the franchise in so some ways. Boasting an up to date recreation engine, pretty vital gameplay additions, and a totally new setting, that is in all probability the freshest that Trails has felt for the reason that authentic Trails of Chilly Metal — and that was 5 entire 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 trade. It is a nation that is vastly benefitted from its struggle with the aforementioned Empire, with reparations paving the best way for an enormous financial increase.
Taking all of this under consideration, Calvard makes for an thrilling backdrop. Falcom is ready to push themes and concepts that will 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 title of Van Arkride.
Van’s been across the block. He is primarily a mercenary working out of Calvard’s capital metropolis, and he is not averse to selecting up jobs that almost all 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 solid of occasion 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 recreation that it releases. Dawn’s acquired rather a lot of latest faces — and fairly a couple of returning ones — however conserving monitor of so many roles hardly ever overwhelms. That is largely right down to the title’s methodical pacing, as every story chapter progressively introduces new locations, characters, and ideas. The Trails video games proceed to be a masterclass by way of world constructing.
That stated, there is no 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 strategy helps Falcom in its makes an attempt to flesh out nearly each attainable element — and it is engrossing in case you have the endurance for it — but it surely does gradual proceedings to a crawl now and again.
Nonetheless, we have to reward the localisation staff. 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 like 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 must be reduce — however fashionable Trails video games have this jarring factor the place some characters’ traces will probably be absolutely voiced, whereas others will reply with voiceless textual content packing containers. We dare recommend that you simply get used to it, but it surely’s a problem that stands proud 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 finest, most well-rounded narratives you may discover in a Trails title. Sure, it leans on occasions from earlier video games — particularly afterward — and sure, recurring characters could have rather more impression should you’re really aware of them, however as a standalone story, Dawn feels full; this is not a case of 1 huge recreation 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 by previous titles as a way to get the complete image. Its fully new setting and important characters go a good 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 collection.
Anyway, let’s discuss concerning 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 standard turn-based mode. Out-of-battle assaults are nothing new for these video games, as you’ve got at all times been in a position to smack an opponent on the sector as a way to achieve a bonus when the correct combat begins — and that mechanic has developed 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 pleasant rhythm to the same old dungeon crawling, as you seamlessly change between the 2 modes of play. For the document, the motion portion of fight is fully elective — though as talked about, gorgeous a foe does afford you an enormous benefit forward of the complete encounter, and you possibly can 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, occasion members can now transfer freely throughout the designated enviornment, whereas making use of intelligent positioning to overwhelm opponents with staff assaults and talents that hit tougher from the facet or behind. The system strikes a very nice stability between strategic pondering and turn-by-turn adaptation, as encounters are usually extra dynamic general.
However the underlying mechanics of previous Trails titles stay in place, they usually’re nonetheless a few of the finest you may discover in fashionable RPGs. Every character has entry to plenty of magical arts and distinctive crafts, in addition to omnipotent tremendous strikes. You’ve got acquired plenty of choices to mess around with proper from the beginning, and exploring the person toolkits of your occasion members is a constant pleasure.
Nonetheless, there is no doubt that Falcom has tweaked fight stability as an entire. Within the Chilly Metal video games, you possibly can utterly break the system by particular character builds and techniques, and though you possibly can nonetheless unleash some pretty busted combos in Dawn, the mechanics merely aren’t as abusable as they as soon as have been. This adjustment might come as a disappointment to some gamers, however we do assume that the title’s overarching issue curve is healthier for it; battles are usually a bit extra backwards and forwards, with consideration afforded to defensive ways, versus merely nuking your enemies as shortly as attainable.
On the subject of character builds, the collection’ returning quartz system has been given a reasonably substantial overhaul. In previous titles, gadgets referred to as quartz granted new spells and stat boosts when outfitted — not in contrast to materia in Closing Fantasy 7. However in Dawn, quartz is tied solely to stat will increase and passive perks, whilst you achieve entry to new spells — or arts — by completely different gadgets, often known as ‘drivers’. Separating these two parts of occasion customisation offers you extra freedom, but it surely does really feel convoluted — particularly in the course of the opening couple of story chapters, if you’re nonetheless attempting 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 might 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 infinite provide of NPCs as an alternative 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 follow, they quantity to little greater than trekking between goal markers and wading by a brief novel’s value 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 resolve on settle a quest, selecting between conclusions which are both law-abiding or rule-bending. In flip, your selections can decide sure story beats, and though it stops wanting being a really branching narrative, your alignment does have some cool implications down the road. We might like to see Falcom dig deeper into this type of stuff.
Earlier than we wrap up, we must always focus on Dawn’s a lot 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 at the moment’s requirements — but it surely’s a beautiful launch given the developer’s comparatively restricted sources. The primary character fashions particularly look nice, though their glow-up does imply that the usual NPCs can look tough by comparability. Nonetheless, the general artwork path’s sturdy, and Falcom’s crafted a few of its greatest, most detailed environments up to now.
