Happening mere months after the occasions of Trails via First light, its sequel — merely titled Trails via First light 2 right here within the west — steadily seems like a character-driven epilogue slightly than a full-blown follow-up.
The primary First light instructed an entire story; the type of storyline that Falcom typically splits throughout two video games. Certain, Van and the crowd’s preliminary journey left quite a lot of questions unanswered, however structurally, it used to be powerful. It had a transparent starting, heart, and finish, to the purpose the place it nearly felt like a standalone factor, with the saga’s broader storylines set to be addressed in later video games.
First light 2 isn’t a kind of later video games. As a substitute of taking the overarching narrative and working with it, it makes an attempt to construct upon plot issues unique to its predecessor — plot issues that, arguably, did not want to be introduced again into center of attention.
The tale will inevitably disappoint some lovers. As alluded, First light 2 leans on its huge forged of characters, the use of their building to offset narrative beats that may appear both convoluted or repurposed. And to be honest, a lot of the nature building is profitable and fascinating.
To its receive advantages, the sport splits its tale between other teams of heroes — similar to in Trails into Reverie. This permits the plot to be unfurled from separate views, whilst additionally giving vital characters extra space to correctly specific themselves.
If you might be k with First light 2’s loss of vital, general narrative development, then there is in fact so much to love about its extra private threads. In that sense, the sequel finally ends up being an ideal significant other piece to the unique First light — however once more, your expectancies want to be saved in take a look at.
And that still applies to the reuse of… neatly, almost about the whole lot from the primary sport. Each visually and robotically, First light 2 may just moderately simply be fallacious for its predecessor. Outdoor of a few admittedly large new environments, the sequel is very happy to recycle as a lot stuff because it in all probability can.
Falcom advanced First light 2 in a rather brief house of time — and it presentations. To be transparent, this is not some affordable cash-in that will have been DLC, however the sport does combat to face by itself benefit from time to time — like its most effective actual goal is to bridge the distance between First light and Kai no Kiseki.
Nonetheless, it is laborious to not revel in Falcom’s generally enticing characters and the detailed international development that surrounds them. The name’s padded storytelling might grate from time to time, however its extra dramatic moments retain their affect on account of the forged’s general attraction.
Certainly, protagonist Van Arkride stays one of the vital developer’s best-realised leads, and his closest partners act as incredible foils. Plus, it is helping that lots of First light’s secondary characters are welcomed into the Arkride Answers fold. Some grow to be key birthday celebration individuals for a number of chapters at a time, whilst others come and pass — however they all deliver new and entertaining dynamics to the present staff.
As you’ll be able to most likely inform, we are slightly torn on First light 2’s storytelling, however there is one specific plot tool that — 40 or 50 hours in — in reality began to check our persistence. With out spoiling anything else particular, there is a MacGuffin that wears out its welcome lengthy sooner than the credit roll.
In the beginning, it provides one thing new to Trails — a novel twist on Falcom’s standard narrative design. However over the process the journey, it devolves into being a shockingly predictable, extremely handy tale staple that comes dangerously just about cheapening the revel in.
Fortunately, this particular plot tool does not moderately diminish what First light 2 will get proper — it is simply one thing that may (and most likely will) frustrate those that already need extra from the collection’ overarching issues.
It can be right down to the truth that the sequel does not need to spend tens of hours introducing a brand spanking new forged, however we expect First light 2 moves a greater gameplay stability than the former instalment. There are extra dungeons and higher boss battles, whilst facet quests, typically talking, be offering a better level of participant enter and interplay.
There are a couple of minigames to take a look at out as neatly, which have been noticeably absent from the primary First light. Fishing returns (hurrah!), there is a hacking job the place you are taking regulate of a virtual assemble and transfer via maze-like ranges with the intention to open particular treasure chests, and there is even one-on-one basketball.
None of those minigames are particularly in-depth or, to be truthful, all that rewarding — however they assist destroy issues up if you find yourself between cutscenes and struggle, and Trails simply feels proper when there are amusing little distractions available right here and there.
Talking of struggle, there is so much of it in First light 2 — most commonly on account of the Marchen Garten, a virtual dungeon that progressively expands as you move via the primary tale. Every other Reverie-inspired addition, the Garten means that you can acquire a birthday celebration of your opting for and grind in your center’s content material, unlocking randomised rewards and personality cosmetics as you pass.
Repetitive environments reduce the Garten’s pull reasonably, however just like the aforementioned minigames, it makes for a good distraction — particularly for those who revel in First light 2’s struggle, and enjoying round with personality builds.
The struggle gadget itself stays the similar: an preliminary, action-based escalation adopted via turn-based fighting. The motion phase continues to be lovely fundamental, however you’ll be able to now change between birthday celebration individuals after a a hit dodge, leading to tough counterattacks. There is just a little extra aptitude to it.
In the meantime, the satisfyingly tactile, turn-based meat of struggle has been tweaked and subtle. More than a few personality talents had been rebalanced, abusable mechanics had been toned down, and efficient additions like workforce assaults and dual-element magic arts deliver new techniques to the desk.
However as teased, it is the larger, extra vital encounters that stand out. First light 2’s tale may no longer hit as laborious because it will have to, however Falcom pulls out all of the stops with sequenced boss fights and spiralling stakes. Upload some banging fight issues to the combination and that is steadily Trails struggle at its maximum intense and tasty.
