NIS America (146 articles)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/nippon-ichi-software/nis-america”>NIS America to be released The Legend of Heroes: Trail of Dawn II (25 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/en/games/the-legend-of-heroes-trail-of-dawn-ii”>The Legend of Heroes: Trail of Dawn II for PS5 (7,416 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps5″>PlayStation 5, PS4 (26,906 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/playstation/ps4″>PlayStation 4, Switch (15,616 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/nintendo/switch”>Switch and PC (20,611 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/platforms/pc”>PC via Steam, Epic Games (339 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/companies/epic-games”>Epic Games Store and GOG in early 2025 in the West, the publisher announced.
The Legend of Heroes: Paths of Dawn II is currently available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch in Japan and Asia, and on PC via Steam in Asia.
Here’s a preview of the game, via NIS America:
About
The people of Calvard are no longer threatened by the Almata mafia organization and have resumed a peaceful life. But one day, a series of shocking murders involving a mysterious purple beast sets the wheels of fate in motion again. Various factions come into play – both those who follow the law to uncover the truth and those who seek to profit from any new developments as much as possible, no matter how sinister.
As chaos looms once again, spriggan Van Arkride receives an unexpected visitor, sparking his own investigation. Who is behind the murders and what is their purpose? The Sands of Time brings together old and new faces in this thrilling second installment of the series. Trails (55 items)” href=”https://www.gematsu.com/series/trails”>Trails at Dawn saga.
History
Year 1209 of the Septian calendar.
The threat posed by Almata has passed. Peace has finally returned to Calvard. And for a time, that peace is unbroken… until a CID Special Forces unit is slaughtered by an unknown assailant.
While the authorities are trying to contain the situation, criminal forces are taking advantage of the situation to act in turn.
Meanwhile, a spriggan named Van Arkride begins his own investigation, after being prompted by an unexpected visitor.
Who could be responsible for this massacre? What was their goal? And what is the connection with Agnes’ quest to find the eighth Genesis?
The roar of a scarlet beast. A chance encounter with a boy and a girl, both involved in a mysterious quest. These are the circumstances that lead Arkride Solutions on the trail of an inescapable destiny.
System
- Combat system – The game builds on the seamless transition between field battles and command battles introduced in the previous game with new mechanics that can be used in both: Cross Charge and EX Chains! Mastering the use of these two mechanics combined can provide you with overwhelming firepower to use against your opponents.
- Cross load – If you manage to perfectly dodge an enemy’s attack during a campaign battle, the Cross Charge icon will appear! Press the correct button while the icon is on-screen to replace another party member, who will simultaneously perform a charge attack on your enemy! As a bonus, the party member you replace will have increased attack power for a period of time.
- EX Chains – EX Chains can be activated by meeting specific conditions during Command Battles. Once these conditions are met, using a Crafted or Normal Attack against a stunned enemy will automatically activate an EX Chain! This allows party members with SCLM activated to launch a simultaneous attack that will also impact nearby enemies, dealing massive damage.
- Choose your chapters – Van and his crew won’t always travel together during the events of Trails through Daybreak II. Sometimes, some party members may split up to take on tasks in different areas of Calvard at the same time. For this reason, each act contains multiple chapters that you can play in any order. Progress through the story in any order you choose! Each chapter introduces a different group of characters as we see their side of the act’s story unfold. Once you’ve completed your chosen chapter, the next one will automatically start.
- Unique missions – Some chapters will feature missions that leverage the unique abilities of the characters in that chapter’s party. For example, directly controlling the holographic core AI, Mare, to hack into the orbital network, or using Swin to silently track a suspicious individual.
Characters
- From Arkride – The man behind Arkride Solutions. A lover of sweets, saunas, and orb cars. Due to his work as a spriggan, Van tends to take on legally questionable tasks. However, the fact that he sometimes falls on the edge of the law doesn’t stop him from doing good for others, as evidenced by his many personal contacts. While hunting down the Oct-Geneses at Agnes’ request, Van developed the ability to transform into an armored form known as Grendel with the help of Mare, the holographic core installed in his battle orb. It was with this new ability that he was able to fend off the mafia group known as Almata. After terrorizing the entire Republic, Almata was eventually brought to his knees by the Arkride Solutions team during the fight for the Oct-Geneses. Once this threat was quelled, however, they decided to temporarily go their separate ways. Now left to his own devices in a dull office, Van is free to return to his lone wolf lifestyle.
- Agnes Claudel – A first-year student at the prestigious Aramis Academy who currently serves on its Student Council. Despite her polite manner of speaking and sometimes gentle demeanor, Agnes has shown great strength and determination while employed at Arkride Solutions, especially when dealing with the underworld of the company. Agnes first met Van while she was searching for eight prototype orbs known as Oct-Geneses, which she had inherited from her great-grandfather. As a thank you for accepting her request, she began working as one of Arkride Solution’s part-time assistants. As of now, Agnes has recovered seven of the eight Geneses. Unfortunately, while continuing her search for the last remaining Genesis, she has had no choice but to split her time equally between preparing for the Aramis Academy Festival and periodically helping out at Arkride Solutions. When it comes to her relationship with Van, she respects and admires him as an employer. However, she also seems to harbor more romantic feelings for him…
- Elaine Auclair – A rank A bracer affiliated with the Calvard branch of the Bracers Guild. She is sometimes referred to as the “Blade of Beauty.” Due to her dignified beauty and masterful skill with a sword, Elaine tends to attract media attention as often as possible. Unfortunately, this also leads to talent agencies offering her modeling and acting contracts, but she always declines. Aside from being the face of the Bracers Guild, Elaine currently has no interest in joining the entertainment world. During her high school years, she had a brief and fleeting romance with Van before he suddenly disappeared without so much as a word. It was only recently, after seven years, that the two were able to reunite. Although their lingering feelings for each other have made their current relationship a bit strained, the time they spent fighting Almata together was able to strengthen their bond once again. Sometime after the events involving Almata and the Oct-Geneses, Elaine learned that the Department of Central Intelligence’s elite Gamma Squad had been brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, and that a “crimson” monster had been spotted at the crime scene…
World
- The Republic of Calvard – A large country located in the central region of the Zemurian continent. Its current ruler is President Roy Gramheart. Due to the unfortunate circumstances created by the desertification of eastern Zemuria, Calvard has a long history of welcoming immigrants and refugees. The resulting mix of cultures and ethnicities has made the country something of a melting pot. A hundred years ago, Calvard was under the thumb of its monarchical rulers. It was only after Sheena Dirke and her compatriots instigated a democratic revolution that the nation transformed into a democratic republic. Although in constant conflict with Erebonia for control of the bordering regions, Calvard has recently been the target of reparations from the empire following the Battle of Jormungandr. These reparations allowed Calvard to enter a period of rapid growth and development, leading to its eventual surpassing Erebonia as the most powerful nation on the continent. As for the region’s recreational interests, recent technological advances in orbal vehicles and filmmaking have caused a boom in the orbal motorsports and film industries.
- Messeldam – A medium-sized town located north of Calvard. Due to its long-standing role as one of the major trading ports on the North Sea, Messeldam was often tasked during the reign of the monarch with delivering imports to the capital of Oracion, as well as fresh seafood, of course. While the port is still active to this day, developments in airship technology have greatly diminished its importance. The town itself, however, remains an important gateway to Remiferia and the surrounding nations. Unlike Langport, Messeldam has very few tourist destinations. That being said, the architecture of the townscape tends to be quite popular with visitors, as its design has changed little over the last century. The populations of the eastern and central eastern parts of the town are quite sparse due to its geographical location. As such, it lacks a community that values cultural traditionalism. This has fortunately been a boon for Messeldam, as new artistic movements and customs are accepted relatively easily. It is this same attitude that led the town to serve as the venue for the Orbal Film Festival for several years, until it moved to Tharbad in 1208.
Watch the Western Trailer and a Trails series teaser trailer below. Check out a bunch of screenshots in the gallery. Visit the official website here.