Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Remake Review

The Trails in the Sky remakes continue to be a massive win for role playing fans. Following the success of the first game, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter picks up right where the dramatic cliffhanger left off. Estelle Bright is left heartbroken after her adoptive brother Joshua confesses his past as an assassin and walks out of her life. Now a senior bracer, Estelle sets out to find him while uncovering a massive conspiracy involving the secret society Ouroboros across the continent of Zemuria.

The voice cast truly steals the show. Stephanie Sheh delivers an incredible performance as Estelle, carrying heavy emotional material with incredible range. The supporting cast shines just as brightly, featuring standout work from Ray Chase as Kevin Graham and Brianna Knickerbocker as Tita Russell. While the partial voice acting in some scenes remains a bit jarring, the strong cutscene direction makes major story moments land with huge emotional impact.

Developer Nihon Falcom kept the core combat system mostly intact, which is a great choice. The hybrid system lets players breeze through weaker enemies with Quick Battles or tackle tough bosses using strategic Command Battles. Useful additions like the Brave Rush ability, improved map tracking, and a rebuilt fishing minigame make exploring the world smoother than ever before.

Though some dungeons drag on and feature recycled maps from the first game, the overall package is an unforgettable experience. Combined with an outstanding reorchestrated score by Falcom's Sound Team jdk, this sequel serves as a brilliant payoff to everything the first chapter built.