Proper, first issues first, don’t play Trails past the Horizon if you have not already crushed Trails by means of Dawn and Trails by means of Dawn 2.
Even by Trails requirements, Horizon is ridiculously dense; the occasions of this long-awaited sequel rely closely on you having intimate data of previous titles, and so even you probably have performed Dawn and Dawn 2, it is perhaps a good suggestion to observe a narrative recap earlier than you get caught in.
In fact, the sheer heft of the sequence’ narrative — which now spans 13 (13!) video games — is each one among its biggest strengths and one its most off-putting points. However that is what makes a title like Horizon so completely distinctive; the place else are you going to discover a recreation constructed on over 20 years of interconnected storytelling?
Truthfully, Falcom’s unwavering dedication to the franchise borders on absurd at this level, however you have to respect simply how unapologetically impenetrable this newest instalment is. If ever there was a Trails title created for completely nobody however present followers, that is it.
Trails past the Horizon represents the end result of plot strains which were stewing for a number of console generations, packed right into a roughly 80-hour journey break up throughout three playable teams of characters.
At its core, Horizon is actually the third recreation within the aforementioned Dawn saga, sporting a continued give attention to Van Arkride and his ragtag allies as they examine all kinds of unusual happenings in Calvard’s sprawling capital metropolis of Edith.
However on the identical time, Horizon incorporates a lot of characters from older Trails titles, particularly the Chilly Metal video games. These effectively established heroes are introduced in to assist tie Horizon’s high-stakes story to the sequence’ broader, ongoing narratives, leading to a plot that is tackled from a variety of fascinating angles.
All of it will get off to a somewhat sluggish begin, nonetheless. We might argue that the discharge’s opening act is essentially its weakest, because it spends a bit an excessive amount of time attempting to reintroduce a frankly stunning variety of returning characters. Critically, Van and the gang can barely stroll 5 ft with out yet one more outdated pal hijacking the scene.
However push by means of these early pacing points and Horizon’s story actually begins to ramp up. The truth is, we might be tempted to say that that is one among Falcom’s greatest efforts almost about sustaining rigidity; nearly each chapter ends with a powerful bang, all the time protecting you guessing as to what the following twist is perhaps.
The Japanese developer deserves an terrible lot of reward for simply how effectively it manages Horizon’s interlocking storylines. Granted, a number of the beats could be a contact predictable — particularly should you’re acquainted with the form of tropes the Trails video games are inclined to fall again on — however Horizon actually does not skimp on reveals and revelations of nice significance.
And we do not simply imply that from the angle of this one recreation — we’re speaking your complete franchise right here.
Certainly, the all-important world constructing that holds Trails collectively is expanded upon to a shocking diploma, giving welcome perception into issues that followers have been arguing over for ages. And in that sense, this can be a notably thrilling title in comparison with previous entries, which have — at instances — been accused of treading water on a wider narrative scale.
However do not get your hopes up too a lot. Whereas Horizon does really feel like a particular level of no return for numerous story parts, it is also eager to bolster the truth that issues are removed from over, posing loads of questions that the following recreation(s) will try and reply. The top is in sight, however solely form of.
It is about time we moved onto the gameplay facet of Horizon, however to be sincere, not an entire lot has modified since Dawn 2. The general construction of the sport stays in place, with outlined story chapters being damaged up between primary and facet aims, a wholesome chunk of exploration, and a smattering of more and more intense fight encounters.
Even the Marchen Garten — a considerably randomised, largely non-obligatory dungeon designed to be conquered over the course of the sport — returns, albeit with a brand new title. The refreshed Grim Garten has deeper connections to the precise plot, however its objective is similar: that is the place you go whenever you wish to discover new social gathering mixtures, stage up your characters, and grind for helpful tools.
Whereas a bit repetitive, the Grim Garten supplies what we predict is a mandatory, combat-driven diversion, away from the hours upon hours of dialogue that you will be sitting by means of exterior.
Horizon can get so slowed down in character churn and exposition that the steadiness between yapping and precise gameplay can really feel approach too one-sided. However fortunately, the Garten is all the time readily available to maintain you invested in all of these addictive RPG parts.
Similar to in Dawn 2, you are given a lot of social gathering members to develop and customise. Character builds can nonetheless vary from simplistic to extremely specialised, and there are such a lot of unlockable magic arts and passive perks to contemplate.
There are some actually partaking programs at play right here — a typical Trails trait at this level — and so they all reward the trouble that you just’re keen to place in.
However after we say that Horizon is dense, we additionally imply that from a gameplay perspective. Once more, Dawn-ers will really feel proper at dwelling, however specifically, new battle mechanics one way or the other convey much more choices to the desk.
For instance, ‘S-Boosts’ — a useful resource that builds up as you combat — can now be spent on party-wide buffs, that are like an evolution of the Courageous Orders from the Chilly Metal saga. Or, you possibly can gasoline new high-damage workforce assaults along with your S-Increase bars as a substitute.
In a nutshell, there’s an excellent higher emphasis on useful resource administration — particularly within the recreation’s more durable brawls. It does not really feel just like the underlying steadiness of fight has been rewired too a lot, however there is a contemporary tactical flexibility in Horizon that is certain to entice returning gamers.
Having stated all of that, we nonetheless discover ourselves preferring the scaled-back, however brilliantly refined strategy of Trails within the Sky 1st Chapter’s fight system. Horizon’s complexity is a power as soon as you’ve got wrapped your head round its interior workings, nevertheless it’s teetering on the sting of being needlessly convoluted.
And we cannot lie, we’re additionally lacking 1st Chapter’s immaculate presentation. Now, this is not essentially Falcom’s fault since Horizon launched in Japan again in 2024 — a full 12 months earlier than the Sky remake — however the easy fact is that it could actually’t maintain a candle to what’s supplied by the most recent engine improve.
Environments proceed to look somewhat tough, and the NPCs that inhabit them could be ugly. However no less than Horizon’s bought a bunch of latest fight and cutscene animations that rival these present in 1st Chapter. We’re hoping that Horizon’s sequel will give Calvard the glow up that it deserves.
