NIS America will release The Legend of Heroes: Paths Through Daybreak II for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG in early 2025 in the West, the publisher announced.
The Legend of Heroes: Paths Through Daybreak II is currently available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Switch in Japan and Asia, and for PC via Steam in Asia.
Here’s an overview of the game, via NIS America:
About
No longer threatened by the mafia organization Almata, the people of Calvard have returned to their peaceful lives. But one day, a shocking series of murders involving a mysterious crimson beast sets the wheels of fate in motion again. Various factions spring into action – both those who abide by the law to reveal the truth and those who seek to profit from new developments wherever possible, no matter how sinister.
As chaos looms once again on the horizon, the spriggan Van Arkride receives an unexpected visitor, prompting him to launch his own investigation. Who is behind the murders and what is their purpose? The Sands of Time brings together old and new faces for this thrilling second installment in the Trails through Daybreak story.
Story
Year 1209 of the Septian calendar.
The threat of Almata is over. Peace has finally returned to Calvard. And for a while, that peace remains unbroken, until a special unit of the CID is slaughtered by an unknown assailant.
While authorities try to get the situation under control, criminals seize the opportunity to take their own measures.
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 how does all this relate to Agnes’ quest for the eighth Genesis?
The roar of a crimson beast. A chance encounter with a boy and a girl, both involved in a mysterious quest. These are the circumstances that lead Arkride Solutions onto the trail of an inescapable fate.
System
- Combat system – The game builds on the seamless transition between battles and commando battles introduced in the previous game with new mechanics that can be used in both: Cross Charge & EX Chains! Mastering the use of these two combo mechanics can give you overwhelming firepower to use against your opponents.
- Cross loading – If you manage to Perfectly Dodge an enemy attack during battle, the Cross Charge icon will appear! Pressing the correct button while the icon is on-screen will swap in another party member, who will simultaneously perform a charge attack on your enemy! As a bonus, the party member you swap in will have improved attack power for a limited time.
- EX-Chains – EX Chains can be activated by fulfilling specific conditions during command battles. Once these conditions are met, using a craft or normal attack against a stunned enemy will automatically activate an EX Chain! This allows party members with activated SCLM to perform a simultaneous attack that will also hit nearby enemies, dealing massive damage.
- Choose your chapters – Van and his associates don’t always travel together during the events of Trails through Daybreak II. Sometimes, some of the group will split off to complete tasks in different areas of Calvard at the same time. Because of this, each act contains multiple chapters that you can play in any order you choose. Continue the story in the order you choose! Each chapter features a different cast of characters as we see their side of the act’s story play out. Once you complete the chapter of your choice, the next one will automatically start.
- Unique missions – Certain chapters feature missions that utilize the unique abilities of the characters in that chapter’s party. For example, directly controlling the holo core AI, Mare, to hack the orbal network, or using Swin to silently track a suspicious individual.
Characters
- From Arkride – The man at the head of Arkride Solutions. A lover of sweets, saunas, and orbal cars. Due to his job as a spriggan, Van tends to take on legally questionable jobs. However, the fact that he occasionally walks on the edge of the law does not stop him from doing good to others, as is evident from his numerous personal contacts. While tracking down the Oct-Geneses at Agnes’ request, Van developed the ability to transform into an armored form known as the Grendel using Mare, the holo-core installed in his combat orbment. With this new ability, he was able to repel the mafia group known as Almata. After once terrorizing the entire Republic, Almata was eventually brought to its knees by the Arkride Solutions team during the battle for the Oct-Geneses. However, after this threat was suppressed, they decided to temporarily go their own way. Now that Van is left to his own devices and sitting in a not exactly lively office, he can return to his life as a loner.
- Agnes Claudel – A first-year student at the prestigious Aramis Academy who currently serves on the student council. Despite her polite manner and sometimes humble demeanor, Agnes has shown great strength and determination in her work at Arkride Solutions, especially when taking on the seedy underbelly of society. Agnes first met Van when she was searching for eight prototype orbments, known as Oct-Geneses, which she had inherited from her great-grandfather. In gratitude for accepting her request, she began working as one of Arkride Solutions’ part-time assistants. As of now, Agnes has recovered seven of the eight Geneses. Unfortunately, as she continues her search for the last remaining Genesis, she has no choice but to split her time between preparing for the Aramis Academy Festival and occasionally helping out at Arkride Solutions. As for her relationship with Van, she respects and admires him as her employer. However, she also seems to harbor some more amorous feelings for him…
- Elaine Auclair – An A-rank bracer affiliated with the Calvard chapter of the Bracer Guild. She is occasionally referred to by the nickname “Beauty’s Blade.” Due to her dignified beauty and masterful skill with a sword, Elaine more often than not attracts the attention of the media. Unfortunately, this also leads to talent agencies offering her contracts for modeling and acting jobs – she always declines. Aside from being the poster girl for the Bracer Guild, Elaine currently has no interest in joining the world of entertainment. During her high school years, she enjoyed a brief and fleeting romance with Van before he suddenly disappeared without a word. It wasn’t until recently, after seven years, that the two were able to reunite. While their lingering feelings for each other have strained their current relationship somewhat, their time together fighting Almata was able to strengthen their bond once again. Sometime after the events surrounding Almata and the Oct-Geneses, Elaine received word that the CIA’s elite Gamma Squad had been brutally murdered by an unknown assailant, and that a “crimson” monster had been spotted at the scene of the crime…
World
- The Republic of Calvard – A large nation located in the central region of the Zemurian continent. Its current leader is President Roy Gramheart. Due to the unfortunate circumstances created by the desertification of Eastern Zemuria, Calvard has a significant history of receiving both 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 heel of its monarchical rulers. It was only after Sheena Dirke and her compatriots led a democratic revolution that the nation was transformed into a democratic republic. Though in constant conflict with Erebonia over control of neighboring regions, Calvard has recently received 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 overtaking of Erebonia as the most powerful nation on the continent. As for the region’s recreational interests, recent technological developments in racing vehicles and filmmaking have led to a boom in both motorsports and the film industry.
- Messeldam – A medium-sized city in northern Calvard. Due to its long-standing role as one of the North Sea’s major trading ports, Messeldam was often tasked with delivering imports to the capital city of Oracion during the days of the monarchy, along with fresh seafood of course. While the port remains active to this day, advances in airship technology have greatly diminished its importance. However, the city itself remains an important gateway to Remiferia and the surrounding lands. Unlike Langport, Messeldam has very few tourist destinations. That said, the architecture of the cityscape is generally quite popular with visitors, as the design has changed little over the past century. The city’s eastern and central eastern population is quite sparse due to its geographic location. As such, it lacks a community that values cultural traditionalism. Fortunately, this has been a blessing for Messeldam, as new art movements and customs are accepted with relative ease. It was this very attitude that led the city to serve as the location for the Orbal Film Festival for many years, until it was moved to Tharbad in 1208.
Check out the trailer for the Western announcement and a Paths series overview trailer below. Check out a set of screenshots in the gallery. Visit the official website here.