Coming-of-age stories are a dime a dozen in video games, especially if you’re talking about the heyday of RPGs in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. But after 80 hours with the Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter remake, I’m convinced there’s not a single coming-of-age story that holds up as well as Estelle Bright’s journey of self-discovery. Building on the already-great remake of the first game, 2nd Chapter masterfully updates a timeless story, accentuating it with visual enhancements and phenomenal voice acting. And while the gameplay additions are few, they are meaningful, adding up to what is now the Trails series’ defining entry, and one of the best RPGs of the year.
2nd Chapter is, essentially, the second half of the story of Trails in the Sky, picking up quite literally where 1st Chapter left off. Although this has long become tradition for the Trails series, this sequel deliberately builds on the events, locations, and systems of the first, ultimately feeling more like an upgrade than a drastically different sequel.
Senior Bracer Estelle Bright, in the wake of a coup to overthrow Liberl’s Queen, now finds herself lost and alone after her adopted brother (and the man she loves), Joshua, reveals his checkered past and shocks everyone with an unceremonious departure. Reeling from multiple revelations, Estelle sets out on a journey to combat the heinous experiments of a shadowy organization called Ouroboros, while discovering her own reason to live on.
Because this game directly and deliberately builds on 1st Chapter, playing through the first game is basically a requirement; but for all intents and purposes, 2nd Chapter is where the big narrative swings come into play. And boy do they pay off.
It may sound a bit hammy, but 2nd Chapter is truly a game about the power of positivity and human connection. Baked into the fabric of this story are strong messages of the power of human choice – the importance of leaning on others and not giving in to despair. Despite 2nd Chapter being a nearly two-decade-old game, its overall message is one that feels more relevant than ever in the modern world: a strong reminder of the importance of community and caring for everyone, even if the systems governing society don’t. These ideas are expertly woven into every facet of the game, illustrated through side quests, the arcs of party members, and especially Estelle’s personal journey. More than anything, Estelle herself remains the biggest highlight of this game as a richly layered and complex protagonist.
It’s honestly a shame that, 20 years later, it still feels so rare to get a brilliantly written female protagonist in RPGs like this, but Estelle’s complex character arc is so smartly explored; from her learning to stand on her own, without Joshua and her father’s help, to her endless optimism. So much of why Estelle works so well is because she’s initially built up as that cheerful, overly optimistic RPG hero stereotype, before that trope is then subverted multiple times throughout the game. This is a story that’s deeply affecting and emotional, with a delightfully slow build-up.
The overall narrative of 2nd Chapter remake is exactly the same as the original game, although it’s been very slightly tweaked here and there and enhanced with some new content. In particular, smart story adjustments help this remake line up with later entries in the franchise, providing extra context on villains and story arcs that have been playing out across a dozen games. And everything in the game is heightened by genuinely fantastic voice acting across the board. 2nd Chapter has some big emotional scenes, and the voice cast pulls them off with gusto. Ray Chase’s Kevin Graham is a particular highlight here as a warrior priest who puts on a bumbling act, hiding an icy personality underneath.
In every regard, the story and writing have been spruced up; the additions here are additive in the best way. That same sentiment then applies to combat and the overall gameplay experience. The hybrid combat system is identical to 1st Chapter, letting you fight enemies in an action system on the map, and then enter a turn-based battle at the press of a button. While the foundation is the same, each character has new arts and crafts. A Brave Rush ability also lets you execute a deadly team strike while fighting enemies in the action system on the map.
On other fronts, 2nd Chapter’s fishing minigame has been completely overhauled and is now surprisingly complex in how you must use different baits and rods at different fishing spots. The enhanced map system and quest tracking also work wonders for finding what were hidden, incredibly easy-to-miss quests in the original game. Again, the intent here is clearly additive, with new elements layered on top. It’s like spreading that extra delicious layer of frosting on top of a cake.
It’s not often that a game succeeds on pretty much every level, but 2nd Chapter is a rare one where it’s hard to find nearly any fault. The only real downside is that occasionally dated RPG design rears its head, in the form of dungeons that can feel just a tad too long. Some minuscule trimming of the original’s game’s content could have benefitted the overall experience, and in that regard, it is perhaps the singular misstep of this remake.
The biggest question any remake has to answer is, why? What about this experience justifies remaking, or reimagining the original? Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter now feels like one of the definitive answers to that question. It’s a game that so succinctly and expertly enhances everything about the original, from a lavish visual presentation that fills the world with extra color and detail, to a perfectly tuned enhancement of the original game’s dramatic storytelling.
The original 2nd Chapter helped establish the Trails series as something special, and it truly feels like Nihon Falcom’s series has now come full circle, folding everything the studio has learned back in on itself. And in the process, it’s created an RPG powerhouse that can stand alongside the genre’s greats.
