Topic: Nihon Falcom games on NS2

@JaxonH Let us know when you get a chance to test it out. I'm curious if either of the modes can actually hold a locked framerate after the patch, or if the optimal way to play will still be to just play the Switch 1 version on Switch 2.

@Mgalens I agree with you that all trails games on the original switch need switch 2 versions, after finishing Trails Sky 1st Chapter, I really wanted to go back and play Trails Cold Steel IV, to see certain story aspects but without performance upgrades it doesn't seem worth playing it on Switch 2 currently.

I contacted nisa america about Trails Zero and Azure FMVs issues but I haven't gotten a reply either.

It is a shame because out of all the JRPGs on the original switch I spent the most time on falcom games as well as xenoblade.

@xenobladexfan
I'm loving Trails in the Sky right now. Absolutely adoring it, and I've never played any of this series before.

I'm just playing the Switch 1 version on my Switch 2 and I think it looks awesome. I don't really see how much more fiedlity/fps or whatever you'd want out of this graphics style, though.

@rallydefault this series is great, I recommend playing daybreak ii on switch 1, as well as crossbell games on ns1.

The Cold Steel arc works fine as well as Daybreak 1 on switch 2.

@xenobladexfan
Sweet. Yea, someone said they’re probably gonna do a remake like this for the next Trails in the Sky, and then hopefully the third.

And then I should be able to get most of the other games between S1/S2.

I’m not a huge stickler for performance, especially for rpgs like these, so I don’t mind some issues here and there.

@rallydefault
from what i hear the performance on S2 for most of the games seems fine since it smoothed out the issues with things like cold steel 3/4/reverie however they do look somewhat blurry though (with daybreak 2 i hear the blurryness gets especially bad to where certain things look more like abstract blobs at a distance.)

The crossbell games were older so they ran at a higher res and were 60fps on switch 1 also but on switch 2 while they look and run fine theres the FMV issues mentioned earlier (FMV story scenes not playing which is bad because both games heavily use FMVs for scenes towards the ends of their stories during some big moments too) im hoping this can either be fixed during a firmware update or a bit of a longer shot, a specific patch.

i would probably recommend playing those 2 games on switch 1 if it isnt fixed by the time you reach them.

i do feel like my holy-trinity of most wanted switch 2 updates is Falcom games, Xenoblade games, Octopath games.

@rallydefault, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter remake is already pretty much guaranteed which is really awesome.

I played Trails Cold steel 3 on Switch 1 for 100 hours it was a great game, my favourite Trails games are: Trails sky 1st chapter, Trails cold steel 3&4, Daybreak 1 and Trails to Azure.

@Mgalens, that's intrusting about the crossbell games I only thought the FMVs issues was only on the home menu, does it effect story gameplay on switch 2 because I did try trails zero on my switch 2 but didn't get past the first chapter.

@Mgalens
Yea, I’m playing the physical copy on my switch 2 without the upgrade patch and honestly I have zero issues with the graphics, especially on the tv. Handheld does have a slight blur to it, and you can tell the frame rate is lower, but it’s not bad at all.

@xenobladexfan
yeah from what i hear in game they are just skipped, i did see some threads where people had started Zero and the FMV of you arriving by train didnt play and playing through azure and towards the end of a later chapter a major FMV didnt play.

its frustrating considering all the big moments which feature FMVs, it does make me hope that it will be fixed as a result of one of those firmware updates which update the transition layer for BC.

@Mgalens, that sucks i remember the FMVs in the crossbell arc had some excellent movies that played during story, really hoping for a switch 2 upgrade or patch as the crossbell series, are some of my favourite video games .

Are the issues with Zero and Azure still around? I want to pick them up, but if the cutscenes don't work I'm not sure if it's worth it. (Don't want to spend 1/3 of my playtime on YouTube!)

@Bluelink45 yes I think so, haven't heard of any fixes to these games but its important to note these problems only happen on the switch 2 and both these games work perfectly on the original switch.

@xenobladexfan Yeah, unfortunately I sold my S1 to offset some of the cost for my S2. Unfortunate, Ill check back in once I'm done with Sky SC and Sky the 3rd.

@Bluelink45, sky SC remake is pretty much confirmed at this point and there is trails beyond the horizon coming to switch 2 in January next year.

@xenobladexfan I'm playing the original Sky SC on my laptop right now. I played the remake of FC on my S2, and instantly bought SC and The 3rd on Steam since they were on sale, so I'm working through them right now (not concurrently ofc). Ill still buy SC remake when it comes out simply because the game will probably be much more enjoyable for me (I'm suffering without side quest markers)

New update released for Trails In The Sky 1st on Switch 2. It now offers a Graphics and Performance mode. The Performance mode now holds a stable 60fps. In handheld it seems to be 720p for Performance mode and 1080p for graphics mode. The graphics mode I tested swinging the camera in the city and it didnt seem to stutter like before so I assumed it got capped at 30fps. But someone said it's not. So Idk. But if its not, it at least feels more stable than before. Regardless the Performance mode is the way to go. Feels so good now holding 60fps.

@Bluelink45
I will wait for sky sc to come out for switch 2 , just hoping that nis america can take over the localisation rights because the only complaint is have about sky 1st chapter is gungho as a publisher.

@JaxonH that's cool I played it last night and it looks even more better on the switch 2 now, hoping all the trails games can get switch 2 updates.

@xenobladexfan Can definitely see why you'd do that. The game definitely shows it's age in places. Still really enjoyable, though.

@xenobladexfan I'm glad GungHo published the Sky remake. If it was in the hands of NISA, we probably wouldn't have gotten an upgrade path for Switch 1 to Switch 2. (The upcoming Trails Beyond the Horizon from NISA does not have an upgrade path from Switch 1 to Switch 2, you either get the Switch 1 physical or a Switch 2 GKC. And the Switch 2 version is $10 more expensive for no reason. It's even more expensive than the PS5 version!)

@topsekret
I dont buy key-carts, only on-cart physical, but I'm also 100% digital and just double dip on the physical releases.

A huge benefit is you dont have to worry about key-carts, and, you can get games for 10-13% off buying eShop credit through gcx.raise

I've been loading up lately with 13% off cards (14.5% off but raise charges a fee for 3rd party sellers so it washes out to 13%), which essentially makes $70 games $60.90 day one. Which feels a little more reasonable.

But I understand not everyone likes digital. If you are willing to embrace it though, you can take advantage of games costing less.