The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak Demo Now Available On Switch eShop

Hmm... haven't played any of these games so... guess I'll give it a go to see how it feels.

Looks alot like Y's VIII to me

Will definitely check out the demo!

Oh, and NIS and Deep Silber, if you’re reading this: I’d like to be able to play all previous games in the Trails series on the Switch, starting with the Trails in the Sky trilogy 🥺

I'm gonna buy this now but play it later. 3 down, only 7 Trails games left to go... ONLY...

Preordered it after playing the demo! Enjoyed it a lot. July will be all about Trails through Daybreak for me after finishing Paper Mario sometime this month.

Without the previous Trails games available, no way I'm getting this. Sorry, folks! Someday, hopefully.

The real-time combat option is giving me serious YS vibes. I might have to play this day one.

@DogDetective The same company that makes the Ys series also makes the Trails series. The developer is named Falcom. They are a Japanese company (obviously!).

Hmm. I'll have to try this one.

This is a great series (I played some on my beloved and still used PS vita!) but my god are they long. Too long really, which is, for me at least, an issue with so many modern JRPGs. 90-100 hours for a fairly standard run through the story is a hell of a time investment.

Never played any of these games before but always heard good things about it. Will try out the demo and go from there.

I might download the demo to try while on vacation. However, it'll likely be ages before I get around to the full game. I want to play the other arcs first, or at least find a comprehensive synopsis or two for games I either potentially miss or that lose my interest.

Another series that's impossible to get into, such as Ys. I always think of the conspiracy guy meme when I talk to people about them or check "where to start" guides

Looking forward to getting into this.

@gabrigoes most Ys games are completely standalone though. There are loose connections, but the stories in each don't require any real understanding of adjacent games to enjoy them.

@gabrigoes I humbly disagree regarding Ys. The barrier of entry is much lower than Trails. On their own, most Ys titles are self-contained (Outside of Ys I & II, which are short and usually bundled together) and can be enjoyed as is.

I'm gradually working my way through a suggested "story" playthrough of all modern entries. There is overarching lore - I love this sort of thing - but again, the plots in each game are pretty much standalone. The games are fast-paced ARPGs. Some people ignore the text entirely and play the Ys series for its gameplay and fun/challenging boss fights.

I'm not sure what systems are available to you. From the titles I've played so far, for a first game I'd recommend Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, Ys: The Oath In Felghana, or Ys Origin. The latter two are slightly older and use a gameplay engine akin to top-down Zelda with some jumping. I've also heard Ys IX: Monstrum Nox recommended, but I've not played that one yet.

Digital Emelas is a great resource if you're interested in Ys and want more info.

@YourDaddy I haven't played Ys Seven yet, but I hope to grab it during the Steam Summer Sale. I've heard it's decent too. Ys: Memories of Celceta is really good from a gameplay perspective, so it is one I'd recommend from that angle. Plot-wise...not so much. Some interesting developments in it to be sure, but there are definitely stronger stories and characters in the Ys series.

@YourDaddy Heh, true. Ys is more about the gameplay. Hence why Trails is on the other side of the same Falcom coin. For me, plot is pretty important in games depending on the genre, which extends to pretty much any RPG. Which is why I think some of the other Ys titles (Again, that I've played; I plan to start Ys VI: The Ark of Napishtim soon) are stronger introductions in both the plot and gameplay departments.

It's really hard to go wrong with any of the modern Ys titles though. Ys I & II, depending on the version, can be archaic with the bump combat, but I still found plenty in them to enjoy. I've not played some of the older titles before they were remade.

@YourDaddy I mostly managed Ys I & II Chronicles+ (Steam) on my own, but I did need to consult a guide now and then. At their core, the games are still very much from the late 80s. Even with a wonderful new coat of paint and interesting plot + characters, there's no getting around that era's game design.

My plan is to catch up on the Ys series - three games left when ignoring Ys X: Nordics - then get my feet wet with Trails. I plan to try the games by arc in order not to get overwhelmed lol. A friend gifted me Trails In The Sky FC on Steam, so I suppose that's where I'll start. I also have the Legend of Nayuta spinoff on Switch, so I'll probably play it whenever. Between Switch and PC, I'm sure I'll manage...but it would be nice if it was all in one place. I really am looking forward to Trails as I love extensive world building and connections in games.

@Tyranexx thanks for the very info-packed answer. I was kinda just joking, as I myself am not a connoisseur of both series to really make a hard claim about them, but it's nice to know I can easily get into Ys, at least, with relatively low difficulty. I was looking for info on this the other day and found just the site you recommended. I'll definitely give it a try! Thanks!

@gabrigoes No problem. Happy to help! Ys VIII was my first game, and I fell for the series hard after playing it. While the Xenoblade series is my favorite action RPG series, Ys comes pretty close in my book. Ys is ultimately more about gameplay than plot, but some of the stories and characters are worth experiencing too.

I'm not sure if you followed my conversation with another user above, but you and I are at about the same spot when it comes to the Trails entries. I plan to give the series a try, though I'm unsure if I'll get to all the games.

@Tyranexx Actually, I just started Ys Origin earlier after I saw your comment. Perhaps Ys VIII was a better entry point, but I dunno, Origin seemed more fitting to me. I am enjoying it, the gameplay is very tight.

I didn't read the whole thread, I'll take a look.

And Xenoblade is also my favorite ARPG series! Not only that, it's my favorite video-game franchise. It's nice to hear from a fellow fan, haha

@gabrigoes There are several Ys games that make great entry points, and I do stand by my Ys Origin recommendation too. Ys VIII just happened to be mine, causing me to take a closer look at the series after my experience with it. Both are on Switch, another plus in my book. I've had to play some of the games through Steam; the Ys series is half the reason why I bothered making a Steam account after putting it off for so long. XD

I love the Xenoblade series! XC:DE was my first game after trying to unsuccessfully track down a reasonably priced copy of the Wii original. I'm almost caught up, though I'll finally get to Future Redeemed soon after playing XC3 around when it launched. Two years is a long wait, but...so many games, a finite amount of free time.