Trails through Daybreak Review (PS5) | Push Square

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Kicking off a whole new saga in Falcom's storied Trails series, Trails through Daybreak represents a step forward for the franchise in so many ways. Boasting an updated game engine, fairly significant gameplay additions, and a completely new setting, this is probably the freshest that Trails has felt since the original Trails of Cold Steel — and that was five whole games ago.

The Republic of Calvard has always been a staple in Trails lore, but in Daybreak, fans finally get to explore this much-discussed nation. Where Cold Steel's Erebonian Empire was a country on the cusp of technological revolution, Calvard is borderline futuristic by comparison. It's got supercomputers, laptops, its own F1-style sport, robotic pets, and a thriving motion picture industry. It's a nation that's greatly benefitted from its war with the aforementioned Empire, with reparations paving the way for a huge economic boom.

Taking all of this into account, Calvard makes for an exciting backdrop. Falcom is able to push themes and ideas that would have felt out of place in previous titles, and the result is a surprisingly mature instalment. This newfound maturity is reflected in Daybreak's protagonist, a 24-year-old 'spriggan' by the name of Van Arkride.

Van's been around the block. He's essentially a mercenary operating out of Calvard's capital city, and he's not averse to picking up jobs that most would deem shady. Where prior Trails leads have been righteous through-and-through (obnoxiously so, at times), Van is a genuine breath of fresh air — a hero who's willing to get his hands dirty. His somewhat aloof personality ends up being a fantastic focal point, as he's slowly surrounded by a colourful cast of party members and supporting players.

Indeed, Falcom's managed to create yet another crop of memorable characters — a feat that grows more and more impressive with every game that it releases. Daybreak's got a lot of new faces — and quite a few returning ones — but keeping track of so many