{"id":1693833,"date":"2026-09-16T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aP3CVHbq2VCxNkFt7X3NZP"},"modified":"2026-09-16T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T07:00:00","slug":"ive-been-waiting-all-year-for-the-2nd-chapter-to-last-years-best-jrpg-remake-it-did-not-disappoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arcader.org\/news\/ive-been-waiting-all-year-for-the-2nd-chapter-to-last-years-best-jrpg-remake-it-did-not-disappoint\/","title":{"rendered":"I’ve been waiting all year for the 2nd Chapter to last year’s best JRPG remake\u2014it did not disappoint"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I had an extremely good time with the Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter <\/a>last year. As a big fan of the Trails of Cold Steel PC ports, finally getting the opportunity to try the first installment in the beloved JRPG series, with all the modern accoutrements of a full 3D remake<\/a>, was truly a pleasure. <\/p>\n

Falcom really didn’t skimp when it came to upgrading the experience to the standard of its newer Trails games. There’s only one problem: I wanted more. <\/em><\/p>\n

Despite 1st Chapter being a pretty well-rounded story\u2014clocking in at a perfectly reasonable 40 hours for me\u2014it ends on a criminal <\/em>cliffhanger. It’s easy to see why so many say that 2nd Chapter is really just the second part of the first game, something I probably should’ve clocked considering the naming convention.<\/p>\n

But having played Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Remake<\/a> this last week or so, I can say it feels more like a victory lap, building on the setting, characters, and quests you completed in the first. It’s very much what you’d expect from the middle child of a JRPG trilogy\u2014the cogs are turning, the characters moving, we’re going somewhere<\/em>. <\/p>\n

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\"Trails
2nd Chapter’s Bracer requests feel a bit trickierFalcom<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trails
With save import, many characters from the first game will remember youFalcom<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trails
The banter is also extremely goodFalcom<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trails
Lots of great character momentsFalcom<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Trails
Olivier and Estelle’s relationship continues to be my favFalcom<\/small><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n

While I won’t spoil too much, 2nd Chapter feels like a bit more of a coming of age story for Estelle, as she finds herself adrift as a newly-made Senior Bracer. With the help of familiar faces, you’ll travel around Liberl investigating the activities of Ouroborous, the secret society who reared their head in the previous game.<\/p>\n

So yes, it’s the classic Trails recipe: cosy and comfy odd-jobbing as you help the citizens of Liberl, but with a dash of uncovering and foiling grand nefarious schemes. I’m about 30 hours into 2nd Chapter, but it feels very much like your typical Trails game in that sense\u2014good news if that’s what you like. I know I do.<\/p>\n