Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Review – A Slow-Burning JRPG That Soars When It Matters
Falcom’s remake of the beloved Trails in the Sky SC takes its time getting moving, but once the story finds its momentum, it delivers one of the strongest adventures in the Trails series.
Review Score: 9/10
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC/Steam
Release Date: September 17, 2026
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Genre: Story-driven JRPG
| Spoiler Warning: This review contains light spoilers for the ending of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, since 2nd Chapter begins immediately after those events.
A Classic JRPG Given New Life
Few JRPG sequels carry as much emotional weight as Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. This full remake of the original The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC picks up directly after the cliffhanger ending of 1st Chapter, with Estelle Bright beginning a new journey to find Joshua while investigating the mysterious organization Ouroboros.
Released worldwide on September 17, 2026 for PS5, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 and PC, the remake rebuilds the original adventure with modern 3D graphics, more expressive characters and the hybrid battle system introduced in the 1st Chapter remake.
The result is a JRPG that still proudly carries the deliberate storytelling style of the original while looking and playing like a modern release.
And while that deliberate approach is ultimately one of the game’s greatest strengths, it also creates its biggest problem.
The First Couple of Chapters Are Slow
This needs to be said upfront: the opening chapters of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter can feel slow.
After the dramatic conclusion of the previous game, you might expect the sequel to immediately explode into action. Instead, the game takes its time rebuilding Estelle’s party, revisiting familiar areas and gradually introducing the larger threat facing Liberl.
The first couple of chapters aren’t bad. Far from it. They contain good character development, enjoyable quests and important world-building. But there are moments where it feels as though the story is circling around the mystery instead of pushing directly toward it.
There’s also a noticeable amount of travelling through areas that returning players already know.
For players who love the slower slice-of-life side of Trails, this won’t necessarily be a problem. But anyone expecting the sequel to maintain the intensity of the previous game’s finale may need some patience.
Stick with it.
Because once 2nd Chapter reaches its middle chapters, the difference is enormous.
Once the Story Gets Going, It REALLY Gets Going
This is where Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter transforms from a good JRPG into an excellent one.
The later chapters progress extremely well. Storylines that initially seem disconnected begin falling into place. Ouroboros becomes a genuine threat rather than a mysterious name in the background, characters receive meaningful development, and Estelle’s search for Joshua becomes increasingly intertwined with a much larger crisis.
The escalating conflict between Estelle’s allies and Ouroboros gives the second half of the game a sense of momentum that the opening hours lack.
More importantly, the story remembers that the heart of this adventure isn’t saving the world.
It’s Estelle.
The ending of 1st Chapter forces her to continue without the person she relied on most, and watching her develop from an energetic young Bracer into someone capable of carrying an entire team is one of the game’s greatest achievements. The official premise similarly places Estelle’s search for Joshua at the center of the adventure while the conspiracy surrounding Ouroboros grows around her.
By the final stretch, almost every major relationship and storyline feels like it has something meaningful at stake.
Combat Is Faster Without Losing Its Strategy
The remake also benefits enormously from Falcom’s updated combat system.
Rather than being exclusively turn-based like the original SC, 2nd Chapter lets players engage enemies using Quick Battles before transitioning seamlessly into traditional command combat when greater control is required.
It works surprisingly well.
Weak enemies can be cleared quickly without turning every encounter into a lengthy battle, while difficult enemies and bosses still require positioning, Crafts, Arts, turn-order management and careful character builds.
One of the new additions is Brave Rush, which spends Brave Gauge points during Quick Battles to let two party members unleash a large combination attack. Ouroboros Enforcers also receive their own Enforcer Boost mechanic, making encounters with these dangerous opponents feel appropriately threatening.
Orbments and Quartz remain an important part of character customization, giving players plenty of freedom to turn party members into attackers, support characters, healers or powerful Arts users.
It strikes an excellent balance between modern accessibility and classic Trails strategy.
Liberl Has Never Looked Better
The visual upgrade is impressive without completely abandoning what made Trails in the Sky charming in the first place.
Characters remain colorful and unmistakably anime-inspired, but the remake’s 3D models allow facial expressions and body language to carry far more emotion than the original presentation could.
That becomes particularly important during the game’s later chapters.
Some scenes that were memorable twenty years ago become significantly more effective when the characters are able to physically react to what is happening around them.
Liberl itself benefits just as much.
Its towns, highways, forests and cities still feel comfortably familiar, but the environments now have considerably more personality and scale. Falcom describes the game as a complete remake of SC, with refined characters, more expressive event scenes and expanded presentation throughout Liberl.
Meet the Main Characters
The official character roster divides the cast between eight core party members and a much larger supporting cast. Here are the eight heroes at the center of the adventure.
Estelle Bright
Estelle is once again the heart of Trails in the Sky. Now a senior Bracer, she begins the game determined to find Joshua after his disappearance. Her optimism and stubborn determination remain intact, but 2nd Chapter forces her to mature considerably.
She fights using a staff and works well as an adaptable all-round party member. More importantly, this is Estelle’s story of learning how to move forward without Joshua constantly beside her.
Joshua Bright
Quiet, intelligent and exceptionally skilled with twin blades, Joshua grew up alongside Estelle after being adopted into the Bright family.
Following the events of the previous game, however, Joshua disappears after revealing the truth about his past. His absence drives much of 2nd Chapter’s story, while his connection to Ouroboros gradually becomes increasingly important.
Scherazard Harvey
Known as the Silver Streak, Scherazard is an experienced Bracer who fights using a whip while also possessing strong Orbal Arts abilities.
She acts almost like an older sister to Estelle, offering both guidance and the occasional reality check. Her confident personality makes her one of the group’s most reliable members—although her legendary enthusiasm for alcohol remains very much intact.
Olivier Lenheim
Olivier is a traveling musician from Erebonia with enough confidence for approximately four normal human beings.
Behind the jokes, flirting and theatrical speeches, however, is an extremely perceptive character. Olivier uses an Orbal Gun and Arts in combat, making him particularly useful at range. His seemingly carefree journey through Liberl also hides motives that are considerably more complicated than he initially admits.
Kloe Rinz
Gentle, intelligent and compassionate, Kloe is a student at Jenis Royal Academy who became close friends with Estelle and Joshua during the previous adventure.
Don’t mistake her quiet personality for weakness. Kloe is an accomplished rapier fighter and talented Arts user whose abilities can rival experienced Bracers. Her responsibilities also become increasingly important as the story develops.
Agate Crosner
Agate is the team’s walking solution to the question, “What if we hit it with an enormous sword?”
Known as the Heavy Blade, he’s an experienced senior Bracer specializing in powerful physical attacks. His rough personality sometimes makes him seem unfriendly, but beneath that exterior is someone intensely loyal to his companions. His rivalry with the mysterious Lorence also gives him a personal reason to investigate Ouroboros.
Tita Russell
Tita is the young granddaughter of legendary scientist Professor Russell and already an incredibly talented engineer herself.
She works as an apprentice at the Zeiss Central Factory and fights using a homemade Orbal Cannon equipped with a variety of offensive and support functions. Having grown close to Estelle and Joshua in the first adventure, Tita views them almost as an older sister and brother.
Zin Vathek
Zin is a veteran Bracer from the Republic of Calvard and a master of the Eastern Taito martial-arts school.
Despite his imposing size, Zin is one of the calmer and more approachable members of the group. He fights with gauntlets and brings considerable physical strength to the party, having previously helped Estelle and Joshua during the crisis surrounding Liberl.
The Verdict
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter isn’t afraid to take its time.
Sometimes, perhaps, a little too much time.
The first couple of chapters are definitely the weakest part of the experience. There’s plenty of dialogue, familiar locations and gradual setup, and players coming directly from the dramatic ending of 1st Chapter may wonder when the sequel is finally going to take off.
But it does.
And when it does, the progression through the later chapters is excellent.
The stakes continually rise, character arcs become more emotional, Ouroboros takes center stage and seemingly minor storylines begin connecting into something much larger. Estelle’s development gives the adventure its emotional foundation, while the improved battle system prevents its traditional JRPG structure from feeling outdated.
By the time the game reaches its final chapters, the slow beginning feels less like wasted time and more like Falcom carefully arranging pieces on a board before finally knocking them all down.
Score: 9/10
Pros: Fantastic character development, a much stronger second half, excellent Estelle-focused story, enjoyable hybrid combat, memorable villains, beautiful modernization of Liberl and a strong supporting cast.
Cons: The first couple of chapters move slowly, returning areas can occasionally make exploration feel repetitive, and newcomers absolutely should play 1st Chapter first.
Final Word: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter asks for patience early on, but it rewards that patience tremendously. What begins as a somewhat slow continuation gradually develops into an emotional, exciting and extremely satisfying JRPG—and one of the strongest chapters in Estelle and Joshua’s story.