Trails past the Horizon Overview (PS5)

Proper, first issues first, don’t play Trails past the Horizon if you have not already overwhelmed Trails by way of Dawn and Trails by way of Dawn 2.

Even by Trails requirements, Horizon is ridiculously dense; the occasions of this long-awaited sequel rely closely on you having intimate information of previous titles, and so even if in case you have performed Dawn and Dawn 2, it may be a good suggestion to observe a narrative recap earlier than you get caught in.

In fact, the sheer heft of the sequence’ narrative — which now spans 13 (13!) video games — is each one in every of its best strengths and one its most off-putting facets. However that is what makes a title like Horizon so totally distinctive; the place else are you going to discover a recreation constructed on over twenty years of interconnected storytelling?

Truthfully, Falcom’s unwavering dedication to the franchise borders on absurd at this level, however you have to respect simply how unapologetically impenetrable this newest instalment is. If ever there was a Trails title created for completely nobody however current followers, that is it.

Trails past the Horizon represents the fruits of plot strains which have been stewing for a number of console generations, packed right into a roughly 80-hour journey cut up throughout three playable teams of characters.

At its core, Horizon is basically the third recreation within the aforementioned Dawn saga, sporting a continued deal with Van Arkride and his ragtag allies as they examine all types of unusual happenings in Calvard’s sprawling capital metropolis of Edith.

However on the similar time, Horizon incorporates a lot of characters from older Trails titles, specifically the Chilly Metal video games. These effectively established heroes are introduced in to assist tie Horizon’s high-stakes story to the sequence’ broader, ongoing narratives, leading to a plot that is tackled from various attention-grabbing angles.

All of it will get off to a somewhat gradual begin, nonetheless. We would argue that the discharge’s opening act is basically its weakest, because it spends a bit an excessive amount of time making an attempt to reintroduce a frankly surprising variety of returning characters. Critically, Van and the gang can barely stroll 5 toes with out yet one more previous pal hijacking the scene.

However push by way of these early pacing points and Horizon’s story actually begins to ramp up. Actually, we would be tempted to say that that is one in every of Falcom’s finest efforts as regards to sustaining rigidity; virtually each chapter ends with a powerful bang, at all times preserving you guessing as to what the subsequent twist may be.

The Japanese developer deserves an terrible lot of reward for simply how effectively it manages Horizon’s interlocking storylines. Granted, a number of the beats generally is a contact predictable — particularly in case you’re aware of the sort of tropes the Trails video games are inclined to fall again on — however Horizon definitely would not skimp on reveals and revelations of nice significance.

And we do not simply imply that from the angle of this one recreation — we’re speaking your entire franchise right here.

Certainly, the all-important world constructing that holds Trails collectively is expanded upon to a stunning diploma, giving welcome perception into issues that followers have been arguing over for ages. And in that sense, this can be a significantly thrilling title in comparison with previous entries, which have — at instances — been accused of treading water on a wider narrative scale.

However do not get your hopes up an excessive amount of. Whereas Horizon does really feel like a particular level of no return for varied story components, it is also eager to strengthen the truth that issues are removed from over, posing loads of questions that the subsequent recreation(s) will try to reply. The top is in sight, however solely sort of.

It is about time we moved onto the gameplay facet of Horizon, however to be trustworthy, not a complete lot has modified since Dawn 2. The general construction of the sport stays in place, with outlined story chapters being damaged up between fundamental and facet aims, a wholesome chunk of exploration, and a smattering of more and more intense fight encounters.

Even the Marchen Garten — a considerably randomised, largely optionally available dungeon designed to be conquered over the course of the sport — returns, albeit with a brand new identify. The refreshed Grim Garten has deeper connections to the precise plot, however its function is similar: that is the place you go once you wish to discover new social gathering mixtures, degree up your characters, and grind for helpful gear.

Whereas slightly repetitive, the Grim Garten offers what we predict is a obligatory, combat-driven diversion, away from the hours upon hours of dialogue that you’re going to be sitting by way of exterior.

Horizon can get so slowed down in character churn and exposition that the stability between yapping and precise gameplay can really feel method too one-sided. However fortunately, the Garten is at all times readily available to maintain you invested in all of these addictive RPG components.

Similar to in Dawn 2, you are given a lot of social gathering members to develop and customise. Character builds can nonetheless vary from simplistic to extremely specialised, and there are such a lot of unlockable magic arts and passive perks to think about.

There are some actually participating techniques at play right here — a typical Trails trait at this level — and so they all reward the hassle that you simply’re keen to place in.

However after we say that Horizon is dense, we additionally imply that from a gameplay perspective. Once more, Dawn-ers will really feel proper at house, however particularly, new battle mechanics someway carry much more choices to the desk.

For instance, ‘S-Boosts’ — a useful resource that builds up as you combat — can now be spent on party-wide buffs, that are like an evolution of the Courageous Orders from the Chilly Metal saga. Or, you possibly can gasoline new high-damage group assaults together with your S-Increase bars as an alternative.

In a nutshell, there’s a fair higher emphasis on useful resource administration — particularly within the recreation’s harder brawls. It would not really feel just like the underlying stability of fight has been rewired an excessive amount of, however there is a recent tactical flexibility in Horizon that is certain to entice returning gamers.

Having stated all of that, we nonetheless discover ourselves preferring the scaled-back, however brilliantly refined strategy of Trails within the Sky 1st Chapter’s fight system. Horizon’s complexity is a energy as soon as you have wrapped your head round its inside workings, nevertheless it’s teetering on the sting of being needlessly convoluted.

And we can’t lie, we’re additionally lacking 1st Chapter’s immaculate presentation. Now, this is not essentially Falcom’s fault since Horizon launched in Japan again in 2024 — a full 12 months earlier than the Sky remake — however the easy fact is that it could possibly’t maintain a candle to what’s provided by the newest engine improve.

Environments proceed to look somewhat tough, and the NPCs that inhabit them might be ugly. However at the least Horizon’s acquired a bunch of recent fight and cutscene animations that rival these present in 1st Chapter. We’re hoping that Horizon’s sequel will give Calvard the glow up that it deserves.