Roads Through Dawn feels like a must-play JRPG
If there are two JRPG series that fascinate me more than any other, this is definitely one of them Legend of heroes. Since the first time I played the symbol game Trails in the sky, I love almost every entry in this series. Luckily, if my recent demo experience is anything to go by, Roads through dawn feels like another win for Falcom and NIS America.
If you don’t know, the Switch and PS4 free demos are get out now because Legend of Heroes: The Road Through the Dawn. It comes with the ability to watch the prologue on Switch or the entire first chapter on PS4, with saves carrying over to the full game. I tested the latter for a fairly lengthy trial that lasted nearly 10 hours.
While this may not be the best place to start the series as a newcomer, it’s the closest it’s been in quite some time. Roads through dawn begins a brand new arc in the previously unknown nation of the Calvard Republic. Players take on the role of Van Arkride, a charming and morally gray rogue version of Bracer.
I played all of Chapter 1 in Japanese when I started learning the language, so it was interesting to compare the localization. As always, the team is on point when it comes to including elements like great innuendos and well-timed jokes, though I will say that the usually excellent English dub feels strangely like given down in this section. There are still some standout characters, such as supporting character Marielle, but even some of the core cast can take a while to get used to.
Other than that, this feels like another hit from Falcom. There’s something to be said about how great the city design and developer world is. Roads through dawn is another proof of that with the capital Edith. Each district feels very different due to its style and atmosphere. For example, there’s the laid-back and brick-filled Riverside, located alongside the prosperous and modern Central Station.
Explore the city of Edith, complete Spriggan requests, and talk to the townspeople in a natural way. Better yet, there are even rural areas in Chapter 1 where you can take a nice break from the hustle and bustle of life. All of this will feel familiar to anyone who plays Crossbell or Erebonia Trail Game. However, when it comes to combat, this game really turns this aspect on its head.
Trails through dawn features engaging and almost groundbreaking hybrid combat. The usual turn-based system still exists. Here, the player will move around the battlefield within a certain range to perform an attack, skill or craft.
However, you don’t have to fight in turn-based mode if you don’t want to. There is also a simple hack-and-slash variation. While not great against larger enemies or even possible in boss fights, this speeds up combat even more. Better yet, the two even work in parallel. You can weaken enemies or even stun them in action mode before switching to regular turn-based combat to finish them off.
It’s a fascinating and engaging system. While I would have liked more depth in the action combat, it works well enough, even with the dodge mechanic. That said, other than this, I’m not a fan of the changes to combat. The new system for linked attacks is a bit awkward. Previously, you would choose a partner to bond with and they would continue to do additional attacks after a critical hit and all that.
However, this version limits links (called SLCM) to being right next to someone. They are more flexible this way as Van, Agnes, and the others can bond with anyone at any time. However, it seems like I’m forced to try to move characters next to each other to get the next attack.
This new link system is especially annoying during boss fights. I feel like I have to level up my ranged characters like Agnes to be next to my melee fighter in Van. This puts ranged characters in more unnecessary danger just because of a linked combo. It’s strange because it wasn’t like that in previous matches.
Outside of that, however, this is by far the most fluid and quick turn-based combat in the series. I got through most of the fights in under a minute with virtually no problems. Even the more complex and lengthy boss fights now feel much more manageable in terms of timing.
When not in a dungeon, players have the ability to complete various Spriggan requests. They are similar to the side quests and Bracer requirements from previous games but with a slight twist. Van is a much shadier person than past protagonists like Rean and Lloyd, and it shows through his demands.
He has an alignment system that revolves around Law, Chaos, and Gray. Each request he makes adds points to each request. Additionally, there are occasional choices you can make to upgrade the Van’s Law, Chaos, and Gray attributes. Most notably, these all level up independently, and each has special rewards. While I know how these things affect the game later on from my time with the Japanese version, I won’t go into that here. Regardless, this system adds an extra layer of intrigue and makes the already well-written side missions that much more worth watching. They are as essential to the world and characters as the core plot.
Legend of Heroes: The Road Through the Dawn feels like another must-play JRPG from Falcom, based on the demo preview. It’s almost a solid starting point for new players with an almost entirely new cast of characters. It also takes place in the new location of the Calvard Republic, which is already very beautiful and diverse compared to the places I visited in the prologue and first chapter. The combination of action and turn-based combat is a welcome move. Anyone who likes the past Trail games or just JRPGs in general should see a free demo before launch.
Legend of Heroes: The Road Through the Dawn will release for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5 and PC on July 5, 2024. A free demo is available now for Switch and PS4.
