The following is a translation of an interview with Kondo Toshihiro, president of Nihon Falcom, as published in Kuro no Kiseki Official Visual Collection, released in Japan on 17 February 2022, pp 216–222. It contains information about Trails through Daybreak (Kuro no Kiseki in Japanese) and references to earlier games in the series.
Please continue reading at your own discretion.
Diversity in Trails through Daybreak’s depiction of Calvard and the many lingering mysteries
Whereabouts of the Genesis, key to the story, and the Sept-Terrion
The Genesis appear as a key item in the story. They demonstrate all kinds of special characteristics, like Van’s Grendelisation or corpse-demonification of the dead. Can you detail these items within the realm of what you can discuss right now?
I can really only repeat what was revealed in the game. Basically, it’s a device created by Professor Epstein to reproduce the principles and phenomena of all things existing in the universe. This research led to the development of orbments. The one thing specifically explained was that for Aida’s corpse-demonification the Genesis reproduced life activity.
We’ve seen seven of the eight Genesis so far. They don’t all have the same powers, so does each have its own unique ability?
There are many different phenomena existing in the universe, so each Genesis also has its own characteristics. Based on that, you can interpret that as them inducing different phenomena in different places.
I feel that the remaining Genesis hides a power that’s even more special.
We haven’t revealed that yet. (laughs) The Genesis were studied in order to get to the orbments that mechanically reproduce special arts [Kurt Nardin uses] and magic. Even Professor Hamilton and her fellow disciples don’t know the principles behind them. That’s just one of the Genesis’ many mysteries.
I’m starting to wonder who or what Professor Epstein really was if even his three disciples can’t figure out the Genesis.
He might be the biggest mystery of the Trails series. The Epstein Foundation has been a recurring topic since the start of the series, but you may start to vaguely see the organisation’s outlines as of Trails through Daybreak.
The Sept-Terrion have been playing an important role in Trails titles, but were not mentioned in this game. Will the story regarding the Sept-Terrion in Calvard be addressed in future instalments or has the story in Trails through Daybreak already been affected by them in some way?
The Sept-Terrion and the Holy Beasts that guard them have always appeared in the series so far, so it is a strange they didn’t appear at all this time. That something sealed away in Calvard will show up in a future entry in the series is likely: members of Ouroboros, the society tracking down the Sept-Terrion, are already on the move and have been said to catalyse the Eternal Recurrence Plan. That same society has also been colluding with the presidential office. Consider the implications.
Observations based on the movements of nations and factions
The game mentions several countries beyond Calvard’s borders, like the Principality of Elsaim and the city-state Valis.
Similar to the republic itself, the region is also characterised by ethnic and cultural diversity as well as a mix of forces. It’s only natural Trails through Daybreak addresses what’s going on in Calvard’s neighbouring nations and, following that train of thought, there’s also still plenty to reveal. For example, Elsaim is a country representing the Middle East and several characters from there have made their debut, including with Prince Sherid. Valis hasn’t yet been explored in detail, but the fact it has ties to the Marduk Company is suspicious to say the least. I hope you’ll remember that Valis is influential in the field of economics.
It was even mentioned that a Holy Empire named Isuka existed at some point.
The game reveals that the Isuka Holy Empire used to be the largest country of Zemuria and traded with Calvard. The reason of its collapse 130 years ago will undoubtedly be revealed in the future. Related topics, such as the Navagraha, also have been touched on.
It seems that Almata, the antagonists of this game, and the upper echelon of Garden are all gone. Has this organisation been completely wiped out?
Although Almata managed to grow so much in such a short time thanks to Gerard’s power, originally it was a small, un-storied criminal organisation. Since Gerard, Melchior and the others have left the stage, it’s safe to say Almata was destroyed. However, the problem is that Garden still remains. Some of its leaders have shown their faces, but its top remains unknown. There still might be others. [end of p216] There were many turns and twists leading up to Garden’s foundation and numerous issues with its predecessors, the D∴G cult and Order of the Moonlight Horse. Speaking of which, it’s been said the cult’s headquarters was located in Calvard, but it has yet to be revealed. There’s a lot to think about here.
As Harwood the Oathbreaker was involved in the formation of Garden, was Almata’s destruction the society’s aim?
Actions of the society are always geared toward the Sept-Terrion, so they must have seen Almata as an obstacle on their path and decided to remove it. The society has been known to shut down organisations committing heinous crimes since the beginning, but I suspect that isn’t the case this time around. Well, isn’t it all Harwood’s fault for establishing Garden in the first place? (laughs)
President Gramheart appears to be working on the foundation of the Zeque Space Force Base, but for what purpose?
That’s something I can’t discuss in detail. (sweats) What I can say is that it’s building on foreshadowing that has been around since the Trails of Cold Steel arc. Specifically, in Trails of Cold Steel IV’s normal ending Rean and Valimar broke through the atmosphere and then in Trails into Reverie there’s the secret agreement of non-intervention between the society and the presidential office. By the way, very few members of the Trails development team know about the story’s ending. So when they were first handed the setting for Daybreak, the phrase Space Force Base caused quite the commotion. (laughs)
The Bracer Guild saw the appearance of a new S-ranker and bracers with special circumstances, such as Gray. Should we look forward to their future actions?
I can’t reveal when they might appear, but the Bracer Guild branches in Calvard receive a more standardised treatment than their imperial counterparts. Of course, for Elaine there’s also a role to play. Also, this is something Trails through Daybreak II will pick up on: An incident at the beginning of the story sees Calvard’s special forces suffer damage that doesn’t infringe on the safety of civilians, which is the bracers’ topmost priority. That shouldn’t have been something that immediately mobilised a bracer. What triggered Elaine, whose takes pride in her work and ordinarily proudly wears her bracer badge, to move out even in her casuals? Such questions will be addressed in the game’s prologue.
Speaking of casual clothing, in Trails of Cold Steel there also was a reason for Claire to move out in casuals.
In Trails they don’t change clothes for no reason. I’ll leave the reason up to your imagination for now. As for Gray, he played a minor role here and there, but nothing tangibly has been revealed yet. Bracers come from all walks of life, including Gray. We wish to explain the meaning behind showing the diversity of Calvard at some point.
The game introduces a new technology in the form of Shards. Why do they feel like quite the technological evolution?
You could argue that technology like Shards is quite revolutionary and demonstrates the realisation of unparalleled orbal technology. It differs from the singularity in Trails into Reverie because it’s the result of gradual process by human hands. The Marduk Company is pushing these cutting-edge technologies and since Risette is one of Van’s companions, more will unfold through her.
Apart from Marduk, there has been an increase in organisations working on state of the art technologies, like Zecht Arms’ development of technology that allows monsters to use Shards and the versatility of the West Zemuria Technical Federation.
Zecht Arms is in a position to follow Marduk. They feel like the underdog, with their clumsy characters, and resort to crimes like technology theft. Although the West Zemuria Technical Federation didn’t get a lot of attention, I think they’ve got a great role to play. Professor Albert Russell participated in the analysis of the reaction weapon (though only in name) and Renne helped out with the coordination of several organisations.
The game also discussed history, such as Calvard’s republican revolution. Is there some kind of link between the Sept-Terrion and Calvard’s history like the treasures’ involvement in the founding of the Erebonian Empire?
At this point I can’t say whether the Sept-Terrion were involved. However, there are several histories and they also inform us about historic figures. I expect to dive deeper into Calvard’s history as we accelerate toward the arc’s conclusion. Sheena Dirk and Aramis, who were leading figures in the founding of the republic, and aforementioned Isuke Holy Empire will be discussed in detail.
The truth behind Van and Agnès and delving into the main characters’ mysteries
Van’s body housed the Diabolic Core of the Drifting Demonlord. He wasn’t born with it, right?
The only thing I can say right now about Van’s past is that he was orphaned. Van’s situation with the Diabolic Core differs from McBurn’s situation at least.
McBurn came into being when an overlord of the Beyond merged with a Zemurian. This is different you say?
That’s right. McBurn wouldn’t qualify as human while Van certainly does.
What can you say about the Drifting Demonlord?
I can’t reveal any details, but the Demonlords are the ones to govern the Seventy-Seven Devils first introduced in the Septian Church scriptures in Trails in the Sky The 3rd. The Septian Church as an institution will be discussed in greater detail in the future and I expect devils and demons to be topics addressed then. The game did introduce new characters related to the Septian Church, like new Dominions and Ashrad of the Papal Guard. At this rate we’ll be able to form a party of just Septian Church affiliates soon. (laughs)
Including the Drifting Demonlord there are five Demonlords in total. What are the chances of other Demonlords appearing?
I can’t go into detail regarding that. The demons and devils I’ve mentioned are beings from a higher plane and we know there are places where the higher elements are at work. This isn’t something put in carelessly; it’s meticulously designed reference material.
The Diabolic Core was flung beyond the horizon in the final battle. How will this affect the power of Grendelisation?
Even when Gerard snatched away the Diabolic Core, Van was still able to transform into Grendel. Even with the Diabolic Core flung beyond the horizon, I still expect Grendelisation to be possible. Another lingering question as to what Grendelisation actually is will be addressed at some point.
The Hollow Core AI Mare, the key to Grendelisation, managed to take over Yumé’s consciousness. Was that simply the compatibility between those two?
Strictly speaking that incident didn’t have a singular cause but was the result of a combination of phenomena, like the vicinity to Isghal Mountain Range and the experiment to forcefully summon Mare right before.
There were theories that they were somehow related because Yumé means dream [in Japanese] and Mare could be short for nightmare, but I guess Yumé isn’t someone special after all? Both her parents, Paulette and Maxim, are ordinary people as well.
I wouldn’t go that far right now. Her mother is highly popular among townsfolk and customers alike. (laughs) We’re frequently requested to add more connect events for Paulette. All Paulette fans responded in the same way when they found out Maxim was Yumé’s father: “You!?” (laughs) [end of p217]
According to Gerard, Agnès is the owner of the Genesis. Why was she chosen for this position?
Her grandmother was Professor Epstein’s adopted child and she’s still recognised as the owner of the Genesis even though she’s not a direct blood relative. The reason for that is…well, because she’s the heroine. (laughs) Her father, President Gramheart, might know more.
I had the impression that Feri’s brother Kasim doesn’t see her as a competent jaeger. Is something the matter with Feri?
The scene where Feri battles Aida on equal footing demonstrates that Feri possesses combat abilities worthy of a Khurga jaeger. However, there are all sorts of jaegers: some fight like warriors, other like mafia. Kasim wonders whether Feri is capable enough to survive in a world full of such jaegers. The fact that she couldn’t finish off Aida also reveals something about her personality.
Moving on to Aaron, what’s the current situation of the Taikun slumbering inside his body?
The Taikun is a legendary being that manifests every few decades and commands its surroundings. Right now, Aaron has surpassed its predecessor. We don’t know whether it’s just slumbering or secluding itself or whether it’ll appear again in the next few decades. There’s still much unknown about the Taikun. There’s much to be discussed, but we haven’t decided yet whether we actually will. In one of the Connect events with Ashen the deep ties between the Taikun and Heiyue was brought up. There’s been quite a bit of infighting, too. Cao’s intentions also remain unclear. What happens to Heiyue from here on might be addressed in the future.
Then there was the shocking reveal that Risette’s body is mechanised.
Risette has mechanised a substantial amount of her body and also said something along the lines of “I will buy my own body”. Her past and her motivation to do so will be revealed in the future.
Quatre’s gender and connection with the D∴G cult will probably be discussed in detail in the future, right?
I’d like to state that Quatre’s gender is male. I’m sure Professor Hamilton knows about his past with the cult. The details will be revealed later on. By the way, the fact that one of Renne’s alternate personalities in one of the Trails in the Sky The 3rd episodes was also named Quatre is pure coincidence. The Trails series has been going on for a while now and our list of names has been completely exhausted. (laughs)
Why did the Genesis respond when Van first encountered Grimcats?
The Genesis definitely responded to Grimcats, but that doesn’t means it’s a being similar to as the corpse-demons in Creil Village or the Taikun in Langport. Grimcats is passed down in Judith’s family, but what kind of being it is and how it’s inherited will be addressed in the future.
Bergard passed down his Stigma to his disciple Gaius. Wouldn’t such an action have negative effects on his body?
He can no longer use the Stigma’s powers, but I wouldn’t call that an adverse effect per se. As Trails in the Sky The 3rd already touched on, Stigma’s also have a ‘cursed’ side to them, so it may actually have felt like release for Bergard. Of course, the martial arts he diligently studied and his expertise in the Kunlun style were unaffected. However, with the freedom he gained after retiring from his position as Dominion and as a man of the cloth, he seems to have changed his lifestyle quite a bit. His method of transportation also changed from the special operation aircraft Merkabah to an orbal motorbike. (laughs)
A tour along the fascinating secondary characters, like Elaine
How does Elaine currently feel about Van?
As students they were close but then fell out of touch when Van dropped out of school, so it was some sort of high school romance. Since then both Van and Elaine have broadened their horizons. Elaine was also released from the problematic relationship with her family, so anything can happen now. Then there’s the heroine of the story, Agnès. I’ll leave up to your imagination what could happen next.
I’ve come to think of Kincaid as a fairly ambitious person. What is his objective?
His immediate goal is to enter politics, but of course that isn’t his endgame.
By the way, what’s the reason he doesn’t have an S Craft?
Kincaid was playable only briefly, so it wasn’t added to the game. The same applies to Cao, Lucrezia, and Kurogane.
President Gramheart has military experience, so can we assume he’s a skilled combatant?
By normal standards he would qualify as an outstanding soldier. Until he entered politics in his early twenties, he served in the military, had actual combat experience and accumulated achievements as an officer. He was able to pilot the newly developed Assault Frame so well because of his experiences in the military.
Kasim is hailed as the ‘strongest jaeger’, so does that mean his strength is at a concrete level?
Among jaegers he’s probably as strong as Rutger Claussell the Jaeger King and Sigmund of the Red Constellation. The measure of strength differs from S-rank bracers or the society’s Enforcers, so it’s highly circumstances dependent. Based on looks alone Walter would probably be the strongest. (laughs)
It had been a while since we’ve seen Walter the Direwolf.
Walter used to be unapproachable, but he was much friendlier this time. Seven years have passed since Trails in the Sky SC, perhaps he also mellowed out. Thinking about it, the Walter that appeared in the anime version of Trails in the Sky was easily the edgiest. He demonstrates overwhelming strength, but that strength wasn’t part of the original plan. I informed the director that “Walter isn’t that weak” and the result was a preposterous depiction. (laughs)
During a Connect event we learn that Prince Sherid has an intelligent younger sister. Can we expect not only him but his sister as well to appear in a future instalment?
Since the Principality of Elsaim is an important region, it’s only natural to touch on Crown Prince Sherid’s personal history and surroundings. Significant details are brought up during his Connect events, so I recommended reading them carefully.
Who is the person named C that advises Van and his companions toward the end of the game?
I can’t reveal who it is, but that name has been used so many times now I think it would give the original C, Crow, quite the headache. (laughs) Did he become more famous than Phantom Thief B?
The future of Van and his companions based on the ending visuals
The ending visuals depict various kinds of situations, like characters from older instalments that appear only in these illustrations. Let’s start with Feri’s image, in which we see the whole family gathered.
The brother and sister mentioned in-game are also there. And Kasim actually returned to his parents’ house. That’s what stood out the most to me among the ending visuals. (laughs) I also wonder about his relationship with his father and the Khurga clan.
That’s right. Their father Hasan is the second in command. That means we still haven’t seen the actual commander, right?
Who could it be… Their mother perhaps? (laughs) Well, Shizuna is also Ikaruga’s vice captain and Ashrad is vice commander of Iscario’s covert force. Their superiors will be revealed at some point.
What do we see in Aaron’s illustration? [end of p218]
It seems Xin, who studies abroad in Remiferia, returned home. Rixia is also visiting. On the far left you can see Gien, one of Heiyue’s elders, preparing something. Makes you wonder whether he enjoys cooking. The flowers Aaron is holding look like the seisui lillies that grow in the sea cave. It might be an offering to be placed at a grave.
What about Quatre’s illustration?
It depicts daily life at Hamilton’s. It looks like they just returned from doing groceries. Professor Cronkite is also there and getting along surprisingly well from the looks of it.
Next up is Judith’s family picture.
In this scene we see Judith return home and getting treated to a meal prepared by her mother and grandmother. In the back you can see a picture of her mother wearing the Grimcats costume. The costume never changes, does it? On the table is a newspaper featuring a gossip column about Judith and Maxim’s love. The media is still on top of this story. Perhaps Judith’s mother and grandmother are making fun of her because of the newspaper article.
Risette’s illustration depicts what is believed to be Marduk’s headquarters.
First of all, the person at Risette’s side is the good friend she mentioned during the game. The older person in the back is Jorg. Is he also collaborating with Marduk? There’s a chance that the maid standing next to his table is his creation. There are several other characters in this illustration, some of them might be important in the future.
Then there’s a visual of Elaine with fellow bracers.
This is a scene where everyone’s seeing off Fie. The events at Oración were the most important in the game for the Bracer Guild, so for Fie it was time to return to Erebonia after things settled down. She still has to hand over the weaponry Aida left behind to her Zephyr companions, so for Fie this isn’t a definitive farewell to Calvard. She may return to the republic in the future.
In Bergard’s illustration all the currently known Dominion of the Gralsritter are gathered in the same room.
This is Bergard’s and Gaius’ first reunion in a long time. Gaius actually knew about Bergard’s survival, but was asked to remain quiet on the matter. That’s why he isn’t sad when talking about Bergard (Barkhorn) in the Trails of Cold Steel arc. Celis is patting Gaius, so she’s also fond of him. Maybe that’s because Gaius is the only Dominion calling her Sister Celis; the rest just calls her Celis.
What about Van’s meeting with his two childhood friends?
It looks like they managed to fulfil their promise of drinking together. Of course Van ordered some sweets to go with it, how typical. (laughs) They’re drinking at Bormotti’s, their usual place. In the background you can see Marielle getting drunk.
It concludes with an illustration of Agnès. These are members of the Aramis student council?
With Aramis School Festival approaching, they’re probably out doing groceries. Daybreak’s ending takes place around the year’s end, so this visual should take place in the new year. That also the point where Daybreak II’s story begins.
Revelations and truths of certain events
Who recommended Van to enrol at Aramis High School?
When Van was rescued from D∴G cult, Bergard and several others looked after him, so it must’ve been one of them.
Why didn’t the reactor weapon that destroyed Creil Village cause radiation damage?
I have no comment on the matter, but what I will say is that based on the state of Dingo’s camera it’s evident there’s been an enormous thermal blast. There’s virtually no chance of survival. If the village had been destroyed by human hands, like the Hamel Tragedy, there might have been a chance of survival.
What song was Melchior whistling in Creil Village? It wasn’t the anthem Gerard sang.
That’s actually a pretty cruel tale. As can be seen in the final chapter, during memorial services in Creil Village a choir sings a particular hymn, the same song we’ve heard Melchior whistle before. In other words, Melchior was imagining their planned destruction of Creil Village and memorial service that would follow as he snidely whistled the hymn. You might say that’s very typical for him, but it’s still cruel and I feel that he’s the first villainous villain that appeared in a long time.
The special force of Hercules was defeated soon after their invasion of Oración and are brutally murdered at the beginning of Daybreak II. They haven’t had a lot of success. Will they ever get the chance to redeem themselves?
Assuming the CID isn’t a singular monolith, Hercules is also split into various factions. The training of its units is also all across the board. There are outstanding units and there are units that can easily be defeated. The only named character that appeared so far is Kaela’s brother, Cody. Just looking at him gives you an idea of his unit’s abilities… (sweats)
The exchange student Julian, who came from Erebonia to study at Aramis High School, is quite talented. Is this the same person as the Julian who appeared in the Trails of Cold Steel arc, the member of the Junior Eisenritter of Legram?
No, they’re not the same person. However, his grandfather prefers two-handed swords and has already been introduced as a character. He’s not a practitioner of the Arseid school of swordsmanship, but of an own style.
In Langport, is the “fortune-telling sister” Lingling argues to be “talented” actually Luciola?
It’s not Luciola, but it is someone who’s appeared in the series thus far.
The name ‘Mare’ [mea in Japanese] is also part of Enforcer No. 0 McBurn’s true name. Is there a link?
McBurn’s real name is Fallen Demon from the Beyond, Mera [mea in Japanese] Cu Baldugh Ruang, indeed. But there is no relation. McBurn’s name comes from a language of the Beyond whereas Mare’s name is taken from the back of ‘nightmare’.
Can we expect more byproducts Professor Callaghan left behind in the future?
They might appear in some form. Personally, I mostly wonder to what use Professor Cronkite might put them.
What were the Trion Tower and Genesis Tower originally supposed to observe?
The Trion Tower was originally built as a weather station. Now it observes orbal waves. Like the Genesis themselves, the Genesis Tower was built to gain insight into various principles.
Did Agnès know about Estelle and Joshua when Renne is rescued from the Diabolos Sphere?
This suggests that Agnès and Renne were closer than we were led to believe. As the story unfolds, Agnès discovers Van was Renne’s patron and when Renne visits Basel, she says something akin to “I was able to bond with some important people”. That’s probably why she informed Agnès about some deeply private matters. There’s a scene in chapter 4 where Renne wields her scythe in front of Odette and Albert, suggesting she also told these two about her background.
Is Hermes the courier’s true identity someone who appeared prior in the series?
No, it’s a new character. With her beautiful black hair she sure does look like Kirika. The end of her Connect event hints at a connection between her and Cronkite, so please keep your eyes open for more about them. [end of p219]
The Calvard arc is moving to the next stage: what can we expect from Trails through Daybreak II?
What is the story behind this title?
Please share the reasoning behind the title Daybreak II and the meaning of its subtitle.
Obviously, the story of Daybreak is still continuing, so we added a “II” for the sequel. As for the subtitle ‘Crimson Sin’, we usually work out the details with the planning staff, but for Daybreak II we also asked the designers and programmers to come up with a plan. One of the designer sketched Grendel battling a ‘crimson Grendel’ and this inspired everyone to roll with this.
About three months have passed since Daybreak’s release. How has the reception been?
Some parts left me pretty concerned, because the presentation differs so much from earlier games: It’s quite mature and there are many slightly tragic scenes. However, those aspects were hardly criticised and we received a lot of comments that the game is indeed different from its predecessors. Another thing I worried about was Van. He’s the oldest among the Trails protagonists and frequently behaves like a middle-ager. (laughs) In the end, both male and female players who filled in the survey ranked him second as their favourite character. There were even people who describe him as their favourite among the Trails protagonists. I’m really satisfied with these outcomes.
What did they think about changes to the mechanics, like the battle system?
We’ve also had comments about the battle system. Similar to the story, some were happy with the changes, others found it confusing and preferred the older system. Whenever you change underlying mechanics such as these, you’re bound to receive negative feedback as well. This time the battles offered a novel and fresh experience to play RPGs. For Daybreak II we have a solid basis to further improve the mechanics and we’re dedicated to do so.
Will this also serve as the basis for Daybreak II?
That’s right. We’re convinced we can do better than this, so we’re committed to get there.
What specific part would you change or revise if you were given the opportunity?
Put simply, I’d like to change all parts that have been described as too hard to see or do. Changes in the interface or the presentation of the AT bar, for example. You need to press a specific button in order to see the battle order in the AT bar, but I’m sure there are players who finished the game without realising this. Without knowing the battle order, you can’t work out a solid strategy and your battle style will be crude, perhaps even to the point of being a little disappointed with yourself. That’s why I wish to prioritise polishing these parts. As a result of our emphasis on font stylisation, we got comments that the game was too hard to read. I definitely wish to improve the accessibility while still delivering the game’s good parts.
Is there a chance that the fishing mini-game, which wasn’t part of Daybreak, will make its return in the sequel?
It’s too early to comment on which mini-games will be playable. We also wish to add bonus elements to mini-games and we’d like to implement this in some form in the next game.
Another component was the accumulation of Gourmet Points for eating food. Will the next game expand on this?
It may be difficult to come up with new dishes. (sweats) There’s also the question to what extent the world’s food trends would change in the short time span between Daybreak’s ending and the start of Daybreak II. When we’re visiting new regions, we’ll think of new meals to prepare, of course. We’re thinking about ways to increase the number of recipes.
Among the revelations was a scene where Grendel faces off against crimson Grendel. Who or what is this crimson Grendel?
As you can see in the screenshots, this crimson Grendel is a completely villainous existence and responsible for the events that kick Daybreak II’s story into motion. Of course, we’re planning to address questions such as “There’s another Grendel?” or “Who was it that transformed?” in the game itself.
In Van’s case, Mare and the Genesis enable his Grendelisation. Is crimson Grendel’s case similar?
There must be some mechanism at play to intentionally assume Grendel’s form. If you’re curious who else underwent Grendelisation, there might be a creature similar to Mare accompanying this person. For details, please look forward to information on the official website and in trailers. [end of p220]
The tale Daybreak II spins with Van at its centre
Is the goal of Daybreak II’s story to locate the eighth Genesis?
Maybe you’re right, though we can’t drag out an entire game just looking for the remaining Genesis.
The game’s prologue mentions an encounter with a young boy and girl pursuing something. Will these two be important?
Yes. With the two of them, I think Daybreak II will spin a unique story. As not much time has passed since Daybreak during the opening scenes of Daybreak II, many of Van’s companions haven’t returned to the Arkride office yet. This is the setting in which the events surrounding the crimson Grendel set off.
Just to be sure: Van will also serve as Daybreak’s protagonist, right?
I basically think of Van as the protagonist of the entire Calvard arc. However, there may be scenes in which characters other than Van take the spotlight.
In Daybreak there were eight main characters in total. Will these eight also serve as main characters in the sequel, and are there plans to add new main characters?
We’ll gradually reveal information about this. As to whether the eight main characters will reprise their roles will depend on the circumstances of Daybreak II’s story. Taking the attitude of each character into consideration, you may run into situations where you find them in unexpected locations.
There are still districts in the capital of Edith we haven’t visited yet. Will it be possible to visit all of them in Daybreak II?
We’re actually discussing an increase in the amount of places you can visit right now. Trails through Daybreak mentioned a number of districts that you couldn’t actually visit, like Trion Tower in the third borough or the Z1 circuit in the twelfth borough. It’s also possible we’ll be visiting various cities and villages outside Edith or surrounding countries. [end of p221]
The newly added rule and pursuing Zemuria’s core
What kind of developments can we expect from the Calvard arc in Daybreak II?
Actually, there’s a rule that hasn’t appeared in the Trails series so far but will make its first appearance in Daybreak II. It can be linked to the mysteries of the world we’ve been told about so far. Since it addresses such matters, Daybreak II will be a meaningful entry in the Trails series.
Character artwork for Van and Elaine has been revealed. Elaine changed into her casual clothes, but Van won’t change into something new?
Van remains the same for now. As I mentioned before, for Trails characters there must be a reason to change their outfit. For Elaine there probably is a reason to change into her casuals and not pin up her bracer badge whereas Van still works as a Spriggan. It’s possible that the outfits of other characters will change.
If you’re replaying Daybreak in preparation for Daybreak II, what should you be on the lookout for?
I would recommend reaffirming the movements of each faction. On that note, another aspect is the embodiment of the Calvard arc’s theme of presenting its diversity. Several influential parties have been introduced, like organisations with or without public relations and, of course, new countries. It might be too much to ask, but you may enjoy the story more if you play each of the branches in chapter 5 and understand each faction’s intentions. Other than that, you obviously should keep your eyes on President Gramheart. In the game’s mechanics there’s a lot of keep your eyes on as well, especially when it comes to Shards. You should keep that in mind.
Some information is also mentioned in the Connect events, such as Sherid’s sister and the relations within Heiyue. Should we be reviewing all of them, too?
You should, there might be something unexpectedly important in them. By the way, my personal favourites are Daswani’s. Do all of them and you’ll truly understand the inspector’s doom and gloom. (laughs)
Daybreak II will be released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Are you also considering releases for Nintendo Switch and Steam?
We’re actually in the process of assessing the technical feasibility of porting the game, both in-house and with external parties.
What would you like to say to everyone interested in the Trails series?
We worked to the best of our abilities to present the Calvard Republic as a setting and the main characters, starting with Van, but couldn’t implement everything we wanted to in Daybreak. There were a lot of things we realised during the development of the first game. When I also read through the players’ thoughts after Daybreak’s release, there were parts where I reviewed the game from their perspective and realised where the game fell short. As a creator, we aim to break through and make Daybreak II even better. Although were able to completely finish the story of Daybreak, the story of the Calvard arc is only starting in earnest now. As I mentioned before, we’ll be revealing the rule or principle that has defined the Trails series so far and we’re planning to start our pursuit of the series’ core. That’s why I want you not to miss out on Daybreak II. We’re doing our best so you can play it as soon as possible, so please look forward to it. [end of p221]
