If you're reading this, you most likely have played the first game, so go ahead and buy it.
It's the payoff you've been looking for.

It's not without flaws, but the good things this game excels in make the overall experience fulfilling.

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I only have 2 real complaints:
1. The tone of the whole game is a bit all over the place. It drops grim backstories here and there, however, the main story leans all in into "coming of age hero saves the world" and completely shied away from anything remotely dark, leaving the stakes feeling almost empty. Never once did I feel intimidated by the antagonists. I was so hoping that the Ouroboros would at least be as menacing as the Phantom Troupe from HxH, but I guess I hoped too much.
2. So many half-resolved character arcs left for future entries (you know like the MCU). Almost feel lazy at times.

Well, it also suffers the same flaws as the first game: fetch quests, so much backtracking, uninteresting side quests, reused tropes, etc.

I think you will appreciate Trails in the Sky so much more if you treat it as a character-driven story more than anything, the characters are really the stars of the show for me. To me, the whole conflict in Liberl is more of a backdrop for Estelle and co. growth. I started this series annoyed by Estelle's airhead antics, then completely fell for her character towards the end of SC. She is now among my favorite protagonists in video games .

Looking forward to play the rest of the Trails series.

Holy ♥♥♥♥

Do I recommend this game? Hell yes, I strongly recommend Trails series, its one of the best jrpg in story, world building and character arc especially Trails in the Sky and SC, the only game that could make me cry. Damn you Falcom!! Not saying the other Trails games are bad, but Trails in the Sky FC and SC left a strong impression to me with Estelle and Joshua story.
PS: Olivier is the bomb, that guy can flirt smoothly to both boys and girls.