I haven't played the other Trails games as thoroughly as I played the Daybreak games. The NPC map marker is truly a game changer. Didn't think I'd care about secondary NPCs as I do now. Seeing Curtis go from his family and study struggles to being an Aramis student was nice.

There's a lot more stories happening behind the scenes if you cared enough. Seyla and Lulua's idol journey, Shino's journey as a barista, Ms. Sonia's love story, Eddy and Berzelia's friendship, Jess, Carol, and Raymond's story, Gabriella and Yota, etc.

@drawingpython just kidding play the games the way you want to it can enrichen your experience but it doesn't necessarily have to cause it can feel like a drag sometimes

@drawingpython Yeah, the map changes are Falcom's best addition, I noticed it in how much more I know the Sky FC NPCs in the remake as well. But yeah, the Calvard NPCs might be my favourite set, I could gush about all of their stories. Melisse and her new found love for travel might be my fav.

@drawingpython Even walkthroughs of og arcs emphasized the npc interaction, here in cold steel I missed several hidden quests and AP because of it. My guess is that daybreak features an even bigger leap compared to previous installments

@drawingpython Absolutely same. The Edith NPCs are great. The fishing trio, the car racing gang, Blacklight District weirdos, Mariquitas painting woes, the will-they-won't-they exercise couple in Riverside, etc.

@drawingpython Mmm yup, well especially yellow -> grey

@drawingpython One of the reasons I could never hate Daybreak. Edith definitely felt like a city moving in real time