The Second Chapter of Trails in the Sky is just what the title says: a direct continuation from the events of the first game. Not having to do as much setup, SC benefits being able to get to juicy story development much sooner. Everything that's good about the first game is still present, and the other stuff is better. Immediately noticeable is the battle tweaks. Actions have been thankfully quickened and you have more options, making battle decisions more interesting. More orbment customization options, more skills, more characters, a longer story, more music (including some standout tracks), just more stuff all around. The story is more interesting with more menacing antagonists and stakes that are both bigger and more personal.

The story is a structured a little more episodically that I would like at the beginning and a little padded in a couple spots. Still, I'm now a believer is the Kiseki series and anyone who likes a good story-driven jrpg should have them on their radar too.