u/MasashiHideaki

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I strongly remember this scene because it felt like Van was close to breaking down. The scene hits harder with Marielle crying in the background.

Van lost a dear friend whom he has trusted for quite a while. Even helping Van when he was just starting out.

Marielle lost a person whose love was never meant to be. And when you think about the potential future they could have had, yet it was cut short in Daybreak 1 thanks to Gerard Eldarion.

It really really elevates this moment in daybreak 2 so much.

I think this was where i got tears. I was not expecting such a well executed final moment. While Daybreak 2 has low-lows, to me its high highs far outweights the low moments because it has characters that i do like and am excited to see more of.

That's why it's hard for me to slander daybreak 2. It does so much for Van's character progression. And that's why i am curious to see if Horizon 2 will be able to deliver something as emotional as this.

TLDR: I like daybreak 2

I just want Horizon 2 to have what DB1 had. Such as different routes like we got at Oracion. We were allowed to pick the faction we wanted to align ourselves with and it added a lot of replay value to that.

I also liked how in DB1 prologue when you first get introduced to the LGC system. It even hints at Shizuna and Ikaruga affiliation. I just want something as unique as that for Horizon 2.

[2nd image is unrelated, i just like Saara's smile.]

Falcom. You foreshadowed this, don't ignore peak content right here.

[Images are taken from all 3 games + Reverie.]

These images gives me certain emotion or rather, it might be showing an emotion of Van that we are not allowed to see. But it also feels like it's a certain emotion that Van feels but is hiding, and they do that by having the camera angle showing the back of Van to tell a story or rather, an emotion either from Van or from you the player. Because it does invoke a feeling that is hard to describe, as it is a case by case scenario.

Everytime they do this, i get reminded of Director Arkride.

Trails Beyond The Horizon in my opinion has recontextualized why we sometimes get these specific camera shots. Namely in Agnés Final bonding event. Director Arkride saying this while we only get to see his back.

"But one day you'll find the place where you truly belong. And when you do, you have to move forward. Without looking back."

So it really feels like this is something Falcom wants you to pay attention to. But i can't tell if they want to do that to invoke a certain feelings from you or if it's because it invokes a certain feeling to Van, that he do not wanna show. [Sorry for reiterating the same thing over.]

Did anyone ever pay attention to this? Or at least slowly began to notice that Van gets a lot of these kinds of framings? While some other characters gets it, it's not to the same extent as Van. So it really feels incredibly intentional.

And it could simply be a me thing, who might be overthinking it, but i still like what i am seeing.

• I am not strictly talking about romance. But just in general. What's the vibe? Is it a "transformation buddy/duo"? Like what kind of duo are they? What kind of synergy do they have?
• And do you like their interactions? Are there more you wanna see from their interactions with one another?
• How has Judith grown under Van and vice versa?

[Image Unrelated]

If you take a screenshot at the right frame, then you get to see Vagrant Diaspora.

This warms my heart.

I wanna raise a neat detail about the difference in the two characters's upbringing.

i like that Van is very casual in his language. Ofcourse that can be attributed to him being an orphan so he speaks in a rough and easygoing manner. It goes to show you that Van will make you feel like you are talking to a close friend or a brother.

Rean who has been raised under a Baron, means while he is originally of lower status in the Erebonian hierachy, he is still above "commoners" who do not have baron in their titles. So he speaks in a more refined way,

I just think this detail is fun and cool.

Rean's group having no clue whether ASO team are happy with her on the team or are just accepting their fate.

Crow even going as far as telling Van to tame her so she doesn't do crazy stuff. 🤣

Like: "We don't want her on our ass, she's yours, infact please take her away."

Ignore Onion Boy's slander for a moment. (Pretend he don't exist in this image)

Let's appreciate Saara's adorable smile.

🥹

One of the pillars of being a spriggan and especially in Van's case is to not really wanting to be well known or popular, because it would be harder for him to do his work in the open. So livestreaming his battle in his human form would make it impossible to work as a spriggan because he would be known worldwide.

So my train of thought is that Van and ASO would likely give the credits to the other collaborators. It doesn't matter who. Could be kevin's group or Reans Group.

The way i think they will go about it is this: That they will livestream the final fight for all edith to see. it's gonna be Van in his grendel form/new/final transformation against the final boss. so they won't really know that this person is someone from edith or a human to begin with. All they will know is someone is fighting, and they might even figure that this someone is fighting a bad evil guy. Van wins in his 1 vs 1 confrontration.

The people of Zemuria will cheer on Van. Kind of like in Dragon Ball when Goku gathered energy for the spirit bomb against majin buu. This is that but Calvard arc's version of that.

The people of calvard will know grendel van as a hero, without actually knowing who that hero is beneath the form.

This also allows ASO to "peacefully" celebrate Agnés's birthday over at montmart. "Peaceful" as it can be. Since Dominions, Divine Blades, CID, Heiyue, Liberl Intelligence office (Reins etc), the president, the former president, Master Taito users. Basically many people from different aspects of life will be there for Agnés's Birthday.

What do you think? Does this make sense? Can you see it being livestreamed, the final fight that is?

I got inspired by a twitter post about whether Van will choose elaine or Agnés.

This is an extension of one of my older threads and expanded a little bit more.

Let's say Agnés confesses to Van again, without hiding anything at all now. Will Van still reject the confession? This is under the assumption that he has mastered his vagrant diaspora/diabolical core powers.

I have my own thoughts to this and here's what i think:

After having replayed the 3 games something that seems constant is that Van hasn't actually shown any romantic feelings towards characters. He did consider going back with Elaine. But this was a consideration he had, but is he actually feeling romantic feelings here or is it a feeling of guilt?

One theme that actually has stayed constant in calvard arc is actually a line from Estelle back in Trails in the Sky 2nd or 3rd chapter. Where love or feelings can change. Meaning Van's love for Elaine might have faded, but this does not mean Van loves Agnés.

I am making this point, because if you observe the 3 calvard arc games. At most Van has gotten impressed/surprised by a characters's words or charm. But he has never expressed the feeling of truly wanting to be with someone without a doubt.

So this is my roundabout way of saying: Is falcom intentionally making Van not have any romantic feelings towards anyone incase they wanna add optional romance as part of the LGC system in Horizon 2?

I have already made a similar thread, but i wanted to expand on this because, in cold steel series at least Rean felt some sort of love or attraction to some of the characters, but i can't decide whether it's because of CS's bonding event system or if it's part of the main story, but that's besides the point.

In trails from zero if you do pursue romantic options, Lloyd does show feelings towards Ellie. I don't remember what kind of way Lloyd interracted with Rixia and Noel in trails to azure if you maximize their bond fully.

The point i am making is that, Lloyd and Rean has shown romantic feelings towards characters. But Van has really NOT. At least not in the 3 games. It feels more like an afterthought to Van's character. Since Van looks at Agnés as a dear co-worker/assistant and is aware that she is a kiddo. Agnés however sees Van differently.

Van looks at Elaine as a collaborator and working in the same field, but also ex girlfriend. He feels guilty for leaving her hanging and dissapearing from her life without as much as telling her whats up. Elaine sees Van differently. A childhood friend and she may still consider him as her boyfriend because Van has not actually broken up with Elaine yet. He has only made "promises" that could be broken anytime in horizon 2.

Ultimately what i am trying to say that if you try to take a look outside of the box, there is a good chance Van would reject agnés, even if you ignore other factors. But i also think that he might even break up with Elaine canonically, and still not show any romantic feelings towards anyone. Because it is in his character. (Currently) but that will change once he masters his powers and has no fear over his powers, but i think the conclusion will be the same. As in rejecting and breaking up. The difference is however that he can finally seek love or learn to feel romance again.

As the title suggests, will Van Reject her?

Also i apologize for making another thread of this kind. I just can't help but like going over things and predict the outcome before it gets debunked or proven right whenever horizon 2 sequel releases.

Jan 15th is when it finally released world-wide outside of japan. This means the game has been out for 8 months by now.

What was your feelings at the time and where is it now? Are your feelings still positive? Are there any new theories you have come up with?

Has your opinion on some characters climbed your calvard arc tier list or have they been lowered in your personal tier list after letting your thoughts sit for 8 months?

What about the osts? Are you feeling strongly about em now? Maybe more with some ost's and maybe less with others?

And finally, have you replayed the game to re-confirm your thoughts? If you did replay it, did you notice something new? If there is a route you liked more than the other, do you dislike it now? Or is it still at the top? Or maybe you appreciate some of the other routes's in-terms of purposes?

You do not have to answer all of these questions, my point is just, what kind of feelings are you feeling from 8 months ago, to now?

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And for those of you who played the japanese release roughly 2 years ago, have you replayed the game with the official english localization for the last 8 months? Has your opinion on some characters's characterization changed? Or maybe a lore detail or character detail that is different from the unofficial ver you played?

Van has only used Grendel Shin once in the mainstory, while he has used that form 2 times against Shizuna in a bonding event.

Falcom. What are you cooking up with this? Whats you guys's thoughts on this? Is falcom trying to hint at a direction that Horizon 2 could go as part of either a mainplot or subplot story?

[Image unrelated]

Will it be that of an older disciple and younger disciple?

A hidden disciple with the youngest official disciple?

A big brother to a younger brother?

Is Van someone Gaius could look up to? Respect?

Is he gonna have a more positive image of Van than Celis and Leon, since Bergard might've talked about Van, his unofficial disciple to Gaius?

These are just some ideas, but what's your idea and why do you look forward to seeing them meet?

To reiterate, i am just wondering what kind of dynamic you think they will have. I fully expect a wholesome one.

Horizon marks the first game where Shizuna shows a genuine smile and is finally letting her guard completely down for the first time in these 3 games.

All that is to say...

PROTECT THAT SMILE

When Van rejected Agnés, they made it seem like he is wrong for doing that.

Renne, Odette, and Bermotti.

Van did the right thing though?

Is that a hot take or cold take? Also whats your thoughts on seeing other characters knowing Van rejected her?

I don't remember when i took this screenshot. But looking back on it. Harwood looks scary here. I think this was when he did his S-craft and i took the screenshot at a specific frame.