Is this like SMT V or more Persona? Should I buy?

[Big2kSmoke]

Watched a few videos on youtube. The combat looks amazing.
Would be the first Trails game for me.
Before I buy I would like to now whether this is a more combat focusing game like the ShinMegamiTensei Series or are there large dialogues and many social things like Persona 5?

[Reitschuster]

It's more like its own thing, this time around
Has a unique combat system where you can switch between turn-based and real-time combat. Storywise, I don't think there's anything like Trails. I know it's not saying much but really it's just Trails.
As for social things, yes there are plenty of those.
Large dialogs? I would say no. There is this time around the right balance of combat and dialogs, you get more enough of both, trust me.

[steven]

Some newbies that played Daybreak for the first time made a post complaining about too much text some days ago.
I don't know if they had played a lot of RPG or anything else, but i think from new players perspectives, it's either "it's ok, what do you smoke ? " or "too much text, not enough battle, help me, i'm drowning"

From trails players perspective, the text / combat ratio is pretty ok. Better than some previous entries.
For you, i don't know...

Storywise, you have 10 games before, all connected. It's a big story with different arc so you will understand what happen in Daybreak and the global situation (self contained game, ok starting point) but you will miss a ton of things and references.
Like returning characters, in-depth country situation, politics, who are the bad ppls, what happened previously that had repercussions here....

Socialwise, you spend time with your partners when you have time, give them gifts and it unlock you some buffs when you level up your affinity. Like Persona.

Gameplaywise, it's turn-based, like previous Trails games, but they added the real-time battles with Daybreak to make it fresh and appealing. It is really great.

[Diabolical Taco]

Having played all Trails entries, all Persona entries, and a ton of SMT V, I can say the balance is going to be closer to Persona than anything else if your biggest concern is a combat to story ratio. As far as I can tell, I'm at the halfway point in Daybreak so I'm not sure if combat becomes more prevalent later on, but it typical does in the Trails series while the front half is loaded with character building, lore, etc..

That said, much of the dialogue is optional and you can even tell if random npcs have anything new to say, and you wouldn't lose much from not engaging with it. In past entries, particularly CS1, I wouldn't hold that same stance as a chunk of npcs wind up being more relevant than it first appears. Of course, you never know, the story elements might grab you more than you think they will, but that's very subjective.

[CalokAndQkourQcuarante]

It's a lot more dialogue and story-focused, but there's plenty of combat. About the standard amount I'd say: fields and dungeons with story beats in-between.

[Logge1002]

It’s my first Trails game and I love smt and persona and this is nothing like that games. You don’t collect any „allies“ it’s more a regular JRPG. The battle system is pure gold as it’s a mix off realtime and turn based fighting. Also the story is more grounded but with fantasy influences (only in chapter 1 so far). Still I have to say this game is amazing for me. If you enjoyed Ys too you should check it out!