The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure review

Originally released during an era when accomplished role-playing games didn’t always it out of Japan, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure demonstrates the durability of the genre. Twelve years on, Lloyd and the Special Support Section’s exploits remain as engaging as ever, proving that most Falcom games age like wine.

Once called the “Walkman of the 21st century” by former Sony CEO Ken Kutaragi, the PlayStation Portable was a prodigious piece of hardware. Boosting exceptional aural, visual, and storage capabilities, console-quality role-playing games proliferated. For stateside gamers that meant being able to play celebrated titles like Star Ocean: First Departure, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Jeanne d’Arc, and Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time.

But several notable RPGs never received a Western localization. One of the more prominent omissions was Nihon Falcom’s Crossbell duology. Consisting of 2010s The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and the 2011 sequel, Trails to Azure, the two games eventually acquired fan translations from The Geofront. Gratifyingly, an official release of Zero from NIS America occurred last year, with the publisher collaborating with the Geofront Team, establishing a stimulating precedent for the industry.

Starting with Azure isn’t Recommended

Now, five months later, Zero’s follow-up is here.  Not only does Trails to Azure provide closure for the Crossbell arc but the title also provides an alternative perspective for some of the events in the Trails of Cold Steel series.

But before heading into the proper review, you should know two things. If you’re a newcomer to the entire Trails series, start with The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, which can be found on PSP, PS Vita, or PC. If you’ve familiar with the franchise but haven’t tackled Trails from Zero, complete that game before heading into Trails to Azure. Although there’s a synopsis of previous events found in Zero’s options menu, it will be a struggle to appreciate the narrative nuances that went into the script. Witnessing the progression of characters and the build-up of smoldering geopolitical tensions are just two of the expositional benefits for finishing the first game.

Two Newish Recruits Join the Team

Throughout much of Zero, the Crossbell police department’s Special Support Section struggled with its public image. Now, the SSS has earned support from the citizenry, which feels fulfilling considering the team’s efforts. Enjoyably, two noteworthy NPCs from Zero are now part of the team. Having fought alongside Lloyd Bannings in the previous game, Noel Seeker generates a strong sense of duty as well as proficiency with vehicles.

One result is the SSS now has access to an Orbal Car that can quickly shuttle the team around the map. In the last game, the allure of some side quests was reduced by sluggish movement speeds. Now, the ability to fast travel removes this impediment. Since there’s a substantial amount of world-building imparted in these optional errands, you’ll definitely not want to miss them. Hearing citizens reflect on Crossbell and its two imposing neighbors often provide details that make Azure’s context feel convincing.

The SSS’s other new member is Wazy Hemisphere, the founding member of the Testaments gang. A bit of a playboy, Hemisphere was one of Zero’s more spirited side characters. Here, his motivations for joining the SSS add a sense of intrigue while his distinctive personality allows for some enjoyable banter with his teammates. Azure sends Tio Plato and Randy Orlando to deal with the repercussions of the D∴G cult, providing Noel and Wazy with plenty of time in the spotlight. Later, you’ll be able to select who you want as party members, and the choice between choosing between personality or skillsets is challenging.

Could Crossbell Symbolize Hong Kong?

Like most Trails entries, Azure’s early hours increase tensions to a rollicking boil as the SSS contends with belligerent monsters, people with enigmatic intentions, all while the pressures of a diplomatic meeting in the continent’s first skyscraper loom on the horizon. If you’re the type of player who’s good at predicting plot twists, Trails to Azure’s intricate approach to storytelling will likely keep you guessing. There’s plenty of foreshadowing for each major plot twist, but the trajectory of the storyline is obscured by the complications of new factions and emerging possibilities for power grabs. The sole downside is that Azure’s denouement can feel a bit hurried, especially after investing 80+ hours into the duology.

Expectedly, combat regularly breaks out during your duties, with a battle system that largely follows Zero’s well-heeled lead. While turn-based and fought on gridded maps, Azure shirks the traditional move-and-attack cycles of strategy role-playing games. When it’s a character’s time to act, they move automatically, dispensing normal attacks, summoning slower but powerful arts, as well as Crafts, which function like a skill. Yes, boss battles remain the real challenge here, especially on the higher difficulties, with the concluding showdown feeling sufficiently epic but also irritatingly cheap.

You Just Can’t Burst at Anytime

Azure’s biggest addition is the inclusion of Master Quartz and the Burst systems. Regular Quartz is used to unlock Orbal Arts for party members and is freely swapped between characters to develop customized loadouts. But Master Quartz is intended to be continually carried by a character, leveling up and gaining new abilities alongside its user. Once the Master Quartz has maturated, players can summon a Master Art, which offers powerful immediate as well as residual secondary effects. It’s not surprising that the system made its way into subsequent Trails titles.

The Burst mechanic adds a gauge that gradually fills with every successful blow. Once the meter has reached its capacity, triggering Burst mode supplies perks like more potent crafts, an immediate summoning of arts, the recovery of status effects, and extra initiative for the adventuring party. As such, it’s invaluable for reversing a fight that seems to be headed south. The one stipulation is the Burst gauge isn’t persistent, but typically shows up when the level of antagonism gets amplified.

Bestow the Beauty of Bitmapping

Visually, Trails to Azure is going to be a bit divisive. Those who appreciate sumptuous spritework will undoubtedly appreciate Falcom’s artistry. Here, characters, monsters, and environments are all meticulously drawn, suggesting the picturesque allure of a diminutive diorama viewed from an isometric perspective. Sure, the boost in graphical resolution doesn’t always seem consistent, but a few muddy textures can’t tarnish Azure’s abundant charms. Meanwhile, Falcom Sound Team jdk’s soundtrack delivers the expected excellence, offering everything from searing guitar solos, and choral-driven pieces, to driving melodies that embody unadulterated optimism.

A dozen years on, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure hasn’t lost any of its luster. Not only does the game boost an amazingly endearing cast, but offers a storyline that scales from poignant personal moments up to sharp political allegory. Simply put, Azure is role-playing at its best.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure was played
on PC with review code provided by the publisher.