Well, isn’t this a treat? Mere months after the release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, comes its sequel, and finale of its storyline: The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure. Confusing names aside, this two-part JRPG set snugly in the middle of two incredible Legend of Heroes series (The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel) has finally made its way to Western audiences. But, can the second part of the Crossbell arc live up to the high-praise we gave the first title?
If you haven’t played Trails from Zero, then you’re going to be at a complete loss when it comes to the storyline here. Although the main menu features a synopsis of the previous game, the emotional weight of the full storyline won’t be quite as impactful if you’ve decided to jump straight into number two.
Set just a few short months after the ending of Trails from Zero, Trails to Azure continues the tale of Lloyd Bannings, the leader of the SSS (Special Support Section) a division of Crossbell’s police force. After tying up a few loose ends from his previous adventure, Lloyd begins working with some new members of the SSS — although they’re no strangers to anyone who has played the first title — whilst party members we know and love are off taking care of their own business. Don’t worry though, they’ll be back!
The story here isn’t just great, it may just be one of the best in the entire franchise. The pacing is much improved from Trails from Zero and the stakes have never been higher! This is a spoiler-free review, so I won’t go into details, but after the first few hours of the game it becomes a constant rollercoaster of a journey that never lets up. Characters are well-written, with detailed personalities and backstories that make each member of the group more than just the “healer” or “tank” when in battles.