Over the previous few years, the Trails sequence has began to search out some footing within the West, largely due to the localisation of the Trails of Chilly Metal saga on PS4. And now that writer NIS America is dedicated to bringing the franchise abroad, we lastly have sufficient Trails video games to warrant a information like this. What a time to be alive!
However earlier than we get into the dialogue of which Trails sport is greatest — as voted by Push Sq. readers — we’ll give an outline of what the Trails sequence truly is. Hopefully this text is of some assist to those that are new to this dense franchise…
What Is the Trails Collection, Precisely?
Okay, so the Trails sequence is itself a subseries of a long-running property referred to as The Legend of Heroes. It is somewhat bit like how the Persona sequence began life as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, however blossomed into its personal franchise.
Formally, the Trails video games nonetheless have The Legend of Heroes of their title. For instance, the complete title of Trails of Chilly Metal is The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Chilly Metal — however no less than right here within the West, followers have taken to shortening the names for the sake of readability.
Anyway, the Trails titles are role-playing video games developed by Japanese firm Nihon Falcom (sometimes called merely ‘Falcom’). They’ve a really heavy emphasis on character-driven tales, and have a turn-based fight system that has steadily developed over the course of the sequence.
The most important power (and arguably the most important weak point, from an outdoor perspective) of the Trails video games is that all of them tie into one another. All of the Trails video games have overarching plot components, returning characters, and a transparent timeline of when occasions happen in relation to different video games within the sequence.
This large, interconnected model of storytelling permits Falcom to create a really dense and engrossing fictional world. It is like an anime that has a whole lot of episodes; it may be arduous to penetrate such a frightening mass of leisure, however when you’re truly invested, the payoff is sort of unmatched.
We might heartily suggest the Trails video games to anybody who enjoys Japanese RPGs.
The Trails Timeline
Now that is the place issues get barely extra difficult. As alluded, the Trails video games all happen in the identical fictional world, on a continent named Zemuria.
Inside the Trails sequence, there are primarily 4 subseries: Trails within the Sky, the Crossbell arc, Trails of Chilly Metal, and Trails by means of Dawn.
Simply to make clear, the ‘Crossbell arc’ refers to Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. Each of those video games happen in a metropolis referred to as Crossbell, therefore the title.
Chronologically talking, the Sky arc comes first, then the Crossbell arc, then the Chilly Metal arc, after which the Dawn arc. Nonetheless, there may be some overlap between the Crossbell video games and the Chilly Metal video games, which implies that making an easy-to-read timeline could be difficult.
Nonetheless, we’ll give it a shot. That is when every sport begins, as per the in-game calendar.
- The yr 1202 – Trails within the Sky
- 1202 – Trails within the Sky SC
- 1203 – Trails within the Sky the third
- 1203 – Trails from Zero
- 1203 – Trails of Chilly Metal
- 1204 – Trails to Azure
- 1204 – Trails of Chilly Metal II
- 1205 – Trails of Chilly Metal III
- 1206 – Trails of Chilly Metal IV
- 1207 – Trails into Reverie
- 1208 – Trails by means of Dawn
Trails into Reverie is basically an epilogue to the Chilly Metal video games, whereas additionally rounding off the occasions of the Crossbell saga. What’s extra, Reverie accommodates, to some extent, introductions to the setting and characters of the brand new Trails by means of Dawn arc.
Does the Predominant Story Proceed Over A number of Trails Video games?
Sure, and these video games aren’t brief. Technically, there are story components that carry by means of the whole sequence, however the actual drawback is that Trails to Azure, for instance, is a direct sequel to Trails from Zero. Likewise, the Trails of Chilly Metal titles are all direct sequels to at least one one other. It is extraordinarily troublesome to simply dive right into a sport like Chilly Metal III with out having no less than performed the earlier video games in that subseries.
Once more, the sheer time dedication essential to play by means of a number of Trails video games goes to be the most important impediment for lots of potential gamers.
What Trails Recreation Ought to You Begin With?
We see folks asking this query on a regular basis, so we’ll try to reply it as greatest we are able to.
Now, you may not like listening to this, however the very best place to start out your Trails journey is with the primary Trails sport, Trails within the Sky. You’ll be able to’t actually escape the truth that the Trails video games all have an interconnected story, full with many returning characters.
Nonetheless, as talked about, not everybody has the time, sources, or persistence for such an exhaustive sequence playthrough. It additionally does not assist that the Trails within the Sky video games aren’t accessible on present consoles, in contrast to each different localised Trails title.
Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo weighed in on this debate again once we interviewed him in 2022. This was his take:
“The overarching Trails sequence could be divided into the next subseries: Trails within the Sky, Trails from Zero/to Azure, Trails of Chilly Metal/into Reverie, and Kuro no Kiseki. I like to recommend ranging from the preliminary title in any of these subseries. The areas and essential characters are totally different in addition to when the occasions happen within the timeline.”
With all of that in thoughts, we might in all probability suggest both beginning with Trails from Zero — the primary sport within the Crossbell arc — the primary Trails of Chilly Metal title, or Trails by means of Dawn.
Trails from Zero is a superb entry level due to how separated it may well really feel from the remainder of the sequence — no less than initially. Town of Crossbell is a novel, memorable setting, and the sport’s essential forged of characters are, at that time within the timeline, all new to the franchise. What’s extra, the Crossbell arc solely has two video games, making it much less demanding than enjoying by means of, say, the 4 Chilly Metal video games.
Beginning out with Zero can even enable you to become familiar with the final circulate of a Trails sport. Its fight system is extra fundamental than what you may discover within the Chilly Metal saga, and character development is not fairly as in-depth. Briefly, there’s much less to fret about on a mechanical stage.
Nonetheless, there’s an opportunity that you simply may discover Trails from Zero to be a bit… dated. It was initially a PSP title from 2010, and the PS4 remaster does little to carry it as much as trendy requirements. We nonetheless assume it is a implausible RPG, however we perceive why its comparatively primitive graphics might put folks off.
And if that is the case, you would attempt leaping in on the Chilly Metal video games as an alternative. Visually, they’re nonetheless a bit tough, however they mark the sequence’ first foray into totally 3D video games. They’re extra welcoming by way of accessibility as properly, boasting extra issue choices and higher tutorials.
It is honest to imagine that most Western Trails followers may have began with the Chilly Metal video games, purely as a result of they had been launched on the immensely well-liked PS4. And hey, if you find yourself having fun with them, you’ll be able to at all times return and sort out the Crossbell arc as properly.
However should you’re seeking to get caught up with the franchise as rapidly as attainable, it is best to contemplate simply diving straight into Trails by means of Dawn. It marks the start of the sequence’ newest story arc, and takes place in a brand new setting with (principally) new characters. Whereas its plot does tie into earlier video games — as is at all times the case with Trails — Dawn arguably tells essentially the most standalone story of any Trails title.
Dawn can also be a superb shout should you’re in search of a extra mature Trails expertise. Do not get us incorrect, it is nonetheless anime as hell, nevertheless it offers with a lot darker story beats than its predecessors.
In the meantime, on the gameplay entrance, Dawn is sort of like an ‘developed’ model of the Trails components, boasting a extra dynamic battle system that blends motion with conventional turn-based techniques.
Rating the Trails Video games
Now then, it is time to try the perfect Trails video games, in accordance with the Push Sq. neighborhood. This checklist is predicated on reader scores for every sport, and you may affect the rankings your self by clicking on the star icons and including your individual rating.
Naturally, we’ll be including extra Trails video games to this checklist as soon as they’re launched right here within the West.
8. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Chilly Metal (PS4)
Falcom’s long-running The Legend of Heroes sequence began a complete new story arc with Trails of Chilly Metal. The primary sport in a four-part saga, it follows the trials and tribulations of Rean Schwarzer, who attends a prestigious army academy. In traditional highschool anime vogue, Rean will get to fulfill all types of individuals, as the sport establishes each the Erebonian Empire as a setting, and his classmates as key characters. An engrossing RPG at its greatest, topped off with a terrific turn-based fight system.
7. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Chilly Metal II (PS4)
The Erebonian Empire finds itself divided by civil struggle, and the spirited Class VII is caught proper within the center. As direct as a sequel can presumably be, Trails of Chilly Metal II takes place virtually instantly after the occasions of the primary sport, with troubled protagonist Rean Schwarzer separated from his expensive pals. On a quest to regroup and discover their place in a war-torn nation, Class VII should journey throughout Erebonia, gathering allies and uncovering the reality, little by little. A grand JRPG, bolstered by expanded character development and a beefy turn-based fight system.
6. Trails into Reverie (PS5)
An all-star epilogue that ties a neat little bow across the Crossbell and Chilly Metal arcs, Trails into Reverie is probably some of the strong entries in Falcom’s sequence. That is not due to its story size — it is truly comparatively brief in that regard — however as a result of it is completely full of optionally available content material. The True Reverie Hall is an endlessly repeatable, procedural dungeon that may be explored by over 50 playable characters, and there are a great deal of minigames to maintain you busy once you’re craving some downtime from the dramatic marketing campaign. All in all, Reverie is a wonderful sendoff for a beloved forged of heroes (and antiheroes).
5. Trails from Zero (PS4)
Trails from Zero on PS4 is a remaster of the unique PSP launch from 2010. As such, it may well actually look a bit dated at occasions, however do not let the visuals put you off what’s a implausible JRPG. The primary sport in a two-part saga, Zero takes place in and across the metropolis of Crossbell, as crime and corruption threaten to uproot the lives of its residents. You play as rookie detective Lloyd Bannings, who, along with a ragtag investigation squad, is tasked with uncovering Crossbell’s darkest truths. Glorious characters and an outstanding setting make for a Falcom traditional.
4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Chilly Metal IV (PS4)
Bringing a bombastic finish to the Chilly Metal saga, Trails of Chilly Metal IV makes an attempt to tie 4 video games’ value of tales up throughout an journey that may final properly over 100 hours. A frightening prospect, however developer Falcom someway makes it work — and that is maybe Chilly Metal IV’s most spectacular achievement. That is as dense as Trails video games get, each by way of storytelling and gameplay. The sequence’ turn-based fight has been adjusted for higher steadiness, there is a larger sense of freedom to exploration, and an enormous roster of playable social gathering members permits for some critical tactical tinkering. A deeply engrossing, typically good finale.
3. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Chilly Metal III (PS4)
A leap ahead from the primary two Chilly Metal titles due to a brand new engine, Trails of Chilly Metal III sees a barely older Rean Schwarzer return to his beloved Thors Navy Academy as an teacher. Guiding an all-new Class VII of their particular ops missions, it is not lengthy till outdated pals (and outdated enemies) begin popping up in what is commonly an engrossing character-driven story. What’s extra, Chilly Metal III makes some implausible additions to the sequence’ already nice turn-based fight system, whereas bigger environments supply so many alternatives for exploration. One among Falcom’s best.
2. Trails by means of Dawn (PS5)
Trails by means of Dawn marks the start of a model new saga in Falcom’s Trails sequence, taking gamers on a visit to the Republic of Calvard — a key location that is being totally explored for the primary time within the franchise. Geared up with a extra mature tone and darker story beats, Dawn seems like an actual step ahead from previous titles by way of narrative stakes. What’s extra, a a lot improved engine permits Falcom to craft a few of its largest and best-looking environments up to now, whereas a collection of gameplay changes — and key additions — make for a implausible fight system. Dawn is arguably essentially the most ‘standalone’ Trails launch but, and as such, it is a really useful start line for newcomers.
1. Trails to Azure (PS4)
With the story and characters of the Crossbell saga already established within the first sport, Trails to Azure is free to show the stress as much as 11, leading to one in all Falcom’s most engrossing RPGs. At occasions, it is a thrill trip by way of pacing, as Lloyd Bannings and the gang combat in opposition to seemingly insurmountable odds for the sake of their beloved metropolis and its folks. Filled with memorable moments and nice character growth, Azure needs to be thought-about a style traditional.
How would you rank the Trails video games? Which Trails sport is your favorite? Give them your individual scores, vote in our ballot, after which change into a hero within the feedback part beneath.
