The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

This game is awesome, but probably not for everybody. It lacks a grand, world-ending plot thread and focuses more on the protagonists' journey and the dilemma of their kingdom. But that's not to say the story is boring. You just have to remember this game came out, like 20 years ago. It's also being updated in a remake coming this year (2025), so it would be fine to wait for that...HOWEVER. This game's sequel is a direct continuation where you can import your save data from this game, so playing Trails in the Sky FC right now is still very much worth it. The characters are amazing and there are lots of them. I'm the sort of person who has difficulty remembering characters and dialogue, but this game was SUPER easy to follow. There's not a ton of difficult world terms, every important character has a portrait and they come back often. The game is NOT too wordy, despite having more text in this game alone than 10 novels. NPCs in every town will change their dialogue to reflect the current state of the game world. NPCs will remember you if you helped them for their quest. And all of this is optional. The game is probably an easy 30-hour playthrough if you skip sidequests. I believe I finished my playthrough in around 60-hours mostly 100%ing the game. FOLLOW A GUIDE IF YOU WANT TO PERFECT THE GAME! There's missables, tight time-frames for some quests, hidden side quests, etc. A lot of the tedium this game would have was taken out with a speed-up function. It works for dialogue, travelling, combat, etc. Very useful. Some things are dated. Enemy designs are forgetable for the most part and blend in with the background, making them hard to discern. Missable quests are always meh to me. The beginning of the game can be on the slow side. I don't think it was boring at all, though. It's a comfy story. The ending, no spoilers, had me absolutely buying the second chapter at full price to continue the story. It's also the reason I suggest just playing this now instead of waiting for the remake. You'll be left off wanting more of the story and realize it's going to take them a few more years to remake the sequel. Josh and Estelle are lovable protagonists, the party members are fantastic too and have growth. Finally, the combat. The game is fairly easy at the beginning. But by the end you'll be wanting to use specific strategies to win. Status effects, status buffs, timing your s-breaks (Think Limit breaks) to interrupt turn order, moving your characters out of AoEs. It gets difficult. But not TOO hard. The game has time to ramp up so you'll be able to master the systems and the combat isn't all that convoluted in the first place. Most JRPG fans will love this game, but I can see why a lack of broader stakes might not be to everyone's liking. Now off I go to play the second chapter!

[h3]“Trails in the Sky” — больше, чем игра. Это начало путешествия, которое останется с тобой навсегда.[/h3] [i]Обычно JRPG дарят тебе мир. Эта — дарит тебе жизнь.[/i] Когда ты запускаешь Trails in the Sky, ты не просто начинаешь игру — ты входишь в мир, где каждый NPC имеет свою историю, где диалоги — не «пропускаемое» препятствие, а [b]вкусное литературное блюдо.[/b] Здесь даже охранник в заброшенной деревне скажет тебе больше, чем половина главных героев в современных AAA-проектах. [b]Эстель и Йошуа[/b] — не герои с шаблона. Это герои, которые растут на твоих глазах. Улыбаются. Ошибаются. Болеют. Любят. А когда понимаешь, что вся история — это только глава 1 в огромной саге Trails… мурашки бегут по коже. [b]Боевая система?[/b] Глубокая, тактическая, без перегрузки. Приятный баланс между олдскульной сложностью и комфортом. [b]Саундтрек? Саундтрек[/b] — это сердце игры. Каждый трек от Falcom Sound Team jdk проникает прямо в душу. Я до сих пор слушаю The Feeling of Dancing with the Wind каждый раз, когда иду по улице один. [b]Если ты устал от пустых игр, которые забываются через день — сыграй в Trails.[/b] Ты забудешь, что такое “скипать диалоги”. Ты захочешь читать каждую строку. Ты будешь улыбаться, когда вернёшься в Ролант. Ты поймёшь, что тебя зацепило. Но будь готов. Эта игра затянет тебя в мир Zemuria… и отпускать уже не будет. И это прекрасно. Спасибо, Trails. Ты изменила мою планку того, какой должна быть RPG.

I have absolutely fallen in love with the series and already played most of the other games in the series. This game was extremely fun to play and I enjoy the story just as much as every other game in the legend of heroes series.

Ever wonder what a jrpg can be like where the main character is not a soulless silent husk and instead a fully fleshed character with personality and dialogue? Wonder no longer they did it back in 04

In anticipation of the remake, I decided to play the original version first for a basic understanding of the premise and gameplay. What I found was a beautiful and engaging RPG with fun gameplay and character progression, an amazing story and great music. Even the graphics are appealing, despite the age. I highly recommend anyone considering a playthrough of the series to try out this original even after the remake is released. Immerse yourself in the world, talk to everyone you can and learn about Zemuria and the Liberl Kingdom in this first game in a long running series. Can't wait to play the next entry!

I was recommended the Trails series by a very fervent streamer. Picked it up because it was cheap, knowing nothing about the series outside of being a long running JRPG. What I got was a tactical combat system, one hell of a story and some really fun moments. Is it the best out there? No, there are a number of flaws, not least of which is the lack of depth for most side characters (there are a lot of them and not a lot of time to flesh them out, hoping that future games in the series will flesh them out further). But it is a great start to what I'm hoping may be a fantastic series. Definitely worth giving it a go.

It wasn't the first one I played but it started the greatest JRPG series of all time and deserves my biggest recommendation. Play with the Japanese voice EVO mod pack, really takes the game to a 10/10.

The greatest JRPG series starts here!! A little slow at times, but the character development and world building is top tier. Anton is the best NPC in any game.

This is a very cozy game to play if you don’t mind spending the time in. Definitely the kind of game you wished you had played sooner if you’re finding it later in life. I feel like a changed person after going through the whole Sky series and I’m very happy I got to experience this game the way that I did. Very bulky story, so bring popcorn. Game takes its time developing characters and world building. Even the side characters get a bit of love in this regard. It may be long, but the payoff at the end was well worth it. Game really cares about the characters and it shows. Even the side quests help with developing the story and exploring different sides of characters. Battle mechanics felt hard at first but overall combat is simple enough. Almost to the point where it feels incomplete. Yet there is still strategy that goes into boss battles and some fights will make you work hard for them. I love how the characters can be super animated at times. Seeing the different expressions of the sprites and portraits always makes my day. I especially like Tita’s little victory cheer she does when she gets the last hit. I know pixel graphics aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you can look past it or grew up in the pixel era, I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching the characters. Overall, I give the game a solid 7/10. Not necessarily gonna be for everyone, but any rpg enjoyer will find something to love about this one. [spoiler] 8.5/10 when you realize this game was nothing more than a giant tutorial for what’s to come later. I don’t think an ending to the game has every played me like that before [/spoiler]

Great game, bit dated in parts and the story is at a canter for the majority. If you enjoy the characters, you'll enjoy the game.

Havent beat the game yet, but I just had to write this while it was in my head still, but the side quests in this game are REALLY cool. Of course youve got your normal "go beat up stronger monster" quests but a bunch of the other side quests have like interesting things that they make you do and most of them have you interacting with the characters in the towns in a meaningful way. EDIT: Finished the game. Damn...

Отличная игра с интересным сюжетом, интересным миром и живыми персонажами. Отличные шутки, подача сюжета, отношения между персонажами. Интересная боевая система, но моментами было душновато.

Wow. I had heard this was good, but I didn't think it would be that good. I'm reminded of finishing Baldur's Gate 1 for the first time, and just having that feeling that you just finished an epic adventure. The story building is slow, taking its time to build its world, characters, and plot. Each new region gives you a new mystery to solve, and then in the end, all of it connects into a grand finale. I really like the balance between a full tactics game, and a simple turn based JRPG. You have to think about positioning, without obsessing over it. Great game, and I can't wait to jump into the second one.

amazing series fun turn base system that gets better each game stories phenomenal love this arch

An amazing beginning to an amazing story. The world, the characters, everything have been truly amazing and i cant wait to continue the story from here on out

An absolute classic—and honestly, better than its successor in many ways. Trails in the Sky nails the fundamentals: a deeply charming cast, a slow-burn political story that actually pays off, and a battle system that's both accessible and surprisingly strategic. The worldbuilding is second to none, with NPCs that feel like actual people and a setting that evolves as the story progresses. Where SC (the sequel) leans harder into melodrama and bigger stakes, FC thrives in its grounded storytelling and tight pacing. It’s more focused, more cohesive, and ultimately more rewarding by the time the credits roll. If you’re into JRPGs and haven’t played this yet, you’re missing out on one of the best in the genre.

incredibly charming game with fun characters, a great story, amazing ost and just a great vibe overall. Massive recommendation to any JRPG fan. The pacing can be very slow especially at the start, but once it gets going you will be hooked, and me personally i love slower paced stories if its done well, and i was having fun straight from the beginning

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky - A Thoughtful, Slow-Burn JRPG Epic -- Review -- The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is a deeply engaging JRPG that delivers a rich, character-driven adventure with satisfying mechanics and a tightly interwoven story. While the dialogue can be overly verbose at times, it ultimately pays off by fleshing out its characters and crafting a meaningful journey that stays compelling from start to finish. -- Gameplay -- The combat system in Trails in the Sky is one of the game’s standout features. The turn-based battles offer satisfying depth and strategic flexibility, with orbment customisation playing a central role in shaping your team’s abilities. Choosing how to slot quartz in order to unlock specific skills adds a layer of planning, and as the game progresses, the range of possibilities opens up, making experimentation rewarding and sometimes essential. The game-play offers a strong sense of progression, not only in terms of your party’s strength but also in your understanding of how best to utilise each character’s unique strengths and roles in battle. It’s the kind of system that grows on you the more you engage with it. The general game-play loop of exploration, combat, and storytelling is engaging, though it occasionally stumbles in pacing. Some combat sequences can stretch a bit too long, and extended dialogue scenes sometimes slow the rhythm down, particularly when they appear too frequently or linger on less critical moments. -- Story -- As the first chapter in a much larger saga, Trails in the Sky takes its time laying the groundwork. The early hours move at a deliberate pace, gradually introducing the world, the cast, and the political undercurrents that simmer beneath the surface. While this slow start might feel typical for a JRPG, it pays off later with impactfull narrative climaxes and surprising moments of tension and intrigue. The storytelling is both personal and political. Through a journey that spans nearly every major city in the country, the game slowly reveals the region’s culture, history, and social dynamics. What begins as a simple guild job loop turns into a wider tale of power, trust, and manipulation, often catching the player off guard with unexpected twists. The world feels alive, thanks to the detailed writing and the effort put into making even side characters and towns feel distinct. The political intrigue adds layers of realism and depth to what could otherwise be a straightforward fantasy setting. Estelle and Joshua serve as compelling emotional anchors, with the world’s responses to their actions and their own personal growth lending meaningful weight to the narrative. -- Art -- Trails in the Sky may show its age visually, but its isometric art style retains a distinct charm. The sprite work and environmental design, while modest by modern standards, effectively convey the personality of each town and character, and the game’s overall presentation holds up well for a title of its era. The soundtrack is a highlight—emotionally resonant and diverse, with tracks that complement everything from quiet town exploration to climactic battles. The music helps elevate key moments, drawing you further into the world even when the visuals might not be cutting-edge. The user interface and menus get the job done, though not without a few frustrations. Navigating orbment setups and certain menus can be a bit clunky, especially when managing multiple party members. The lack of voice acting also stands out, especially given the sheer volume of dialogue—you’ll be doing a lot of reading. -- Conclusion -- Trails in the Sky is an epic adventure made for fans of slow-burn, text-heavy RPGs with deep characters and a narrative that blends fantasy with political realism. It rewards patient players with a world rich in nuance, strategy, and emotional depth. Rating: 9/10 – Recommended for fans of character-driven turn-based JRPGs that are willing to go down a long coming of age journey with plenty of political intrigue and social critique. Not recommended for: Players seeking fast-paced action, minimal dialogue, or a short runtime.

[strike]Was fine, until I started chapter 2. After that, game started randomly freezing, wouldn't launch and had issues closing. Tried to validate files, but that didn't fix the issue. So, for me, it seem rather unplayable and I can't recommend the game.[/strike] Found the solution to the above. Seems since I had Steam installed on an HDD and this game on an SSD, there was still some interaction going on between the two... not sure that, but there was. Well, the HDD was evidently starting to fail around the time the issue got worse. I noticed other freezing and pauses in other games. Made me recall the issue of my external HDD causing similar issues when plugged in, so I checked my disk status with Segate SeaTools... the 3TB drive was failing. Shuffled flies around, placing Steam on my C drive, removed the failing HDD and issue was resolved. Mentioning this in case others have a similar issue. Updating this review to reflect that. Good game. Can be a bit long at times, so play when you have plenty of time (don't forget to use the restroom first!). I've had to play it in short bursts, but has still been fun to play. Story is decent so far, though I am only on the start of chapter 2. Combat is fine. If you love these kind of RPGs, then get it full price as it will be worth it to you. If you are like me and just like them, but can't dedicate that much time, wait for a sale and a price you are comfortable paying. Overall, work playing at least one of this series as it is highly regarded.

If you played this game without the voice patch, you didn't beat the game.

Trails is the best series of all time and this game is a damn beautiful start

There's slow-paced and then there's just boring. This is the latter.

Great game, but too many missable things.

beautiful... just beautiful 1/12 games completed, on to sky sc now

such a good game

Greatest game of all time

This game takes a while

good game

Great game

Good old school rpg.

I love TitS (Trails in the sky)

Everyone should play this.

Estelle is Bestelle

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