![]() It’s a lot to ask of players, but it seems worth it. You’re okay to jump in at the start of any of its 3 arcs, but you’ll get so much more from having played them all. The Legend of Heroes franchise is fairly unique in the JRPG world in that it tells an expansive, complex story across multiple games. My favourite JRPG party of all time is Persona 4 Golden, but the SSS is right up there with them. I’m a sucker for a great party in a JRPG, and not only is the SSS a wonderful cast of characters, but every single side character is also equally fun and memorable. ![]() The ending did feel a little abrupt credits just kind of happen mid-event, but there’s a nice little coda at the end, along with the promise that these characters will return. They were all incredibly satisfying, with almost every loose thread getting tied up. Trails to Azure is filled with little reveals and hints at other mysteries throughout its runtime, and they’re so meticulously plotted that none of them felt out of the blue. I like to make quick notes as I play a game for review, and for this one, it is filled with predictions, none of which were ever totally on the money, with all-caps sentences for when the reveals happened. Each has their motives for being in Crossbell, and it kept me guessing until they were revealed. Two new groups have also entered the picture: a group of mercenaries named The Red Constellation and the mysterious organisation, Ouroboros. The unveiling of the continent’s first skyscraper, Orchis Tower, sees leaders of several nations meet in Crossbell to decide its fate. Crossbell is beholden to its surrounding nations, and its new mayor wants to shake up the status quo and get Crossbell to be recognised as an independent state. Trails to Azure uses the previous game’s events to tell a much more politically driven story. Trails from Zero had to do a lot of heavy lifting in its early game, with the more serious threats of its plot not showing themselves until its final chapters. Eventually, however, Randy and Tio rejoin the party, letting you swap between old and new party members depending on who fits your playstyle in combat better.Īs the story progresses, the stakes increase much faster than in the first game. Tio and Randy are busy helping out with other things for the City, which gives you a decent few hours to play with your new party members and get some wonderful character moments. These two replace Randy and Tio from the first game for a while, leaving Lloyd and Ellie as the remaining original members. She’s somewhat of a foil to Wazy in the early game as she’s more disciplined, but her love of cars and sense of duty makes her endearing. Noel works for the Crossbell Guardian Force but joins the team to help out following the first game’s conclusion. He adds a fun dynamic to the group and an air of mystery about why he joined the SSS in the first place. ![]() Wazy, a downtown gang leader, was one of my favourite side characters in the first game. Noel Seeker and Wazy Hemisphere were featured throughout the previous game and fit into the party perfectly. Since the end of the previous game, the Crossbell Special Support Section has grown, with two NPCs from Zero having been added to the roster. Taking place a few months following the events of Trails from Zero, Trails to Azure wastes no time getting you into things. Having beaten it, the Crossbell Duology has cemented itself as one of, if not the greatest JRPGs I have ever played. With that out of the way, how does The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure stack up compared to its excellent predecessor? It became one of my most anticipated releases of 2023 immediately after finishing Trails from Zero. If you haven’t checked out 2022’s release of Trails from Zero, click hereto read my review and find out why it became one of my favourite games of not just that year but of all time. While there’s a handy section in the options for recapping the events of Zero, the things that make Trails to Azure so genuinely excellent rely on you having spent that first game of the duology with these characters. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a proper sequel. I’ll get this out immediately: If you haven’t played The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, you should not jump in with Trails to Azure. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure cements the Crossbell arc of The Legend of Heroes franchise as one of my favourite JRPGs of all time. ![]()
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