![]() ![]() Much like how most entries in SEGA’s Yakuza series take place in the same town of Kamurocho with minor aesthetic changes, Trails to Azure takes place almost entirely in the same locations as its predecessor. If anything, Trails to Azure can sometimes feel a bit too familiar. If the only game you’ve played so far is Trails from Zero, you won’t have to worry about feeling left out of the loop. They’re nothing more than fan-pleasing easter eggs, though. Smartly, the incredible new localisation by NIS America sprinkles some minor changes into the writing that drop new yet necessary connections to other titles into the events of the story - namely some references to the Cold Steel series, which take place during the same time period and grow to be very intertwined with the Crossbell games. Thankfully, the forty hour run-time of the previous game is like a walk in the park compared to the lengths of other Legend of Heroes titles - is the only required reading for getting into Trails to Azure. They are in many ways the ultimate Legend of Heroes experience. That said, because this is merely a duology, they combine to be a great entry point for the series in general. Now Trails to Azure has made the journey West.Īs is the common warning with this series, if you haven’t played the prior entry Trails from Zero, then Trails to Azure will be pretty hard to comprehend and appreciate. Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel make up the iconic modern stories in the franchise, but there was always an iconic duology in the franchise that never saw an official English release – the Crossbell titles Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. Despite boasting some of the best characters, most engrossing world-building, and sharpest storytelling of the entire genre, the franchise is made up of sets of trilogies and quadrilogies that require knowledge of every prior entry in the series to truly digest. ![]() And they’re long enough and full of enough missable scenes and collectibles that you really need to be in love with that very specific tone to play them.Getting into The Legend of Heroes series is a tall-order for even the most hardcore JRPG fans. All of this gives these games a very specific tone I’ve never found anywhere else. Some of them even require clear data from previous games to unlock. ![]() Countless optional scenes lurk behind every corner. ![]() A lot of work went into creating Zemuria’s various nations and the problems they face. The NPCs change their dialog with each major event. The primary appeal of Trails to Azure-and the larger Trails series-is that it feels like a living, breathing world. As I wandered through the familiar streets, catching up with the characters, I realized something. Going back to Crossbell felt like revisiting an old friend. And you finally get an Orbal Car to drive and customize. More enemy weaknesses, Master Quartz, Combination Crafts, and Burst add more nuance to combat. This game uses the same semi-tactical JRPG mechanics as the previous game with some new bells and whistles. Nightmare, meanwhile, is balanced for New Game Plus. Normal is a pretty standard JRPG experience and Hard is a little more intense for JRPG fans. Easy is designed for busy people and those playing for the story. There are four difficulty levels: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Nightmare. ![]()
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