Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Preview
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a title with quite the history behind it. This single-player, turn-based JRPG with action and adventure elements is a remake of a beloved title from 2004. The original Trails in the Sky was the sixth title in The Legend of Heroes franchise and the game that put the Trails subseries on the map. So, how does the remake hold up so far?
In short, pretty well. It’s almost magical how Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter captures the original’s bright colors, political intrigue, and complex relationships. More detailed character models means the cast can be much more expressive, and the environment design can be downright lovely. I’m most enthralled by the way each disparate element adds to the game’s overall mood of adventure and exploration.
Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua set out to become Bracers—mercenary adventurers who help people in need. However, their plans are disrupted when their father, retired legend Cassius Bright, leaves unexpectedly. He leaves several jobs for them to complete in the rapidly modernizing nation of Liberl.
But while Estelle and Joshua hone their skills and make new friends, the neighboring empire has begun to move. As unrest stirs inside Liberl, Joshua’s mysterious past may come back to haunt them both…
A Laid-Back Fantasy Adventure
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is, as I said before, a remake of the first Trails game. When I think of the Trails series, I think of lush worldbuilding, gorgeous fantasy cities, and cute anime-style art direction. I also think of extremely lengthy cutscenes explaining Zemurian geopolitics and finances. This title is no exception.
Fortunately for everyone, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter does a good job of sliding you into Liberl’s local politics through quests and funny cutscenes. You should have a decent grounding in the situation by the time something goes horribly wrong.
Like in other Trails games, this title is crammed with optional scenes, dialog, and collectibles. There is so much going on in Liberl at any given moment that you’re always in exploration mode. Almost every NPC has something to say when the story advances. It makes the world of Zemuria feel full of life. Combined with the cozy feel of the demo, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter a joy to play.
This game does an excellent job of getting me invested in Estelle and Joshua’s intense but ambiguous relationship from the start. Estelle has more personality in her little finger than some protagonists have in their whole bodies. And Joshua’s struggle with his ruthless streak is engaging, if a bit predictable. Their party banter is very endearing.
The stakes of their journey may not be particularly high in this demo, but I’m already deeply invested in their quest to get promoted.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a Truly Authentic Remake
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter features an updated combat system borrowed from more recent entries in the series. As with Trails through Daybreak, you switch between turn-based Command Battles and real-time field battles. Doing well in the field gives you an advantage in Command Battles. And the transitions between exploration and combat are seamless.
In Command Battles, you alternate between attacks, casting Arts, and using special Crafts. On the field, you can only use basic attacks, Crafts, and dodges. Stun an enemy and you can arrange a powerful combo attack. Overdrive renders a character temporarily immune to debuffs and guarantees a Brave Attack.
The game offers your pick of dash button, target lock-on, and camera control settings. You can also choose whether or not to switch targets by flicking. In other words, you have a lot of control over these small quality of life features. Combat is delightfully fluid, fast-paced, and flashy. And the array of Quartz and Arts characters can learn allows for a lot of customization.
The demo offers five difficulty levels, ranging from Very Easy to Nightmare. Normal is the recommended difficulty level, and it should be perfectly reasonable for newcomers. Provided you are willing to read the skill descriptions and learn how the stats interact. All in all, the updated gameplay feels great, looks great, and adds to the joy of running through the Liberl countryside.
Not Without Its Flaws
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a very good game. However, it isn’t perfect. I’m going to be honest. The first time I booted up this game, it ran terribly. The opening cutscenes were slow as molasses. I plodded through them, only to find that the gameplay was also incredibly sluggish.
The good news is that I eventually got things working properly. The bad news is that I did so by switching to my dedicated gaming PC. From what I can tell, the issue is that the game automatically uses your integrated graphics card. There are workarounds, but having a high-performance graphics card is the easiest.
This game features English and Japanese voice acting. However, only the cutscenes are voiced. And like the Tails through Daybreak games, sometimes only a few characters in a scene are voiced. It’s incredibly jarring, especially when the main characters are silent.
That said, the sound design is otherwise good. You can switch between the standard soundtrack, the original soundtrack, or a custom mix. More detailed 3D graphics means more room for little secrets, like a chipmunk hiding inside an overturned bucket. And the art direction is great, though the character models are prone to clipping.
This is a remake of a game from the early 2000s. This means the character design has a somewhat retro sensibility that I found very welcome. Their bright colors, simple shapes, and archetypal personalities are refreshing. And the game’s environment design manages a nice balance between the look and feel of classic JRPG fantasy and a more sci-fi aesthetic.
All in all, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is shaping up to be a very fun and sincere adventure through an incredibly well-realized fantasy world. I for one can’t wait to see more of Liberl. And if you’re a JRPG fan, I hope you feel the same.
***Steam code provided by the publisher***
