The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure review – Nihon Falcom serves up another fine RPG

For all of Lloyd’s talk about overcoming barriers, Trails to Azure faced many before finally reaching the West. Nearly twelve years after its initial PSP release, Nihon Falcom’s RPG arrives hot on the heels of Trails from Zero, with NIS America licensing a popular fan translation. It’s a crucial release before the upcoming Trails into Reverie, which serves as a joint epilogue for both Crossbell and the Cold Steel arc. Azure’s release was a long time coming, but it’s a worthy follow-up that builds on Zero’s strengths.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure review

• Developer: Nihon Falcom
• Publisher: NIS America
• Platform: Played on PS4
• Availability: Out 14th March on Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PC (Steam, Epic, GOG)

If you didn’t beat Trails From Zero first, fix that immediately. Azure assumes your familiarity with what happened before – although jumping in without playing the Trails in the Sky trilogy will be fine, as much as diving into such a large series might seem daunting. Going through Sky first adds context to a few scenes, but a wide cast of returning characters fills any crucial blanks. I’d also recommend playing both on the same console; a cleared Zero save file is transferable into Azure and adds some appreciated bonuses. EXP levels carry over, fishing rank, and Detective Points are all accounted for, while certain scenes play out differently depending on prior choices. Don’t expect any drastic changes like Mass Effect would offer, but it’s a lovely touch that helps maintain your own continuity between both RPGs.

Azure itself takes place several months after Zero, and starts by tying up some loose ends. Like before, we’re playing as Lloyd Bannings, the leader of this charismatic group, and this time we’re welcoming two recruits into the Crossbell police department’s Special Support Section (SSS). Crossbell retains that strong character we previously saw across this city-state, but new conflicts threaten this uneasy peace under the surface.

Structurally, Azure is almost identical to Zero and most chapters see the SSS tackling public requests that the wider Crossbell police force doesn’t have time for. Selecting these from your HQ’s PC, daily life is rarely straightforward between finding lost cats, exterminating monsters, and investigating address change irregularities. Mandatory requests advance the story and while there are plenty of optional missions available, these need completing within a time limit. Some requests do feel tedious and hidden quests not listed on the PC remain annoying to find, so it might have you reaching for a guide.

Still, Azure rewards your diligence through Detective Points, providing new accessories as Lloyd’s detective rank advances. Just like Zero, these requests offer significant insights into Crossbell’s daily life, taking you from its sprawling central city to the outskirts, and even a Disneyland-esque theme park. Crossbell isn’t a massive place like the two bickering neighbours it’s stuck between, Erebonia and Calvard, each of whom claims sovereignty over it, but it remains a deeply interesting place to visit.