The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero Reviews
Redeeming a fantasy metropolitan police department is a strangely pedestrian setup for a JRPG. Forgettable plot aside, Zero features some of the best writing and character narratives in the genre.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero takes us back to the formation of the SSS, an organization Switch gamers will know from the Trails of Cold Steel games. It also takes us back to a relatively simpler system that's perfectly sized for JRPG adventuring on the go.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Hero is one of the best titles in the franchise and an incredibly well-made RPG overall. Experiencing the tale of the Special Support Section has never felt better, be it in terms of combat, writing, or presentation.
It's a shame that NIS and Falcom both decided to bring Trails from Zero in Europe only after the vastly superior Trails of Cold Steel series. This way a very solid if formulaic JRPG as this does not get the attention it deserves, due also to a lazy remastering process.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Though Trails' usual splendor of combat options here should come as no surprise, what's striking with this year's remastering is how well this once portable-only entry has translated across to more modern-day portable screens alike.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a very beefy RPG that is way longer if the speed-up functions are never used. The imaginative premise and complex battle system are what makes it stand out. The text can be really long-winded, even for RPG fans, but it all pays off for the diligent reader with patience to parse it all. Regretfully, there is no English voice acting - a first for The Legend of Heroes. While that is initially disappointing, the realization of the voice acting padding out an already very long RPG quells the desire.
After 12 long years, Trails from Zero is a classic RPG that was worth the wait. Fantastic characters, world building, and fun combat create another game in the franchise that will appeal to long time fans and newcomers alike.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a fun JRPG with a great setting, story, and cast of characters. Since it took so long to come to the west it does show its PSP roots in the visuals and the PlayStation 4 version is inferior to the other versions. Despite those things though this is worth experiencing for anyone who is a fan of the Cold Steel games or those who want to jump in for the first time.
As one chapter in something that is almost experimental for video games – a genuine epic, spanning decades of game development, a half dozen consoles, and a dozen titles – Trails From Zero is a very fine entry indeed. The rich complexities of the narrative engage the brain, while the charming writing and characterisation also make for an entertaining experience. The story is everything to this series, so it’s just as well that is spot on, though thankfully the combat is enjoyable in its own right, and it’s all backed by excellent aesthetics. If you are new to The Legend Of Heroes, this isn’t a bad place to start. If you’re a veteran of the series you must surely love how one of the best games in the series has finally got the full localisation it always deserved.
Trails from Zero is one of the most captivating RPGs, whose thoughtful use of setting and skillfully balanced storytelling make it a peer to the classics from the genre's golden age.
Fortunately, Lloyd and the rest of the SSS make for likable characters that you can't help but root for. The dialogue-heavy second half of the game can drag a little bit, but the cumulative experience is still a positive one that I would recommend to RPG fans. With Trails to Azure coming in 2023, the stable of Falcom titles on Switch continues to grow, and there's Zero reason to be unhappy about that.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero is a very bad remaster of a very good game. While the story of the SSS and the journey through Crossbell must be played by any fan of the series and the gameplay holds up surprisingly well even today, the PS4 version leaves so much to be desired that it is only recommended for those who can't afford to play it on another platform.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a superb entry in the long-running franchise that made me pumped for Trails to Azure as well as Trails into Reverie and the inevitable release of the Kuro no Kiseki series. There sure are a lot of these games but I still can't get enough.
The best version of the best game in the Trails series.
While some elements of this entry are a bit dated, there is still a great story and a meaty amount of story to enjoy. If you can't access the original trilogy, this is an excellent way to start your immersion in the series.
Trails from Zero is one of the best games in The Legend of Heroes franchise offering quite a deep and satisfying experience. The story is interesting, the characters are well developed and the interaction with them is very successful. Although it was initially released on PlayStation Portable in 2010 for the Japanese market, the fan translation into English by the Geofront group has allowed NIS America to bring us this interesting title to the West. Any fan of role-playing games in general and Nihon Falcom titles in particular will enjoy it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While it very much feels like a traditional JRPG, there’s just a flair to this title that pulled me in
All in all, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a JRPG good enough to be enjoyed on its own, but whose narrative and storyline take on added weight when there is the context of the Sky and Cold Steel saga behind it. Still, the narrative's focus on a small scale allows it to sell a very personal and intriguing world, with the more 'retro' soundtrack, gameplay and graphics helping the euphony. It is genuinely sad that there are two visually different versions between PS4, Switch and PC, however this is an adventure worth experiencing for fans of the genre regardless of platform of choice.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A great JRPG with an excellent story backed up by a fantastic soundtrack and engaging combat.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is an amazing JRPG with great combat, writing, and music that shouldn’t be overlooked.