The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure Reviews
If you enjoyed Trails from Zero, then The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a delightful complement with an even more gripping story. The Crossbell Duology is some of Nihon Falcom’s most compelling work and worth playing if you haven’t yet had the chance.
That being said, I can't overlook the disservice that these types of Switch 2 releases are doing to fans who supported an at-the-time more niche RPG franchise. Yes, the Trails in the Sky FC remake has shone the spotlight on the modern Legend of Heroes titles, but let's throw a bone to the players who were there first. I'll dig my heels in against an all-digital future without upgrade options as we move from one console to the next.
The new versions for PS5 and Switch 2 make this duology more accessible to those wishing to discover or rediscover *The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero* and *The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure*.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Trails to Azure is an important second entry to the Crossbell saga, adding some neat touches and forming two parts of a whole with Trails From Zero.
Occasionally let down by a PS4 release that unlike its Switch and PC equivalents lacks the visual sharpness and touch ups to its evident age, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure caps off the two-part Crossbell arc in satisfying fashion.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Azure takes everything that's excellent about Zero and runs a marathon with it. It's one of the best-paced games in the series, with some of the best characters, best music, and easily the best setting. The Crossbell Arc is a hugely compelling two-parter that captures everything that makes the Trails series what it is perfectly, and Azure in particular deftly balances high-stakes drama, political intrigue, and poignant character moments. This is one Switch RPG we won't be feeling blue about anytime soon.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a fantastic conclusion to the Crossbell duology, with a wonderful story and engaging combat.
A somewhat fair version of the second part of a mythical JRPG. Its greatest virtue is that we can finally play it in our territory, but it would need more work to not feel so out of time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Trails to Azure is The Legend of Heroes at its best. With some of the most enjoyable characters, jaw-dropping events and immersive world-building of the entire franchise, it's clear why this Crossbell duology has been held in such high acclaim by fans for so long. If you've struggled for ages to find the right time to get into Legend of Heroes, your wait is over - start here with Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure.
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
A must-have sequel for those who played Trails from Zero. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is charming despite accusing the passage of time. Something that you will not take into account once you return to immerse yourself in its achieved world and plot of this dilogy accompanied by a combat that continues to feel stimulating.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is an incredibly strong RPG with phenomenal pacing, characters, and combat, but it also relies so much on the player’s connection to the previous game. I can’t in good conscience say anyone should play Trails to Azure without first playing Trails From Zero, but that’s exactly what makes the experience so special. The duology of Zero and Azure revels in sequential storytelling, building a convincing world filled to the brim with personality and political intrigue.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is easily one of the best entries in the franchise. A compelling heart-wrenching story is made better with excellent character writing and world-building, while the fun combat system keeps the best elements from its predecessor and improves it to make it stand out as much as possible. If you have to only play one of the Trails of titles, make sure you play Azure.
With an unforgettable cast of characters, enthralling story and a deep, enjoyable combat system, Trails to Azure is truly the full package. It’s not just one of my favorite games in the long running Legend of Heroes series, but one of the finest that the JRPG genre has to offer.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a well-written and content-rich RPG that pays the discount of a technical profile that is anything but up to date. An unmissable appointment for enthusiasts, but perhaps we should advise newbies to start from the previous chapter.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If you love fantasy worldbuilding, sidequests, and worlds you can get lost in, you will love this game. If not, you probably won’t get the appeal. Either way, play Trails from Zero first and then come back. Trails to Azure will be waiting.
Trails to Azure is an amazing sequel. Alongside an expanded combat system, it takes every storyline that Trails from Zero cultivated and delivers a series of incredible conclusions, both for individual characters and the franchise's overarching narratives. In terms of impactful plot points, Azure is up there with the finest of Trails titles - a twisting, turning, gripping RPG that should really be considered a classic.
While Trails to Azure’s barrier to entry is quite high for those who’ve never played a Trails game—and even if you’ve played Trails from Zero, there’s still a mind-numbing amount of new lore here to keep up with—the game’s still worth the plunge. You’ll be lost in the dark for a few hours, and probably for several more after that, but few JRPGs in recent memory can boast gameplay mechanics this dynamic or storytelling abilities as accomplished.
Despite the years that have passed, from a playful and narrative point of view The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure still defends itself well, and today as then it tells one of the most mature and engaging stories that the Nihon Falcom saga has to offer.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is like a time capsule for fans of classic JRPGs. From its retro aesthetic to its turn-based combat, it harkens to a time that some might consider the golden age of the genre. Granted, some might consider it dated. That would be a mistake, however, as The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is one of the best renditions of old-school JRPGs at their finest. If you like classic JRPGs, you certainly can’t miss this one.