The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

No matter how hard I try, I just can't get into this game. And since this series has historically been so interconnected that if you don't start here, you're really kind of hosing yourself, I ended up throwing away a *lot* of money on this series.

Don't believe the hype. This is boring and a slog. And after nearly 9 hours of playing a game I can still confidently say it's the definition of mediocre. There are a lot of fan boys who gush over this one and it's the reason I gave the stupid game a chance. Should have just passed.

After almost exclusively playing Trails in the Sky over the past two weeks, I *just* finished it after 57 hours of play time. I am sitting here, stunned.

I thought all the posts I had read about this game were simply over-enthusiastic hype. I was wrong. The entire game is fun from start to finish. It respects your time, and the challenge level is just right. However... this ending... *it's something else entirely*.

You ever finish a game and feel an empty feeling, as if no other game could fill that hole? That is what I feel right now. Fortunately, there is the sequel to play!

This is the gateway into an AMAZING series. The more you learn about the setting and each characters that live there, the deeper you want to dive. Many of the characters introduced in this game stay relevant in future games. I'm very fortunate that a friend suggested I go all the way back to this game when i decided to take my first steps in this series.

Known for being one of the best JRPG stories of all time, Trails in the Sky is the first of many in a series and it doesn't entirely disappoint. Besides a dated combat system and user interface, the story holds its own especially in the second half of this first chapter. Can't wait to see whats next. If you truly can't stand to play older games, wait for the remake.

Despite criticism from many people saying this game only serves as a prologue, thus having limited potential, I still see this as one of the best game in the series with how how it introduces characters and the world of Zemuria. I also like that each chapter is much more memorable (like chapters in Zero and Azure) compared to other games.

Slow in the beginning due to having to build the world of all of Liberl but a great story and some of the best world building in a game I've played that immediately pays off at the end and leading into the next game. Characters are great and unique. Side characters are more than just random NPCs with names and some even have full on story lines you can follow by talking to them whenever you see them in various locations around the world. Combat is fine but the Orbment system is a really cool.

Didn't know what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised!
Pros:
- Combat is fun and the boss fights are challenging enough without being frustrating
- Story is really well done and stays interesting throughout
- Characters are fun and I love the orb system for customising their moves

Cons:
- Quest timeout system is frustrating and I'm so annoyed I missed out on a couple because of this
- Some dated views, mild homophobia played for laughs (Very brief)

Overall 7/10 game and I'm excited to play the second one!

Trails in the Sky FC is your typical classic JRPG, from the characters to the settings and the story -- they've pretty much been done before and will be done again because cliches and tropes work, particularly when well-executed like in Sky. Estelle and Joshua plays off each other nicely and is a nice duo to follow through the whole game. Other characters, be it playable or non-playable are also quite memorable, particularly Olivier imo, because when you see him on-screen you know you're about to see some amazing dialogues. The story so far is not one of a kind nor exactly mind-blowing but it's solid and, once again, executed nicely.

If you're thinking of playing this game, do keep in mind that Sky FC is a slow-paced game. Usually 80 hours of gameplay in JRPG would net your characters around level 70-80 but here I finished the game at just level 40, which shows just how much non-combat content in the game is (granted I spent maybe 5-10 hours total afk but the same works for 70 hours of gameplay). However this seems like an intentional design for one purpose; world-building. Sky FC wants you to immediately hop into Sky SC because the story is continued right off FC's ending. And seeing the important plot reveal at the end of FC, it would make sense if the resulting world-building is used as the base for SC so you can dive right into the plot without worrying about new regions. Still, this is just speculations on my part so take it with a grain of salt.

All in all, if Sky FC still intrigues you, then I absolutely recommend it. It is a nice classic JRPG that does its characters and world really well and has quite cheap of a price tag. It doesn't require your undivided focus 24/7 to completion and is quite easy to pick up again by just reading the plot summaries and having an easy battle system to follow. A solid 7.5/10.

Ah sim, a lenda dos heróis rastros no céu, da subsérie a lenda dos heróis rastros no céu, da subsérie a lenda dos heróis rastros, da subsérie a lenda dos heróis, da serie matador de dragão.

This is my first JRPG game so there's not much to compare it to, but I finally finished the whole Trails in the Sky trilogy to the end and im very grateful for the time spent on this masterpiece...
The story, the music in this game... it's criminally good.
Even after a while, I can't stop listening to the soundtrack and thinking of this series over and over again...

Hopefully Falcom will hear the pleas of the Russian-speaking community to add Russian localization to the upcoming remake of the first chapter of Trails

This was recommend to be my a friend, and figured I'd give it a try (I know, I'm very late to the party).

While some of the mechanics are interesting, overall, after about 15 hours, the dialogue in this game completely turned me off the game. It was just painful to read through some of these interactions. There are plenty other games of this genre out there, I'll go try one of those.

While this is not my favorite game of the trilogy (FC, SC, and 3rd), this gets a recommend purely for leading through to both SC and 3rd.

The writing is stellar if very slow due to the first chapter designation, it is a fairly slow story until you start getting into chapter 3, and speeds up very rapidly by there.

Battle system is a little constrained by the lack of equipment choices. The orbment system, or this game's version of magi-tech, is where most of your customization will come from.

All in all, it's a recommend if only because you'll be immediately wanting to play SC right after. I promise, it's that worthwhile.

This is a pretty solid game and money well spent. The graphics are well put together and enjoyable to look at (though I'm slightly bothered by the hand drawn images of the female protagonist vs her sprite. The drawn version looks like a normal, skinny, teenaged girl. The sprite looks like a sort of chubby little kid and I have not been able to Punky Brewster out of my head, between her clothes, the color of the clothes and her general shape. It's just sort of weird, as the male protagonits' sprite looks like his illustration. Other than than, everything is nicely integrated, nothing jumps out as jarringly out of place. The gameplay is pretty fun. There are a variety of commands to give characters, so the battles don't have to be total repetition. The combat is where the game really shines. The magic system seems pretty intricate and will probably be fun to play around with more once I've progressed further. It's rather fun now, even early in. The only real frustration I have with this game is how much the characters talk to each other. Obviously the game needs a plot, which has to be laid out through exposition and character development relies on dialogue too ,but they cold probably do with about half as much. Because I'm always ready to get back to killing monsters by the time the main character start quipping at each other.

Starting the Trails of series is quite daunting after you hear about how many games and how long it takes to catch up to the series, but after finishing Trails in the Sky FC, I can say with absolute certainty that this JRPG series is definitely worth the play. Memorable characters, a strong story and captivating gameplay, this game will definitely leave a lasting mark on your journey through the Trails of series. I actually spent my last 8 hours playing the game without leaving my seat and it was all worth it. I highly recommend this game to any fans in the JRPG genre.

Listen, for the longest time I was annoyed at Trails fans telling me that I needed to start from the very beginning of this long-running series to get the best experience. It took me about six years before I actually managed to finish this game from beginning to end because I found the story slow and boring.

Now, the story *is* a little slow, but it has this unique 'cozy' vibe that very few JRPGs have. Because it's the first installment, it doesn’t have the pressure to rush the plot or force anything dramatic to happen. Characters develop organically, and you’re able to immerse yourself in every area you explore. The world-building is meticulous and rewarding, with NPCs who feel alive and react dynamically to events in the story.

The combat system is a classic turn-based affair with a tactical layer that allows for satisfying experimentation with Arts and Crafts (the game’s magic and skill systems). While it may not be as flashy as modern JRPGs, it’s solid and enjoyable, especially once you unlock more abilities later in the game.

What really makes *Trails in the Sky FC* shine is its characters. Estelle and Joshua are so relatable and well-written protagonists. Their banter feels natural, their growth feels earned, and their journey is as much about personal discovery as it is about saving the day. By the time I reached the credits, I was completely hooked and eager to dive into *SC*.

If you’re looking for an epic JRPG with fast-paced action right out of the gate, this might not be for you. But if you want a game that takes its time to build a rich world full of heartwarming moments and unforgettable characters, *Trails in the Sky FC* is absolutely worth your time.

found this game on a whim. Reminds me of Honkai: Starbucks battle mechanics. story has been amazing so far (Estelle is Bestelle). i am excited to jump into the later games once i play this game into the ground.

Story, plot points, combat, Olivier. 5 stars

This was a game that people had recommended me for years now, and I eventually decided to give it a shot. That was one of the best decisions I've ever made, in terms of gaming.

This game immediately hooked me, with it's fun writing, world building, and characters. By the end of chapter 1, the story really started to pick up and I could not put the controller down. The story starts off fairly simple, and it takes its time to set up the world and characters before it starts expanding and getting bigger and bigger, up until the ending that will have you craving the sequel.

I cannot understate how fun and good the characters are, I love how they are written and I love every single character, even down to the NPCs which seldom feel like robots, and feel like actual people existing in this world. Speaking of, the world building in Trails is excellent, and I love how fleshed out it is (and it only gets better with every game).

The gameplay is actually really neat, and I love customizing my orbments and seeing the different combinations I could make for the characters in my party. The gameplay holds up excellently and my only real critique is the lack of dungeon maps, making me confused in areas like...sewers..ugh...lol. Also, I love to see older jrpgs with no random encounters, so that's a huge W.

Trails in the Sky is a great beginning to the Trails series, and one of the best video games I have had the pleasure of losing myself in. While not quite as grand as later titles, like it's sequel and onward, it plants all the seeds for future games and it is an excellent adventure.

Didn't think I would like the series so much but 500 hours later and every game in the series beaten this is now my favorite gaming series ever. Seriously give it a go.

Wanted to play a smaller and cozy JRPG while I wait for Expedition 33.
Little did I know I signed up for a whole series playthrough after that ending.

Simply the start to one of the greatest JRPG series of all time, it doesn't get much better than this. If you made it to the end, you are likely buying the second chapter.

It's been a while since I played this, but I recall enjoying what I played of it. Mostly the character interactions and the combat. I literally never played any other Trails games, but it left a solid enough impression that I'm leaving a positive review years later to clear it from my backlog, so take that as you will.

Great characters but I wasn't so into the story. Ending was certainly something (in a great way)

i love it its great, the entire series is freakin amazing!!!!!

I played this game on a whim when covid hit 5 years ago. Why come back for a review?

I'm 11 games into this franchise 5 years later, over 700 hours. The worldbuilding and character development is bar none. This game is an investment to glory. There are few franchises that have an ongoing narrative between titles past 3 games, and this is one of maybe 5 I can think of, and this one is in the top echelon of that niche group.

Play Trails.

Trails in the Sky is a game I’d been wanting to play for a while after I saw a YouTube video about the Trails series. The world and characters intrigued me, and I was excited to dive in. But to be honest, the start of the game was a real struggle for me. I ended up quitting twice because it felt like it was moving way too slow, and I just couldn't stay engaged. On my third try, though, I told myself, “This time, I'm finishing it,” and I’m so glad I pushed through.

The beginning really is slow, but looking back, I realize that’s kind of the point. The slow start builds up the story and characters in such a way that when things finally pick up, the payoff feels huge. By the time I hit the later parts of the game, I was fully invested in Estelle and Joshua’s journey, and now I can’t wait to see what happens next.

The game does a great job of making the world of Liberl feel alive. Each town and area has its own little stories, side quests, and characters that make you feel like you're really a part of the world. The combat is turn-based, but it’s got a surprising amount of depth, and once you start unlocking new abilities, it’s actually pretty satisfying.

That said, the game does have its drawbacks. The pacing can feel really slow at times, and if you’re someone who needs things to move faster, that might be a dealbreaker. Also, the music, while nice at first, starts to feel a bit repetitive after a while.

Despite these issues, though, I had an amazing time in the Kingdom of Liberl. The story, characters, and world-building are what really kept me hooked, and I’m already looking forward to the next game in the series. If you’re someone who loves great storytelling and doesn’t mind a slow burn, Trails in the Sky is definitely worth your time.

Seems like an interesting story with likable characters but the combat is too tedious to occupy as much space as it does.

Even after finding the turbo button battles every encounter feels like a chore and there are tons of encounters.

The enemies in ordinary encounters have large hp pools,hit very hard early on, and many don't seem to have exploitable weaknesses to target making most fights last several rounds.

It's also very easy to enter combat at a disadvantage if a monster spawns behind you are a companion making exploration very slow and frustrating.

The skill system is not intuitive and you'll probably need some kind of guide to get the most out of it.

The side quests so far are uninteresting.

It's a shame that this promising story got paired with this exasperating combat system. I'll probably finish this eventually (?) but after 8 hours nothing has clicked. If you're very patient you might enjoy this game more than I have so far.

Good game. Most fun I had with a classic 2D JRPG in a long time since Final Fantasy games. I did not like the romance in the story towards the end but the magic system is unique and interesting. I maxed out my orbments for this game.

A fantastic jrpg with masterful world-building and a heavy emphasis on finding hope in the darkest of times.

I will probably write a more detailed review when I complete the Trails in the Sky trilogy, but I thought this to be an incredibly enjoyable game when viewed in isolation.

The slower parts of the game lend themselves to characterizing the two protagonists really well and I personally did not find fault in the pacing of the game.

Finished the game. Great story telling, a bit slice of life actually. Didn't find it challenging at all, apart from the final boss which required some thinking on how to deal with him. This is part 1 of a 3 part story and you will definitely want to play the other 2 games.
Played about 90% of it on the SteamDeck it works absolutely fine.
Final recommendation, chapter 2 is really really boring with some school shenanigans... skipped most of that dialogue and I recommend you do the same, you will lose nothing.

Fantastic classic RPG, looking forward to the remake later this year! IMO, still the best way to start the Legend of Heroes series!

I’ve had this game on my to-do list for a few years. 40 hours later, I’m glad I set aside the time to finish it. It’s a fun story with some excellent worldbuilding and character writing, though the slow pace of this first chapter is a bit of a drag at parts. Overall I would recommend for those interested in a story-driven JRPG. Looking forward to checking out SC next.

Coming from Cold Steel to play the very first entry of the series is quite a fun experience, it is lengthy but the pacing picks up as the story approach the climax towards the end, leaving you excited to jump into the next entry.

Amazing story, SC here I come.

The start of one of my most favourite series of games, with a rich story and fun turn based fighting system. For anyone who wants to sink in plenty of hours in a captivating world with a great story and fun characters, give this a go. it is really worth it.

Just a heads up, if you like this, you'll have another 11 games to go.

A must play, one of the best j-rpg I've ever played so far. Everything is polished and the story is deep and intense. The music is also really good. I played it with the voice mod, since for some reasons they cut them out the PC edition. The Japanese VA casting is superb and the game really feels empty without them.

If you are looking for a good JRPG you can really sink your teeth into, look no further. I went in with zero expectations outside of “I wanted to play a JRPG title I haven’t yet,” and was utterly blown away.

The world of The Legend of Heroes really IS the One Piece of JRPGs. *Every* NPC is impacted/has new things to say when you progress the story forward, and that’s something I’ll be doing a lot more of on my next playthrough.

The soundtrack is killer, the characters are A++, the combat and equipment systems are simple but deep, you’ll laugh, you’ll ugly cry, you WILL get invested in these characters. There are twists and turns in ways I promise you will not see coming, some of them dozens of hours in the making, on top of many of the tropes you’ve come to know and love. Couple all this with a heavily-90’s anime inspired art and you are in for one hell of an airship ride.

Do yourself a favor and at least play this one. If you make it to the final dungeon, buy the 2nd. Because once you finish this one, you’ll be begging for more with its ending.

This is a game for story lovers and character lovers, I know some people will not be interested just because of the graphics. But you don’t need goo graphics when you have good art direction and fantastic story.
9/10

I discovered this game and franchise nearly 4 years ago in the Summer of 2021. I have just recently completed the most recent, 13th game, in the series (Kai no Kiseki) via machine translation. That's just how badly I wanted to continue my journey in this absolutely peak and fantastic world. If that doesn't get you interested, I don't know what will!

As for this game itself, it feels like an early 2000's JRPG. Very nostalgic graphics, a simple yet fulfilling battle system with a fun "customization"/build system, and an amazing localization/script. The story is... a slow burn. I enjoyed my time with it, but I think knowing that the series was so long running kept me invested. Knowing that at "some point", it was going to take off. It absolutely does - trust the process. If you can play this game to completion and enjoy your time, I think you'll love the series. Now, on to the divisive part:

This is the uncontested best starting point for new players in the series. I'm not saying that to gatekeep, or because I'm a boomer who grew up through this era of gaming and isn't bothered by older graphics. I say it because, genuinely, the emotional impact of so many characters gets diminished simply by knowing who is still around/alive in later games (not to mention their allegiance). I would highly avoid looking at cover art for future games or starting anywhere but here. Intro videos and title cards alone can reveal more than you think!

If the idea of a 13+ game long, story centric series where each entry can be 100ish hours long (if you're a completionist) is a deterrent enough that you may be tempted to start at later entries, this may not be the series for you. It's absolutely worth the investment and I cannot stress that enough. You get into this franchise what you put into it, so don't rob yourself even the tiniest bit of emotional payoff - I promise you won't regret it.

This is a great and fun game. I started with the Trails of Cold Steel first and now I love the series. Now just need to play from the beginning.

my very first trails of games and I was impresed! if you like in depth stories in your game that one is for you.very text heavy but if you dont mind the long reading part you are in for a gem.battle is very interesting mix of turn based and tactical.cant wait to play the next chapter

I believe Trails is a series every JRPG fan should play or at the very least, experience. The world building and character development in this series in unmatched by any game I've ever played and is absolutely worth the 200+ hours it takes to play through all of the games.

Estelle Bright is easily one of the best and most charming protagonists I've ever had the joy of playing as. Also for the first time ever in a JRPG all of the NPC's are a joy to talk to. 90% of them have names instead of just "Wandering Person #792" and as such, have a tangible place in this world. The NPC's in this game don't feel like they're just here to spout exposition at you. Some do that, of course, but they make it feel like an actual world that people live in. Heck some NPC's have arcs that carry into other games.

If there's ever been a series that I feel deserves to be experienced, its this one. If you're into games with fantastic Worldbuilding, Story, Combat, or Characters, even if you're not a JRPG fan, you have to at least try this series. I promise you it will surprise you.

I kept hearing about how Trails in the Sky is one of the greatest JRPG ever. The fanbase can get very loud with their love for this series. And after playing it I have to admit, they have all the right to be this enthusiastic. For being 20 years old JRPG it aged like a fine wine, with some very loveable characters and immaculate world building. Military drama and politics are hard to write but Trails in the Sky manages to create a rather simple, but very entertaining conflict spanning its fictional setting. It gets you invested into it by making you follow adventures of Estelle and Joshua on their shonen-esque journey following their father's steps to become the strongest bracers possible. Their relationship and character growth is slow, but steady and visible and engaging. The world feels alive and breathing, with NPCs always reacting to current events and changing their dialogue as you progress the story. You feel the influence of the Evil Guys on the world and how it changes things, nothing ever feels static.

It's such a lovely and simple game, but it tells its story with a lot of heart. In a genre where your journey starts by saving a cat and fighting a god to save the entire universe, playing something more simple and down to earth is very refreshing. The only downside is that now I need to play throughout the entire franchise to see more stories from the Erebonian empire.

Incredibly charming & wholesome JRPG goodness with a fascinating ability progression system. As a newcomer to the series, the gameplay & tone remind me of Grandia & I’m loving every bit of it, also the soundtrack is SO groovy.

I'm having fun with this jrpg! Likeable characters, the world seems intriguing... a good game!

An amazing JRPG game and incredible series. Everything from world building to characters make it shine and lovable.

Replaying this game after 10 years in anticipation for the upcoming remake and I must say, the game STILL GOES SO HARD. Soundtrack is amazing, combat system has depth, quests add worldbuilding, and characters are interesting and dynamic. Playing this game on the Steam Deck with the EVO voice lines is a childhood dream come true.

It's a bit tricky to give a review to this game, because it has so many small things that I just straight up dislike. But at the same time it has strong positives that can't be brushed off.

+ Great main story.
+ Tons of side quests that is satisfying to finish.
+ Fun combat system.
+ Mostly decent writings with likeable and memorable characters.
+ Has an in-depth character building and might be really fun for some type of players.

- Rough scaling towards endgame. Everything become a chore as normal enemies becoming too tanky and you'd feel like that you are trapped in a perpetual underpowered state.
- The in-depth character building can become too much and too complicated for its own good.
- The game constantly change your teams, which makes the point above very painful process to go over and over again.
- The game seems to be built with the idea of multiple playthroughs, but the outdated game design might impact the replayablitiy value for some players.

Considering this game is practically a 2004 game, moreover since this game is also the first in the series with a very interesting story to it that gave birth to one of the most popular game series, it's hard to not recommend this game. Try to bear with the downside of the game. Worth the time investments to enjoy the following sequels.

Very fun game with a simple but deep magic system and an excellent grid based action system. Slow start but I finally got around to finishing the game beginning to end, definitely worth going through once, it does everything right and sets up the stage for subsequent games while being a solid stand alone title.

Compelling story, and fun to play. A simple JRPG that you can chill and enjoy about.

was not expecting to like this game as I saw it in my suggestions for awhile and choose to ignore based on the art style but I was wrong and it was in fact a great game which I have since played every ported steam entry and only 3 of them so far have been bad not terrible but bad. This game has fun characters and good music and the art style will grow on you in game sprites are cute.

This game is a grate experience from story to mechanicss