Half of an epic police procedural RPG - The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure quick review

PLAY IT OR SKIP IT?

Play it, but play the previous game in the series, Trails from Zero, first. Trails to Azure is a direct sequel, and while it’s not impossible to follow as a newcomer, there are frequent references to past events. If you’d prefer to dive in without playing another game, you can find a summary of key events and characters on the Trails to Azure title screen.

TIME PLAYED

I spent around seven hours with Trails to Azure, which was enough time to get through the prologue, complete numerous side quests, unlock a car, earn a promotion, talk to thirty-two treasure chests, and clear the first part of Chapter One. This game is packed with content, and estimates I’ve seen online suggest it will take upwards of forty hours to finish the story.

WHAT’S AWESOME

• Turn-based battles with incredible depth. Combat takes place on an isometric grid, making a character’s position on the map very important. When I saw an enemy preparing a big attack, I would sometimes move my characters out of the way to protect them from damage. Like in many RPGs, turn order is displayed on a sidebar, but certain character skills can manipulate turn order, making it possible to take out enemies before they can attack. Party members can also be equipped with Quartz and Master Quartz, which are special items that can boost stats and unlock new abilities. It’s a fun way to customize characters and experiment with different playstyles.

• Fun gameplay loop. The main characters of Trails to Azure are members of the Special Support Section (SSS), which is a division of the local police department. After I finished the game’s prologue, I was taken to SSS headquarters, where I could patrol the town and take on various sidequests before moving forward with the story. While some quests asked me to fight monsters, others had me investigate mysterious characters or test out equipment. All that variety kept the game from feeling stale.

• Charming details. Trails to Azure has a sweeping story with political intrigue, but it’s the little details that make the game shine. Like in other Legend of Heroes games, you can talk to treasure chests after they’ve been looted. Some chests made silly puns or jokes, while others told me stories. Speaking of stories, it’s also possible to read novels and newspapers that were written in the game’s world. During my playthrough, I read an economic forecast in a local newspaper, The Crossbell Times, and the first chapter of Sunshine Agnès, a popular novel series.

• Lots of minigames and side content. Trails to Azure includes side activities that appear in many games, like fishing and cooking, but it also has some unusual minigames. The local casino has poker, blackjack, roulette, and slot machines with a classic RPG theme. There’s also Pom! Pom! Party!, a multiplayer video game that reminded me of Puyo Puyo. Later on, characters can visit a theme park and ride roller coasters.

WHAT SUCKS

• Dated visuals. While Trails to Azure is new to the west, it was released in Japan in 2011. It doesn’t look bad, but there are occasionally signs of the game’s age, like muddy textures and a lack of cutscenes. I wasn’t really bothered by these issues, but if you’re picky about graphics, check out some gameplay footage before you pick this one up.

• Uncomfortable scenes. For the most part, I really enjoyed the writing in Trails to Azure, but there were a few moments that were pretty distasteful. One quest included a sexual assault scene that was played off as a joke. This sort of content isn’t a big part of the game, and it didn’t ruin my experience, but it’s unfunny and off-putting.

• Repetitive dialogue. Trails to Azure is a text-heavy game, so it’s frustrating that it has a tendency to repeat itself. I lost track of how many times the game talked about what certain characters were doing or what they were up to in the previous game. I’m sure these references to the past are there to introduce new players to the story, but I’d rather see the game focus on current events.

💬 Will you be fighting crime and talking to treasure chests in The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure, or do you want to skip this adventure? Let us know in the comments!