The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,715 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Game Cover
The thing with this game is that, you will be engrossed for a while and that is the biggest compliment I can give to the game. If you love Traditional JRPGs and own a PSP, then it’s a must buy game.
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The Legend of Herooes: Trails in the Sky follows Estelle and Joshua, young bracers in training, as they adventure across their homeland of Liberl. They investigate a mysterious locket, leading them to uncover a sinister plot that threatens their world. This turn-based RPG features character-driven stories, strategic combat, and a richly detailed world to explore.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • PSP
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,715 reviews
story2,375 positive mentions
grinding323 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with memorable characters and excellent world-building.
  • Unique combat system that combines turn-based mechanics with tactical positioning.
  • Rich dialogue and character interactions that evolve throughout the game.
  • Slow pacing, especially in the early chapters, which may deter some players.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth compared to modern RPGs.
  • Some quests and items are easily missable, requiring a guide for completionists.
  • story6,397 mentions

    The story of "Trails in the Sky" is characterized as a slow burn that gradually builds into a rich narrative filled with political intrigue and personal growth. Players appreciate the depth of character development, with every NPC having their own evolving story that reacts to the main plot, creating a vibrant and immersive world. While some find the pacing tedious, especially in the early chapters, many agree that the payoff in the later stages is rewarding, making it a compelling entry in the JRPG genre.

    • “This game has that classic JRPG feel with an engaging story and interesting set of characters.”
    • “The last chapter raises the stakes and pacing considerably, offering a long, satisfying conclusion to the immediate plot threads through a rich mixture of political conspiracies and personal dramas.”
    • “And just when it looks like it’s already over, you’re rewarded with the best scene of them all; an absolute masterclass in direction and storytelling that flips the entire narrative on its head, adding a new, much darker layer to the portrayed events.”
    • “At the same time, a lot has been said about the series’ more recent drop in quality: how the characters and set pieces keep getting recycled, how the writing seems to lose depth and go for the safest tropes, or how the overarching story becomes increasingly meandering.”
    • “The story starts off slow, but it really picks up and becomes engaging as you progress through the game.”
    • “The story is a very slow burn at first, with the main story not really getting put into motion until around chapter 2.”
  • gameplay1,293 mentions

    The gameplay of "Trails in the Sky" is characterized by its traditional turn-based combat system, enhanced by the unique orbment mechanics that allow for character customization and strategic planning. While some players find the mechanics engaging and the combat enjoyable, others note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and somewhat dated, especially compared to modern RPGs. Overall, the game is praised for its rich storytelling and character development, which often overshadow the gameplay itself, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate narrative depth in their games.

    • “If you're debating whether or not you should wait for the remake, I say don't hesitate to jump in now; the gameplay still holds up just fine and the ending is going to leave you wanting to start playing the sequel immediately after the credits finish rolling.”
    • “The gameplay is engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and plays especially well on the Steam Deck even though it says it is unsupported right now.”
    • “The gameplay and RPG systems, while quite fine, are nothing particularly addictive or special.”
    • “Plot and gameplay are completely disconnected.”
    • “The biggest weaknesses of Trails in the Sky FC, other than how slow it is to start, is that the game is not balanced and certain party members are pretty weak in both gameplay and story.”
  • music1,291 mentions

    The music in "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting the memorable and immersive soundtrack composed by Falcom's sound team. While the music enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth, some players noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over long play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is delightful, with memorable tunes from various locations and events that will have you humming along.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal and on par with any of the acclaimed games in the genre.”
    • “The music, visuals, and battle system are generic, but the soundtrack is really good.”
    • “The music is extremely bland; again, I don't understand why people praise it and even compare it to legendary soundtracks such as Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7.”
    • “The game's music is alright, but I feel that sometimes it doesn't always fit.”
    • “The music was okay; sometimes I felt like I was listening to an RPG soundtrack that has been turned to elevator music.”
  • graphics837 mentions

    The graphics of "Trails in the Sky" are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2004 origins, yet they possess a certain charm that resonates with fans of classic JRPGs. While the character portraits and art style are praised for their detail and expressiveness, many players note that the simplistic visuals do not detract from the game's engaging story and gameplay. Overall, the graphics may not impress by modern standards, but they effectively complement the game's nostalgic and immersive experience.

    • “Despite having dated graphics, you can see how much attention to detail Nihon Falcom paid in order to build a world bustling with information and content.”
    • “Being an older JRPG, the game isn't a visual masterpiece, but the 'semi-3D' character sprites, cut-in artwork, rare animated cutscenes, and common character sprites are all beautifully done.”
    • “The graphics may be a little dated, but instead of detracting from the experience, I feel like they only add to its charisma.”
    • “The graphics are quite dated, but instead of detracting from the experience, I feel like they only add to its charisma.”
    • “The graphics are rudimentary even by 2004 standards; it tells you everything you need to know that this was later ported to the PSP, no downgrade required.”
    • “The graphics may be a little outdated, since it was first released in 2004 in Japan, but even so the artwork is gorgeous, the environments are highly detailed, and Xseed put a ton of effort to make it look even better at 1080p.”
  • grinding352 mentions

    The reviews indicate a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with many players noting that while some grinding is present, it is often unnecessary due to the game's experience scaling system. Features like turbo mode and the ability to run from encounters help alleviate the tedium associated with grinding, making it feel less burdensome. Overall, players appreciate that the game allows for progression without excessive grinding, although some side quests and final boss encounters can still feel tedious.

    • “No grinding required (on normal mode, anyway).”
    • “Also, since the game is not grindy, that means you can focus on the story itself without wasting hours to get enough levels to progress.”
    • “The game is not grindy, unlike many JRPGs.”
    • “I used the turbo button constantly, Cheat Engine to get out of some grinding (sepith, exp), and a walkthrough to make sure I didn't miss things, and I still found the pacing to be slow.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but it felt like 60 hours of side quests; tedious side quests.”
    • “The main storyline develops tediously slowly, as you run from place to place with very little new information being revealed at each stop.”
  • humor255 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and cleverness, with many players enjoying the witty dialogue and character interactions that often elicit genuine laughter. While some humor is described as juvenile or outdated, the localization team has successfully infused the script with additional jokes that enhance the experience. Overall, the game balances lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes, making it a delightful and engaging journey for players.

    • “It effortlessly slips in humorous character interactions in between intrigue and drama without ever missing a step.”
    • “The writing is genuinely funny and heartwarming at times.”
    • “The characters are fantastic, there's a whole lot of charm and humor, the OST at times gives me Chrono Cross vibes and I've just been thoroughly impressed with the OST.”
    • “While key plot points are translated faithfully, the English script often adds unfunny jokes not found in the original and tries to 'pep up' the conversations with varying levels of success.”
    • “Playing Trails in the Sky is like returning to a game you have always played when turning on a JRPG: it makes players discover a world with problems to solve, but rarely puts them in a spot where there isn't a handful of warm, good feelings, where the people living in this world won't smile and help the characters, give some nice trivia, or just crack a light, unfunny joke.”
    • “Not interesting fights, boring characters, a too long and tedious story that you get bored of soon enough, and plain jokes that are not funny - nothing is epic about this game as people say.”
  • character development214 mentions

    The character development in "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised for its depth and gradual progression, allowing players to form strong emotional connections with the characters, particularly the main protagonists, Estelle and Joshua. Reviewers highlight the game's focus on storytelling and world-building, noting that the slow pace enhances the richness of character arcs and relationships, making it a standout in the JRPG genre. While some side characters may lack depth, the overall narrative and character interactions are considered exceptional, contributing to a highly immersive experience.

    • “The level of character development and world-building are a cut above most role-playing games - the beginning chapters of the game lull you into a false sense of following traditional RPG tropes.”
    • “From the richly detailed world-building to the nuanced character development, this game is a shining example of what makes the genre so beloved.”
    • “The character development is nicely paced, and the story works to balance moments of action and intrigue along with that emotional payoff that makes the journey matter.”
    • “The character development feels very forced, and usually devolves to one character listing off their personality traits in a conversation.”
    • “I will be blunt on one thing, most of this game is just world building and character development, not too much major happens in the story until near the end.”
    • “If you don't like long stretches of dialogue and character development, this game is simply not for you.”
  • emotional203 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its memorable characters and deeply engaging storylines, often leading players to tears by the end. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to heartbreak, through well-crafted dialogue and character development. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a slow burn narrative, the overall sentiment is that the emotional payoff is profound, making it a standout experience in the JRPG genre.

    • “I cried at the end 100/10”
    • “The emotional payoff... omg plz, more.”
    • “The ending completely destroyed me, a heart-breaking experience that you realize is one of the best emotional moments in gaming.”
    • “I don't understand all the positive reviews -- Legend of Heroes has a boring story, uninteresting characters, extremely linear gameplay, and repetitive juvenile sexual references that cheapen this game even further.”
    • “Boring story with dialog bloat and filler speech bubbles to drag out how long it takes to finish the game, terrible anime writing.”
    • “The dialog is about 90% useless gibberish and 10% boring storyline.”
  • atmosphere62 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its laid-back, immersive quality, enhanced by excellent music and rich world-building. Players appreciate the distinctiveness of each town and character, which contributes to a cozy and engaging environment that encourages exploration and interaction. Overall, the atmosphere is described as heartwarming and nostalgic, reminiscent of classic JRPGs, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The strength of the game is definitely the laid-back atmosphere, world-building, and the characters.”
    • “I could happily spend countless hours exploring its nooks and crannies, helping the townsfolk with their tasks, and simply enjoying the peaceful atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfect; the game does an excellent job of capturing the feeling of an adventure of discovery, and while the story is slow-paced up until the second half, it's fitting for the tone of the game.”
    • “Still, it feels like it has succumbed to time, but the ambient sounds adapt to the atmosphere.”
    • “While it starts out fairly tame, with a bit of a slice-of-life atmosphere as you take on various sidequests from the bracer guild, it slowly becomes evident that something is happening within the kingdom, as numerous incidents and weird coincidences occur starting from an airship hijacking, which escalates into a full-scale conspiracy.”
    • “Cutscene 1: you regain control of your characters, everyone's happy, generic celebratory atmosphere.”
  • optimization41 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and high frame rates, some experience stuttering, crashes, and other technical issues, particularly on PC. The PC port is generally praised for its enhancements and quality of life improvements, but there are still reports of poor optimization in certain areas, especially when switching between monitors or in specific locations. Despite these issues, many players find workarounds and appreciate the game's overall performance and customization options.

    • “This game is extremely well optimized for PC and I haven't had a single issue so far in my hours of play.”
    • “The version available on Steam is the original PC version with additions from the PSP version, performance enhancements, and quality of life improvements such as a turbo mode, making it the definitive version to experience the game.”
    • “Overall it's a very good JRPG with optimization (60fps+) and fixes for the PC port.”
    • “Performance-wise, I didn't experience any crashes or any real slowdowns or noticeable bugs. It's a really old game, so it should run fine on just about anything. However, at the same time, there really aren't any real options to improve graphics; what you see is what you get.”
    • “I've heard this version is not optimized well.”
    • “I could go on and on; I could talk to you about the bad soundtrack, the awful control schemes (neither keyboard nor gamepad are any good), or the fact this game is so poorly optimized it has several maps where it stutters even on a recent computer.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the new game+ mode, customizable systems, and engaging characters that encourage multiple playthroughs. However, others note significant restrictions tied to the story and a lack of different endings, leading to a perception of limited replay value for those who complete the game fully on their first run. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, such as side quests and difficulty options, many players feel that the game may not warrant extensive replays beyond achievement hunting.

    • “The replayability of unlocking more content in a New Game+, customization of the orbal system to find new magic that can sometimes be game-breaking, and the wonderful cast of characters with their unique personalities, charm, and impactful dialogue definitely make this one of the best JRPGs to play.”
    • “The game also has high replay value due to different difficulty options and the possibility of seeing events in a different light by making different choices.”
    • “With plenty of side content, and replayability thanks to a customizable New Game+ mode, Trails in the Sky has the potential to entertain you for well over 50 hours.”
    • “Overall, I don’t find this game to be replayable for anything else than an achievement run because there are way too many restrictions and most of those restrictions are based on the story alone.”
    • “If you're not, well, the replay value is low. I have to say, there's no different endings or whatsoever.”
    • “The game also doesn't have too much in terms of replayability, so if you get it, I suggest doing all the side quests and getting the most of the game on the first run through.”
  • stability32 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches, particularly with controller support and the user interface. While some users note improvements due to ongoing patches, others still experience significant issues that can hinder gameplay. Overall, the game is described as being quite buggy, but it remains playable for some, especially on specific platforms like the Steam Deck.

    • “This game runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “It runs great; I don't really recall any technical trouble, except maybe once in 50 hours.”
    • “The graphics are nice, and the game seems to be not buggy at all.”
    • “It freezes and ends the game at random.”
    • “This is a decent game that has fatal glitches a couple chapters in; it will be unplayable.”
    • “Black rooms, infinite spinning camera, even crashes on start when fullscreen; no game should be this buggy.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, with many praising the absence of microtransactions that often detract from the gaming experience. Reviewers appreciate that the game feels complete and not designed as a cash grab, highlighting the developers' focus on storytelling over profit. However, some criticism exists regarding promotional content for sequels and the inclusion of microtransactions in the broader series.

    • “Despite the presence of microtransactions and cosmetic DLC, this game is still worth buying.”
    • “This game and the rest of the series is a testament to the amazing stories and worlds game developers can create when not blinded by greed and monetization.”
    • “I kid you not, the closing movie is an advertisement for the sequel and it's not semi-episodic like the golden age was.”
    • “This game wasn't a cash grab; this game isn't shovelware.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

88% average critic score

Buy The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

Play time

46hMedian play time
65hAverage play time
40hMain story
65hCompletionist
20-76hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 78 analyzed playthroughs

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