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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

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.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
94% User Score Based on 11,126 reviews
Critic Score 88%Based on 2 reviews

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Game Cover

About

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is a single player role playing game with fantasy, anime and science fiction themes. It was developed by Nihon Falcom and was released on July 29, 2014. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

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.

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,126 reviews
story4k positive mentions
grinding548 negative mentions
  • story
    10,820 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised for its depth, character development, and intricate world-building, though it is noted for a slow start that can take up to 20 hours to gain momentum. Players appreciate the engaging narrative that unfolds through rich dialogue and interactions with a diverse cast of characters, including numerous NPCs whose stories evolve alongside the main plot. While the game is part of a larger series, many find the journey through this first chapter rewarding, with a compelling mix of personal growth, political intrigue, and emotional twists that culminate in a satisfying cliffhanger leading into the sequel.

    • “The story's gentle pace is like a warm embrace, allowing me to fully immerse myself in the characters' lives and appreciate their small victories and everyday interactions.”
    • “It's a coming-of-age story that resonates deeply, as we witness the characters maturing and forging meaningful bonds.”
    • “The story is a beautiful legend about a group of young heroes journeying through a magi-tech fantasy world to become bracers—guardians who help people without political ties.”
    • “The story is a very slow burn at first, with the main story not really getting put into motion until around chapter 2.”
    • “The story starts off slow but picks up the pace once it gets to chapter 2.”
    • “The story takes a long time to develop, and doesn't hit you with a sense of urgency like many rpgs.”
  • gameplay
    2,210 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Trails in the Sky" is characterized by its traditional turn-based mechanics, enhanced by the unique orbment system that allows for strategic customization of character abilities. While some players find the combat engaging and the mechanics rewarding, others note that the gameplay can feel repetitive and slow-paced, particularly due to the heavy emphasis on dialogue and story progression. Overall, the game offers a solid, if somewhat dated, gameplay experience that complements its rich narrative and character development.

    • “The out-of-combat mechanics like cooking, gearing up, and collecting are well-paced throughout the game's progression.”
    • “As a turn-based gameplay fan, I also enjoyed the interesting orbal system.”
    • “The gameplay is compelling enough to keep you engaged and the characters are interesting, charming, and fun to spend time with.”
    • “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.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, I can't help but say it was a bit of a disappointment.”
    • “The gameplay is basic, fairly straightforward and super easy most of the time, however the difficulty spikes hard a few times.”
  • music
    2,124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised for its exceptional quality, with many reviewers highlighting the memorable and catchy tracks composed by Falcom's sound team. Players appreciate the diverse range of themes that enhance the game's atmosphere, from soothing melodies in towns to energetic battle music, although some note a lack of variation in battle themes. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience and emotional impact.

    • “The music is delightful, with memorable tunes from various locations and events that will have you humming along.”
    • “I've spent around 60+ hours in the game through one playthrough and left the game running just to listen to the music.”
    • “Falcom's sound team absolutely delivered on the musical front, and I found myself humming along to nearly all of the songs throughout the journey.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    1,415 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Trails in the Sky" are generally considered dated, reflecting its origins as a PSP title from 2004. While some players find the 2D sprite art and semi-3D environments charming and nostalgic, others feel the visuals lack modern polish and can detract from the experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic is appreciated for its unique art style and expressive character portraits, but it is clear that the graphics are not the main draw, with many reviewers emphasizing the importance of the story and gameplay over visual fidelity.

    • “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 are actually really nice and expressive for its genre, and the 3D models are really good despite being chibi.”
    • “The graphics may be a little dated, but old fans of JRPGs won't have an issue with it.”
    • “But the thing that probably put me off for the first few hours of this game are the graphics.”
    • “The only downside of this game is its graphics.”
    • “The graphics are horrendous.”
  • grinding
    590 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the reviews indicate that grinding in this game is largely optional and often unnecessary for progression, with many players appreciating the scaling experience system that discourages excessive grinding. While some found certain aspects of the game to be tedious or grindy, particularly in the final chapters, features like turbo mode and the ability to run from encounters help mitigate the grind. Many players enjoyed the balance of combat and story, noting that engaging with side quests and exploring the world can provide sufficient experience without feeling like a chore.

    • “The game is not grindy, unlike many JRPGs.”
    • “It’s fairly long, with 46 hours for one playthrough, but it requires little to no grinding and didn’t wear out its welcome.”
    • “The combat is good and varied enough to stay somewhat interesting throughout the game, and unless you're trying to get all the achievements, there is basically no grinding needed to progress the story.”
    • “For me, this is tedious and morale-draining.”
    • “Grinding isn't just optional; the game actively works against you trying to fall into the tremendous tedium.”
    • “The main storyline develops tediously slowly, as you run from place to place with very little new information being revealed at each stop.”
  • humor
    424 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging character interactions, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. The localization team has been commended for enhancing the dialogue with witty remarks and humorous chest quotes, contributing to the game's charm. While some humor may feel hit-or-miss, the overall tone balances lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “I really enjoy the dialogue and often found myself laughing out loud at some points.”
    • “It effortlessly slips in humorous character interactions in between intrigue and drama without ever missing a step.”
    • “The script is charming and the additional lines in the empty chests are funny.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • character development
    374 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in "Trails in the Sky" is widely praised as a masterclass in the JRPG genre, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and gradual progression throughout the story. Players appreciate the nuanced growth of characters like Estelle and Joshua, as well as the well-crafted dialogue that enhances their relationships and backstories. While the pacing may be slow at times, the emphasis on character development and world-building creates a rich, immersive experience that resonates deeply with fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “If, however, you are like me - a person who places great value on narrative, fully realized settings and character development - you will have an absolutely great time and get way more than just your money's worth out of it.”
    • “The character development through the game (and trilogy) is nothing short of brilliance.”
    • “Overall, Trails in the Sky is a game with the deepest character development I've ever seen in an RPG, a fun and simple battle system, and one hell of an epic storyline that will board you on the feels train all the way to the very end.”
    • “The game is very hesitant to leave these tropes to explore any kind of character development.”
    • “Character development feels very forced, and usually devolves to one character listing off their personality traits in a conversation.”
    • “I think the character development of the side cast is weaker than I remember having played the franchise... I thought they'd be less stereotyped and more complex from the start but I guess a lot of this builds throughout the games and I just didn't remember it that way.”
  • emotional
    326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players expressing that it made them laugh, cry, and feel deeply connected to the characters and their journeys. The storytelling is described as heartfelt and well-paced, featuring significant character development and impactful moments that resonate with players, often leading to emotional climaxes and cliffhangers. While some critiques mention pacing issues and dialogue bloat, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Incredible story with so many twists and turns that get you emotionally invested in the characters.”
    • “The ending completely destroyed me, a heartbreaking experience that you realize is one of the best emotional moments in gaming.”
    • “With this kind of depth to the interactions and development of the characters, Falcom is able to create moments of emotional resonance throughout this trilogy that are almost impossible to find elsewhere in the gaming industry.”
    • “I'm a fan of good JRPGs like Chrono Trigger, many in the Final Fantasy series, some Dragon Warrior, Breath of Fire, some Wild Arms, etc. 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 (one main character's special attack is 'Sadist Whip') 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.”
  • atmosphere
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and cozy qualities, with distinct towns and environments that contribute to a rich world filled with engaging NPCs and stories. The excellent soundtrack enhances the overall experience, creating a relaxing and heartwarming ambiance that complements the narrative's progression. Players appreciate the attention to detail in world-building, which fosters a sense of adventure and discovery throughout their journey.

    • “The way that the world and setting is able to suck you in, with all the various small stories of even the most minor of NPCs and how they all have names really creates an atmosphere and feeling that the main characters are just people in a larger, grander world instead of what the world revolves around.”
    • “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.”
    • “Newspapers that update regularly to hint at coming events, side quests that feel natural rather than 'hey help me defeat this monster for some cash or something idk' and towns that are always bustling makes this game a zenith of the medium when it comes to storytelling and atmosphere.”
    • “Still, it feels like it has succumbed to time, but the ambient sounds adapt to the atmosphere.”
    • “The general atmosphere is relaxing and heartwarming, if only to prepare you for the dark times and heartbreak coming later.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while many players report smooth performance with minimal crashes and stuttering, some have encountered issues that required fixes. The PC port is praised for its enhancements, including turbo mode and quality of life improvements, making it a solid choice for players, though the lack of graphical options and some control layout concerns were noted. Despite these drawbacks, the game runs well on a variety of systems, maintaining a consistent frame rate and providing a satisfying experience for JRPG fans.

    • “The PC port being that good (custom aspect ratios, optimizations, ...) is an awesome addition to an already brilliant package.”
    • “Xseed added new features to the game like speeding up battle animations, texts, and cutscenes along with countless other quality of life improvements, optimizations, and bug patches.”
    • “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.”
    • “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... but I'm done wasting your time.”
    • “PC players have to deal with many issues like crashes, stuttering, audio issues, and black screens.”
  • replayability
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the new game+ mode, character customization, and different difficulty options that enhance replay value. However, others find it limited due to story restrictions, missable content, and a lack of different endings, leading to a consensus that while there are elements that encourage replaying, many players may not feel compelled to do so after their initial playthrough. Overall, it seems to cater well to completionists but may not appeal to those seeking varied experiences in subsequent runs.

    • “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.”
    • “The replayability value is good, with a new game+ mode that can increase the difficulty and whether or not you want to keep everything from the previous file or not.”
    • “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.”
    • “Fun game, but sadly little to no replay value.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and glitches, particularly in the early stages. While some users note improvements due to ongoing patches, issues like freezing, controller malfunctions, and visual glitches persist, making the experience inconsistent across different platforms. Overall, while there are reports of smoother performance on the Steam Deck, the game remains prone to instability, which may deter potential players.

    • “This game runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “+Runs great, I don't really recall any technical trouble, except maybe once or something in 50 hours.”
    • “Except from that, the graphics are nice and the game seems to be not buggy at all.”
    • “It freezes and ends the game at random.”
    • “So regardless of gameplay, story, characters, nostalgia, love of RPGs, here's the reality of this game: controller function barely, if at all, works, the game freezes and crashes, and it just won't advance the game.”
    • “This is a decent game that has fatal glitches a couple chapters in; it will be unplayable.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and monetization strategies, contributing to a sense of completeness and integrity, as nothing feels cut out for profit. While some reviewers note the presence of cosmetic DLC, the overall sentiment is that the game does not come off as a cash grab, making it a worthwhile purchase despite the industry's common practices.

    • “Despite the presence of microtransactions and cosmetic DLC, I still recommend buying this game.”
    • “The monetization model includes microtransactions and cosmetic DLC, but it doesn't detract from the overall experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “Or it might be the lack of microtransactions and monetization, which actually makes the game feel complete and nothing was cut out for some extra cash.”
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88%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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45h Median play time
68h Average play time
40h Main story
65h Completionist
20-73h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 130 analyzed playthroughs
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The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is a role playing game with fantasy, anime and science fiction themes.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is available on PC, Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation and others.

The main story can be completed in around 40 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 65 hours to finish. On average players spend around 68 hours playing The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky was released on July 29, 2014.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky was developed by Nihon Falcom.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is a single player game.

Similar games include The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2 and others.