The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky

About

"The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is a single-player Turn Based Strategy game with an interesting plot, good mechanics, stunning visuals, and delightful music. The game offers a complex and immersive fantasy world, with 50+ hours of gameplay and plenty of humor. Join the cast in uncovering the secrets of Liberl and its underbelly."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky screenshot

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews

story63 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with well-developed characters, blending humor and serious themes effectively.
The turn-based combat system is engaging and strategic, allowing for tactical movement and preemptive strikes.
The game is rich in text and character interactions, providing a deep narrative experience that keeps players invested.

The game has a slow start, with the main plot taking time to develop, which may deter some players.
There is a significant amount of text, which can be overwhelming for those who prefer less dialogue-heavy gameplay.
Some players may find the graphics and music to be average, lacking the polish seen in more modern titles.

story
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The story of the game is highly praised for its depth, character development, and engaging narrative, often compared to classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy. While it features a linear progression with a strong focus on dialogue and text, players appreciate the well-paced unfolding of the plot and the balance of lighthearted and serious moments. As the first part of a trilogy, it leaves players eager for more, despite some critiques about the slow initial buildup and the heavy reliance on reading.
- “The story of this game does a great job mixing and balancing funny, more lighthearted moments with a more serious plot.”
- “The narrative of 'Trails in the Sky' stands proudly alongside Final Fantasy VII & X, as far as plot developments and rich characters.”
- “The plot in this story is beyond amazing, and the ending will have you begging for more, I assure you.”
- “I will warn everyone that this is a dialogue adventure, so if you don't like story or enjoying your character's development, you will be bored through 50% of the game.”
- “If anything, the main plot takes a little too long to start developing, perhaps about 5 hours or so.”
- “There are so many side stories that are only hinted at before the characters vanish from the story.”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
49%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the catchy and beautiful soundtrack, particularly the opening and ending vocal songs, while others find it average compared to iconic gaming soundtracks. Certain areas of the game feature standout tracks that enhance the experience, but overall, the music does not leave a lasting impression outside of gameplay for many players. Despite these critiques, the soundtrack is generally considered fitting and contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “The op and ed songs are awesome.”
- “Phenomenal game, wonderful story and soundtrack.”
- “This game riveted me, I love all the characters, the music was on point and there was just such progression.”
- “Falcom is famous for its rocking music, but this music is average.”
- “Now one thing I just don't understand is how everyone loves the music of these games so much.”
- “As for gaming music, I have many of Nobuo Uematsu's soundtracks and a few other random selections, and this game's music isn't anything near that kind of caliber.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
48%
10%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the vibrant and well-animated sprites, while others find them merely passable or reminiscent of PS1 visuals. Many players note that the graphics are not the main draw of the game, emphasizing that the story and gameplay take precedence over visual quality. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are generally considered appealing within the context of the RPG genre.
- “Graphics: this is the first time that I have seen sprites so nicely animated on an old-school JRPG.”
- “It's long, has a great storyline, and beautiful graphics.”
- “The graphics look good, the text is all perfectly readable, no issues with frame rates or sound stuttering, none of the music annoys me.”
- “Overall, the graphics are passable.”
- “I would have preferred graphics that were less busy and more unique, outside of combat.”
- “Graphics are so-so for the PSP; in fact, it looks like a PS1 game.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
49%
13%
The gameplay is highly praised for its solid turn-based battle system that requires strategic thinking, making encounters engaging rather than mindless. Players appreciate the balance of gameplay, story, and character development, with many noting the addictive nature of the game and its estimated 50 hours of content, ensuring good value for players. The 3rd person overhead view and 360-degree camera rotation enhance the overall experience, contributing to a well-rounded and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay is fun and the battles require strategic thought; you cannot simply just button mash through everything since every encounter requires some thought.”
- “The gameplay is also addicting, as it is a mix between the traditional RPG and a strategy RPG.”
- “Gameplay wise, this game is solid, employing a turn-based battle system on a movement grid for its enemy engagements.”
- “Gameplay: most of the areas in the game are at a third-person overhead view, with the camera rotatable by 360 degrees.”
- “However, instead of only picking one category to be 'fantastic' at, it just does everything incredibly well, so that when I finished my 50 hours of gameplay, I left wishing Xseed (who did the localization, and by the way, it is one of the best localizations I have ever seen in western released JRPGs, including the Final Fantasy series) would hurry and announce the release of game 2!”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-balanced, blending lighthearted moments with a serious narrative, and features enjoyable character interactions and realistic dialogue. While some players appreciate the quirky and character-driven humor, others find the volume of dialogue overwhelming, leading to speed reading. Overall, the game successfully mixes humor with drama and mystery, appealing to a variety of tastes.
- “The story of this game does a great job mixing and balancing funny, more lighthearted moments with a more serious plot.”
- “I find the interaction amongst the characters to be humorous and enjoyable to read.”
- “It is a perfect balance of humor, drama, and mystery.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players report minimal grinding in the game, with only about 6 hours of grinding over a total playtime of 53 hours. The battle system is engaging and well-designed, allowing for a smooth progression without excessive grinding or tedious side quests. The pacing of the story and the manageable level of grinding contribute to a more enjoyable experience.
- “In your average RPG, the battles fly by just fine at the start when you are alone, but once you have 4 characters in your party, it becomes tedious.”
- “Overall, it took me 53 hours and 16 minutes, and that's with about 6 hours of grinding throughout the whole game.”
- “(Running tedious errands, killing monsters, etc. I'll return to this later.) The two main characters are of course only like sixteen years old, set off on an adventure to become full-fledged bracers, and because of this, the game never gets too mature.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, featuring good graphics and perfectly readable text, with no reported issues related to frame rates or sound stuttering. Players have also noted that the music is pleasant and not bothersome.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional impact of the game to be profound, with one particular moment leaving them devastated yet hopeful, as it marks only the beginning of a larger narrative in a trilogy. This blend of surprise and deep emotional engagement enhances the overall experience.
- “There was one part in particular that was very surprising and incredibly emotional - I was devastated to find myself at the end, until I remembered that this was just the first chapter of a trilogy.”

50h Median play time

50h Average play time

50-50h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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