Despite Lloyd’s discourse on surmounting obstacles, Trails to Azure encountered several ones before to arriving at the West. Nihon Falcom’s RPG, which was first released for the PSP over a decade ago, follows Trails from Zero in popularity, and NIS America has licensed a well-liked fan translation. Before the next Trails into Reverie, which acts as a combined epilogue for Crossbell and the Cold Steel arc, it’s an important release. Though it took a while, Azure is an excellent sequel that expands on Zero’s advantages.
Make sure you beat Trails From Zero first, if you haven’t already. Azure makes the assumption that you are familiar with the previous events; nonetheless, even though it may seem intimidating to begin with such a massive series, it is okay to jump in without having played the Trails in the Sky trilogy. A large group of returning characters fills in any significant gaps, while Going through Sky first provides context for a few situations. It’s also advisable to play both on the same console because a cleaned Zero save file may be imported into Azure and offers some helpful extras. Detective Points, fishing rank, and experience levels carry over, and certain scenarios have varying outcomes based on previous decisions. While not as significant as what Mass Effect would give, it’s a nice addition that keeps your personal storyline consistent throughout the two role-playing games.
Azure itself begins by closing up some loose ends and occurs some months after Zero. This time, we’re welcome two recruits into the Special Support Section (SSS) of the Crossbell police department while assuming the role of charismatic group leader Lloyd Bannings, like we did in previous games. Crossbell still possesses the strong character we have come to expect from this city-state, but behind the surface, there is uneasy tranquility threatened by new conflicts.
Azure has nearly all of Zero’s structural features, and in most chapters, the SSS responds to citizen demands that the larger Crossbell police force is unable to handle. Choosing these from the PC at your headquarters, life is never simple between tracking down missing kitties, eliminating monsters, and looking into strange address changes. While there are many optional tasks accessible, there are also mandatory requests that move the plot and must be completed within a certain amount of time. You may find yourself searching for a guide since certain requests can be repetitive and because it can be difficult to uncover secret tasks that aren’t displayed on the PC.
Nevertheless, as Lloyd’s detective level rises, Azure will reward your hard work with Detective Points, which may be used to purchase additional items. Similar to Zero, these requests provide important glimpses into Crossbell’s day-to-day activities, transporting you from the city’s expansive center to its periphery and even to a theme park reminiscent of Disneyland. While Crossbell isn’t as large as its two rival neighbors, Erebonia and Calvard, who both claim control over it, it’s still a very fascinating site to explore.
There is a high-speed mode to blast through combat and exploration if, like me, you’re eager. As an alternative, you can cut down on trip time considerably by using the new vehicle of the Special Support Section. The reason I suggest walking each route first is that there are treasure troves hidden along these routes, in addition to beautiful scenery. Fast travel is always convenient, though.
These roadways are unfortunately still infested with monsters, so arm your group with normal equipment and get ready for battle. In turn-based combat with grid-based mobility, every ally has the ability to launch regular assaults at any moment. Arts require time and EP when they cause elemental damage or provide support functions like HP recovery. Lastly, crafts offer special abilities that need CP, and at reaching 100 CP, all users are granted access to S-Crafts, the “ultimate attack”.
The basics of combat are still the same as in Zero, and that’s perfectly OK. You might use strong S-Crafts to eliminate opponents or scan them for vulnerabilities and take them out one at a time. Whichever way you go, those wins still need that deliberate, strategic approach and often feel earned. With its official soundtracks, Nihon Falcom almost never fails, and Azure’s combat theme is no exception. It’s one of my favorites from Trails and really gets the fighting going.
That isn’t to say battles are exactly the same, but it’s a minor evolution that offers some welcome improvements. Like Cold Steel 2’s Overdrive system, Azure introduces a ‘Burst’ mechanic, which fills up a ‘Burst Gauge’ by attacking enemies. Bursts aren’t always available, but this heals any adverse status effects like Paralysis, cancels enemy Arts in the middle of casting, while the team’s Arts have no delay. It’s helpful in a pinch and can turn the tide of battle.
There’s also Master Quartz. Compared to standard Quartz, which offers stat boosts or new combat abilities, there’s only one Master Quartz slot per person, providing different benefits. For example, Mirage recovers EP for every enemy killed, and at level 3, this recovers further upon finishing battles. At level 5, you learn a powerful new Art. It helps expand on Zero’s significant combat customization for your party, letting you shape the SSS as you see fit. I’ve always enjoyed battles in Trails and once again, this series delivers.
Other than that, Azure is quite similar to Zero, and although the aforementioned adjustments are definitely appreciated, Azure is more of a straightforward continuation than a ground-breaking successor. The two games are parts of a larger whole, and the action in this sequel is still interesting, so I wouldn’t characterize it as an expansion and contend that you can’t have one without the other.
With a deft introduction to Crossbell and this vibrant ensemble, Zero established the stage and presented the city-state’s issues directly. With an emphasis on corruption and religious fanaticism, it provides a rewarding adventure in and of itself. These themes aren’t completely gone, though, but Azure builds on those elements to create an equally compelling narrative with faster pacing. A rejection of imperialist ambition, Crossbell’s right to self-determination, and how people respond to such a major change are all explored. The unexpectedly somber conclusion serves as the clearest example of the substantial narrative payoff it gives.
I anticipated how this story would finish because the events line up with the first part of the Cold Steel saga, but it didn’t lessen the impact of the conclusion. Like any good novel, Azure is all about the journey, and it has excellent worldbuilding, compelling storytelling, and compelling character development to go along with it. A menacing atmosphere sets the tone wonderfully, with new groups laying claims to Crossbell’s underworld and the forces propelling the new Mayor’s plans.
Most importantly, despite the serious matter, Azure never loses that lighthearted sense of humor Trails frequently succeeds at. While absurd puns like “Inigo Chestoya” made me giggle, treasure chests still make fun of you for checking them twice. With Lloyd frequently unaware that his remarks may be taken in a romantic way, the SSS taunts him and creates some fantastic scenarios. This eclectic group of people has a natural chemistry with one another that makes the party’s informal conversations entertaining to observe and rarely feels forced.
It’s also a decent remaster for this ten-year-old PSP title, however there are a few scenes that show how dated this RPG is, and the texturing on the PS4 version might use some work. The two that stuck out the most during the interval chapter were the barely readable Conference Room sign in Orchis Tower and the distant view of Mishelam Resort. Zero on Switch and PC has better graphics and additional usability features that weren’t on PS4, however I can’t directly confirm this with Azure. I’m not sure whether it applies here, however I wasn’t overly bothered by these issues.
Its overall splendor hasn’t lessened in twelve years, and Trails to Azure is yet another excellent installment in Nihon Falcom’s venerable series. I will remember this conclusion for a very long time since it brilliantly expands on the idea of Trails from Zero to create a thrilling follow-up that offers some compelling storyline, good worldbuilding, and entertaining fighting. NIS America has set the setting for Trails into Reverie with the completion of the Crossbell arc localization, and I couldn’t wait for more.