It’s frequent to attend lengthy for sequels, particularly to your favourite role-playing video games. Followers of Falcom’s The Legend of Heroes sequence undergo a distinct form of wait – that of localization.
When Hajimari no Kiseki, often called Trails into Reverie within the West, lastly acquired a launch date, it was practically three years after the conclusion of Chilly Metal 4. Not probably the most comfy wait, particularly for the reason that ending left a number of questions unanswered.
After all, there’s additionally the query of how a lot Trails into Reverie can enhance. It’s developed on PhyreEngine, the identical as Chilly Metal 1-4. Kuro no Kiseki, the following large arc within the franchise, is the place Falcom’s new engine comes into play alongside a number of new gameplay mechanics. To that finish, many style followers might scoff at Reverie and its visible high quality, the reuse of outdated environments and the loopy quantity of characters to recollect.
“Due to the brand new Crossroads system, you’ll be able to shift between every protagonist at nearly any time. There are factors the place the story for one character is locked, and it is advisable to play because the others to proceed.”
Like Trails within the Sky The third, it’s an Epilogue that expands on its established forged and settings whereas appearing as a bridge for the following arc. Nonetheless, not like the Sky trilogy’s conclusion, Trails into Reverie appears like its personal entity. It’s a celebration of the characters I’ve identified since Trails within the Sky FC; a continued exploration into the psyche and evolution of its huge number of occasion members; and, above all else, a model new suite of challenges for the combat-minded.
In case you’re a hardcore fan of the sequence, Trails into Reverie is a simple suggestion, however even should you jumped in with Chilly Metal and had been left wanting, it’s a worthwhile continuation. Slight spoilers comply with should you haven’t completed Chilly Metal 4 but, so be warned.
In contrast to earlier titles, Trails into Reverie doesn’t give attention to a single protagonist. As an alternative, it has three – Lloyd Bannings of the Crossbell arc, Rean Schwarzer of the Erebonian saga, and the mysterious C. Every path is separate, whether or not it’s Lloyd main the Particular Assist Part to safe Crossbell’s independence or Rean and Class VII endeavor a brand new mission in Erebonia. Then you may have C, who leads a brand new trio of characters – Swin, Nadia and Lapis – to analyze behind-the-scenes happenings.
Due to the brand new Crossroads system, you’ll be able to shift between every protagonist at nearly any time. There are factors the place the story for one character is locked, and it is advisable to play because the others to proceed. It’s one of many extra ingenuous techniques, freshening up the plot and offering some narrative room for the teams to breathe.
“These are just a few examples of the handfuls of characters current. After all, even the newcomers, dubbed the Sinners, are participating.”
It additionally helps the pacing, though sure sections can nonetheless have targets like “examine all these districts.” Every character additionally tends to cross paths (or roads, if you’ll) at varied factors all through the story. So should you’re venturing by Heimdallr as Rean and sense somebody following him, it’s later revealed to be C when shifting to his perspective.
To say {that a} Trails recreation has loads of dialogue can be an understatement, and Trails into Reverie isn’t any exception. There’s loads of materials right here, and whereas most of the conversations circulate easily with some well-done traces (Musse commenting that Class VII doesn’t preserve Ash round for his “glowing persona” is however one), some get long-winded. The signature “everybody will get a phrase in” strategy with a number of characters crops up, which can annoy some.
Nonetheless, Trails into Reverie does nicely in delving into deeper character motivations. Regardless of the Nice Twilight’s conclusion, everybody’s interior turmoil isn’t magically gone. Kurt struggles along with his private progress, particularly within the firm of Juna and Altina, who’ve developed by leaps and bounds. Claire atones for her involvement, throwing herself into extra work whereas looking for a path to redemption. Rean is eager for the longer term however responsible over those that died within the ensuing battle and whether or not he deserves happiness.
These are just a few examples of the handfuls of characters current. After all, even the newcomers, dubbed the Sinners, are participating. The chemistry between Swin and Nadia considerably mirrors that of Joshua and Estelle whereas nonetheless feeling completely different (thanks in no small half to their distinctive previous). Lapis has that refined air blended with some violent tendencies, and C serves as a great foil, holding the group collectively. It’s an attention-grabbing dynamic, and seeing their relationships evolve as we study extra about their previous is sort of compelling.
“As vital because the story-telling is, fight can also be a significant a part of the expertise. The Motion Time Battle system returns, and it’s just about as you remembered it from Chilly Metal 4.”
Falcom additionally goes the additional mile with its aspect characters, whether or not it’s Lenalee and Pruna in Crossbell debating whether or not Rufus’s sentence is simply too harsh, Vivi and Linde of Thors being…Vivi and Linde, and so forth. Virtually each character within the recreation has good voice appearing, even when some, like Tio, pontificate in comparison with earlier titles. It helps offset a number of the extra annoying characters like Angelica, or the decidedly one-note aspect plots, like the connection between Tita and Agate, that ought to have been eliminated years in the past. They’re small elements of the overarching story, fortunately.
As vital because the story-telling is, fight can also be a significant a part of the expertise. The Motion Time Battle system returns, and it’s just about as you remembered it from Chilly Metal 4. The actions of every ally and occasion member are on a timeline. Some assaults could cause delays or cancel others, whereas Arts can take longer to execute. Every character has Crafts, which will be executed instantly, and S-Crafts – Final strikes that can be utilized any time when you have sufficient Craft Factors. It’s not unusual to construct sufficient Craft Factors, execute an everyday Craft after which execute an S-Craft simply earlier than the enemy’s flip begins for an additional flip.
Nonetheless, the enemy additionally has weaknesses to several types of harm and a Break gauge. Putting with the proper harm kind or a Crucial assault permits for executing a follow-up when you have sufficient Courageous Factors or BP, which offers extra Break harm (with absolutely damaged enemies taking extra HP harm and lacking their flip). You too can execute Rush Assaults, the place all 4 energetic occasion members assault without delay for much more Break harm in opposition to all foes. You should be cautious about BP, although, because it prompts the all-important Orders for harm discount, elevated harm, elevated Break harm, Mirror, and so forth.
Additionally, like in Chilly Metal 4, some enemies can use Dis-Orders, which apply destructive statuses (like lowered outgoing harm or elevated delay) for a set quantity of turns to your occasion. All of this isn’t even entering into the varied elemental Arts and buffs; the Grasp Quartz and Sub Quartz that may be outfitted and levelled for various passive advantages and highly effective Arts; managing your positioning on the battlefield; supporting occasion members and their Orders; or new results like Swin’s Marked standing for important hits.
“By way of environmental selection, Trails into Reverie goes to look very acquainted to followers.”
Additional including to the battle complexity are the brand new United Fronts. You probably have sufficient bars on the Assault Gauge (additionally used to deal Break harm to enemies earlier than fights), you need to use new team-up assaults involving 5 or extra occasion members. For example, United Assault grants buffs to Power, recovers Craft Factors and offers vital harm to foes. At some factors, the United Entrance system can considerably trivialize fight in opposition to common enemies.
Nonetheless, boss fights are a distinct story. They boast large well being swimming pools and a wide range of assaults. These are simply the spotlight of the fight, very similar to in earlier titles, and function an effective way to check out varied ways. Nonetheless, they’ll nonetheless pull out some annoying assaults (like that one Meteor method that all the time took my occasion down to close dying, even with Absolute Mirror up).
By way of environmental selection, Trails into Reverie goes to look very acquainted to followers. It’s good to see up to date places like Heimdallr or Armorica Village showing for the primary time in full 3D, and there are brand-new locations to discover upon progressing by the story. Nonetheless, for sequence followers, a lot of the working round is in places you could have already seen dozens of occasions.
It’s not the worst factor, as there are new interactions, quests, and goings-on, and it’s good to see how some issues have modified over time, even when visually, they’re not the very best constancy by at present’s requirements. At the very least the efficiency on PC is fairly good, because of PH3 (which dealt with the ports of Chilly Metal 3 and 4, Azure, and Zero with implausible outcomes).
“The quantity of aspect content material is actually fairly overwhelming, whether or not you’re in it for Panzer Soldat battles, Vantage Masters, and even answering trivia questions.”
As for the music, it doesn’t hit the identical highs the Sky trilogy or Chilly Metal 1 and 2 did. Nonetheless, “No Finish No World” is an effective theme, whereas “The Vacation spot of FATE” is appropriately hype (particularly throughout one of many opening missions). The fight tracks, particularly “Like a Whirlwind”, are additionally nicely performed. If not for the lofty requirements set by earlier entries, I’d most likely benefit from the soundtrack extra, but it surely’s nonetheless good.
One of many newer locations you’ll spend time in is the True Reverie Hall. In contrast to the occasion in Chilly Metal 2, it is a multi-floor dungeon with random preparations. You may change the format of flooring and open chests for brand new loot. When you’re given a number of characters primarily based on the story’s progress for exploring and conquering its many challenges, you’ll be able to earn Gold Sealing Stones to unlock extra. These may also present new Courageous Orders when you have them tag alongside.
Different Sealing Stones will unlock story episodes referred to as Daydreams set up to now (like when Swin and Nadia had a run-in with Rixia in Crossbell). They supply some extra backstory and interactions and are usually nicely performed. You too can unlock new mini-games, like Magical Alisa LS, a rail shooter set in an alternate universe with Rean because the Darkish Lord and Alisa and a number of other different characters as magical ladies (don’t ask. I don’t know).
The quantity of aspect content material is actually fairly overwhelming, whether or not you’re in it for Panzer Soldat battles, Vantage Masters, and even answering trivia questions. As an entire, the True Reverie Hall doesn’t do an excessive amount of with its layouts other than some gentle puzzle fixing, battling Formidable Foes or looking for treasure, but it surely enhances the primary story very nicely.
“Regardless of its imperfections and annoyances, Trails into Reverie is an important expertise for followers, if not one other sturdy motive for newcomers to lastly delve into the sequence.”
Your enjoyment of The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie hinges on some fairly simple issues. In case you’re right here to see the continuation of your favourite characters’ journeys and are updated on the whole lot that’s occurred up to now (to the extent that you simply acknowledge even the minor characters with out lacking a beat), it’s price enjoying. For others who dread having to play all of the earlier titles to stand up to hurry on what’s occurring, there’s a abstract of occasions up to now, however you’re nonetheless going to be very misplaced, particularly with the sheer quantity of lore and characters up to now.
In comparison with the present state of role-playing video games, it’s simple to view Trails into Reverie as enjoying it secure or feeling barely behind the occasions, which is comprehensible. It’s a 2020 title that landed in Japan first for the PS4. Nonetheless, it’s arduous to disclaim the sturdy fight system and its intensive customization and ways, the genuinely compelling characters and their tales, and even the sheer scope and magnitude of capping off the whole lot from Chilly Metal 4 in a satisfying method.
Regardless of its imperfections and annoyances, Trails into Reverie is an important expertise for followers, if not one other sturdy motive for newcomers to lastly delve into the sequence. Right here’s hoping that Kuro no Kiseki freshens issues up and takes the overarching story ahead in new instructions.
This recreation was reviewed on PC.
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