For nearly 20 years, Nihon Falcom has created one the richest ensembles of authentic characters, historical past, and politics in video video games with The Legend of Heroes. Throughout three narrative arcs (and counting), I’ve explored myriad various places, cultures, governments, and organizations, making the continent of Zemuria essentially the most lived-in world I’ve ever skilled within the medium. Trails into Reverie, the newest entry within the long-running franchise, is a bittersweet fruits; I need to probably say goodbye to a few of these characters for good after the sequence efficiently captured my coronary heart.
After the numerous emotional moments of pleasure, shock, and tragedy, the additional I progressed on this entry, the extra I used to be afraid of bidding farewell to those great and gratifying characters I’ve come to like so dearly. The fight continues to construct and evolve off itself, and though the story is arguably one of many weakest within the sequence thus far, the profound ongoing theme of what shapes somebody into the individual they’re has caught with me since. By the point credit rolled, all I may take into consideration was how grateful I used to be to succeed in this level and expertise this distinctive epic within the first place.
To be clear, that is the eleventh entry to an ongoing sequence. Beginning with Trails within the Sky, enjoying them so as is crucially essential to get essentially the most reward out of its narrative. Trails into Reverie serves kind of as epilogue chapters for each the Crossbell (Trails from Zero/Trails to Azure) and Erebonia (Trails of Chilly Metal I to IV) arcs.
Six months have handed for the reason that finish of The Nice Twilight, and now that the autonomous state of Crossbell has been freed by Erebonia, it’s lastly going to announce its independence till a well-recognized foe halts the plans. In comparison with the remainder of the sequence, Reverie is arguably essentially the most off-the-beaten-path narrative, weaving a extra streamlined expertise whereas persevering with to have the high-quality storytelling and character improvement that longtime followers count on.
As an alternative of showcasing one principal character, three totally different branches give attention to a particular character – a sequence first. Reverie places you again within the footwear of former principal protagonists Lloyd Bannings and Rean Schwarzer, together with a masked particular person who followers of the sequence will do not forget that goes by the title “C.” These characters’ paths diverge into one other compelling narrative the place every of them overcomes the private burdens they’ve been battling for the previous a number of video games. Every character’s story reaches a satisfying conclusion, and I am glad there’s an opportunity for them to return in future entries.
Whereas important issues occur to each Rean and C, Reverie actually seems like Lloyd’s story, with the narrative primarily specializing in his dwelling Crossbell. Within the late hours of this almost 60-hour entry (together with really useful postgame content material), I may discover Crossbell in full 3D. Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure introduced an isometric perspective with characters in a Chibi mannequin model, so it was enjoyable to see every little thing I explored in these video games in a brand new gentle whereas staying true to the unique imaginative and prescient.
Despite the fact that the sequence is understood to have a stage of free exploration, Reverie is a way more easy expertise, equally structured to Trails within the Sky the third. There are not any conventional aspect quests, which is finally disappointing as I liked studying new lore concerning the world. Nonetheless, The Legend of Heroes is masterful at making the places you repeatedly go to throughout entries really feel advanced; even when there isn’t a lot to do at a location you haven’t been to in a number of video games, it’s nonetheless rewarding to roam round and discuss to acquainted faces.
Fight all through The Legend of Heroes sequence, whereas nice general, has kind of been the identical for the reason that starting. It has been simplified over time, which is upsetting, however the core parts have fortunately remained intact. The one notable mechanic launched on this entry is known as “United Entrance,” the place you may unleash an all-out assault that offers huge injury to your enemies or heal your total get together. It didn’t essentially change the way in which I approached fights in comparison with earlier entries, nevertheless it positively obtained me out of some tight spots.
Except for the story, the principle gameplay expertise unfolds in a pocket place of existence often known as the True Reverie Hall. This not solely serves as a house base of types for the solid however can be the place a lot of the aspect content material lives, together with buying tools, fishing (a sequence staple), and the easy, however well-designed card sport Vantage Masters. Different actions embody taking up partaking trials with particular characters to realize distinctive upgrades in addition to a set of enjoyable minigames like a rail shooter and even trivia concerning the franchise.
Nonetheless, the principle goal of the Reverie Hall is to function a dungeon crawler to stage up your get together. As I explored every flooring, I discovered treasures and formidable enemies that give me sealing stones, which might unlock new characters, minigames, and “daydreams.” These compelling slice-of-life moments are my favourite unlock from the Reverie Hall, as they give attention to occasions from totally different members of the solid that occur between the occasions of Chilly Metal IV and Trails into Reverie. Arguably the perfect a part of The Legend of Heroes is the huge variety of well-written detailed characters. Nonetheless, the principle story zeroes in on a choose few, so this can be a nice strategy to get what seems like an intimate final hurrah with them.
By the tip sport, there have been effectively over 40 characters I may select to construct out my get together, and for each one in every of them, I knew their intimate background and historical past from one or a number of of the earlier 10 entries that got here earlier than. This makes this entry really feel like a celebration of those characters and the unbelievable high quality of storytelling that has developed all through the sequence.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie shouldn’t be your common sport; close to a long time of world-building, character arcs, and detailed lore have led to this fruits. The franchise isn’t excellent, however this sequence is wholly one-of-a-kind. It’s a monolith that ought to be acknowledged alongside icons like Remaining Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona. The main points of the continent of Zemuria are in contrast to the rest I’ve skilled in gaming, and its solid now has a number of of my favourite characters within the medium. Reverie has the intimidating activity of closing the web page on three arcs that expanded throughout virtually twenty years of characters and storytelling. Even when the narrative on this chapter falls quick in comparison with previous entries, it nonetheless stands above most different video games within the style. If Trails into Reverie is the final time we see most of those beloved characters, it serves as a terrific send-off.
