Experience Nostalgia and Strategy

“Hailed as one of the largest, longest and most meticulously detailed turn-based JRPG series of all time, this first chapter in the ongoing Trails saga sets the stage for what’s quickly become Ys developer Nihon Falcom’s most popular and best-selling franchise in their entire 30+ year history.”

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky on Steam

Trails in the Sky FC is a brilliantly charming JRPG that serves as a very approachable entry into the larger Trails series. While it doesn’t turn the JRPG genre on its head, it delivers both a heartfelt and well-crafted narrative through its wonderful cast of party members, in-depth world-building, and its tactical combat system. I was a huge fan of its art direction, displaying a 3D environment with what looks like a 2.5D render of the characters. It is absolutely charming and is something I wish they would keep with the upcoming remake slated to come out in late 2025. It provides a huge warmth of nostalgia for someone like myself who grew up with these types of games, even without having played the Trails series until now. The environments all feel really well-crafted, being rich in detail without feeling over the top, making for a grounded universe for the fantasy story to build upon.

The combat system strikes a balance between being simple and strategic. Inside battles, the combat stays simple, following the systems seen in other JRPGs, with the biggest depth being positional movement—having to set where your party members are located on a grid to dodge upcoming heavy-hitting spells and to be in range to attack the enemy. Outside of battle is where combat gets more strategic with the Orbment system. Before a battle, you must choose what spells each party member will have access to by equipping various Quartz that provide different levels of passive and active abilities. This can make or break some battles that may require you to have a certain elemental damage type or a defensive spell.

The tone of the story will best resonate with teenagers and adults. While lighthearted, the story delves into ideas of politics and darker tones that would not be best suited for most children, as reflected in its PEGI 12 rating. The narrative is a slow burn, focusing more on building characters and the world, waiting until fairly late in the game to introduce a looming threat to the protagonists. I see this as a huge positive, as it sets up the game for its direct sequel, Trails in the Sky SC, which focuses more on a linear narrative following the events of the epilogue. The music adds a lot to the overarching experience with a very warm and fun soundtrack that isn’t afraid to get emotional.

Trails in the Sky FC is very lightweight by modern standards, at less than 3GB, and runs smoothly on lower-end PCs. Its length is around 35-50 hours depending on your involvement with side quests. This leads me to talk about the biggest drawback of the game. The side quests that you need to improve your Bracer level—a guild level that keeps useful spells and items locked behind side quest progression—are varying in quality. While some are fun experiences, like helping out the local population with silly quests and fighting challenging side bosses, others tend to feel more like padding. The side quests are optional in this game, and unless I missed anything, unlike in other titles, none prevent you from progressing the story. The other drawback is one typically seen in JRPGs: grinding. You will want to grind battles in Trails in the Sky FC for both experience points and Sepith. Sepith is arguably the more important resource to grind, as it is both the material you will use to make Quartz to cast spells and a currency you can trade for Mira, the game’s currency.

Overall, Trails in the Sky FC is a delightful adventure that builds anticipation for its sequel with grand success. It is a must-play for fans of 2000s JRPGs, offering an unforgettable first step into the Trails series.