For nearly 20 years, Nihon Falcom has created one the richest ensembles of unique characters, historical past, and politics in video video games with The Legend of Heroes. Throughout three narrative arcs (and counting), I’ve explored myriad numerous areas, 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 most recent entry within the long-running franchise, is a bittersweet end result; I have to probably say goodbye to a few of these characters for good after the collection 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 fantastic and gratifying characters I’ve come to like so dearly. The fight continues to construct and evolve off itself, and although the story is arguably one of many weakest within the collection thus far, the profound ongoing theme of what shapes somebody into the particular person they’re has caught with me since. By the point credit rolled, all I might 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 collection. Beginning with Trails within the Sky, taking part in 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 because the 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 collection, 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 growth that longtime followers anticipate.
As an alternative of showcasing one important character, three totally different branches give attention to a selected character – a collection first. Reverie places you again within the footwear of former important protagonists Lloyd Bannings and Rean Schwarzer, together with a masked particular person who followers of the collection will do not forget that goes by the identify “C.” These characters’ paths diverge into one other compelling narrative the place every of them overcomes the private burdens they’ve been combating 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 vital issues occur to each Rean and C, Reverie actually looks 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 advisable postgame content material), I might discover Crossbell in full 3D. Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure introduced an isometric perspective with characters in a Chibi mannequin fashion, so it was enjoyable to see all the things I explored in these video games in a brand new mild whereas staying true to the unique imaginative and prescient.
Regardless that the collection is understood to have a stage of free exploration, Reverie is a way more simple expertise, equally structured to Trails within the Sky the third. There aren’t any conventional aspect quests, which is in the end disappointing as I beloved studying new lore concerning the world. Nevertheless, The Legend of Heroes is masterful at making the areas you repeatedly go to throughout entries really feel developed; 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 speak to acquainted faces.
Fight all through The Legend of Heroes collection, whereas nice total, has kind of been the identical because the 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 named “United Entrance,” the place you may unleash an all-out assault that offers large harm to your enemies or heal your whole social gathering. It didn’t essentially change the best way I approached fights in comparison with earlier entries, but it surely positively bought me out of some tight spots.
Except for the story, the primary 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 kinds for the forged however can be the place a lot of the aspect content material lives, together with buying tools, fishing (a collection staple), and the straightforward, however well-designed card sport Vantage Masters. Different actions embody taking over partaking trials with particular characters to achieve distinctive upgrades in addition to a collection of enjoyable minigames like a rail shooter and even trivia concerning the franchise.
Nevertheless, the primary function of the Reverie Hall is to function a dungeon crawler to stage up your social gathering. 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 forged that occur between the occasions of Chilly Metal IV and Trails into Reverie. Arguably the very best a part of The Legend of Heroes is the huge variety of well-written detailed characters. Nevertheless, the primary story zeroes in on a choose few, so it is a nice approach to get what looks like an intimate final hurrah with them.
By the tip sport, there have been effectively over 40 characters I might select to construct out my social gathering, and for each certainly one 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 collection.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie just isn’t your common sport; close to many years of world-building, character arcs, and detailed lore have led to this end result. The franchise isn’t excellent, however this collection is wholly one-of-a-kind. It’s a monolith that must be acknowledged alongside icons like Closing Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, and Persona. The small print of the continent of Zemuria are not like anything I’ve skilled in gaming, and its forged now has a number of of my favourite characters within the medium. Reverie has the intimidating process of closing the web page on three arcs that expanded throughout nearly 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.