Trails in the Sky, the Gateway to the Fan-Favorite Trails JRPG Series, Is Getting a Remake

As a long-time JRPG fanatic who’s been following the trails of these epic tales since the turn of the millennium, I can’t help but feel like a kid at Christmas with the announcement of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st. This isn’t just another remake or port; it’s a chance to experience the origins of one of gaming’s most ambitious and interconnected narratives, all while getting a fresh coat of paint that makes it shine brighter than ever.

During this week’s Nintendo Direct broadcast, Nihon Falcom unveiled “The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 1st,” which is actually a remake of a 2004 RPG game. While other announcements such as the release of the “Castlevania Dominus Collection” and the upcoming “Yakuza: Kiwami” on the Switch generated more excitement, the reveal of “Trails in the Sky the 1st” didn’t create much buzz unless you were paying close attention. However, for JRPG enthusiasts, it was a significant announcement. The original “The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky” is the first installment in what has since been called the “Trails” series, a part of Nihon Falcom’s larger The Legend of Heroes franchise. For those in the know, the remake’s announcement was pleasantly unexpected.

In contrast, Western viewers were given a brief peek at the first installment of Trails in the Sky, whereas the Japanese broadcast showcased a full minute-long teaser (as seen below). This suggests that the Trails series holds cult status in North America. It’s advisable to keep an eye on it, as the Trails series has evolved into something similar to the JRPG equivalent of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Trails in the Sky the 1st will be a Gateway to the Trails Series

2024 marks the 20th anniversary of my favorite series, Trails, which will boast an impressive lineup of 13 mainline games by year’s end. These games are grouped into various sub-series, each set in distinct regions within the same world. As a North American fan, I’ve likely become acquainted with the four-part Trails of Cold Steel series, instrumental in building the series’ current popularity.

Previously, the main challenge to joining the Trails series was locating a means to play the two games from the “Crossbell arc,” Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. These games were initially published in 2010 and 2011, but they weren’t translated or released in English-speaking regions at that time. However, a decade later, after being given an English fan translation, the games were officially distributed in English-speaking territories in 2022. As a result, the entire Trails series can now be played in English for the first time.

The biggest stumbling block with starting the Trails series now is its first entry, Trails in the Sky. Trails in the Sky is the first installment of the initial three-part subseries of the larger Trails saga. Trails in the Sky and its sequel, Trails in the Sky SC, are two parts of one long story. The third game, Trails in the Sky the Third, is more of a standalone entry that closes out the trilogy. However, all three were originally released for the handheld PSP system and, while they’re all available on other hardware, including PC, they show their age. The lack of voice acting, the isometric view, and the lack of many presentation and quality-of-life features that modern players take for granted, combined with a deceptively simple storyline in the first game that only reveals the scale the series is setting up towards the end, severely dates the initial trilogy, turning many players off, and can be a shock to those coming from a more modern entry like Trails of Cold Steel.

Luckily, Trails in the Sky the 1st (and its presumptive sequel remakes) can fix that. While Trails in the Sky has received ports and enhanced remasters in the past, Trails in the Sky the 1st looks like a complete, top-down remake that’ll bring the game more in line with the series’ modern standards, including adding voice acting and fully 3-D graphics. For anyone who has balked at the idea of jumping into the Trails series before, Trails in the Sky the 1st in 2025 looks like the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon.

2024-08-29 22:39

Trails in the Sky the 1st will be a Gateway to the Trails Series

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