With The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero serving as the opening act, The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is the definitive sequel that caps off the Crossbell duology in epic fashion. Trails to Azure brings many developments, revelations, and moments that will have you reeling and pondering about the series for quite a while. This is how I felt when I finally played Trails to Azure in 2023, and on Nintendo Switch 2, the game is just as great. That being said, I still pose the same question from my Trails from Zero Switch 2 review.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is bigger and better in virtually every way. This isn’t to say that Trails from Zero is an inferior game, but Trails to Azure ticks off all the boxes in what you want from a sequel to a great RPG. The introduction of the Burst mode mechanic and Master Quartz makes the turn-based gameplay system more exciting, and as I’ve stated in my original Trails to Azure review, this is the pinnacle of sprite-based Trails games pre-Cold Steel era. The new gameplay features complement the challenging bosses in this game as well. Meanwhile, in the story, the Special Support Section meets daunting challenges that will test their resolve, including those incidents at the West Zemuria Trade Conference and everything that occurs afterward. This is all while featuring returning Trails in the Sky characters, resolving some plot threads, and fleshing out the cast of characters that players know and love. If there’s one thing Trails to Azure does perfectly well, it’s raising the stakes and conveying the emotions of characters involved in risks.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure Feels Right at Home on Switch 2
Trails to Azure benefits from the same improvements and adjustments that PH3’s upgraded Trails from Zero port for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 brings to the table. This includes 4K and 120Hz support, upgraded textures, and various performance-based settings such as dynamic shadows, a dynamic water shader, and texture style settings. Once again, you can tailor the target frame rate and performance for handheld and docked modes, allowing you to place emphasis on battery life, frame rate, or visual fidelity.
Trails to Azure looks amazing at 4K 60 FPS on Nintendo Switch 2, and the game does take advantage of the 120Hz screen in handheld mode, at the cost of some battery life. 60 FPS is the sweet spot for both performance and battery life if you’re playing in handheld mode, and in docked, you can play at 1440p at 120Hz with a compatible display. Whichever option you pick, you can rest assured that Trails to Azure is looking at its best in this port.
The Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure are both convenient for some of their interconnected features, too. Not only can save data from the Nintendo Switch versions be transferred over, but you can use save data from either version of Trails from Zero to get save data bonuses in Trails to Azure. In this case, you could buy Trails to Azure on Switch 2 without needing to buy Trails from Zero again and still have access to save data bonuses.
My few gripes from the Trails from Zero port still apply here with the lack of a upgrade path and the physical Game-Key Card release. I think an upgrade path would have been the cherry on top that makes this one of the most ideal releases in the series, especially for returning Trails fans. While the technical upgrades and new features are really great, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is looming on the horizon, and I can see more Trails fans spending their money on that instead of replaying Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure in the immediate future. That being said, I still think $39.99 is solid for first-time buyers, and with a sale, it’s a better deal for sure.
Trails to Azure Persists as One of the Best Sequels in the Series
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is still one of the best games in the entire series, and it beautifully closed the Crossbell saga of the franchise’s story—at least until a certain entry opens it back up later down the line. Despite my few gripes with this release, Trails to Azure is an amazing RPG sequel that improves in nearly all areas of its predecessor. From gameplay to the main story, Trails to Azure is an impactful game, and the Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5 ports give many players another outlet to catch up on the series.
Disclaimer: NIS America provided a Nintendo Switch 2 copy of The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure for review purposes.
