The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. Lotex
    Apr 16, 2023
    7
    Pros:
    - Compelling story
    - Great characters - Missing link between the Sky trilogy and the Cold Steel quadrlogy Cons: - Felt a bit too long-drawn-out - Some characters have once again stupid Arcus lines At some points it felt like you had to bring Tio since some bosses towards the end tend to deal ridiculous amounts of damage with their s-crafts and you often never really know    Pros:
    - Compelling story
    - Great characters
    - Missing link between the Sky trilogy and the Cold Steel quadrlogy

    Cons:
    - Felt a bit too long-drawn-out
    - Some characters have once again stupid Arcus lines

    At some points it felt like you had to bring Tio since some bosses towards the end tend to deal ridiculous amounts of damage with their s-crafts and you often never really know when they'll use it, so you almost have to have 2 stacks of damage absorb.    … Expand
  2. GameforGamers
    Apr 17, 2023
    10
    THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS TO AZURE is one of the most enjoyable RPGs of the year. It has a great story, with a captivating cast of characters and a unique setting. The battles are intense and the strategy involved in battles is rewarding. The artwork is gorgeous and the soundtrack is beautiful. The various side quests add to the overall experience and the game is full of secrets toTHE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS TO AZURE is one of the most enjoyable RPGs of the year. It has a great story, with a captivating cast of characters and a unique setting. The battles are intense and the strategy involved in battles is rewarding. The artwork is gorgeous and the soundtrack is beautiful. The various side quests add to the overall experience and the game is full of secrets to uncover. In addition, the game is incredibly replayable, with new game plus content unlocking after completion. Overall, THE LEGEND OF HEROES: TRAILS TO AZURE is a must-play for any RPG fan and is one of the best RPGs of the year.… Expand
  3. AdoMobA
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Pros
    - the cast continues to excellent and the new additions are among my favorite characters for this arc
    - well realized motivations for our heroes and villains that make a lot of this story work without any hitches, plus the ending had me floored - side quests build on the mystique of Crossbell and give you additional characters to follow up on from the first game - the addition of    Pros
    - the cast continues to excellent and the new additions are among my favorite characters for this arc
    - well realized motivations for our heroes and villains that make a lot of this story work without any hitches, plus the ending had me floored
    - side quests build on the mystique of Crossbell and give you additional characters to follow up on from the first game
    - the addition of Master Quartz, the Burst mechanic alongside the added Combination Crafts make this games combat a lot more strategically interesting
    - no chapter of this game feels like it wastes time as there is always something interesting happening

    Cons
    - even more character information is hidden behind the final social events which just does not feel good for a story heavy game like this as some characters get a lot more interesting with the information hidden behind them

    As the fifth game in the amazing Trails series and the second and final game in the Crossbell arc, Trails to Azure leapfrogs most games in this series and stands as a fantastic conclusion to its set up from Zero.

    The two new additions to our beloved SSS feel distinct in story, personality and gameplay, earning them an easy top spot in my book. The old cast is not left behind as they all have things to do and in some cases even have some more growing to do.

    When it comes to pacing, the game keeps itself interesting by continuously upping the stakes and throwing curveballs to the player, forcing them to deal with a wild amount of issues, from politics, frauds, smuggling, violence etc. That is all underlined with the great sidequests that only serve to build off the main issues with situations that enrich the main story.

    All of this culminates in one of my now favorite ending sequences, where even though the stakes seem like they could never be paid off, they somehow exceed my expectations. All of that allowed by the excellent writing for the villains of this game.

    From slobbering brutes, through honorable knights and even sharply intelligent masterminds, the villains have clear motivations that make sense. Every single one of Corssbell's issues was set up to motivate these people in a very real way which just feels fantastic.

    Also, the combat has a few additions that make it way more interesting than ever before. Master quartz is a new way to grow your character beyond leveling them and messing about with the Enigma slots. The Burst mechanic allows for explosive amounts of damage justifying some of the hardest bosses in the series. And the new combination crafts and overall addition of two new permanent party members make this games combat excessively fun and deep to dive in.

    The only blemish on this game is once again the bonding events. I genuinely think it is a disservice for characters like Randy, Wazy and Rixia to have some of the most pertinent information to who they are locked behind a missable cutscene. But that is my only gripe.

    Overall, Azure just like Zero surprised me. I've heard for years how good it is and tempered my expectations accordingly. And this game not only met them but exceeded them. A fantastic end to the Crossbell arc and a fantastic edition to the Trails series.    … Expand
  4. mpop
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    This is a great game, Story is great. I really felt for the charcters in this game, as the grow more from Zero Great evolution of the battle system from prior games. Story is gripping, and emotional. You can really find your self caring for the charcters in this game. It is a great finish to the crossbell arc of the trails series of games. Loved my time with this game.

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best PS4 Game of 2023
8
#8 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
  1. PLAY
    Apr 5, 2023
    70
    Looks and plays like more of the same, but patient fans who have already played Zero and deeply invested in the wider Trails arc will be rewarded. [Issue#26, p.82]
  2. GamersRD
    Mar 30, 2023
    80
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is the long-awaited sequel that ends the story of the series in the city of Crossbell and does so in style. Although the game maintains many of its bases compared to its predecessor, it is an interesting game that improves and expands on some aspects. Fans of the series will love it because it is one of those lost gems that was able to transcend borders.
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  3. PlayStation Universe
    Mar 27, 2023
    95
    The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is easily one of the best entries in the franchise. A compelling heart-wrenching story is made better with excellent character writing and world-building, while the fun combat system keeps the best elements from its predecessor and improves it to make it stand out as much as possible. If you have to only play one of the Trails of titles, make sure you play Azure.
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