Finding effective quartz combinations is always great fun, and coming dangerously close to breaking the balance of combat - a Trails staple at this point - is something that'll keep you invested. ![]() An expanded selection of quartz - stat-boosting and ability-granting items - means that you can customise your party in loads of different ways. Completely understandable, given that the original Crossbell titles predate the adventures of Rean Schwarzer by a few years, but for fans here in the West, who might be much more familiar with the 'modern' Trails games, combat can seem a bit basic.īut there's still a rewarding sense of tactical tinkering in Azure. That said, the system as a whole does still feel like a step back from what the Cold Steel games have to offer. For instance, late-game enemies aren't quite as spongy, and boss battles tend to be better designed with some surprisingly unique mechanics adding a welcome layer of strategy. The turn-based combat system remains largely unchanged in terms of mechanics, but it does feel better balanced overall. In terms of gameplay, Azure doesn't do a whole lot to differentiate itself from Zero. Sometimes we think developer Falcom must be mad for creating such an intertwined narrative that stretches across so many different games, but the emotional impact of the larger story arcs simply can't be denied. While it's perfectly possible to play and enjoy that four-part saga without having touched the Crossbell duology - as many Western fans already know - actually seeing how things unfold for Lloyd and the gang enriches the finer details of Cold Steel's equally dramatic events. From individual moments of character development to seismic events that help shape Trails lore, it's some of the property's absolute best storytelling - and that's high praise.Įven better is that Zero and Azure add so much context to the Trails of Cold Steel series. Particularly in the game's latter half, the plot's impactful pacing is superb. You'll get to know a huge cast of secondary characters through your optional excursions, and that feeds right back into all of the political and societal themes of the main plot.īut as alluded, it's the segments of core story that push Azure above and beyond. Some of these side quests do lean into somewhat tedious territory, but everything that you decide to engage with helps further establish the title's already impressive world building. Each chapter starts with an introduction to upcoming story beats, before letting you crack on with optional missions. ![]() From slaying pesky monsters to investigating missing people, the game retains the typical Trails structure. It gives you glimpses of the wider world from Crossbell's unique perspective, and with an all-important trade conference scheduled to soon take place on Crossbell soil, you just know that the city's relative peace isn't going to last.ĭespite the looming threats, the SSS are still on hand to solve local issues. Political tensions are at an all-time high throughout Azure, and the game does an amazing job of setting the scene. Protagonist Lloyd Bannings and his buddies are still fully committed to safeguarding their beloved Crossbell - a technologically advanced city-state that's sandwiched between two supremely powerful nations. Following on from the events of Zero, the SSS find themselves in high demand, but their newfound fame hasn't changed the way that they operate. ![]() Once again, you fill the well-worn shoes of the Special Support Section (SSS for short) - a ragtag team of not-quite-rookie cops. The narrative payoff is genuinely outstanding at times. While Azure does reuse a lot of Zero's assets - there are only a handful of new environments to explore, for example - the storytelling hits some incredible highs here, taking plot points and character-driven developments from the first game and running with them. We'd go as far to claim that this is a near perfect sequel. When viewed as two parts of one big story, Zero and Azure make for a brilliantly engrossing experience. ![]() It immediately goes without saying that you simply must play Zero before jumping into this direct sequel - but don't let the daunting prospect of playing two 60-hour RPGs put you off. The second and final game in the 'Crossbell' saga, Trails to Azure executes on everything that Trails from Zero meticulously built up.
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