Trails to Azure | PS4 Review

NISA's and Nihon Falcom's "The Legend of Heroes" series is one of deep seeded political and religious intrigue. Centered around a district known as Crossbell, and it's militarized detective agency known as the SSS or Special Section Support it weaves a timeline of events revolving around key characters and corruption. Spanning multiple releases with their own unique take on combat and storytelling the series has maintained it's focus on flagship, and legacy characters while continuously building upon the established war between criminals and authority. Be it on the corrupt political front, involving the series' own brand of mafia, or the cult side of things wherein a drug called gnosis causes the demonic transformation of those who take it. The SSS continuously lending their services, in all these instances to thwart the plans of evil doers while looking after their own.

In "Trails to Azure" things pick up where "Trails from Zero" left off. Allowing choices made in the previous entry to be carried over, optionally. Effecting key characters, and related situations if chosen. That being said the game is playable as a somewhat standalone experience with a lore rich 'Backstory' menu that features past events, terms used throughout the series, and key characters of interest whose roles are individually, and biographically broken down for newcomers. Taking time to get acquainted is a must if you hope to enjoy the plot as a gamer just now getting into the swing of things. Once you get familiar with the lore the game drops you in head first into a prologue that doubles down as a mechanics tutorial. It introduces the new Enigma II and master quartz craft system as well as things like Arts, S-breaks, Team Rush, and Combined Combat. Crucial combat mechanics that are present in all party members' arsenal.

As a turn based JRPG, "Trails to Azure" takes a similar approach to other RPGs in the genre. Allowing the characters, in turn, to choose an action that is dependent on available HP, EP, and CP. HP being health, EP being the source to perform charged elemental arts, and CP being the craft points need to perform Crafts as well as S-Breaks or team focused combined combat options. Each taking from their respective points gauge to a certain degree. Movement and item usage is also an option which adds to strategy, and survivability. Seeing as certain creatures or enemies have certain weaknesses not all options are always viable. Thus experimenting, or scoping out weakness prior to engaging is imperative. Thankfully big damage can be dealt in a variety of ways outside of the base attack option. Things like the ultimate S-Break attack with it's all out animations can blast away at an enemy's health gauge with little effort needed afterwards. Elemental arts also come in handy against enemies that are weak to their effects. Leaving Crafts, or the series equivalent to skills, to be the mid-damage offerings. 

Returning characters who will be utilizing these mechanics include Detective Dudley, Arios, Lloyd Bannings, and CGF cadet Noel Keeper. With this introductory party you'll play, initially, in a tutorial focused prologue where they pursue both Ernest, and Hartmen into the Altair Lodge with the intent to arrest. Things fall apart though as Ernest's interest in the DG cult, and the gnosis drug has led him to seek power through corruption. In a climatic battle the SSS confronts Ernest in an attempt to avoid a second Joachim incident. Following the prologue things pick up as per usual back at SSS HQ with a quest based focus centered around the new SSS party including Lloyd, Noel, Wazy, and Elie. Fleshing out their new adventures as the SSS.

In the way of equipment loadouts this go around the up to six characters in your party have a slot for armor, and a weapon. That, and to accessory slots for added benefit. Characters are also range specific according to weapon, and can be setup accordingly for combat via party management. With the new Enigma II characters can also learn, and use special Craft attacks that can be added to by equipping found quartz with bonus effects tacked and stacked on. While out in a dungeon characters can additionally take advantage of the preemptive strike that allows a battle to give them advantage as well as a chance at using the team rush ability wherein all allies attack the collective of enemies at the same time. Giving way to more damage from the start. 

Outside of dungeons, which are there to forward the plot, you'll find a list of quests at the SSS HQ. These quests are listed as either Important, or lesser in scale. The important quests forward the main plot while opening up key character moments and conversations. The objective based lesser quests, on the other hand, afford the party Mira (currency) as well as DP (Detective Points) which play into the game's shopping, and upgrade systems. With the DP you basically rank up as an SSS officer, and gain access to new quests, and features pertaining to your line of work. When completing main quests you will eventually complete chapters, and in turn gain a DP rewarding performance evaluation. Leading you to the next chapter in line, and it's episodic goings on.

The Presentation ...

Trails of Azure is an oldschool looking JRPG akin to PS2's retro releases. It features an isometric point of view with dwarfed character sprites and environmental set pieces formed from polished and improved upon polygon construction. Alongside the retro graphics are animated cutscenes done in kind as well as some anime inspired sequences with panel style art. Text boxes allow for character conversations whereas a labeled icon inclusive dial menu acts as the means by which to combat foes. Leaving the rest of the hub of operations to be a menu accessible list of features pertaining to party operation, and Enigma II management. That, and character loadouts as well as placement. 

Audibly, Trails of Azure' is a blend of symphonic melodies, and orchestral moments that heighten the atmospheric tension and situation's impact. The lack or severity thereof. It is what you'd expect from a game that looks like it hailed from the PlayStation 2 era. 

The Verdict ...

Getting into the story this late into the series did make me want to go back to the start, and see it all through to the end. Even with the catching up via the 'Backstory' menu system I was left feeling like I was dropped head first into the action. Not fully caring for the established characters, or the situation they found themselves in. That having been said I did like the experience, regardless. The characters themselves brought a lot to the table personality-wise. Even though some were obvious stereotypical anime tropes. As far as plot is concerned the intertwining political, and religious spin had me intrigued, and interested in what was going on. I could see the developers' attempt to mirror certain real world happenings, and there were quite a few references that I picked up on thinking to myself, "I see what you did there". 

Combat was also very engaging, and layered in such a way as to make the battles an adventure among themselves. The developers gave several different ways to approach the fight, and finding out which action choices best suited the current situation was half the battle. In a sense it made things more epic in regards to the more pivotal character conflicts. Micro-managing resources, and leveling up your party of characters also added a layer of customization wherein each party member, despite their given role in the story, were able to functionally change their combat/support roles, slightly, through the Enigma II and quartz system. Minus taking in account their base weapons and range.

All in all I think "Trails of Azure" is a game best suited for committed series fans. While it can, technically, be played solo with a little catching up the best experience with it will be for those who have played the previous entries through their entirety. There's a lot of lore, and character moments that carry over from the previous games, and make the series richer for it. I'd suggest, if you haven't already, buying into this series from the start. Following it all the way through release by release. It is no doubt one of the finer JRPG series ever to grace modern consoles!