The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails (PS4)

Hailing from 2012 Nihon Falcom's, "The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails" gets the refurbished NISA treatment for modern consoles, namely the PS4. With this Westernized port players get to experience Nayuta's grand action adventure in a world filled with mystery and magic. As an adventurer with a tragic past Nayuta, and his friend Cygna set sail to learn more about the world around them as they each grow into respectful men through life experiences before eventually returning home.

Returning one day to their native village they find a welcoming committee in the form of friends and family as well as a series of events leading up to their destined departure from their known world into that of the fabled Lost Heavens. A place only once seen in fallen star fragments, and ruin debris. 

After fatefully traversing the ruins of a fallen tower on the coast of their home village Nayuta, and Cygna run into a fairy in peril named Noi. Noi, seems to be in the middle of her own crisis when they stumble upon her at the tower's top. Defending a mystic gear she finds herself in Nayuta's presence only to have that mechanism wisped away from her unconscious grip by an invading malevolent person of interest. A man known as Zescht. It is at this point that Nayuta, and Cygna take it upon themselves to aid Noi, and follow her on her quest to recover what was lost while defending against the destruction of the Lost Heavens at the hands of Zescht and his henchmen.

Gameplay in Nayuta's adventure isn't as familiar in design as most JRPGs released under the Nihon Falcom label. It is part world exploration, and part puzzle-platforming with action based combat on the side. In it you'll go between the four continents of the Lost Heavens, or Terra as Noi refers to it as well as the home village of Nayuta. Each experience harboring it's own unique take on activities. In the village, in particular, Nayuta will interact with residents doing fetch quests as a handyman. Sometimes delivering items, and other times fighting off invading monsters. It is here he can also spend earned currency from the quests to buy wares from various vendors, and put to use ingredients gathered from battle for meals prepared by Eartha or Nayuta, himself. 

In Terra this formula of side-questing in a 3D world changes to a combat and collect-a-thon based outing where fighting through platforming sections of gameplay that have sections gated by puzzle elements is the end goal. A task that has you fighting off the monsters varying strengths, collecting currency, and securing the location's key item or treasure. Ultimately completing a star based combat manual that rewards you for objectively perfect playthroughs via a star rating. It is in these stages that you'll control Nayuta and utilize the help of Noi as you use their individual attacks, and actions to traverse the ruinous regions of Terra's four continents.

In combat, which is free flowing, Nayuta wields a sword with which he can perform combos, and complete chains by defeating a group of enemies without getting hit. In chaining kills he unlocks boosts to performance, and will in turn benefit from those boosts as he progresses. Additionally Nayuta can jump, double jump, and perform an evasive roll that can be utilized in the platforming areas. 

Outside of Nayuta's combat offerings Noi acts as a magic wielding extension with special magic arts that can be used to both kill monsters, and trigger switches or puzzle features that will further open up gated pathways. Noi's magic arts are limited in use and depend upon a resource that dwindles the more it is used. Making it more suitable for the harder enemy types or puzzle solving.

Each character under your control, including Nayuta and Noi, can be equipped with head gear, a weapon, armor, and an accessory. These key items can be found out in the world or bought through the right vendors. It should also be noted that you can buy ingredients as well as restorative items from a vendor back at Nayuta's home village. Beyond the battle and the culinary components the game does also have it's own bestiary to complete. A visual and textual guide to monsters that includes their weaknesses as well as their drops. The usual bestiary guide for those looking to farm for ingredients.

While on the map, and between stage playthroughs Nayuta can also put to use his cooking skills to prepare dishes that will restore health, and magic. These dishes are learned back at the village from Eartha. Once learned they can be put to use on the go, but not in a playthrough. Ingredients for these health restoring meals comes from enemy drops, and sometimes destructible environmental set pieces. Utilizing the touchpad menu you can also gain quick access to these food dishes through the lunchbox inventory listing. It makes healing quickly easier. 

The Presentation ...

Spiced up by anime cinematic sequences and polished polygonal characters the world of "The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails" is one of mostly retro aesthetics. Holding true to the JRPG designs of yesteryear it only briefly pauses to upgrade through stylish anime inspired character avatars, and accompanying English text. Something that holds up well enough when it comes to base offerings. Functionally though combat, and exploration are a bit crude in delivery. With sped up movements and actions avoiding hits, and platforming are made trickier tasks than they should be. In regards to the soundtrack it is what you'd expect from a Nihon Falcom fantasy based JRPG, both symphonic and melodic in fashion. 

The Verdict ...

Storytelling, and character development are "The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails" greatest accomplishment. Getting to know about Nayuta, Cygna, Noi, and everyone else is a pleasure. So too is the discovery of the two worlds in which the game takes place. It feels like all the biblical an scientific conspiracies all rolled up in one. From the flat Earth theory being challenged to a place like Terra which mirrors the theory of Eden being in the North Pole there's plenty of callbacks to that type of thing. Parallels, if you will. 

Aside from that the execution of combat, and platforming wasn't as up to snuff as the game's finer points. It felt loose, and often times made combat and platforming more difficult than it should have been. I think the improved 60fps had something to do with this. The speed at which the game's components move doesn't seem to be compatible with the original retro style. Sadly, this is a big hit to value and quality as a result. In light of this my recommendation does take a slightly negative turn. I feel the game is good, but that performance-wise it falters, significantly. As such I cannot, in good faith, recommend it at day one retail.