Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (PS5) | REVIEW | A Series First Reborn & Revitalized!!!

Developed by Nihon Falcom and published by GungHo Online Entertainment in North America, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a full remake of the original 2004 game that kicked off the Trails subseries within the broader Legend of Heroes franchise. As the inaugural entry, it sets the foundation for an expansive, interconnected world across multiple arcs, introducing key themes of political intrigue, personal growth, and ancient mysteries that echo through later titles like Trails of Cold Steel and Trails through Daybreak. 

The plot centers on the kingdom of Liberl, where siblings Estelle and Joshua Bright train as junior members of the Bracer Guild, a peacekeeping organization handling everything from monster hunts to investigations. What starts as routine tasks to earn promotions spirals into a larger conspiracy involving a missing family member, military coups, and shadowy organizations threatening national stability, blending slice-of-life moments with escalating drama.

The main characters drive much of the emotional weight. Estelle Bright serves as the fiery, optimistic protagonist, wielding a staff in combat and embodying the story's heart through her determination and growth from naive rookie to capable hero. Her adopted brother Joshua contrasts her with a calm, analytical demeanor, using dual blades and providing tactical support while harboring a mysterious past that unfolds as a core narrative thread. Supporting roles rotate in and out of the party, including allies like the sly Scherazard and the flamboyant Olivier, each contributing unique skills and backstories that enrich quests and deepen the world's lore through interpersonal dynamics.

The Gameplay ...

Gameplay revolves around exploration, questing, and strategic combat in a vibrant open world. Battles blend real-time action elements where you can chain attacks on the field to stun foes and gain advantages like bonus turns or weakened enemies with a deep turn-based system once engaged. In turn-based mode, an action timeline dictates order, allowing positioning on a grid to optimize area-of-effect skills, exploits of elemental weaknesses, and management of resources like Craft Points (CP) for special moves called Crafts or powerful S-Crafts. Mechanics like breaking an enemy's gauge for stuns, using Arts (magic spells tied to elemental affinities), and new additions such as Overdrive for debuff cleanses and critical hit guarantees add layers of strategy, especially on higher difficulties where buffs, debuffs, and turn manipulation become essential.

The menu system enhances accessibility with modern touches like a mini-map highlighting new NPC dialogues, fast travel between locations, and quest markers for both main and optional tasks, making it easier to track side content without backtracking excessively. Central to customization is the Orbment setup, where characters equip Quartz crystals into slots to unlock Arts, boost stats, and align elemental lines for combo effects, directly influencing battle viability and encouraging experimentation. 

Other features include a cooking interface that rewards first-time recipes with permanent party buffs and a crafting hub for upgrading gear, tying into resource gathering and progression by turning exploration finds into tangible advantages. High-speed mode accelerates grinding, ensuring these systems feel integrated rather than cumbersome.

The Presentation ...

Visually, the game adopts a full 3D overhaul with seamless transitions between towns and fields, vibrant colors, and detailed animations that bring attacks and cutscenes to life in high definition. The art style evolves the original's chibi sprites into expressive, fully realized models with a whimsical, anime-inspired aesthetic that captures Liberl's steampunk charm, from bustling cities to expansive highways. 

Voice acting features fresh English and Japanese dubs that add personality to dialogues and field interactions, though minor inconsistencies in pronunciation and lip sync occasionally stand out. The soundtrack shines with re-recorded tracks in HD, offering toggles between the new arrangements, symphonic "customized" versions, and the classic originals, blending nostalgic melodies with modern polish to elevate emotional highs and battles.

The Verdict ...

Overall, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter excels as a high-quality remake, boasting substantial content through its lengthy campaign, myriad sidequests, and world-building depth, a refined battle system that balances action flair with tactical depth, a compelling story of intrigue and maturation, endearing characters whose relationships feel authentic and evolving, and top-tier presentation via updated visuals and audio. It's a standout JRPG that honors its roots while feeling fresh. For fans of the series, this is an absolute must-play that breathes new life into the origins, and it absolutely succeeds in revitalizing the Trails saga by making it more approachable for modern audiences and newcomers alike.