-Written on August 12, 2020-
The story in Azure has to be one of the tightest written tales I have seen in anything, not just in video games. Right from the get-go, Ao starts off by resolving a major plot point from Zero and it doesn't let up at all. There are tons of subplots sprinkled in the plot and it's all connected. Political tensions and the verge of war, the backstories of some characters begin to catch up, a mysterious powerful organization begins to act again, the Sept Terrions begin to spin out of control, the biggest secrets from Zero get revealed and there's just plenty of jaw-dropping dramatic events that occur near the end of the game. Not to mention there is just plot twist after plot twist to the point the game just gets insane with it but everything is explained so well. Everything subplot and character arc connect in the end as well. It's really hard to capture all of this without spoilers but Ao is a ride and it doesn't end. No not even the game's ending doesn't end the story since it directly led up to Cold Steel 3 at the very end.
The character writing is also expanded and really goes into a deep dive with the character's motives, beliefs, and even how they like when they are more relaxed. I love the SSS back in Zero but now they're hands down my favorite cast period. The main four characters are easily some of my favorite characters in any series but I certainly love the rest of the allies since they grow on you and they develop. Heck even the villains, I couldn't find myself disliking a single one of them despite they did plenty of things that aren't okay lol. But they're pretty charming and had a decent reason for their ideologies and executions. I just really enjoy the themes they beat over your head like getting over barriers, being there for your friends, and finding a new purpose. It really helps me overcome my own challenges and that is probably why I'm so attached to these characters. They are almost like real people that want to motivate you.
Azure isn't flawless of course but honestly so is every Trails game. The main issue I notice from Ao is how the game is a bit too haremy at times (Like 5-6 girls being all over Lloyd is a tad too much) plus the bonding system is honestly awful. There is no way you can unlock more than one final bonding event in a single playthrough without using a guide since the game doesn't explicitly keep track of that. Plus the finale is a bit draggy and kinda lose it super tight nonstop pacing the rest of the game had. I get why the finale is that long, but it kinda looses up a bit. I mean these are minor problems and Cold Steel as a whole is generally worse with all of this but people love to think the harem problem and weird pacing started at Cold Steel and the Crossbell games are flawless.
That said, Azure is easily one of my favorite video games, one of my favorite stories, and has my favorite cast period (and I never had a clear favorite for cast). It's tied with Cold Steel 3 for my favorite Trails game as well as my favorite JRPG. I love Azure that much and I can see why the Trails fanbase praises the game so much. There is so much I want to talk about with the story but it's so spoiler-heavy but huge props to Falcom for fixing my biggest gripe I had with Zero and building upon it so naturally and smoothly. Really if you do play the Crossbell duology, you're in a ride for some of the best story writing I have ever seen, since Azure works off from Zero that much. Like as far as stories go, I put it at the same level at 20th Century Boys, Radiant Historia, and Pandora Hearts and if you know me enough, you know I heavily praise those two a lot.
The story in Azure has to be one of the tightest written tales I have seen in anything, not just in video games. Right from the get-go, Ao starts off by resolving a major plot point from Zero and it doesn't let up at all. There are tons of subplots sprinkled in the plot and it's all connected. Political tensions and the verge of war, the backstories of some characters begin to catch up, a mysterious powerful organization begins to act again, the Sept Terrions begin to spin out of control, the biggest secrets from Zero get revealed and there's just plenty of jaw-dropping dramatic events that occur near the end of the game. Not to mention there is just plot twist after plot twist to the point the game just gets insane with it but everything is explained so well. Everything subplot and character arc connect in the end as well. It's really hard to capture all of this without spoilers but Ao is a ride and it doesn't end. No not even the game's ending doesn't end the story since it directly led up to Cold Steel 3 at the very end.
The character writing is also expanded and really goes into a deep dive with the character's motives, beliefs, and even how they like when they are more relaxed. I love the SSS back in Zero but now they're hands down my favorite cast period. The main four characters are easily some of my favorite characters in any series but I certainly love the rest of the allies since they grow on you and they develop. Heck even the villains, I couldn't find myself disliking a single one of them despite they did plenty of things that aren't okay lol. But they're pretty charming and had a decent reason for their ideologies and executions. I just really enjoy the themes they beat over your head like getting over barriers, being there for your friends, and finding a new purpose. It really helps me overcome my own challenges and that is probably why I'm so attached to these characters. They are almost like real people that want to motivate you.
Azure isn't flawless of course but honestly so is every Trails game. The main issue I notice from Ao is how the game is a bit too haremy at times (Like 5-6 girls being all over Lloyd is a tad too much) plus the bonding system is honestly awful. There is no way you can unlock more than one final bonding event in a single playthrough without using a guide since the game doesn't explicitly keep track of that. Plus the finale is a bit draggy and kinda lose it super tight nonstop pacing the rest of the game had. I get why the finale is that long, but it kinda looses up a bit. I mean these are minor problems and Cold Steel as a whole is generally worse with all of this but people love to think the harem problem and weird pacing started at Cold Steel and the Crossbell games are flawless.
That said, Azure is easily one of my favorite video games, one of my favorite stories, and has my favorite cast period (and I never had a clear favorite for cast). It's tied with Cold Steel 3 for my favorite Trails game as well as my favorite JRPG. I love Azure that much and I can see why the Trails fanbase praises the game so much. There is so much I want to talk about with the story but it's so spoiler-heavy but huge props to Falcom for fixing my biggest gripe I had with Zero and building upon it so naturally and smoothly. Really if you do play the Crossbell duology, you're in a ride for some of the best story writing I have ever seen, since Azure works off from Zero that much. Like as far as stories go, I put it at the same level at 20th Century Boys, Radiant Historia, and Pandora Hearts and if you know me enough, you know I heavily praise those two a lot.