The 5th game in the long running narrative of the Trails series and the second half of the Crossbell duology, Trails to Azure sets out to answer the unanswered questions left hanging at the end of Trails from Zero while also building towards a conclusion for the Crossbell arc.
It's easier to dive into the gameplay stuff first here as it's a continuation of what the four games before it laid out, with a few new additions here and there. Your core gameplay loop is still the same tackling of requests that come in while also progressing through the story. It's very much a continuation of the excellent formula the series has had for most of its games so far and it doesn't rock the boat there. We do have new additions to the battle system however, with the Master Quartz being the main attraction. Master Quartz are a fancier version of the regular quartz that the Enigma's use for casting arts, only these ones can be leveled up and provide a variety of stat boosts and include buffs when starting a battle. Once maxed out, the Master Quartz will give you access to a unique and powerful art. They also contribute towards your sepith totals that determine what arts you have access to as well and these totals increase as you level it up. It's a very cool new addition to the battle system that has remained relatively unchanged throughout the series.
The other new addition is a Burst mechanic accessible during climatic points of the story. A guage fills up as you attack enemies and when full you can use Burst to allow yourself multiple turns in a row without reply from the enemies. It's great for when you're in a pinch and need to turn the tide of battle or when you want to fire off arts without the enemy interrupting them.
Heading into the story, there is one pretty big blemish on the game as a whole and that comes with the introduction of a new character called Shirley. Her introduction sees her nibbling on Lloyds ear before moving behind Elie and groping her while everyone else stands in shock and Wazy makes light of the situation. It's horrible. Elie was my favourite character from Zero so seeing her being treated like that was really shocking and was difficult to move past and for many people it could be something that ruins the whole game for them. It's also an event that is annoyingly brought up again another 2 or 3 times throughout the story before being dropped around the second half of the game when things start going down and you start gaining a better understanding of Shirley's role. Thankfully I was able to move past it and enjoy the game despite it. As much as it annoyed me at the time, it's also the only real complaint I have with the game at all so for me personally it wasn't something I was going to let ruin my experience of an otherwise brilliant game so I was able to let it go. Still it is worth mentioning for those who might not be able to do that and give a fair warning of it.
Right, negative part out the way, let's dive into what makes Trails to Azure peak. Being a direct continuation of Zero, Azure is kind enough to include the backstory for that game in the main menu, so if for whatever reason you skipped Zero you can catch up or refamiliarise yourself with that. And it is important because Azure starts off by following up on the direct aftermath of Zero by having Lloyd, Noel, Dudley, and Arios hunt down the last remaining remnants of the DG Cult that have eluded arrest and are on the run towards the Calvard Republic. It's a nice intro sequence to introduce you to the new Master Quartz as well as get you straight into the action. It's also cool having a small part of Calvard playable after hearing so much about the nation. The end of the Prologue section also introduces us to a couple of familiar faces from Sky 3rd and you get that awesome feeling that very few series can give you.
After the Prologue, we're back in Crossbell City and familiar surroundings but a few things have changed since the cult incident. Randy and Tio are temporarily away from the SSS for other errands so we have a couple of new members to help round out our team of four. Noel from the CGF has temporarily joined the SSS on a recommendation to gain experience and Wazy, our gang leader has joined because…. He felt like it (don't worry, it does actually become clear later in the game)
It is a little weird seeing the SSS family change up a bit, especially with how much they actually felt like a family by the end of Zero but our two new members actually fit in rather well. Noel's sister Fran already worked as an operator for the SSS anyways and it's cool seeing this super dutiful and serious person trying to fit in with a group that is much less strict on formalities and more easy going, especially with Wazy bringing the exact opposite type of energy to the team. Wazy is extremely laid back and very quick witted, rarely resisting a moment to tease one of his teammates or flirt with somebody. Both characters greatly add to the dynamic of the SSS and continue to fit in even when Randy and Tio eventually make their return. It's also great that this game gives you so much more time with 6 party members to allow you to make use of the two support slots you have.
Other changes around Crossbell include the completion of the Zemuria's tallest building, Orchis tower, completed by new Mayor Dieter Crois whose ambition is clear from the off as he manages to push through some new reforms to Crossbellean law as well as push for an independent Crossbell free from the influence of its neighbours. Elsewhere the Empire has tried to restore the balance of power that was knocked out of their favour by hiring the most powerful Jaeger group around, the Red Constellation - the Jaeger group that Randy was a part of and includes familiar faces for him to test his resolve against. And let's not forget on top of all that, we have the return of Ouroboros who are putting into motion their Phantasmal Blaze plan which the first step involves Crossbell.
All of this makes for the most exciting paced Trails game yet as it wastes no time on a slow burn and starts setting up multiple threads of intrigue from the off.
Azure takes us through so many high points, from gathering so many powerful leaders and characters in one place for the grand opening of the Orchis tower, an assassination attempt from terrorist organisations working together from both the Empire and the Republic, devastating attacks on Crossbell that hit so much harder because of the attachment you have to the City from the first game as well as how incredibly well Trails does it's npc characters, meaning gut punches still hit pretty hard even when it's npc characters taking the brunt of the damage. There's so many powerful and incredible moments throughout the game that make it almost impossible to put down. They also pick an excellent point for an intermission chapter to let you catch your breath and see the party take a well earned break to rest and have some fun before ramping things way up again for its incredible finale.
Azure's finale is this stunning unravelling of a grand conspiracy that has been years in the making and it takes you this near unfathomable journey as the balance of power shifts in Western Zemuria and revelation after revelation is unveiled. Characters we thought that were allies are now dangerous enemies, and powerful foes we had been butting heads against make for the unlikeliest of allies. Answers surrounding KeA and exactly what happened to Guy Bannings are finally given and there's even some stunning weaponry on display that raises the stakes even higher. And while all this is happening in Crossbell, we're given teasers of what's going down in Erebonia to help whet your appetite for the Cold Steel games. The final dungeon itself is this incredibly large and beautiful labrinth, giving characters like Rixia, Wazy, and Randy some closure to things they have been through and of course the game carries on one of the main themes of the Crossbell arc, found family. There's just so many high points in this game that it helps make it a lot easier to move past the one blemish I had near the beginning of it. The ending does set things up for a difficult future for Crossbell and in turn leaves you wanting to find out what happens next. The door is left open for a return to this wonderful cast and setting with their fate so deeply intertwined with Erebonia.
I played this one on Switch and while for the most part it runs fine, there are somewhat annoying moments where the framerate dips, particularly around areas where the Plemora grass effects are in play. It's mostly like the frame rate dropping for a few seconds as it tries to adapt to a new area and stabilise itself. Not the worst thing in the world but worth mentioning as it is noticeable.
Trails to Azure is a fantastic boiling point of threads that have been woven throughout Crossbell culminating in a spectacular finale and a consistently intriguing and exciting story that few rpgs can maintain throughout 50-60 hours of game time. It knows exactly when to take the foot off the gas for a bit and exactly when to ramp things up again. For those that have played all the previous games, there's plenty of exciting appearances from characters past while those only familiar with Zero still get a lot of mind-blowing revelations that will completely reframe that game in a whole new light for you. It's another excellent Trails game and for me, it's right up there as one of the best in the series.
It's easier to dive into the gameplay stuff first here as it's a continuation of what the four games before it laid out, with a few new additions here and there. Your core gameplay loop is still the same tackling of requests that come in while also progressing through the story. It's very much a continuation of the excellent formula the series has had for most of its games so far and it doesn't rock the boat there. We do have new additions to the battle system however, with the Master Quartz being the main attraction. Master Quartz are a fancier version of the regular quartz that the Enigma's use for casting arts, only these ones can be leveled up and provide a variety of stat boosts and include buffs when starting a battle. Once maxed out, the Master Quartz will give you access to a unique and powerful art. They also contribute towards your sepith totals that determine what arts you have access to as well and these totals increase as you level it up. It's a very cool new addition to the battle system that has remained relatively unchanged throughout the series.
The other new addition is a Burst mechanic accessible during climatic points of the story. A guage fills up as you attack enemies and when full you can use Burst to allow yourself multiple turns in a row without reply from the enemies. It's great for when you're in a pinch and need to turn the tide of battle or when you want to fire off arts without the enemy interrupting them.
Heading into the story, there is one pretty big blemish on the game as a whole and that comes with the introduction of a new character called Shirley. Her introduction sees her nibbling on Lloyds ear before moving behind Elie and groping her while everyone else stands in shock and Wazy makes light of the situation. It's horrible. Elie was my favourite character from Zero so seeing her being treated like that was really shocking and was difficult to move past and for many people it could be something that ruins the whole game for them. It's also an event that is annoyingly brought up again another 2 or 3 times throughout the story before being dropped around the second half of the game when things start going down and you start gaining a better understanding of Shirley's role. Thankfully I was able to move past it and enjoy the game despite it. As much as it annoyed me at the time, it's also the only real complaint I have with the game at all so for me personally it wasn't something I was going to let ruin my experience of an otherwise brilliant game so I was able to let it go. Still it is worth mentioning for those who might not be able to do that and give a fair warning of it.
Right, negative part out the way, let's dive into what makes Trails to Azure peak. Being a direct continuation of Zero, Azure is kind enough to include the backstory for that game in the main menu, so if for whatever reason you skipped Zero you can catch up or refamiliarise yourself with that. And it is important because Azure starts off by following up on the direct aftermath of Zero by having Lloyd, Noel, Dudley, and Arios hunt down the last remaining remnants of the DG Cult that have eluded arrest and are on the run towards the Calvard Republic. It's a nice intro sequence to introduce you to the new Master Quartz as well as get you straight into the action. It's also cool having a small part of Calvard playable after hearing so much about the nation. The end of the Prologue section also introduces us to a couple of familiar faces from Sky 3rd and you get that awesome feeling that very few series can give you.
After the Prologue, we're back in Crossbell City and familiar surroundings but a few things have changed since the cult incident. Randy and Tio are temporarily away from the SSS for other errands so we have a couple of new members to help round out our team of four. Noel from the CGF has temporarily joined the SSS on a recommendation to gain experience and Wazy, our gang leader has joined because…. He felt like it (don't worry, it does actually become clear later in the game)
It is a little weird seeing the SSS family change up a bit, especially with how much they actually felt like a family by the end of Zero but our two new members actually fit in rather well. Noel's sister Fran already worked as an operator for the SSS anyways and it's cool seeing this super dutiful and serious person trying to fit in with a group that is much less strict on formalities and more easy going, especially with Wazy bringing the exact opposite type of energy to the team. Wazy is extremely laid back and very quick witted, rarely resisting a moment to tease one of his teammates or flirt with somebody. Both characters greatly add to the dynamic of the SSS and continue to fit in even when Randy and Tio eventually make their return. It's also great that this game gives you so much more time with 6 party members to allow you to make use of the two support slots you have.
Other changes around Crossbell include the completion of the Zemuria's tallest building, Orchis tower, completed by new Mayor Dieter Crois whose ambition is clear from the off as he manages to push through some new reforms to Crossbellean law as well as push for an independent Crossbell free from the influence of its neighbours. Elsewhere the Empire has tried to restore the balance of power that was knocked out of their favour by hiring the most powerful Jaeger group around, the Red Constellation - the Jaeger group that Randy was a part of and includes familiar faces for him to test his resolve against. And let's not forget on top of all that, we have the return of Ouroboros who are putting into motion their Phantasmal Blaze plan which the first step involves Crossbell.
All of this makes for the most exciting paced Trails game yet as it wastes no time on a slow burn and starts setting up multiple threads of intrigue from the off.
Azure takes us through so many high points, from gathering so many powerful leaders and characters in one place for the grand opening of the Orchis tower, an assassination attempt from terrorist organisations working together from both the Empire and the Republic, devastating attacks on Crossbell that hit so much harder because of the attachment you have to the City from the first game as well as how incredibly well Trails does it's npc characters, meaning gut punches still hit pretty hard even when it's npc characters taking the brunt of the damage. There's so many powerful and incredible moments throughout the game that make it almost impossible to put down. They also pick an excellent point for an intermission chapter to let you catch your breath and see the party take a well earned break to rest and have some fun before ramping things way up again for its incredible finale.
Azure's finale is this stunning unravelling of a grand conspiracy that has been years in the making and it takes you this near unfathomable journey as the balance of power shifts in Western Zemuria and revelation after revelation is unveiled. Characters we thought that were allies are now dangerous enemies, and powerful foes we had been butting heads against make for the unlikeliest of allies. Answers surrounding KeA and exactly what happened to Guy Bannings are finally given and there's even some stunning weaponry on display that raises the stakes even higher. And while all this is happening in Crossbell, we're given teasers of what's going down in Erebonia to help whet your appetite for the Cold Steel games. The final dungeon itself is this incredibly large and beautiful labrinth, giving characters like Rixia, Wazy, and Randy some closure to things they have been through and of course the game carries on one of the main themes of the Crossbell arc, found family. There's just so many high points in this game that it helps make it a lot easier to move past the one blemish I had near the beginning of it. The ending does set things up for a difficult future for Crossbell and in turn leaves you wanting to find out what happens next. The door is left open for a return to this wonderful cast and setting with their fate so deeply intertwined with Erebonia.
I played this one on Switch and while for the most part it runs fine, there are somewhat annoying moments where the framerate dips, particularly around areas where the Plemora grass effects are in play. It's mostly like the frame rate dropping for a few seconds as it tries to adapt to a new area and stabilise itself. Not the worst thing in the world but worth mentioning as it is noticeable.
Trails to Azure is a fantastic boiling point of threads that have been woven throughout Crossbell culminating in a spectacular finale and a consistently intriguing and exciting story that few rpgs can maintain throughout 50-60 hours of game time. It knows exactly when to take the foot off the gas for a bit and exactly when to ramp things up again. For those that have played all the previous games, there's plenty of exciting appearances from characters past while those only familiar with Zero still get a lot of mind-blowing revelations that will completely reframe that game in a whole new light for you. It's another excellent Trails game and for me, it's right up there as one of the best in the series.