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The Sky games juxtapose an intimate family story with a sinister political plot that eventually gives way to something with much broader implications for Zemuria and Estelle personally. It's difficult to go into much detail about the plots without entering spoiler territory, but here's a short overview.
#Ao no kiseki pc japanese series
If you’re just joining the series now, consider yourself lucky that you can power through without waiting years in between for the next installment. With the exception of Zero no Kiseki, the first game in each arc also ends with a massive cliffhanger. Typically, around the halfway point, the action picks up noticeably, and players get a partial idea of the larger scenario before that comfortable structure is completely shattered, and everything rises in a dramatic crescendo as you propel to the conclusion. Each game follows a set structure, and the first game in each arc begins slowly - some more than others. The story is part of what makes the games so unique and worthwhile as well, though it might take some getting used to for some players. Though it isn't opposed to throwing in some humor either These things are handled surprisingly well too, with believable outcomes and greater coherence than some other examples of RPGs that deal with more profound themes like Xenogears and Persona. The Trails games aren’t afraid to tackle heavier subjects either, from PTSD and mass murder, to exploitation and the darkest of tragedies.
#Ao no kiseki pc japanese full
It takes good writing and characterization to pull that off in a genre stuffed full of tropes. Yet when Estelle responds to the coldest of cynicism and most brutal callousness with hope for a brighter future and redemption, you believe her, just because that’s who the character is. Normally in Japanese games, you expect lots of positivity and platitudes about kindness and hope. One notable example of deeper characterization involves Estelle Bright, the protagonist of Sky FC and SC and the brash tomboy mentioned earlier. But the character development is handled in such a way that the tropes gradually fade away until you’re left with a believable, dynamic personality. Most characters will, initially, resemble a trope you might have seen elsewhere - the sexy big sister with a passion for drink, the quiet young man with a past, the brash tomboy, and so on. However, they do use it in creative ways and combine various different strands of mechanics and characterization into a high-quality, engaging package. Like the rest of Falcom’s offerings, the Trails games don’t break the RPG mold. It's the sort of depth reserved for lengthy novel series, something you rarely see in video games. Or a new perspective will be introduced that completely changes how you view the plot so far.Īnd despite being nine games strong, the overall plot is only at 80% completion, according to Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo. Terms and people that pop up in the first Sky game will be important later in the series, while a character who makes a minor appearance in the first Trails of Cold Steel is also a major antagonist in Ao no Kiseki and plays an important role in CSIII. The Trails games take place in the same universe over the span of roughly three or four years on the continent of Zemuria, and they’re heavily story based. Then come the four Trails of Cold Steel games that make up the Erebonia arc, two of which remain unreleased outside Japan. The next games are Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki, known as the Crossbell arc and translated loosely as Trails to Zero and Trails to Azure, respectively. There are the three Trails in the Skygames, collectively referred to as the Liberl arc there's Sky FC (first chapter), Sky SC (second chapter), and Sky the 3rd, which doesn't need much explanation. Think of this handy piece as your one-stop intro and FAQ rolled into one. If you love story-based RPGs, though it's worth sorting through it all and diving into. Xseed has released remakes of the first two Trails of Cold Steel games, the first of which - The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, Decisive Edition - launched this week, and NISA will be localizing and publishing the third game in the series this fall.įor newcomers to the franchise, it can seem like an impenetrable mass of names, lore, re-releases, and confusion.
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It started life as a spin-off The Legend of Heroes franchise, which is itself a sub-series of Dragon Slayer, one of the oldest CRPGs in existence, and despite developing a devoted following in Japan, the series remains relatively unknown and one of the most underrated RPG series in the West.