The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC

A great JRPG. The story is very well written and the characters are incredibly well developed. Game works with no technical issues or glitches. A great sequel to the original Trails in the Sky! For those interested and new to the series though make sure to start with the first game! The second spoils the first.

Let me start out by saying that you shouldn't even consider playing this game if you haven't played the first Trails in the Sky game. It's a direct sequel that starts the morning after the first game ends and it and its prequel were originally meant to be one game before they were split because the resulting game would have been too large. Most of the pros and cons of the first game also apply to this one, so whether you'll enjoy this one really depends on how you experienced that game. All characters, not just the playable ones and major NPCs, but also all the random townsfolk from the first game return in the sequel and have their stories continue. It's still possible to spend hours walking around, talking to townsfolk and putting together their mini-storylines. If you thought the first game was an overly verbose and poorly paced word salad that took forever to pick up steam, chances are the sequel won't be your cup of tea either. If you thought the first game was an enjoyable and heartfelt experience with great world-building and characterisation, you'll love the sequel even more. - Mix of both new locations to explore and old locations to catch up with. - Better soundtrack than the first game. - Battle pace picks up sooner than the first game since characters start with all the moves they had at the end of the prequel, giving you more options right off the bat. - More challenging than the prequel. Difficulty arc picks up where it left off. - Twice as large as the first game. About 60 to 70 hours of JRPG experience. - With the general world-building out of the way, this game spends much more time on characterisation and exploring the bonds between protagonist Estelle and her companions. If you're looking for an enjoyable and deep JRPG in the spirit of Chrono Trigger, Lunar or Grandia, try the first Trails in the Sky. If you enjoyed that game, this sequel is a must-play.

This is my first and only review on GOG so far, but I really felt like I owed it to this underrated gem. I'll start by admitting that the first episode was really slow-paced and might not have been to everyone's taste (I liked it anyway). I also have to mention the fact that Second Chapter lazily re-uses all the assets from the first episode: 90% of the environments, characters, music tracks, etc were recycled from FC, which is really disappointing. Trails in the Sky is as traditional and "by the book" as JRPGs can get, but what's on offer here is a real treat for all those who still long for the golden days when we could enjoy such games as Suikoden, the first Grandia or Skies of Arcadia. Games with simple but well-paced and interesting stories, immersive worlds, and a bunch of endearing characters you really cared for. Addictive games where you couldn't stop playing until you reached the final conclusion. These are exactly some of the strengths you'll find in the second chapter of Trails in the Sky. For those of you who liked the first chapter, you simply HAVE to buy this game. Basically, it's the same thing, but so much better on almost every aspect, and it brings the duology to an incredibly satisfying conclusion. The pacing is great, the story is full of unforgettable moments and features some of the most likeable characters I've seen in a video game for a long while. The battle system is still highly enjoyable, and some boss fights are truly epic thanks to the well-balanced difficulty (provided you don't skip the optional content). The attention to detail when it comes to NPC-writing or world-building is utterly staggering. Players who like to spend time talking to NPCs, exploring every nook and cranny, and looking for sidequests will be greatly rewarded for their dedication. Even the quality of the soundtrack has improved dramatically since the first chapter, and many of the new tunes contribute a lot to the overall quality of the game. As one other reviewer said, I felt a real sense of loss after compelting it. It's just that good. PS: Kudos to the localisation team for their amazing work.

Begone, foul cliffhanger! If you like JRPGS and good stories, look no further. Trails In The Sky will be a great experience. I love the pace, the characters and of course the story. These games can't be called anything but charming. Thanks to XSEED for the localization, I know it wasn't easy to put this together, but boy is it worth it! You MUST play First Chapter before this one in order to understand everything.