The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure, known as Ao no Kiseki[lower-alpha 2] in Japan, is a 2011 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. Trails to Azure continues the story of The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero (2010), completing the "Crossbell arc", named after the location in which they take place.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
Japanese PSP cover art
Developer(s)Nihon Falcom[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
Director(s)Toshihiro Kondo
Producer(s)Masayuki Kato
Programmer(s)
  • Toru Endo
  • Aichiro Miyata
  • Katsuya Horimoto
Artist(s)Katsumi Enami
Writer(s)Hisayoshi Takeiri
Composer(s)
  • Hayato Sonoda
  • Takahiro Unisuga
  • Saki Momiyama
  • Masanori Osaki
Series
Platform(s)
Release
September 29, 2011
  • PlayStation Portable
    • JP: September 29, 2011
  • Microsoft Windows
    • CHN: March 28, 2013
    • WW: 2023
  • PlayStation Vita
    • JP: June 12, 2014
  • PlayStation 4
    • JP: May 28, 2020
    • WW: 2023
  • Nintendo Switch
    • AS: April 22, 2021
    • WW: 2023
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Trails to Azure first released in Japan for the PlayStation Portable in 2011, with no release outside of Asia until an English release was announced a decade later. Based on a fan translation by the localization group Geofront, it is scheduled to be released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in 2023.

Plot

Trails to Azure is set some months after the ending of Trails from Zero. The Special Support Section (SSS) are joined by new recruits – the Army sergeant major Noel Seeker and the former gang leader Wazy Hemisphere.

Again, unscrupulous figures seek to use the powers of KeA, the SSS's young ward, for their own ends. They are led by the mayor, Dieter Crois, who declares Crossbell's independence and seeks to rule the continent through the powers of KeA. The SSS have to brave civil unrest and occult intrusions to foil his plans. Although Crois is defeated and arrested, his actions lead to Crossbell's annexation by the Erebonian Empire. This leads into the "Divertissement" chapter of Trails of Cold Steel II and the events of the latter half of the Trails of Cold Steel series.

Release

Ao no Kiseki was released in Japan for the PlayStation Portable on September 29, 2011.[1] It was later ported to Microsoft Windows for release in China on March 28, 2013.[2] It was also released for the PlayStation Vita in Japan on June 12, 2014, as Ao no Kiseki: Evolution. This version features improved visuals and more voice acting.[3][4] The Evolution version received a remaster for the PlayStation 4, releasing in Japan under the title Ao no Kiseki Kai on May 28, 2020.[5] It was released by Clouded Leopard Entertainment for the Nintendo Switch in Asia on April 22, 2021.[6]

Due to a variety of reasons, Trails to Azure and its prequel, Trails from Zero, were not localized in English by the time of the Japanese release of Trails of Cold Steel. Falcom subsequently approached Xseed Games, who had previously localized Trails in the Sky, and requested that a localization of Trails of Cold Steel be prioritized instead, resulting in Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure being skipped.[7] A fan translation in English was released in 2018,[8] with another one by a team known as the "Geofront" released in May 2021. In June 2021, it was announced that the Geofront translation would serve as the basis for the official English release scheduled for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows in 2023.[9]

Reception

Trails to Azure was listed as one of the best upcoming games of 2011 at that year's Tokyo Game Show.[10] Along with Trails from Zero, Comic Book Resources highlighted the game's "persistent overarching storyline, immersive and detailed settings, masterful character development [and] unique battle system". They noted that despite the lack of an official localization at the time, the plot and characters were integral to understanding later games in the series.[1]

Notes
  1. Nintendo Switch version in Asia ported by Clouded Leopard Entertainment
  2. Japanese: 英雄伝説碧の軌跡, Hepburn: Eiyuu Densetsu: Ao no Kiseki

References
  1. Rawda, Odel (6 May 2020). "Why Falcom's Trails from Zero & Trails to Azure Deserve a Western Release". CBR. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. "Chinese Ao no Kiseki PC Release Dated for 3/28". 12 November 2012.
  3. "Legend of Heroes Ao no Kiseki Evolution's Teaser Video Posted".
  4. "A Peek At The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Blue Evolution's Anime Opening". 27 March 2014.
  5. Romano, Sal (31 January 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki for PS4 launch April 23 and May 28 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  6. Romano, Sal (29 October 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki coming to Switch on February 18, 2021 and April 22 in Asia". Gematsu. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  7. Avery, Brittany (June 5, 2015). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - Localization Blog #1". XSEED Games Official Website. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  8. Arshad Khan, Danial (7 July 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure (Ao no Kiseki) fan translation patch released". GearNuke. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  9. "The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero coming west in fall 2022 for PS4, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  10. Toto, Serkan. "Japan Game Awards 2011 At The Tokyo Game Show: Here Are The 10 Winners". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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