REVIEW – As one of Falcom’s most celebrated sagas nears its grand conclusion, the studio circles back to where it all began. By remaking the very first chapter, the developers aren’t just rewarding long-time fans—they’re opening the gates for newcomers to step into one of the most sprawling JRPG epics ever made. With Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, Falcom pulls out all the stops: this isn’t just a remake, it’s an open door to an entire universe—if you’ve ever thought about diving in, now’s the time.

Back in 2004, Falcom released The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky – First Chapter, a game that quickly became a cornerstone of modern Japanese role-playing. More than twenty years later, the series boasts twelve entries and is steadily marching toward its finale, with the thirteenth installment, The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon, scheduled for January 2026.

Interest in the franchise has grown steadily in recent years, but getting into it can be intimidating: each entry runs well over fifty hours, they all connect directly to one another, the visuals sometimes look dated, and for a long time, most of them were only available in English. It’s easy to see why many players hesitated. Falcom’s solution was brilliant—remake the very first game as the perfect entry point. And make no mistake: this isn’t a half-hearted facelift. The studio went all-in.

A Story That Spills Over—Sometimes Too Much

What sets Trails apart is how each game feeds directly into the next, creating one massive, interconnected narrative across the same universe. That narrative is divided into arcs that each explore different regions of Zemuria. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, as its name suggests, is the remake of the very first entry in the very first arc, set in the Kingdom of Liberl—a small nation in the southwest still recovering from a bruising war with the neighboring Erebonian Empire.

Here we follow Estelle Bright, daughter of famed war hero Cassius Bright. Her goal is to join the Bracer Guild, an independent organization dedicated to maintaining peace and protecting civilians. Alongside her adopted brother Joshua, Estelle earns her certification—only for their world to be turned upside down when their father disappears after an airship accident that may have Erebonian fingerprints all over it. The two set out across Liberl in search of him, stumbling into a conspiracy that threatens the entire kingdom.

As always with Trails, the heart lies in its story and characters, and this remake is no exception. You get a cast of endearing protagonists to grow alongside as you explore Liberl, and the writing remains stellar. Even the most incidental NPCs are fleshed out with distinct personalities and snippets of lore that gradually enrich your understanding of Zemuria. One of the biggest surprises is the localization: for the first time, the game is fully available in French, a huge deal given the series’ shaky history with translations—Trails of Cold Steel III in particular left plenty to be desired. Between its role as a complete remake and its accessible translation, this 1st Chapter truly is the most inviting entry point to the saga yet.

And it’s a good thing the script holds up, because like every Trails game, this one is wordy—sometimes to a fault. The world-building is exhaustive, and as the first episode of a new arc, it spends a lot of time laying groundwork before the real stakes are revealed. That slower pacing won’t be for everyone. But unlike something like Persona, Trails never feels like it’s talking just to fill space—every line adds something, even if there are a lot of them. The remake also benefits from stronger presentation, with more voice acting than before, though some cutscenes are still oddly only partially voiced.

A Remake That Finally Looks the Part

If Trails has always had one glaring weakness, it’s graphics. For years, the franchise lagged behind the industry by a generation or two. That’s why Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is such a surprise: Falcom has delivered an anime-inspired visual style that finally feels worthy of the series. Character models, textures, lighting, and expressive anime-style faces are all polished and vibrant. Compared to older entries, it’s a massive leap forward—but it’s the combat animations that truly steal the show. Skills and spells are brought to life with sequences so stylish they’d fit right into Honkai: Star Rail. Borrowing cues from modern anime, Falcom peppers in impact frames and flashy effects that give every attack a burst of energy, and even adds variations to certain moves just to keep things fresh.

Equally impressive is how the original 2D, top-down world has been reimagined in 3D with a free camera. It’s a bit like revisiting familiar ground in Final Fantasy VII Remake—the layout is the same, but everything feels new again. Liberl’s highways connect towns with lush scenery and rolling terrain, though after a while the landscapes start to blend together. Enemies roaming the map help breathe life into these areas, even if there isn’t much to do besides fight.

Visually, this remake is a triumph. The soundtrack, however, doesn’t quite measure up. Aside from a fantastic, high-energy battle theme, the rest of the music feels flat, with simplistic melodies and instrumentation that comes off cheap. You can switch between standard, rearranged, and original modes, but none elevate the score to series-defining status.

One of the Best JRPG Combat Systems Around

Visuals and story aside, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter truly shines in gameplay—specifically its combat. Alongside Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, it’s one of the best battle systems in the genre. Falcom blends real-time action with turn-based tactics in a way that feels seamless. And no, this isn’t inspired by Metaphor: ReFantazio—it’s actually the other way around, with Atlus borrowing from Trails Through Daybreak. On the field, you can smack enemies to stun them and start fights with an advantage, then shift into classic turn-based encounters. The key is that both halves work well on their own while complementing each other perfectly.

The real-time side is straightforward but satisfying: combos, perfectly timed dodges, and a charged special that stuns enemies. The fluid animations make every action pop—no surprise, given Falcom’s pedigree with the fast-paced Ys series. You can even speed up gameplay if you’re in a hurry. Still, real-time battles are just the appetizer. The main course is the turn-based system, where Trails flexes its full depth: magic spells, unique skills, ultimates, chain attacks, elemental weaknesses, and stun mechanics all combine into fights that are fast against trash mobs but demand serious strategy against bosses. Those tougher battles serve as skill checks, and overcoming them feels incredibly rewarding. The result is a loop that keeps you hungry for more, making even simple dungeon crawls engaging.

Falcom’s Winning Move

Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter proves Falcom knows exactly how to handle its legacy. The remake works beautifully as an entry point for newcomers while offering enough polish and ambition to satisfy veterans. With stellar combat, slick visuals, and a localization that finally does the series justice, Estelle and Joshua’s first adventure feels more captivating than ever. Yes, the story takes its time to get going, and the dialogue can be overindulgent, but those are small prices to pay for an experience this rich. Now all eyes are on the next remake—widely considered one of the saga’s best entries, and already in the works.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-

Developer: Falcom
Publisher: Falcom
Genre: JRPG
Release Date: September 4, 2025