Game: Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
Genre: Adventure, RPG, Action
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam (Windows) and PlayStation)
Developer|Publisher: Nihon Falcom | GungHo America
Age Rating: EU 12+ | US Teen
Price: US $59.99 | UK £53.99 | EU € 59,99
Release Date: September 19th, 2025
Review code provided with many thanks to acttil Media Blast.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Humble Beginnings Remade
Every legendary RPG series starts somewhere, and for Trails, that place was the humble PSP. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky was originally the fourth Legend of Heroes title, but really, it’s best to think of it as the first in the Trails saga. Now, over twenty years later, the beloved classic returns completely remade from the ground up as Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter.
This remake doesn’t just modernise the visuals, it makes the adventure more accessible for newcomers while giving returning fans a lovingly updated version of the story that started it all. Whether you’re revisiting Liberl or stepping into it for the first time, this one’s an easy recommendation for RPG fans.
The Sister-Brother Thing
The story follows Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua as they begin their journey as apprentices in the Bracer Guild, an organisation devoted to maintaining peace across the Liberl Kingdom. It’s all quite simple at first: small-town quests, local errands, and a bit of monster hunting. But before long, things escalate into a grand adventure involving royal intrigue, mysterious disappearances, and a whole lot of heroics.
What really sells the story, though, is the relationship between Estelle and Joshua. Estelle is impulsive, fiery, and more than happy to swing her staff first and ask questions later. Joshua, meanwhile, is calm, thoughtful, and somewhat secretive. Their clashing personalities and constant banter make them a joy to follow. Estelle’s terrible cooking also provides some welcome comic relief.
Voice acting is solid across the board, too. Estelle occasionally delivers a line or two that edges into cringe territory, but it’s charmingly so, like something straight out of a 2000s anime, and it works for the tone.
If there’s one slight drawback, it’s that the pacing early on can feel a little slow. The game takes its time introducing its world and cast, sometimes a little too much. But if you’re patient, the payoff is worth it, and the remake thankfully lets you skip or pause cutscenes if you’d rather get straight to the action.
Getting to Work
Missions are easy to follow thanks to a clean, modern map system with clear red markers showing your next objective. Even when areas aren’t fully unlocked, the map gives you a good sense of direction. And, in true RPG fashion, there’s no shortage of side quests, from hunting monsters to helping the townsfolk with everyday problems.
Exploration feels natural and rewarding, with numerous nooks to explore for treasure and lore. It’s the kind of world that rewards curiosity.
Looking the Part
Visually, the jump from pixel art to full 3D anime style is breathtaking. The remake’s towns and dungeons are packed with detail, bustling streets, glowing signs, and birds fluttering off rooftops; it all feels alive. Veterans of the original will get a kick out of seeing familiar locations lovingly recreated in modern form.
A nice nostalgic touch: the loading screens feature the pixel sprites from the PSP original, a cute nod that ties old and new together.
If I had to nitpick, some environments (especially dungeons) can look a bit too clean for places crawling with monsters, and not every barrel is smashable, tragic, I know. But these are small complaints in an otherwise stunning remake.
Performance-wise, the Switch 2 version runs like a dream with fast load times and smooth framerates. Even the original Switch handles it well, a little less slick, but totally playable.
Battle Action or Turn-Based — Why Not Both?
Combat gives you the best of both worlds. You can go for fast-paced action, dodging and attacking in real time, or slow things down for classic turn-based strategy. Switching between the two styles is seamless and adds welcome flexibility, pretty cool for grinding or experimenting with tactics.
The Arts (magic) and Crafts (special abilities) systems return, letting you customise your characters and playstyles. You can cook meals for stat boosts, tweak builds, and upgrade gear. Add in adjustable difficulty levels that can be changed anytime, and it’s clear Falcom’s focused on accessibility without sacrificing depth.
Conclusion: A Brilliant Trail
Trails in the Sky: 1st Chapter is everything a remake should be: faithful, refined, and full of heart. It’s a beautiful introduction to one of RPG’s most respected series, and an easy recommendation whether you’re a diehard fan or a first-timer.
Here’s hoping Falcom continues to bring the rest of the Trails saga up to this modern standard, because if this remake is anything to go by, the sky’s the limit. A demo is also available if you want to try the game first, and saves do transfer over.
Final Verdict: I Like It a Lot
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