The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Skyhas a much lower Metacritic rating than you’d expect.Trails in the Skyis best known for launching theTrailsarm ofThe Legend of Heroesseries, a multi-game, decades-spanning epic of an RPG. Although it was first released in 2004 as a PC exclusive, and only in Japan, it came to the West some seven years later, as a PSP game. Upon its release in the US, it certainly felt like a hit. Fan reactions were almost universally positive when it came to the characters, setting, and gameplay ofTrails.
But apparently, that wasn’t the case.Trails in the Sky’s critical ratings were (and still are) so low, I couldn’t believe my eyes - looking back on it today, it’s a classic, andhad such a powerful influenceon a continuously successful series. So what really happened here? Why didTrails in the Skyget such a lukewarm reception when it was first released, and how have things changed for the defining game and the series since?
Trails In The Sky Has A 79 On Metacritic
Not Terrible, But Not Great, Either
For the PSP version,The Legend of Heroes:Trails in the Skyhas aMetacriticscore of just 79, aggregated from 22 critic reviews. That’s not absolutely terrible - lots of great games barely breach 80, and 79 still lands on the “Generally Favorable” end of Metacritic’s consensus scale. That said, considering how big the series has gotten since then, 79 seems shockingly low.
The lowest-ratedTrailsgame on Metacritic isTrails Through Daybreak 2, with a 76. Almost every other game in the series is rated 80 or more.
Trails in the Skyisn’t a perfect game by any means, butI suspect the issue has more to do with technical bugsin its release format.Trailswasn’t originally intended to be a PSP game, and it can run pretty slowly on the handheld console - post-battle loading screens are ubiquitous, and frequently get annoying. The PC version is more highly rated, with an 85 on Metacritic, which feels a lot more appropriate for such a defining game.
Besides that, though,Trailsdoes have its obvious inherent flaws. Many reviewers critiqued it for cleaving too closely to classic RPG tropes. Its side characters prioritize quantity over quality, with many of them having relatively shallow and simple story arcs. Its main story, too, moves a little slowly at times, and isn’t as epic or high-stakes as other RPGs - it’s a lot smaller in scale, but as a result, a lot more personal.
This Iconic RPG Deserves More Respect From Reviews
Why Trails In The Sky Is A Classic
It’s entirely possible I’m looking at this through rose-colored glasses. It’s been a while since I played the originalTrails in the Sky, andits sequels, which are fresher in my memory, do go a long way in correcting its flaws (and are much more highly rated as a result). That said,there is a lot to love aboutTrails in the Skyon its own merits.
For me,it’s the tactical battle system. It’s not the deepest in the world, but it’s fun, and it feels interesting and customizable throughout the entire game. By 2011, most RPGs had abandoned similar systems in favor of action combat and turn-based systems disguised as real-time. We’ve come back around on turn-based combat now, but at the time, it felt like a refreshing reversal of a frustrating trend.
Other players really enjoy the story and characters. Again, it’s not always the biggest or deepest plot, butits focus on the development of its two main characters is part of what makes it unique. Their dynamic is consistently entertaining, and the two of them are likable throughout. It’s hard not to get drawn into the story on the strength of its characters alone.
Technical Issues Aside, Trails In The Sky Deserves Better
The Remake May Be Able To Fix That
As much as I expected the originalTrailswould’ve performed better with critics, it doesn’t really matter. The series has more than redeemed itself in the long run, and critical reviews for a 20-year-old game now hailed as a classic don’t really have any long-term impact. That said, I’d love to seeTrails in the Skyredeem its unusually low Metacritic score, and its upcoming remake may give it a chance to do so.
TheTrailsremake will be available on Switch, PC, and PS5.
CalledTrails in the Sky: 1st Chapter, the remake is due for release on September 15 of this year. It has a whole new visual style, updated voice acting, and two gameplay modes: a traditional turn-based version, and a reimagined action combat version. If it recaptures what worked about the originalThe Legend of Heroes: Trailsin the Sky, it could give this classic a chance to redeem itself.
