Review: Trails From Zero (Reviewed on PS4, also on Switch and PC)

[@jmporkbob]

Finally got over the barrier.

[@JRPGJungle]

Indeed 😁

[@raymondjohnson7169]

"Each quartz you equip" is a crazy string of sounds that I've never heard before... :P

[@JRPGJungle]

I’m pretty sure it was hard to say too 😅

[@djutmose]

This was the first Trails/Kiseki game I've played and I absolutely loved it. I can't wait until Trails to Azure. Only bad thing is the quality of the writing/storytelling is going to make a lot of other series seem lacking by comparison I think...

[@zachrandolph9844]

I am SO happy Zero and Azure are getting ported over. Running through the Geofront translation was such a joy. The OST is my absolute favorite stuff man. Inevitable Struggle and the main battle theme are INCREDBILE

[@Kruxx26]

Great review! Glad to see you are still enjoying the series. Hope you like the rest of this arc. It took almost 12 years, but it's great to see Zero officially out in the West! I played Zero 3 years ago, but still bought my copy to support the release!

[@SuperSupersoda]

The most important thing about Trails from Zero. I played this game in 2021 with the GeoFront patch. I beat this game, played through new game+ and beat the game on Nightmare mode. When this game released with an official localization two months ago, I bought the game, beat it on normal mode, then beat it on hard mode and then beat Nightmare mode. Why? I love Crossbell so much, and I just wanted to go back and visit this timeless place once again.

[@frste26]

I'm a bit sad that the PS4 version has a visual downgrade. I preordered the limited edition of both Zero and Azure for PS4... so I instead leave them unopened and play a digital switch copy of the Crossbell games instead. (I miss my "real" trophies 🥺)

[@cassiusbright4335]

This was the best Trails arc imo, the main cast is like a Family and you really feel their journey from a bracer ripoff become Crossbell best police unit and even recognize as a rival by Crossbell Bracer Branch. Lloyd is really good MC, Randy is one of the best character in the whole franchise. Also the bond system is better than Cold Steel (maybe because the Bond episode only happen once before the final fight). Soundtrack definitely the best, so many good music such as Get Over the Barrier, Inevitable Struggle, Someday Surely, Scene of Street Corner, and ofc C.S.P.D And the best point of this game is the conclusion of Renne story. Oh also IBC Raid, that got to be the one of the most epic and emotional moment on JRPG history, hearing Grace encourage SSS team is just👌

[@Walamonga1313]

Bond system is better because it makes you replay the game more times? That's your reason?

[@cassiusbright4335]

@@Walamonga1313 no, Bond system is better because there is no bonding points, meaning no limit for interaction(there is actually Bond point but it's hidden). Like i said, SSS team feel like family because low number cast and many interaction. Cold Steel get rid of this Bond system, i can't recall any notable interaction because of this Bond system. Most of class 7 feels like casual acquaintances at best. Crossbell was far better in this aspect. Cold steel make every interaction has to go through Rean, so that the game would be "choose your waifu". Meanwhile in Crossbell, every main cast have many interaction, they do anything together as a group. You can see how Randy tease Tio and Noel, or Lloyd make everyone feel cringe with his cheesy line. Don't forget how everyone help each other facing their own problem. How SSS team encourage Tio to face her past, how SSS team accept Elly as a friends not as mayor grandchildren and many more. Crossbell games are more Sky based in terms of interactions, but make it better.

[@ataridc]

true true

[@DavJoestar]

I really loved Trails from Zero, in general the Trails saga is incredible, I can't wait for the release of Trails to Azure, to be able to continue with Cold steel 😅

[@neilarnold5506]

The Trails series is an incredible one. I have not yet had the privilege of playing them myself, but a friend is playing through the entire series on Twitch, and I'm loving every moment of what I've gotten the chance to catch. The games have everything, Visually Stunning, Amazing Story, Beautiful Combat, just *chef's kiss*. This was such a great review (as always), and looking forward to what you have in store for us next. Thank you for all the outstanding content and see you for the next one. Cheers

[@RaifSeverence]

The whole "playing through a book" impression is a rather apt one since Falcom themselves have promoted the Kiseki (Trails) series as Story RPGs. (even Nayuta no Kiseki was called a "story action RPG")

[@coconutologist]

Thank you for the video! I look forward to picking this up for my backlog!

[@DavidRBrown7]

I have complete a playthrough of this and am currently trying to get through a nightmare playthrough as well. I enjoyed it as much as the Trails of Cold Steel games. However, it was interesting to see the progress made from this one in the later games and the advancement of the social side which is not really present in this one. I am looking forward to Azure next year and also the remaster of the spin off The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails which is coming out next year as well.

[@RGBArchive]

Great review! I've been waiting for this localization for many years, even before I played Cold Steel. Such a good setting.

[@HybridAngelZero]

This is one of the games I'm looking forward to the most when I finally dive into the series

[@Mike55690]

Been wanting to start it, bought it physically and all but i really want to start the Sky series first (finished Trails of Cool 1 through 4) prior to knowing it's one whole big culminating story narrative.. Your reviews always have me hyped up to start, i might just cave 😭 regardless, amazing review Tara 😄

[@themarchinggoblin8294]

I'm in the same boat as you. Finished cold steel 1 and 2 but now I've gone back to the very start. Beat sky 1 and I've got about 20 hours left of 2. Then 3... After that part in steel 2 near the end thought it best to play everything else before continuing cold steel 3 and 4. Best decision

[@FenrisWolfPrinz]

Great review Tara! Absolutely loving Zero so far, looking forward to Azure! I took way too long to finally give the series a go, finally did a few years ago and been hooked ever since, glad to see you enjoying it too!

[@kevingraham4736]

The chat logs of the switch n pc version is nice to. Incase you missed something, or want to go back and reread again.

[@JRPGJungle]

Oh definitely they would be :3 I missed them a little at the start (guess I got lighter hitting the button by the end 😅)

[@IanHsieh]

I recently played all Trails games from the Trails in the Sky all the way to Trails into Reverie (on Steam in Chinese). I'm loving them all.

[@JRPGJungle]

Amazing! I’d love to play the series through like that one day :))

[@IanHsieh]

@@JRPGJungle I played them throughout this year. I also manage to get them cheaper cuz I waited for Steam sales.

[@snailthelostcow63]

I’ll probably wait until near Azure release to play it so I don’t have to wait for the next game Honestly pretty tempted to just play the Japanese or KAI version and look for the English patch but I’ll be patient

[@Bowflex2480]

i havent finished zero yet because i want to wait til azure comes out so i can have both to play at once. i'm on chapter 3 but this is already my game of the year. Falcom agonizes me with its long wait time between entries as it does for a lot of fans , but Damn do they know how to write great stories.

[@wertywerrtyson5529]

I like the game but as happens with most games I play I can’t focus on one game for long enough to finish it. Right now I’m replaying Breath of Fire 3 on PS1 for the first time in over 20 years. At some point I hope I’ll feel like going back to it and finish it since it seems great.

[@456whocares]

Can't wait for Azure, still got 3 others to release.

[@HIIIMM2]

If you like Zero, get ready for Azure. Best game in the series imo

[@JRPGJungle]

I’m so excited! :D

[@redstratus97]

So this game may be a good starting point? Interesting. Thanks!

[@1wayroad935]

I feel pretty bad for Trails of Azure, being released in the same month as Resident Evil 4 Remake

[@dustingonzalez8080]

And also reverie potentially releasing the same time frame as final fantasy 16.

[@joshuasmith3114]

Just finished in friday! Its so good! U gotta play in high speed mode though lol! Trails is hands down the best series of all time

[@advmx3]

I think plotwise and castwise, this game is the best in the whole series, probably because the cast is absurdly small compared to Cold Steel. XD

[@aestroai8012]

I wanted to get back into old school JRPG's but I didn't want to play something I had already like Chono Cross. I bought Trails of Cold Steel 1, and I'm personally bored to tears. Maybe it's because it's the 1st game, or this isn't the best entry to the franchise, but the pacing and predictable plot is murder. I liked the military school drama of the underrated FFVIII, but I personally felt like this one didn't work. I really want play Trails From Zero because from what I've seen the characters and plot looks more interesting.

[@aleph-tav]

Any recommendations for someone/beginner wanting to get into turn based jpgs?

[@SEAdams]

I played it on PC and I'm surprised by how the PS4 version looks. I had heard it was ported by a different team and wasn't the same, but the difference is quite stark. The character sprites look like they were roughly cut out of paper and the backgrounds are blurry. Though if that's the version available to someone, it still has a great story and battle system.

[@fierytigergaming8112]

Plus the lack of a backlog (FR, there were bits of dialogue mentioned which would've been nice to look back over in the later parts of the game to try and understand better.

[@RaifSeverence]

The PS4 verison, essentially WAS ported by a different team. The PS4 version is 1:1 with the japanese Kai version of this game, which was controlled entirely by Falcom. The PC version was made by PH3. (Peter 'Durante' Thoman's studio; if you don't know who Durante is, Long story short, he was the man who modded the original PC version of Dark souls to have 60fps amongst other improvements) As such They have more freedom to improve the game as much as they want. (he details what went into the creation of the PC port (enhanced visuals, tech improvements, etc) in blog posts he has posted on the steam Forum page for the game) The Switch version is, in all likelyhood, done by NIS, using the PC version as it's base. (based this off the Ys8/CS3-4 switch ports, which i heard were made by NIS, not Falcom)

[@GeminiSunrise06]

Great review for a great game 😁 I still don't know if i'm more into friendship events with limited points or forced choice in the story to choose a partener.

[@mtcup]

Wish it would be dubbed soon.

[@jakeriese4862]

Lovely

[@Mystra]

Loving it on PS4 :)

[@BleedForTheWorld]

Still bummed that Trails in the Sky haven't been ported to modern consoles. After the success of the Cold Steel series, you think they would have ported those first. Great review, btw.

[@jmporkbob]

Xseed and Falcom parted ways 5 years ago. They don't work together any more, but Xseed still owns the rights to publish the Sky series in the west. No idea how long their contract was for, but that's why you have things like Sky on PS+ and Cold Steel 1/2 on the Switch in the east, but not in the west. Without a full remake, it simply can't happen for now for legal reasons.

[@alanwattie6093]

@@jmporkbob Xseed until 2024 is what I’ve heard.

[@BleedForTheWorld]

@@jmporkbob inderesding. I had no idea. Thanks for telling me.

[@saulisthetruth1814]

How long did it take you to finish this, ma?

[@th0rtheg0d]

She says 80 hours at the beginning of the video.

[@dustingonzalez8080]

@@th0rtheg0d I just finished chapter 3 and I’m already past the 50 hour mark.

[@Walamonga1313]

Lol what the hell. I've 50ish hours in the game, played it blindly and tried to talk to every important looking npc and do every quest. And I even did a speedrun on Easy to get NG+ dungeon done as well as some extra achievements. How do people take this long?

[@th0rtheg0d]

@@Walamonga1313 everyone plays games at a different pace. There are a lot of reasons someone could have beat the game slower. They could have tried 100%ing the game, maybe they explored more, maybe they backtracked to see if something changed, could have had to walk away from the game to take care of something in real life, and so on.

[@Nextilia]

Nis sycks