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A New Adventure With Familier Heroes

Ever since the start of the Calvard arc, The Legend of Heroes series has taken a bold step to reinvent its gameplay while also expanding the story into a new world. The result has been the series having a new life while also preserving its defining elements. Players will now return for a new story along with the return of their favorite heroes.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon is the 13th entry in the JRPG series, taking players on another adventure as its heroes try to stop an apocalyptic threat. The game sees the return of not only Van Arkride, but also Rean Schwarzer and Kevin Graham. It improves on its predecessor in several meaningful ways while preserving the core elements that define the series, resulting in another unforgettable journey.

From Daybreak to Horizon

When discussing the Trails series, the question of needing to play the previous games often arises in JRPG focused communities. In the case of Trails Beyond the Horizon, the answer is yes. It is highly recommended to have played the previous entries as this is a direct sequel to Trails Through Daybreak II. At the same time, you will need to have played the Trails of Cold Steel games since some of the story elements do carry over. Also, having played and Trails into Reverie does help, as the characters in that game do return.

A Prophesied End

As the people of Zemuria witness humanity’s first venture into space through Project Startaker, a prophecy foretelling the world’s end draws near. A series of disturbances during this historic event draws the attention of Van Arkride, Rean Schwarzer, and Kevin Graham. Though each arrives under different circumstances, the growing threat unites them as they investigate the mystery behind the chaos. They must ensure the success of Project Startaker, uncover the truth behind the incidents, and prevent an apocalypse that could consume the world.

The Legend of Heroes has always been rich in story, world-building, and character, and Trails Beyond the Horizon continues that tradition while returning to a structure that has worked before. Similar to Trails into Reverie, it follows three established series characters and gradually brings their paths together into one exciting adventure. For longtime fans, seeing familiar faces share the spotlight in a high-stakes journey is exactly what they want, and this entry delivers that experience with confidence. On a side note; it’s great to have Rean Schwarzer back.

Ties That Bind Us

Trails Beyond the Horizon gameplay remains the same as Trails Through Daybreak II with some minor polish. Players can choose between classic turn-based combat or real-time combat. Turn-based combat lets players strategize with physical and magic attacks, enhanced by gear, stats, and proximity to teammates for boosts. Real-time combat allows for hack-and-slash action, followed by a special attack to finish opponents. However, boss fights and major battles can only be fought using the turn-based system.

As players battle foes and progress through the story, they earn experience points that allow them to level up and grow their stats. Each character has unique gear that can be enhanced for better performance. Quartz remains central to combat mechanics, allowing players to unleash powerful attacks through Utilize Arts and Brave Orders. The LGC Alignment system is back, allowing players to develop a reputation based on their actions. Jobs taken and choices made affect Law, Gray, or Chaos levels, which, in turn, impact relationships with different factions throughout the game.

Grim Garten has replaced Märchen Garten as the virtual world that allows players to boost their characters. This mode once again allows players to strengthen their characters and party members by battling through a series of stages. How it has changed is that it replaces the many levels with a grid that either tosses players into combat or rewards them with prizes. Completing required tasks rewards experience and shards that could be analyzed to unlock new gear and quartz.

Off the Chain

Trails Beyond the Horizon preserves every aspect that has made the Calvard arc an unforgettable experience. The world remains vibrant and detailed, letting fans get lost not only in the adventure but also in the vibrant society populated by its heroes. The gameplay preserves the core elements while also enhancing the real-time combat aspect. This allows for a combat system that is more accessible and better streamlined while still offering players a choice.

Don’t dismiss it as the same game with a new story. Many issues from Trails Through Daybreak II have been addressed, and the overall experience feels far more polished. It tightens the combat and progression systems, while the UI has been overhauled to look cleaner and remain easy to navigate. At the same time, Grim Garten offers an alternative way to build up your characters at any point in the game. Unlike Märchen Garten, Grim Garten is more dynamic and ever-evolving, giving players alternative paths to clearing it. Still, it retains many of its defining aspects, ensuring players enjoy the overall experience.

Finally, it feels great to play as some of the series’ iconic characters once again. Van Arkride has already proven himself as a strong lead, but it’s especially satisfying to step back into the role of Rean Schwarzer. Fans of the Liberl arc will be happy to once again step into the role of Kevin Graham. This is a clear reminder of a series rich in characters, lore, and world-building, while still leaving room for new heroes to step up when called.

Spell of Doom

Trails Beyond the Horizon is in a unique position: it’s one of the few games I’ve genuinely enjoyed while also having one of the worst openings. The reason is simple: its first few hours are packed with an overly redundant tutorial and introduction. It’s an introduction to the gameplay mechanics and the world, the same gameplay mechanics and world from Trails Through Daybreak II. making the early pacing feel sluggish. This also isn’t a short tutorial or reintroduction, but one prologue and most of Act 1. Some might argue that this kind of introduction is necessary for new players, but you shouldn’t be starting with this entry if you haven’t played the last two games. However, a better solution would be to have the tutorial confined to the prologue, with the option to skip it entirely.

This doesn’t make the experience unenjoyable, but fans will need to be patient and slog through it as best they can.

Beyond the Horizon

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon builds upon the story of its predecessor while also bringing together some of the series’ beloved heroes. Players not only return to the Calvard Republic, but also journey beyond its borders with not only Van Arkride but also Rean Schwarzer and Kevin Graham. The gameplay is the same but with some polish and an improved UI menu that helps streamline everything. Despite its shortcomings, this is still another solid entry in the series.

Disclaimer: The publisher through a PR representative provided the game used for this review.

This review is the critique and thoughts of one writer. If you want to see how other critics felt then check it out on OpenCritic.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (PC)

9

9.0/10

Pros

• A solid story that also brings back series favorites like Rean Schwarzer and Kevin Graham.
• Preserves the same great gameplay but with some polish and new features.
• Improvements to the UI in the menu help streamline player actions and planning.
• Grim Garten is an improvement over Märchen Garten.

Cons

• Redundant tutorial that takes too long to introduce players to a gameplay and world that is the same from Trails Through Daybreak II.