The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure - Should you play Trails of Azure first?

Should you start with Trails to Azure as your first The Legends of Heroes game?

Begin with Trails to Azure if you’re playing the game as a standalone

Trails to Azure, game-wise, is an improvement of Trails from Zero. It has a better gameplay experience, mechanics, and tighter pacing of the storyline. You also have more party members and they are permanent.

If you looked for rankings of the best The Legend of Heroes title, Trails to Azure will rank between the top 3-5 overall.

If you don’t want to commit to the series yet but want to experience the game for the first time. Trails to Azure is one the best options for you as a foundational game for the older and newer The Legends of Heroes games.

Don’t begin with Trails to Azure if you’re planning to play whole The Legend of Heroes series

If you want to get started with The Legend of Heroes, we recommend starting with the first game in each story arc. To begin your journey in the franchise, you have two options:

Chronological timeline

Trails to Azure falls into the Crossbell Arc and so it is better to start with Trails from Zero. Also, there are in-game rewards that you will receive when you carry over your Trails from Zero save data to Trails to Azure.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure Save Data Transfer Bonuses

If you really want to start at the beginning of the series and into classic JRPGs, go with Trails in the Sky FC (First Chapter) and finish the Liberl Arc.

If you wish to experience the game’s modern design and graphics, you can begin with Trails of Cold Steel I. However, there are some drawbacks storywise that require you to stop at Trails of Cold Steel II. This will be explained in the Semi-Chronological timeline.

As for Kuro no Kiseki I and Kuro no Kiseki II, these games are not yet localized officially in English. Both games are part of the Calvard Arc and take place midway through the series. It is advisable to start with the first games of the Crossbell, Erebonia, or Liberl Arc games.

Semi-Chronological timeline

If you’re wanna start the game optimally by timeline, start with either the first two of Trails of Cold Steel games or with Crossbell Arc duology (Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure). Both pairs of games reflect the political struggles of their setting and will reference each other. After that, resume parts 3 and 4 of the Trails of Cold Steel.

Afterwards, go back to the Liberl Arc trilogy in order to get familiar with the story of the protagonist characters. They will appear as guest characters in Trails of Cold Steel 4. Then, play the epilogue game, Trails into Reverie, and head into Kuro no Kiseki I and II once it is localized in English.

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