LogFAQs > #901508107

4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Zero*
(aka Zero no Kiseki)
Original Release: 2010 JP, 2017 unofficial English translation
Year Played: 2017
Developer: Falcom
Platform: PC
Favorite New Character: Rixia Mao
Favorite Returning Character: Renne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDH11NVtxek" data-time="&start=22

*This is the unofficial name given by the current translation team on Geofront, instead of "Trails of Zero". The localization is in its editing phase and 60% done as of March. That being said, I played the rough translation that was released midway through last year. It's not a very good translation, but it's playable. For those who are interested, I suggest waiting for Geofront since they should be done soon.

Anyway, despite the shoddy translation leak, this game is still #4 because it's still very much playable and understandable, and very very good. Falcom strikes again, continuing the Trails franchise and starts up a new story arc that is also probably the best one. Crossbell is such an amazing, detailed place, and shifting the focus from Bracers or students to the police department works out really well.

See, unlike the Sky games, Zero (and Ao) takes place in Crossbell state and some of the surrounding regions and towns. The world is pretty small compared to Liberl, but the highlight here is the city itself. Comprised of at least 10 different maps, each section of the city is vastly detailed and has its own personality. There are several factions and many new faces to meet here. This is the epitome of "hub" town, except the majority of the story and action actually takes place here. You'll get to explore almost the entirety of Crossbell state by the end of chapter 1, but you're still less than a third of the way through the game at that point. Most hub towns are just there so you can do some minor story progression and buy new equipment before moving on to the next story location, but Crossbell is different. It also helps that the several background themes that play while exploring the city are extremely good. Take the tune above, for example, which never got old.

Being part of the Crossbell police force (SSS), your story missions are basically cases and side missions are basically police work. Of course, there are still monster elimination missions and the like. Each chapter, there's a major case to solve but like in FC everything is connected, and the finale is absolutely epic. You'll spend much of your time in Crossbell doing rounds and talking to various NPCs (all of which are named and have their own personalities). Their dialogue changes after every story event. I actually had a ton of fun running around town and talking to everyone...it's like I didn't want the game to end. Normally I would hate this sort of thing, but exploring Crossbell is just too much fun. I was invested in the SSS and the game quickly drew me in, especially after chapter 1. There are lots of interesting ideas and characters to meet, and mysteries and revelations are revealed on a regular basis. The city also constantly changes. For example, in chapter 3, which takes place over the course of five days, the Founding Anniversary parade comes to town and you're tasked with doing police work while the city is at its busiest time of year. Balloons and confetti fly around, everyone's going crazy, and tons of new faces appear in town. There's a huge twist and revelation near the end, and the final chapter and final dungeon pay off really well. In fact, the final dungeon was actually a ton of fun to explore, and you'll learn more about the big bad and his motivations along the way, too.