When we published our review of *Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter*, we specifically asked someone new to the series to give their opinion. Their review showed that Falcom successfully created a remake that’s welcoming to newcomers. But how does this remake hold up for longtime fans? Does it stay true to the original while also offering something fresh? We wanted to know if it’s a respectful update, what changes were made, and if it establishes its own unique identity. And, perhaps most importantly, is it good enough to finally ease our impatience for the next game in the series?
It’s hard to imagine any remake fully capturing the magic of the original, but this first chapter comes remarkably close. I was eager to return to Liberl and experience Estelle and Joshua’s initial journey, but I also worried about how much Falcom would update the classic *Trails in the Sky*. I hoped they’d find a good balance – modernizing the game and adding new content while still preserving what made the original so special. My biggest concern was that they might overdo it, turning a quick, personal adventure into something overly complicated and different.
It turns out those concerns were unnecessary. This remake of the first Trails game, 1st Chapter, beautifully recreates the world of Liberl in full 3D, updates the combat to feel more modern, and adds complete voice acting. Despite all these improvements, it still retains the heart and soul of the original Trails in the Sky. Every change feels intentional, and the developers clearly put as much effort into preserving what made the game special as they did into updating it.
The combat system shares similarities with later Trails games like *Trails through Daybreak* and *Trails of Cold Steel*, but it avoids becoming unnecessarily complex. The developers made changes – like how turn bonuses and the stagger meter work, and by adding new arts, follow-up attacks, and support actions – in a way that feels well-considered and balanced. While *Trails in the Sky*’s combat wasn’t groundbreaking, it was intentionally simple, and the game was built around that. *1st Chapter* recognizes and respects those original limitations.
Unlike later games in the series, exploiting enemy weaknesses is crucial here – defeating some foes causes explosions, so careful positioning is key. The limited number of actions you have per turn, even with the remake’s new features, makes every move feel important, particularly when you don’t have a full team of four characters.
The final battle system feels new and improved. Rather than simply updating the original *Trails in the Sky* to match later games, the developers carefully considered what made the first game special and built upon that foundation. This approach worked wonderfully, creating a good balance between easy-to-understand mechanics and opportunities for player strategy – something that later games haven’t quite captured as well. I’m excited to see how the team might expand on this in future remakes.
Let’s discuss the story and any alterations made to it. I was particularly worried about this, as I disliked how Falcom later added Towa and Juna to the Crossbell games. It felt like a shortcut and didn’t quite respect the original versions. I feared significant changes, but thankfully, the team showed the same careful approach here as they did with the combat system.
The core story of Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is still the same, though some new optional quests have been added. These don’t affect the game’s overall pace and instead add more depth to the characters you already know, without introducing anything from later games in the series. Whether you’re a first-time player or a returning fan, these quests feel natural and as if they could have been part of the original game.
The game includes subtle references to characters and events from later titles, cleverly hidden within certain scenes. You won’t notice them unless you’re familiar with the rest of the series, and they don’t distract from the main story of Liberl. It’s a nice touch, and I really appreciate how restrained the developers were with these cameos – they add depth without overshadowing the current game.
The biggest issue with this remake right now is the new translation. While the translation itself isn’t *bad* – there are a few minor imperfections – it’s inconsistent with how terms were previously used in the series. This could be confusing for players who are familiar with the older games and want to continue playing. Some character names have already been corrected, and hopefully the developers will address inconsistencies in the voice acting as well over the next few weeks.
Playing the remake of 1st Chapter brought back all the joy I felt with Trails in the Sky, and it reignited my excitement for the series’ overall story. I’ve always appreciated how Falcom balances respecting its players with staying true to its own creative vision, and this remake perfectly captures what made the original so special. I was already looking forward to what’s next for the series, but now I’m even more confident that the future of Trails is in capable hands.
A review copy was provided to RPG Site for the purposes of this piece.
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2025-09-20 03:26