atomicpoetTrails in the Sky 1st Chapter, a JRPG, just got released on Steam—and this is a big deal because this game is to PC what Final Fantasy VII was to PlayStation.
missingnoThis comparison really feels strained. FF7 was the PS1's biggest game, and by far. It was a revolution that shook the entire industry.
Trails is a cult classic that's beloved by a niche fanbase, and I'm happy to see this kind of game get a shot at wider recognition here, but its impact was in no way even remotely comparable to FF7.
Okay, but I’m not talking about commercial appeal. I’m talking about artistic achievement.
What Nihon Falcom accomplished with this game is unmatched. Trails in the Sky is, without question, the most expansive and intricate saga in JRPG history.
Because unlike other series that reset with each new title, Falcom committed to one continuous world. Every town, every political faction, every character connects across dozens of games.
And this game was the beginning of it all.
What Nihon Falcom accomplished with this game is unmatched. Trails in the Sky is, without question, the most expansive and intricate saga in JRPG history.
Alright, I don’t think this is true lol… Just an FYI, I’m generally defending you against the person here who apparantly really likes FF7 and really hates Trails games, but… Yeah I don’t think that’s “without question” at all. In fact, I myself am questioning it right now.
Again, what other series is comparable? 12 games, multiple but interlocking arcs, developed over decades.
If there’s one that I don’t know about, tell me.
For all the good things about Trails there’s a lot of flaws as well. There’s a lot of weak plot lines, reused assets (lack of npc variety being one) and there’s quite a few logical leaps happening as the series has progressed. The games are ambitious for sure, but let’s not pretend that hasn’t had its own shortcomings.
For me Trails as a series is very much a case of being better than the sum of its individual parts, and that great, but you’re vastly overselling the importance of this series. I enjoy both Trails and Final Fantasy, but it’s wild to put them on the same field like this. Square Enix has more than 5000 employees. Falcom has about 80, I think. The scale is so wastly different.