Having spent so long in the game industry, there are very few things that can surprise me. On the rare occasion that I am surprised, however, it often leads to unexpected joys. And there is a certain game developer I can always count on to deliver a gaming-based surprise, none other Nihon Falcom. The developer has been cranking out innovative RPGs since the 80s and is still at the top of its game. The RPG we’re looking at today is no exception. In fact, the story accompanying this game’s journey to release is a feat in and of itself. Let’s dive in!

                The Legend of Heroes franchise has roots going back to the 80s with titles such as The Legend of Heroes: Dragonslayer. Modern RPG fans are likely familiar with more contemporary titles such as The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky trilogy, which was the launching point of a sub franchise within the larger Legend of Heroes series. These games proved immensely successful within Falcom’s market and exceeded all expectations. With a rebranded intellectual property in its pocket, Falcom sought to extend the franchise. In 2010, Falcom released The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki, or as English speakers know it, Trails from Zero.

                Despite releasing in Japan in 2010, Trails from Zero wasn’t released anywhere else in the world for more than a decade. Meanwhile, game series such as Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel, which preceded and followed the Trails from Zero story, saw international releases through various publishers. For the longest time, fans of the series wishing to know the full story had to rely on fan translations to experience Trails from Zero and its sequel, Trails to Azure.

 That is where the fan community Geofront comes into play. The Geofront was comprised of Falcom fans determined to bring this lost chapter to English speakers. They spent years translating the text into English. Their efforts didn’t stop there; they also crafted various technical quality-of-life upgrades for the older ports of the game’s Japanese edition. Their work was so monumental that an official publisher, NIS (Nippon Ichi Software) of America, brought them aboard the translation team and used their translation as the basis for the official English version. It is no exaggeration that Zero may have never seen a western release if not for Geofront’s efforts. It may have taken 12 years, but Trails from Zero is finally here!

                Zero is set on the fictional continent of Zemuria, a land that is undergoing a technological revolution. The game’s events focus particularly on the land called Crossbell. The independent state has long been caught in the political and economic grip of the continent superpowers: Erebonia and Calvard. Organized crime and corruption run deep in Crossbell city; the townspeople would rather lean on the aid of mercenaries than the corrupt Crossbell Police Department. It is with this in mind that the police force establishes the Special Support Section, an unorthodox unit of the police meant to restore the public image of the police force. At its heart is young detective Lloyd Bannings, who seeks to not only solve the murder of his brother, but also to overcome the barriers of corruption that lie within Crossbell’s heart. However, it will take everything the SSS has to accomplish this mission in the so-called city of sin…

                Since its inception, the Trails series has crafted detailed worlds and nuanced storylines. Trails from Zero is no exception. In fact, the main sales pitch of the series is that despite not being anything special graphically, the world and its denizens are incredibly well-defined and developed. The people of Zero have stories to tell. In fact, these people have something new to say after each plot development. Such detailed world building makes the setting feel organic and truly alive despite being a work of fiction. Trails from Zero is a text-heavy adventure that takes its time to develop. People who enjoy that kind of slow burn with their RPGs will very much appreciate Zero. That being said, there are still enough adrenaline-injected twists and turns to keep less patient gamers interested.

                While the story is a significant part of the experience with the Legend of Heroes series, it is still a video game at its core. The battle system is turn-based, and you’ll defeat enemies to grow stronger, as is standard with RPGs. The main story will have Lloyd and company partake in major investigations each chapter, with a plethora of side quests thrown in as optional content to develop the characters and the world. Additionally, there are minigames such as fishing, blackjack, and cooking in which players can partake, which adds a nice variety of game activities.

The majority of the game will be spent with the SSS, but on occasion the team will team up with collaborators in the fight to protect Crossbell…

                Trails from Zero was originally designed for the PSP (PlayStation Portable). As such, the game’s presentation is consistent with what the platform was capable of at that point. The character sprites may be a bit on the simple side, but they are charming, and the accompanying background are rather detailed. I’m not expecting high art graphically with Falcom, but the sprites have aged well for the most part.

One of the game’s high points is its excellent score. Falcom’s sound team had a peak year in 2010 with a good amount of talent on hand at the time. While a couple of the tracks in the game are merely atmospheric, the vast majority are really special and a delight to the ears. I would also wholeheartedly recommend the super arranged tracks.

                Trails from Zero is an exceptional game within the franchise and a great game period. It may have taken a long time to get here, but now a whole new world of gamers can experience the beginning of the Crossbell duology. If you do plan to get into the series, I would recommend beginning with the first arc, The Trails in the Sky trilogy. That being said, Zero is very welcoming to series veterans and first-time players alike. Trails from Zero is available for PC, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch. I have partnered with Amazon to bring you a special purchase link for the game if you haven’t picked it up already. This link helps support my reviews at no additional cost to you. Trails from Zero is a must-play for any fan of RPGs. It has my full and unconditional recommendation!