Nippon Ichi Software America (NIS America) has officially released the latest entry in Nihon Falcom’s their long running RPG franchise, The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon. This launch marks a significant milestone for the series, celebrating its 20th anniversary by bringing Western audiences completely up to date with the Trails games for the first time. The title is now available across multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG.
The narrative sees the return of Van Arkride and the staff of Arkride Solutions. The stakes have been raised to encompass the future of the entire Zemurian continent. The story begins as the populace anticipates humanity’s inaugural journey into space. However, a sudden invitation from the Marduk company regarding a high tech training exercise sets events in motion. This operation brings Van onto a collision course with other prominent figures, including the Ashen Chevalier Rean Schwarzer and Father Kevin Graham.
While their individual paths may diverge, the characters are united by a central mystery lying at the core of Zemuria. This final chapter promises to intertwine paths from across the continent, addressing the question of what lies beyond the horizon.
On the gameplay front, Trails beyond the Horizon introduces several new mechanics that seek to expand options in both Field and Command Battles. These include Shard Commands, an Awakening system, and the Z.O.C. (Z-Action On Command) ability which stops time. Players can also access the Grim Garten, a dungeon that allows for the creation of custom parties using allies gathered from Calvard and other regions to counter the schemes of Ouroboros.
