I really can't wait for Reverie now. It will be an adjustment since I have gotten used to the Sky/Crossbell graphics, which I actually like more now to be honest. Maybe that's an unpopular opinion.
It was two(?) years ago for me now, but I remember how cool it was to experience the last missing chapter in the Trails games for the West with Azure. I agree Chapter 2 is awesome in this regard with so many cool returning characters showing up.Finished chapter 1 a while ago. It's mostly about (re-)introducing Crossbell and new features like Pom! Pom! Party, which is great, but a bit easy at this point; the car, which is fitting for a city with an advanced tech in this world; and burst - a mechanic that actual saved my ass once. Monsters here can inflict quite a few status effects.
Regarding foreshadowing. the game makes it even more blatantly obvious that there's something up with KeA. Same for Wazy and his likely connections to the church. And the last questions about the cult and Guenter are not answered yet and have to come up later in the story.
Besides that, the thing that is always so hype for someone like me who has played all other games released in the West, are the references and (re-)appearing characters from earlier and later entries in the series. Seeing Campanella again and the Professor for the first time; Sigmund and the Red Constellation; not to forget Nielsen. Yet, this chapter is just an appetizer:
I'm in the middle of chapter 2, right after the grand introduction of the characters for the trade conference. I can't help myself, I just love it: Mueller and Olivier, who talk about the military academy and mention Duke Cayenne; Kloe and Julia on the Arseille, name-dropping Richard; Juna and her siblings; first appearance of president Rocksmith, who I know from CS4. And last but not least, chancellor Osborne. Ouroboros is also about to cause trouble again. I can't wait to see the chapter's finale and hope Falcom gives us some of them as temporary party members.
Gameplay wise, am I imagining it or are the percentages for everything like enemies, fish, books etc. much higher than one can expect in the middle of chapter 2?
The end of Chapter 2 is so good! They actually added Towa to this version of Azure which was very cool!Finished chapter 2 and the Intermission. Now, that was exciting. And rather violent.
The trade conference had some more Cold Steel references like (CS1 spoiler) Towa and her talking about Thors and seeing how G died. What I found interesting was the characterization of Osborne. He's much more arrogant and openly threatening versus Crossbell than he was in Liberl. Falcom did a great job of building him up as the menace he is to Zemuria.
Regarding the intermission, I admit using a walkthrough not missing anything. Some of the quests and items here are way too easily missable, just wtf Falcom. The last boss was annoying due to one of them resistant to arts damage. Having Tio in the party was not the best decision. That fight took way too long.
And [|Spoiler]the society and Campanella have their first apperance before the party.[/Spoiler] Things are starting to get real serious.
9 days left.
Excited for the big update here! Yeah end of Chapter 3 into Chapter 4 is super rad. Probably the best part of the game whenNext update: Reached the second day of chapter 4. Holy shit, was the end of chapter 3 and early chapter 4 a wild ride!
It was clear that Wald was up to something, but taking Gnosis and becoming a demon just to get revenge on Wazy is a whole 'nother level. Even allying with the Red Constellation.
Then seeing Crossbell set on fire, Illya and Fran (severely) wounded, and all culminating in the fight against Sigmund, which took me 4 tries to bet him in time (only by using Tio's Zero Field to survive), is all so well done. In all of this, Falcom achieved to make Randy one of the best characters in the series imo, and made me hate Shirley so damn much. I can't believe that I feel sympathetic towards her at the end of Cold Steel 4.
And not to forget the "official" introduction of the Anguis Arionrhod and Novartis. She really is built up as one of the strongest enemies in the whole series her. I dread the battle against the Steel Maiden.
Knowing CS, the stakes are getting higher and higher, and I can't wait to see what's up with the Azure Tree, and how everyone is betraying the SSS.
One minor thing: Seeing Minnith was a surprise, but not a welcome one.
I'm reaching this point at the worst time. TotK has released, and that will consume most of my time in the near future.
I'm going to focus on Zelda, but will find time for Azure. Btw, I heard that the final chapter is by far the longest in the game. How much of the total playtime does it cover?Excited for the big update here! Yeah end of Chapter 3 into Chapter 4 is super rad. Probably the best part of the game when
the bad guys set fire to the city and then leave it in ruins. I know you’ve played future games, so I feel comfortable saying I think this is one of the strongest moments in the series so far.
Definitely understand if you’ll take a break for Zelda, but excited to hear what you think of the rest of the game when you come back to it
I kind of feel you can roughly divide the game into three thirds with up to chapter 2 being one third, end of chapter 4 being another, and the final stretch being another. Depending on how thorough you are the last stretch can be roughly 20 hours.I'm going to focus on Zelda, but will find time for Azure. Btw, I heard that the final chapter is by far the longest in the game. How much of the total playtime does it cover?
I didn’t get to comment right away, but I really enjoyed reading your full breakdown of the ending Bokuringo! The way Azure plays for keeps with its story is unlike many of the other Trails games which just makes it so cool in my book. Wazy is one of my favs too as he steals so many scenes! Will be curious when you play Reverie what you think of Wazy and Kevin’s presence or the lack thereof lol. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Reverie when you get there in general too and I fully understand taking a break as these games are massive and meant to be savored and you don’t want to burn out. You certainly have a solid gap between now and whenever Kuro comes out I’m guessing so no rush there. I can’t believe I have to write the ST for Nayuta either tomorrow or Monday lol.Very late update: Beat the game a week ago, while most of you already finished Reverie lol. Took me 100 hours. Finished all quests.
Overall, this is definitely in my top 3 titles in the Trails series. It's faster paced than Zero, events are rapidly escalating. And benefitting from being the 5th game in the series, Azure is a pay-off for everything that came before.
To continue from my last posts here, from the end of chapter 4 onwards.
The declaration of independence, Dieter appointing himself president, the SSS trying to rescue KeA, then the (typical Trails) revelations, and finally an Aion wiping out Garrelia Fortress. It just doesn't stop. One of the best sequences in the whole series.
I've heard about most of what's happening in Crossbell, yet the betrayal by Noel came a bit unexpected. The true surprise came later when the game gives you more and more hints about the real mastermind, Ian Grimwood. And by game, I mean the first Anguis, excuse me, Fulitzer price winner Nielsen and his quests. (I suppose the event his family died in is the same that is mentioned several times in the series over all arcs, which is an awful coincidence)
I didn't expect Mariabell manipulating and ultimately abandoning her father in the end, treating Dieter so bad that I felt pity for him. I enjoyed his character through both games, but I also increasingly liked to hate on Mariabell by the end, haha.
Overall, with all the references to Erebonia, and knowing the Cold Steel arc, the final chapter and the ending have a sadness hanging over them. The party is fighting for what they think is right, and yet are fully aware that the outcome is still bleak and they have to fight on.
Most important for the overarching story is KeA's ability to change reality and create multiple timelines. Diving deeper into the lore, that has pretty heavy implications, and the suspicion arises this might have happened more times.
The game's not easy imo, but when you've learned the quartz system, and all mechanics, and if you're well equipped, It's possible to build very powerful characters. The only thing that causes you trouble are the s-breaks which can insta-kill your party members. That said, I didn't really bother with the super bosses where the game doesn't expect you to win.
CS3 spoiler: The fight against Arianrhod in Azure puts into perspective what a beast Aurelia le Guin truly is lmao.
What else to say? Not everyone survived, Pater-Mater is gone for good. Wazy became one of my favorite characters. I hope he doesn't disappear like Kevin did.
That's it. I miss these characters and the world already, but I need break until starting Reverie.
Lloyd finally got over the barrier!
Yeah! I hosted an unofficial ST for Zero and then STs for both Azure and Trails Into Reverie here! One for Nayuta is coming soon in time for Tuesday’s release! We also have a general RPGs ST on Fami too that I host btwOh there's an Azure thread here!!
Started my Trails journey back in July and managed to get through thr Sky trilogy and Zero and I'm currently at Chapter 2 in Azure, though the new releases in September have been slowing my progress down a bit unfortunately.
Really enjoying Azure so far. It feels like it's going at a much quicker pace than the previous games, with a much more intriguing line up of plot threads and antagonists falling into place and I'm very excited to see where it all leads, especially with the characters that have gathered in Crossbell
Thank you for making the STs and I'll look forward to seeing the Nayuta one! I'll be picking that one up when it releases but I probably won't get round to playing it until I'm finished with AzureYeah! I hosted an unofficial ST for Zero and then STs for both Azure and Trails Into Reverie here! One for Nayuta is coming soon in time for Tuesday’s release! We also have a general RPGs ST on Fami too that I host btw
That’s hardcore playing four and a half Trails games back to back! I hope you share your thoughts here on Azure as you play. Always fun to read
That's mighty impressive. The most I played Trails in a row was CS1-3 in 5 months. Even with Azure beaten, there're still 5 games to catch up to. Can you do it before year's endOh there's an Azure thread here!!
Started my Trails journey back in July and managed to get through thr Sky trilogy and Zero and I'm currently at Chapter 2 in Azure, though the new releases in September have been slowing my progress down a bit unfortunately.
Really enjoying Azure so far. It feels like it's going at a much quicker pace than the previous games, with a much more intriguing line up of plot threads and antagonists falling into place and I'm very excited to see where it all leads, especially with the characters that have gathered in Crossbell
Thank you! It was just some thoughts on the ending, not comparable to an hour long essayI didn’t get to comment right away, but I really enjoyed reading your full breakdown of the ending Bokuringo! The way Azure plays for keeps with its story is unlike many of the other Trails games which just makes it so cool in my book. Wazy is one of my favs too as he steals so many scenes! Will be curious when you play Reverie what you think of Wazy and Kevin’s presence or the lack thereof lol. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Reverie when you get there in general too and I fully understand taking a break as these games are massive and meant to be savored and you don’t want to burn out. You certainly have a solid gap between now and whenever Kuro comes out I’m guessing so no rush there. I can’t believe I have to write the ST for Nayuta either tomorrow or Monday lol.
It would be cool to have caught up with everything by the end of the year but it's a tall order with so many other games coming out that I want to play. It does sound like a fun challenge though so we'll see how close I can get to itThat's mighty impressive. The most I played Trails in a row was CS1-3 in 5 months. Even with Azure beaten, there're still 5 games to catch up to. Can you do it before year's end