The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon

Trails into the Unknown

Ever since Trails of Cold Steel, I would find myself eager to take on the next entry in the Legend of Heroes saga. From its engaging cast of characters, highly addictive combat systems, to the plot twists and political intrigue, it is one of the few franchises in gaming to see decades of history fuel the future of its stories. Trails Beyond the Horizon serves as a setup for the true endgame of the saga. It isn’t always smooth sailing, but the destination was absolutely worth the journey. 

Trails through Daybreak was the first of the individual arcs to take place in the Calvard Republic. Previous games flirted with this proud nation, even introducing us to its new President in Trails into Reverie. Trails into Cold Steel saw the Erebonia Empire and the Calvard Republic spark the flames of war, showing us glimpses of this land, its people, and what would await us nearly a decade later. While the Calvard Republic would introduce us to new threats and new locales, it would also provide a heaping of familiar faces and remind us just how massive in scale this series has been over the past two decades. 

The Trails series has had some powerful cliffhangers and plot twists that really set this series apart, especially that of Trails of Cold Steel III, but Beyond the Horizon went to places I never knew this series was capable of. While the franchise still suffers from some filler quests and awkward pacing issues, the final few hours of this adventure more than make up for the somewhat bumpy ride. Still, this title is nonetheless a huge improvement over Trails through Daybreak II, which has been my least favorite of the series thus far. 

Trails through Daybreak was a solid adventure to introduce a whole new cast in a part of the game’s world that had yet to be explored. While its localization was not terribly great, it set in motion a solid storyline built around an orbment steeped in mystery. While its sequel would continue to build upon that artifact and more, its use and conclusion in this title were magnificent and not in any way predictable. Trails Beyond the Horizon takes several loose threads from the previous games, as well as what has been set up over the past two titles, and shifts the world and its lore on its head, delivering one of the most action-packed and intense finales of the entire series. 

Trails Beyond the Horizon also revamps and enhances much of its combat systems to allow a larger focus on its real-time combat. While it follows in the series’ footsteps of renewing its technological means of shard combat with enhancements to their shard devices, the improvements here are groundbreaking and fundamentally alter how you engage in even the most simplistic skirmishes. This results in a deeper engagement with every aspect of the game’s combat that was missing in previous entries. We've seen Nihon Falcom flirt with adding more to its combat even with the Trails into the Sky Remake, but Beyond the Horizon goes a few steps even further.

Now, all that said, let’s dive deeper into Trails Beyond the Horizon, this latest adventure with Van Arkride and his part-timers at Arkride Solutions. I'll also discuss why the game stumbles in its first half, can often feel bloated at times, but excels towards the finish line in a stellar few hours that stand alongside the series’ best. 

Trails Beyond the Horizon takes place a few months after the events of Daybreak II, in the year 1209 of the Septian Calendar, the same year as Daybreak II. As Van and company have been invited to test out some new VR training software through the Marduk Company, they discover that two additional teams have been working through the same training in secret. These two other groups, which include Rean Schwarzer and Kevin Graham, as well as several others, are then part of different paths that you’ll choose as you move throughout the story, much in the same way that Trails into Reverie was structured.

While Trails into Reverie was very much a game where each group felt like central characters, given it was a merger of several groups and agendas, Trails Beyond the Horizon knows that Van Arkride is the central protagonist, and uses these extra characters in ways that, while satisfying to their fans, don’t overstay their welcome and refrain from taking over the narrative. That said, there is one path that felt tacked on, and given the various news surrounding the game’s development, that seemed to be the case.

Still, it’s great to be able to run around with some members of Class VII and see what my favorite cast has been up to over the years, while also spending more time with Rufus, Swin, Nadia, and the adorable Lapis, who has received an older body upgrade. While the importance of the story could have benefited from some other characters, such as those within Estelle and Lloyd’s arcs, I can understand why they were absent, so as not to take away from what is essentially a game built around Van Arkride and Agnes Claudel. However, with the next entry meant to close out the entire Trails saga, or that is at least the assumption, they likely will be there, as should everyone across the franchise. Given what has transpired, it would only make sense.

The story here dives into Calvard launching the first venture into space. This plot may seem like it is to better mankind, but the Trails series has taught me that everyone, no matter how noble they may seem, has an agenda. The story dances around this massive event, with the whole game taking place within just a few days, and honestly, the reveal and the event surrounding it kept me on the edge of my seat and was not predictable in the slightest. I was absolutely shocked at where the story went, and while the game attempts to place certain parties on the side of good or evil, you can certainly see how each group is somewhat justified for their path in this scenario. It's hard to really find fault with anyone's reasoning. 

The story also revolves around the numerous factions and groups that have been present across the series, and especially that of those present across this arc. From the Society to the crime syndicate Heiyue, to everyone in between, each group has plenty to chew on, and never gets lost in the shuffle. Adding to the threats that Van and company will encounter are the Vestiges. Now, I'll remain tight-lipped on this group, given who they are, but their involvement allows the great mystery at play to feel as if anything actually could happen. 

Each path, whether it is Van, Rean, or Kevin, has their own central forces and objectives to deal with. Unlike Reverie, these teams are working in secret with their own agenda, unaware that they are often working in parallel with other teams on wanting the same information or outcome. Even when the teams meet up, little to no information is shared, each suspecting something is secretly at play that keeps the groups at arm's reach.

Trails Beyond the Horizon features a huge reveal, among many, that contextualizes the role of one supporting character throughout this arc. Their connection to one of the major cast members is unfortunately lacking, and it is a shame, given their relationship. I expected this character to learn of this revelation far earlier to allow them to deal with the fallout of said reveal. Now, I'm being as vague as I can be given the importance of this storyline, but I was certainly disappointed at how little a certain member of Arkride Solutions really had to this story. 

Given how big the cast is, a few characters do have far less to do here than I would have liked, often existing in this story to fill out the team to provide options in combat. Each path has some filler, and it is pretty obvious that Kevin's arc was something added into the story well after the bones of the narrative were already formed. This was later revealed to be true, and his whole arc was added in due to public demand. 

Still, while some characters suffer, others get far more to chew on here. Judith sees a lot here to work with as we visit Anchorville, which happens to be her hometown. We are reacquainted with both her grandmother and Chloe Lanster, her mother. The Trails series is notorious for only granting most characters just a single parent, and that tradition continues here. Still, it was great to visit Anchorville, given that the bulk of the journey was playing around in locations we've covered head to toe dozens of times before. And honestly, the lack of plenty of new environments is something that is strongly felt here. 

Where Trails Beyond the Horizon suffers is largely due to some incredibly poor pacing, spread out across their arcs that borrow too much from one another. While Arkride Solutions is about helping the people, tackling 4SPGs, the other paths tend to these requests as well, which is just bizarre. Most of these quests are nonsense and offer little in return. Some, such as trying to discern the identity of a switched baby, have you running back and forth so much that the quest almost solves itself with a very predictable encounter at its end. 

Sure, some side quests contribute to some small aspects of the core story here, or tie up loose ends from the previous Daybreak entries, but so much here just doesn't make sense to tackle when the stakes are so high. If the 4SPGs were limited to just Van’s group, then I could understand, given that it is that group’s purpose. I eventually got to a point with most side quests that I would end up skipping a few cutscenes because the moments didn't feel additive to the experience. 

What also suffered in Daybreak II is the lack of conversation choices that have zero impact later on. You have three categories in Law, Gray, and Chaos, that are affected by how you solve a few cases based on your morality. These had some meaning in Trails through Daybreak, with a dialogue choice you were offered later on, provided you scored high in those categories, but with its sequel and this new entry, that whole morale system is absolutely pointless and only there as an achievement bonus. 

Apart from traveling all across Calvard, including a location I never thought we would see again, the Garten is back to conquer. Hacked once again, the Märchen Garten has returned, albeit as the Grim Garten. As you vanquish its floors, you'll encounter a boss, either a monstrosity or one of the members of the Society. While the Garten is mentioned as optional content, the final lore dump, once you've beaten the final boss in this virtual reality space, is crucial to aspects of the ending for context. So, before you head to what is the final encounter, make sure to finish this area.

The Grim Garten may be structured differently with a boardgame-like appearance as you tackle it floor by floor, but it offers the same overall rewards as what the previous versions have offered. You'll earn currency in and out of this VR space that can be used to buy outfits, hairstyles, and tons of items through gatcha-like mechanics. You can also use the Garten to finish off connection events, take part in arena battles, or do some fishing. It certainly is more fleshed out, but does feel like filler due to it not really contributing to the central story. 

The general cast that makes up Beyond the Horizon is a solid collection of characters that would make up any fan’s favorite list. The whole Arkride Solutions team is present, including occasional part-time employees such as Elaine, Risette, and Shizuna. Rean’s team consists of Fie and Altina, and Crow Armburst. Kevin Graham, as mentioned before, is accompanied by Rufus, Swin, Nadia, and Lapis. Other characters across various sagas do make appearances, with some surprising additions joining forces with numerous teams, with a few that are even playable for the first time in the series. 

Trails Beyond the Horizon significantly improves the real-time combat that has been slowly improved over the past games. While the bulk of the systems for combat are still based around the shard system of turn-based battles, the ability to engage in combat with fast and agile attacks while also displaying arts, all while in real time, is absolutely awesome. 

Real-time combat isn't available all the time, as ambushes and boss battles limit you just to turn-based encounters, unless they perform some sort of anti-shard system, which only happened two or three times during the game. Instead of just being able to hit the enemy and get a combat advantage during the switch to turn-based battles, you can engage with arts, slow down time with the new ZOC system, and charge attacks that can really deal some damage. New to Beyond the Horizon are Awakening attacks that increase your power, such as Van being able to transform into the Grendel for a short period of time. 

These systems allow you to just fight the general fodder and just hack and slash away at them. You certainly do less damage here compared to having your special attacks and arsenal of arts as your disposal, but what is done here really convinces me that Nihon Falcom may take the next series into a route more similar to Ys than what Trails began as. Sure, turn-based battles won't go away entirely, but given the advancements they have made in the real-time encounters, and the focus on making it even more in-depth, it just makes sense for this to be the future of the franchise going forward.

If I had to mention another disappointment, despite my love for the game, it would be that the Orbment system is still just too complex for how simple the idea is. It doesn’t make sense that custom and orbment are separate menus. Just let us open slots in the orbment menu. Also, why have covers for the Xipha for them not to appear in cutscenes? This has been an issue for the past couple of entries, so Beyond the Horizon is not solely guilty of it. 

Using the in-house FDK engine, this is easily the most visually impressive entry in the series. My time with the game was via the Switch 2, and apart from some lengthy load times, the game ran and looked fantastic, despite whether it was docked or portable. I will stress that one single area on the Switch 2 had some of the worst texture issues I’ve seen in years, as you can see in the provided picture. This was constant around this valley, as every single wall had this issue.

While the Switch 2 version runs at a solid 60fps in, the Switch One version does suffer from some crazy stuttering that makes it the weakest version of the game so far. Switch 2 offers “variable” as a framerate setting and allows up to 120fps in handheld mode and 60fps in TV mode. 30fps mode is locked at 30 to preserve battery life. 

Trails Beyond the Horizon is a solid sequel to a saga that showed great potential in its first outing. The stakes are wildly impressive and goes places I simply didn’t see the series reaching. While the non-critical elements of the story do drag on, with several pointless and boring side quests, the core narrative told across three different paths, each with several of the series’ best characters, results in a climactic finale that shows why this series is one of the best JRPG’s out there. 

Developer - Nihon Falcom. Publisher - NIS America. Released - January 15th, 2025. Available On - PS4/PS5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC. Rated - (T) - Fantasy Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Simulated Gambling. Platform Reviewed - Nintendo Switch 2. Review Access - A review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.