The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki

The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki[1] is a 2011 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes franchise. Ao no Kiseki continues the story of The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki, completing the series's "Crossbell arc", named after the location in which they take place. The game has not been officially localized in English, but received a fan translation titled Trails to Azure in 2018.

The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki
PSP cover art
Developer(s)Nihon Falcom
Publisher(s)Nihon Falcom
Director(s)Toshihiro Kondo
Producer(s)Masayuki Kato
Programmer(s)
  • Toru Endo
  • Homare Karusawa
  • Katsuya Horimoto
  • Aichiro Miyata
Artist(s)Katsumi Enami
Writer(s)Hisayoshi Takeiri
Composer(s)
  • Hayato Sonoda
  • Takahiro Unisuga
  • Saki Momiyama
  • Masanori Osaki
Series
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation Portable
  • JP: September 29, 2011
Microsoft Windows
  • CHN: March 28, 2013
PlayStation Vita
  • JP: June 12, 2014
PlayStation 4
  • JP: May 28, 2020
Nintendo Switch
  • AS: April 22, 2021
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

History

Ao no Kiseki was released in Japan for the PlayStation Portable on September 29, 2011, later receiving a Windows port in China.[2][3] It was also released in Japan on June 12, 2014 for the PlayStation Vita as Ao no Kiseki: Evolution, featuring improved visuals and more voice acting.[4][5] The game also received a remaster for the PlayStation 4, releasing in Japan under the title Ao no Kiseki Kai on May 28, 2020.[6] It will also be released for the Nintendo Switch in Asia on April 22, 2021.[7]

While no official English localization of the game exists, a fan translation under the title of Trails to Azure has been released.[8]

Plot

Ao no Kiseki is set some months after the ending of Zero no Kiseki, as the Special Support Section (SSS) are joined by new recruits – the Army sergeant major Noel Seeker and the former gang leader Wazy Hemisphere. Again, unscrupulous figures seek to use the powers of KeA, the SSS's young ward, for their own ends. They are led by the mayor, Dieter Crois, who declares Crossbell's independence and seeks to rule the continent through the powers of KeA. The SSS have to brave civil unrest and occult intrusions to foil his plans.

Although Crois is defeated and arrested, his actions, in particular the destruction of Garrelia Fortress, lead to Crossbell being annexed by the Erebonian Empire, leading into the Divertissement chapter of Trails of Cold Steel II and the events of the latter half of the Trails of Cold Steel series.

Reception

Ao no Kiseki was listed as one of the best upcoming games of 2011 at that year's Tokyo Game Show.[9] Along with Zero no Kiseki, Comic Book Resources highlighted the game's "persistent overarching storyline, immersive and detailed settings, masterful character development [and] unique battle system". They noted that despite the lack of a localization, the plot and characters were integral to understanding later games in the series.[2]

References
    1. 英雄伝説碧の軌跡 Eiyuu Densetsu: Ao no Kiseki
    2. Rawda, Odel (6 May 2020). "Why Falcom's Trails from Zero & Trails to Azure Deserve a Western Release". CBR. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
    3. "Chinese Ao no Kiseki PC Release Dated for 3/28". 12 November 2012.
    4. "Legend of Heroes Ao no Kiseki Evolution's Teaser Video Posted".
    5. "A Peek At The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Blue Evolution's Anime Opening". 27 March 2014.
    6. Romano, Sal (31 January 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki for PS4 launch April 23 and May 28 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
    7. Romano, Sal. "The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki coming to Switch on February 18, 2021 and April 22 in Asia". Gematsu. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
    8. Arshad Khan, Danial. "The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure (Ao no Kiseki) fan translation patch released". GearNuke. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
    9. Toto, Serkan. "Japan Game Awards 2011 At The Tokyo Game Show: Here Are The 10 Winners". Tech Crunch. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
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