A new JRPG classic for the west

The first episode of Falcom's Legend of Heroes VI -Trails in the Sky has just been translated and released courtesy of XSEED. Though originally a PC game from 2004, 2011 marks the first time the game has officially been released in English in the west.

I bought the game with reservations, but after reaching the 2nd chapter of the game (with more than 10 hours in my game file), it's pretty clear that the game is a JRPG classic. It feels something like Grandia, Suikoden, and Final Fantasy IX all wrapped into one (especially Grandia. Like FFIX and Grandia, it is somewhat Juvenile, but at the same time is able to tell a fairly compelling story. It's slow setup is very much like the better JRPGs of the playstation era, with fairly basic plot elements at the forefront (such as pirates attacking a town and infiltrating their base), but with hinting at the work of greater forces behind the scenes all throughout (as well as goofy Japanese humor).

Gameplay wise, it's a combination of taking on missions from guilds and continuing the main story. As for the battle gameplay, it's somewhat like a SRPG in that characters have a set distance that they can move, meaning that you'll have to position yourself to avoid or attack enemies at times. It features regular attacks, magic, and something reminiscent of litmit breaks in a system like Xenosaga Ep I where there are visible character turns and bonuses. In the time that I've played, it's maintained a consistent difficulty level that is open to strategy in the more challenging fights in the game.

It's a great game that's out now. While it may not be revolutionary, it's a great game to buy for those who appreciate the great games of yesteryear and are perhaps missing a great JRPG in these barren days. Oh and yes, it's for PSP.

This game is on my radar, but I have too many games to play right now. I just can't spend the money on a game I won't touch for awhile. Looks really good though.

Looks cool. How is the grinding? I was always a fan of the story that a JRPG can tell, like with Xenogears or Tactics Ogre, but can't stand the grinding.

Playing it now. Will hold my opinions for it as I get further in it.

Aw they make them for PS3 now :P.. tho i will get it soon, its just sold out everywhere

Looks cool. How is the grinding? I was always a fan of the story that a JRPG can tell, like with Xenogears or Tactics Ogre, but can't stand the grinding.

Whiteblade999

It does look interesting. THough using terms like SRPG kinda drives me away in the fact im never good at those.

It does look interesting. THough using terms like SRPG kinda drives me away in the fact im never good at those.

finalfantasy94

Looks cool. How is the grinding? I was always a fan of the story that a JRPG can tell, like with Xenogears or Tactics Ogre, but can't stand the grinding.

Whiteblade999

Grinding isn't really necessary in this game. Fighting most of the enemies you come across is enough to go through the game.

It does look interesting. THough using terms like SRPG kinda drives me away in the fact im never good at those.

finalfantasy94

It's not really an SRPG, I just used it as a comparison point. You shouldn't have a problem with the game. Plus if you die, you can retry the battle.

[QUOTE="finalfantasy94"]

It does look interesting. THough using terms like SRPG kinda drives me away in the fact im never good at those.

hakanakumono

It's not really an SRPG, I just used it as a comparison point. You shouldn't have a problem with the game. Plus if you die, you can retry the battle.

I love rpgs that have that feature of retry. Well ether that or a save anywhere feature. Ill give it a try when I can. Im still busy with ys 2 now. Also does the game have random battles?

It's a much better game than Ys II, which I haven't bothered to finish yet lol.

There's a save anywhere feature and a load anywhere feature as well.

It's a much better game than Ys II, which I haven't bothered to finish yet lol.

There's a save anywhere feature and a load anywhere feature as well.

hakanakumono

I love rpgs that have that feature of retry. Well ether that or a save anywhere feature. Ill give it a try when I can. Im still busy with ys 2 now. Also does the game have random battles?

finalfantasy94

It looks good, but I am not too sure about it. Seems kinda... dull to me. I probably just stick with Ys.

Have to buy a copy myself. Greatly enjoyed the PC version.

If the grinding isn't an issue I'll have to grab it on sale at some point then. I'm a sucker for a good story, my favorite games are Torment and Xenogears fyi, but bad gameplay really ruins replaying the games.

If the grinding isn't an issue I'll have to grab it on sale at some point then. I'm a sucker for a good story, my favorite games are Torment and Xenogears fyi, but bad gameplay really ruins replaying the games.

Whiteblade999

I don't think it's anywhere near Xenogears, but once you get past the prologue (first few hours of the game) it picks up. It's most like the original Grandia, if you've played that game.

Looks pretty good, so its a PSP exclusive ?TheAcountantMan

Looks pretty good, so its a PSP exclusive ?TheAcountantMan

Overseas, yes. Its was originally released on the PC in Japan in..... '06?

saw the on the spot demo and it actually looks fun. Ill wait for a price drop though. I got some more console games I gatta buy and me personly im a home console gamer first handheld gamer second.

I agree. LoH reminds me of the good ol Game Arts titles.

[QUOTE="TheAcountantMan"]Looks pretty good, so its a PSP exclusive ?Shirokishi_

Overseas, yes. Its was originally released on the PC in Japan in..... '06?

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="TheAcountantMan"]Looks pretty good, so its a PSP exclusive ?hakanakumono

Overseas, yes. Its was originally released on the PC in Japan in..... '06?

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

Overseas, yes. Its was originally released on the PC in Japan in..... '06?

Shirokishi_

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

Ragnarok1051

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

How tragic would it be if that were actually the case? Chapter 2 has from what I hear almost double the text. We wouldnt see it until around 2020 ;_;

Here's hoping XSeed really does get all three games out ASAP. There's already a sequel saga thats 2 games in.

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

Overseas, yes. Its was originally released on the PC in Japan in..... '06?

Shirokishi_

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

The game feels more like it's 10 years old.

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

2004. 2006 was the PSP release. :P

hakanakumono

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

The game feels more like it's 10 years old.

What do you mean by that?

[QUOTE="Ragnarok1051"][QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

Shirokishi_

How tragic would it be if that were actually the case? Chapter 2 has from what I hear almost double the text. We wouldnt see it until around 2020 ;_;

Here's hoping XSeed really does get all three games out ASAP. There's already a sequel saga thats 2 games in.

They only acquired the rights to falcom games fairly recently, so maybe we'll see it 2012-2013. I'm guessing it took them about 2 years.

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

Lol, had a feeling I was thinking of something else entirely.

Pretty serious release gap.

Shirokishi_

The game feels more like it's 10 years old.

What do you mean by that?

It feels like games from the late playstation, very early PS2 period.

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

The game feels more like it's 10 years old.

hakanakumono

What do you mean by that?

It feels like games from the late playstation, very early PS2 period.

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="Ragnarok1051"] Took 5 years for XSEED to translate it. :Phakanakumono

How tragic would it be if that were actually the case? Chapter 2 has from what I hear almost double the text. We wouldnt see it until around 2020 ;_;

Here's hoping XSeed really does get all three games out ASAP. There's already a sequel saga thats 2 games in.

They only acquired the rights to falcom games fairly recently, so maybe we'll see it 2012-2013. I'm guessing it took them about 2 years.

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

The game feels more like it's 10 years old.

hakanakumono

What do you mean by that?

It feels like games from the late playstation, very early PS2 period.

Ah ok. Many users on the Land of Ys forums used to say similar things like it felt like a classic JRPG but when I played it I never grasped what they meant. Probably need to play it in english..

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

How tragic would it be if that were actually the case? Chapter 2 has from what I hear almost double the text. We wouldnt see it until around 2020 ;_;

Here's hoping XSeed really does get all three games out ASAP. There's already a sequel saga thats 2 games in.

Luxen90

They only acquired the rights to falcom games fairly recently, so maybe we'll see it 2012-2013. I'm guessing it took them about 2 years.

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

How tragic would it be if that were actually the case? Chapter 2 has from what I hear almost double the text. We wouldnt see it until around 2020 ;_;

Here's hoping XSeed really does get all three games out ASAP. There's already a sequel saga thats 2 games in.

Luxen90

They only acquired the rights to falcom games fairly recently, so maybe we'll see it 2012-2013. I'm guessing it took them about 2 years.

If the PSP still has life in 2013 and XSEED (sorry to say) isnt out of business then I can see atleast the 1st Zero no Kiseki game making it.

Other that that, yeah, no chance.

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

hakanakumono

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

Luxen90

Oh, well I'm not sure if we'll get the Zero no Kiseki games at all. But I'm guessing we'll at least get 2 of the Trails games.

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

Luxen90

[QUOTE="Luxen90"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

jasonharris48

Maybe the second one could be seen in the launch window?

[QUOTE="Luxen90"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

jasonharris48

If you look at the number of releases this game has had, it's likely that Falcom will port the series to NGP themselves. Falcom has a huge amount of ports and rereleases for their games.

[QUOTE="Luxen90"]

[QUOTE="hakanakumono"]

What do you mean?

They've already already recorded the voices for all 3 games in this series (or so I hear).

jasonharris48

XSeed is a VERY huge Falcom fan so while Im sure theyd try if they had to Im confident theyd fail to get them ported as NGP titles.

If we're lucky the NGP will have a dedicated PSP game download service and XSeed chooses to take that route.

If the PSP still has life in 2013 and XSEED (sorry to say) isnt out of business then I can see atleast the 1st Zero no Kiseki game making it.

Other that that, yeah, no chance.

Shirokishi_

[QUOTE="Shirokishi_"]

If the PSP still has life in 2013 and XSEED (sorry to say) isnt out of business then I can see atleast the 1st Zero no Kiseki game making it.

Other that that, yeah, no chance.

Luxen90

It would be the same as PS1 games with mulitple discs right?