In recent years, I’ve found myself growing more and more fatigued by the absolute glut of remakes and remasters, and I know I’m not the only one. In modern gaming, nostalgia has, oftentimes, become commodified in a deeply cynical way — but remakes, like with any medium, can still serve a vital function. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is one of the most impactful reminders of that, and an utterly confident reappraisal of the original game and its impact.
With 1st Chapter, Nihon Falcom has folded the series back upon itself, using all the lessons it has learned across thirteen games to examine exactly what got the series to where it is. It’s a stunning way to revisit a cult classic RPG that doesn’t lose any of the original game’s heart, despite replacing a lot of its old, clunky parts — like that old junker you find in a scrapyard and tune up into a supercar.
If you haven’t signed onto the Trails series already, you’re likely a bit lost, and that’s understandable. Yes, there are... Read more