Trails has quite a few story arcs, with Trails Through Daybreak I, II, and now Trails Beyond the Horizon being the latest in this RPG saga spanning over twenty years. Here’s the thing, reviewing a game in a series that’s been running for this long is a bit odd—especially since they’re all deeply intertwined. If you’ve been a fan of the series and have been riding the Orbal train for the past couple of decades, you’re not reading this review and have likely completed the game or will definitely be picking it up. Likewise, if you’ve never played a Trails game and are interested in Beyond the Horizon, STOP! I said they’re all intertwined, didn’t I? I’m not talking some half-assed references or half-assed world building. No one does world building like Nihon Falcom, period. If you’re really interested in stepping into the Trails universe, we recommend the absolutely phenomenal remake of the first title in the entire series, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, which we gave a whopping 10 out of 10 in our review.
With all that said, let’s dive into the newest entry and review it. Even the worst entry in the Trails series is better than most other games, and as far as the Van Arkride arc is concerned, Beyond the Horizon may be my favorite. It’s no secret I wasn’t in love with last year’s Trails Through Daybreak II which had you retreading familiar story beats over and over to find different outcomes. I thought it was the weakest in the lineup, but it’s still better than a lot of other games I’ve played throughout the years. Beyond the Horizon is told across three different character routes, similar to Trails into Reverie before it. It was something to see past characters such as the beloved Rean Schwarzer interacting and talking with Van Arkride, even if only for a little while. While there are three sets of characters in this latest entry, they seldom interact with one another which was honestly a bit of a letdown for me, especially when they met up in the beginning. I’ve stated in past reviews that the Cold Steele series was where I got my start and being able to control and play as Rean once more had me smile. I love most of the characters in the series, but will always hold a special place in my heart for Class 7 at Thors Academy similar to how I do for the cast in Xenoblade Chronicles 2.
Even with the series winding down and Nihon Falcom announcing the final game in the series will come in 2031, the team are still introducing us to new characters after all this time. Some of my least favorite characters in the Arkride arc are a bit more interesting with reveals brought forth in this game while personal fan favorites such as Van, Aaron, and Judith remain so. As for the story, I can’t really say that much….because a lot of crazy shit happens that had me loving / loathing past characters while new story beats also had me doubting what I thought I knew. The wool was lifted from my eyes multiple times…..it’s a wild wild ride.
So there you have it. Another stellar entry in a series that still surprises and bewilders with unforeseen twists and turns. Since the last game is slated to drop in 2031, those curious to getting into the series as well as those who may have stepped away and need a refresher have plenty of time to do so.
