The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon

The main pros of the game

• Strong Story Development: The game is praised for moving the overarching story forward and providing satisfying payoffs for long-time fans who have invested time in the series. Many reviews highlight the emotional depth and complexity of the narrative.
• Improved Gameplay and Combat Mechanics: Reviewers appreciate the enhancements in combat, including new mechanics like the Z.O.C. system, which adds depth and excitement to battles. The animations during combat and cutscenes are noted as particularly impressive.
• High-Quality PC Port: The game runs smoothly on PC, with excellent graphics and optimization, thanks to Durante's work. Players have reported a seamless experience on various platforms, including Steam Deck.
• Character Returns and Development: The return of beloved characters and the development of their arcs are celebrated, providing nostalgic moments for series veterans.
• Visual Presentation: Many reviews commend the game's graphics and animations, marking it as one of the best-looking entries in the Trails series.

The main cons of the game

• Slow Pacing: Several reviews mention that the game starts slowly, particularly in the first act, with a lot of dialogue and world-building that can feel drawn out.
• Story and Gameplay Imbalance: Some players feel that certain routes, especially Van's, are bloated with filler content, detracting from the overall pacing and engagement of the main narrative.
• Difficulty Balancing: There are complaints about unbalanced battles, where some enemies feel excessively spongy while others are too easy, leading to frustration in combat.
• Localization Issues: Some users express disappointment with the quality of localization, noting inconsistencies and poor translations in certain dialogue sections.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• More Engaging Side Content: Players desire more meaningful side quests and interactions, as some feel that the optional content doesn't add much to the overall experience.
• Expanded Voice Acting: There are calls for more scenes to be fully voiced, as some dialogue remains unvoiced, which can break immersion.
• Better Difficulty Options: Some players wish for more challenging gameplay options, especially for new game plus modes, to enhance replayability.
• Improved Dungeon Mechanics: The "Grim Garten" dungeon system, while improved, is still criticized for being repetitive and not as engaging as past iterations of similar systems.

Conclusion

• In conclusion, "The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon" is generally well-received, particularly among long-time fans of the series, but it does have notable pacing issues and some gameplay balance concerns. The game is recommended for those familiar with the previous titles but is not considered a suitable entry point for newcomers.

Summary generated on: February 9, 2026