Hoping that the more handcrafted locations and structured storyline will grab hold of me soon, because I honestly don't know if this will fix enough of what bothers me about the base game to bring me back. And I'm honestly still on a massive Trails binge in early game Azure.
The Estelle Stare simply cannot be beat. It's pretty incredible how expressive the portraits from the Liberl arc are. Hoping that we see that same character come through in the remakes. I will say that it feels like we're getting more expressive in Azure, so I'm hopeful that we reach those highs.
It feels like Ubi games are being made in two groups now: insane uber-behemoths that cost half a billion to make and need to sell more than is rightfully expected for any AAA/AAAA game; and moderately-budgeted titles that get next to no extended marketing and are shut down within a year.
I just finished Zero and will admit that I also prefer her old portraits from the Sky trilogy. I eventually got used to them by the end of the game. I just started Azure and character portraits as a whole look more refined this time around. Really liking them so far.
Excellent list! I remember playing part of Ys Origin ten years ago, and briefly played some of Memories of Celceta when it released on Vita, but I get the feeling I might really love Ys VIII based on its aesthetic. May have to play that after going through all of Trails.
I've seen so many people write off Sky the 3rd, but I was really impressed with how it works as an epilogue to the Liberl arc. Might not quite match SC, but it's solid. If you're doing all the side doors, it also has probably the darkest moment in the entire trilogy as well. Hope you enjoy it!
Side note: If you're someone who loved Astro's Playroom for the little surprise cameos and callbacks to Playstation's history, do yourself a favor and go in as blind as you possibly can. You truly won't regret it.
As someone who grew up with Playstation, the little callbacks all over this game was like a trip through my childhood and teenage years. It's up there with Super Mario Odyssey for me, and I think this is easily the finest platformer Sony's ever published. 10/10 for me.
Finished everything in Astro Bot, including all side levels. When I finished Astro's Playroom four years ago, I said that I would love to see a full game of more of that; that's what this was, and I think it's phenomenal. Really solid 3D platformer gameplay with incredible charm.
If SC was a 10, FC and the 3rd are both easy 9's. Truly phenomenal games, and some of my favorite JRPGs I've ever played. I've already started the first game in the Crossbell arc, Trails from Zero, because I'm hungry for more of this franchise. Can't recommend it enough.
