Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure for PS5 & Switch 2 are amazing ports from PH3 and NIS America

Next week, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure launch for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2. The ports have been done by PH3 and while the Switch 2 version is a big upgrade over the Switch 1 release, the biggest upgrade arrives for PlayStation players with the PS5 release. I've been playing Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on both platforms for a little while now. My full comparison will be up closer to or at launch because the Switch 1 and PC versions are being updated as well. Until then, I wanted to cover what makes Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on PS5 and Switch 2 brilliant on their own. 

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure new features for PS5 and Switch 2

Before getting to the platform-specific features, both PS5 and Switch 2 benefit from the new texture style option and save transfer. Yes, Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on PS5 support save transfer from the PS4 versions despite the latter being done by Falcom and not PH3. On Switch 2, Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure support Switch 1 saves as well. One more thing to note is that Durante told me that diagonal transfer is also supported which means Trails from Zero for S1 to Trails to Azure for S2 or Trails from Zero for PS4 to Trails to Azure for PS5. 

The texture style options let you use the original PS4 version's textures, a point sampled version of those, and the "modern" texture style that PH3 added on PC and Switch 1 in both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. Note that Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on PC and Switch 1 will be patched with the texture style options as well.

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure PS4 vs PS5 features, visuals, and more

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on PS4 in the West were basically the versions Falcom released in Japan with an English localization added. They lacked the many quality of life features PH3 brought in on PC and Switch 1. These included improved turbo mode, visual upgrades, the show BGM option, the ability to skip startup logos, and much more. The PS4 versions of both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure were the worst versions to play, even on PS5. With the new PS5 releases, NIS America and PH3 have righted that wrong.

Not only are Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on PS5 superb, but they run flawlessly (so far) on both base PS5 and PS5 Pro. There are no graphics options because they run at 4K 120fps on both base PS5 and PS5 Pro Durante tells me. Beyond visuals and frame rate, all the quality of life features and the new texture style option make these my favorite versions to play on TV by far. 

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure Switch 1 vs Switch 2 features, visuals, and more

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure on Switch 1 were my favorite versions back when I played them on my Switch OLED. The new Switch 2 ports deliver three graphics modes for portable play and two modes for docked play. You can also sync your saves over and use the new texture style options. The graphics options handheld let you prioritize performance or saving battery life. Handheld runs at 1080p, but you can choose 30fps, 60fps, or 120fps. As for docked play, you can pick between 4K 60fps and 1440p 120fps. Beyond visuals and performance options, the Switch 2 versions also support mouse controls using the Joy-Con 2 controllers in mouse mode. 

While the Switch 2 upgrade over Switch 1 isn't as impressive as the PS5 one, I want to stress that both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure are two of the most impressive Switch 2 ports I've played in offering multiple graphics modes and generally feeling fantastic to play on Nintendo's new console. In fact, this is now my favorite way to play Crossbell overall since I very much appreciate having an excellent portable and docked version together. 

Right now, the lack of a discounted upgrade path is disappointing, but I'm glad to at least see save transfer included. Stay tuned for my full Crossbell comparison covering both Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure across PS4, PS5, PS4 on PS5, Switch 1, Switch 1 on Switch 2, Switch 2, and the PC version across all the handhelds. I wanted to wait for the PC and Switch patches before I do the comparison.

Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure are now available on PS4, Switch, and PC. They launch on September 10 for PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2.