The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails offers an enjoyable experience, although those looking for a JRPG for its story may have better luck with another Falcom title. It definitely feels modern, despite the age of the game. (The original came out in 2012.) This is due to its smooth combat animations and sense of control. It reminds me more of a platformer, due to the way Nihon Falcom designed its stages and enemies. And because the story isn’t too complicated, it’s also friendly to those with large gaps between play sessions.
For better or worse, The Legend of Nayuta is a very standard JRPG for its story. The plot begins by introducing us to Nayuta, the protagonist. We also meet his best friend Signa. Nayuta’s parents disappeared after they went in search of Lost Heaven, a mysterious world visible in Fragments of Stars that fell on his island. One day, he and Signa investigate a tower that suddenly appears underwater. In the tower, they encounter a fairy, a sorcerer, and a masked swordsman. So they set out on a journey to retrieve the Master Gear from the sorcerer Zechst, although Signa left on his own after noticing something about the masked swordsman. From the characters to the plot, the story feels like someone made it with the JRPG Cookie Cutter.
But just because something is classic doesn’t mean it’s bad, and The Legend of Nayuta does a great job at getting someone excited for the journey ahead by building the world, captivating NPCs, and stunning backgrounds. Each stage is just long enough to provide a satisfying experience, but also short enough that you can progress through the game comfortably even within the time budget. That makes sense, considering the game was originally released on the PlayStation Portable. Most PSP games feel like the developers have thought of “on the go”. One thing that doesn’t translate well in HD are some of the character models. Some of the characters look downright bizarre, as their eyes look a bit too bright and too wide.
So how The Legend of Nayuta working for players like me who have never seriously played a Falcom game before? Well, when the game starts properly, you can teleport between Nayuta’s garden and village. In Nayuta’s village, you can buy supplies, learn new recipes and techniques, or get side quests from NPCs. Once you’re ready, you can enter the garden through a tree next to Nayuta’s house. From there, you can transport to different worlds. Each world is divided into phases. The comparison may not be very relevant, but I was immediately reminded of Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped when I realized how the game was going. There are multiple stages, a central world map, and an overall plot that ties everything together. Each stage also has high replay value through the section system mentioned below.
After completing a world, you can adjust the season and return to that world. Even though the world is the same, different seasons mean there are different enemies, items, and difficulty. The game never feels so daunting that it frustrates it. But it’s also not so easy that I can’t help but brainstorm. It’s a good game for those who want minimal commitment while still enjoying a relatively well-crafted game. Anyone familiar with JRPG games can skip certain dialogue scenes if they’re in a hurry to get back into the action, as the story is fairly routine.
Probably due to the fact that I am using a WASD control scheme on my PC instead of a controller, but sometimes I have trouble measuring the depth of The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails stages, although nothing negatively impacted my experience. Although combat is hack-and-slash, the game requires careful timing and observation of enemy patterns. You also have to be careful that you don’t dodge enemy attacks and fall right on a cliff. In fact, I was in more danger in Game Over due to running Nayuta into ridiculous games. While the monsters were certainly dangerous at times, they were nothing compared to the sheer danger of the propeller. Sometimes it feels unfair that the enemy can swing their arms and hit me, even when I’m under a ledge. Like, what’s the difference in altitude other than making me jump around.
Generally speaking, The Legend of Nayuta is a fun action game, although its standard story seems old. Even the promise of adventure and mystery could not hold my interest for long. However, in an age of stories that constantly try to subvert expectations and expectations, this classic JRPG saga can really be a refreshing adventure. However, its real appeal still lies in the combat system.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails available on Windows PC, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 4 in Japanese. A Nintendo Switch version is in development. PS4, PC and Switch versions to launch in English In 2023.
