Memories of Trails: Finding Joy in Crossbell's Song

Welcome to the 'Memories of' series, where we discuss specific memories associated with a particular game. This time, Henry's looking at the Crossbell arc from Trails, and the following article contains major spoilers.

My introduction to the Trails series was the New Game Plus Expo back in 2020. Nihon Falcom's Trails of Cold Steel IV trailer piqued my interest with its cast, and things quickly took off after I eventually bought the first Cold Steel. I've since been on many grand adventures spanning Liberl to Calvard in the series' most recent games, Trails through Daybreak. Yet the Crossbell arc remains a notable highlight, and part of that comes down to its music.

I'm always taken in by the work of the excellent Falcom Sound Team. Whether it's a call to action like Atrocious Raid or the heartbreaking melancholy of After the Spring Rain, each game is packed with some powerful tunes. For me, my most memorable moment comes in Crossbell City, at the end of a saga spanning six games.

Crossbell City and some of its most important characters appear throughout portions of the Cold Steel games. The location’s significance was initially lost on me, though the passion of Crossbell's people for their independence resonated with me even before I knew the city's full story. However, Cold Steel IV's opening felt so impenetrable that I stopped playing, fearing I'd missed something crucial. Who were these suddenly playable characters in the prologue? I knew of them, but I didn't know them.

I bought the Trails in the Sky trilogy instead, and in hindsight, I should've stuck to the chronological order. Granted, it wasn't straightforward back then, as the Crossbell games hadn't been officially localized in English yet. Soon enough, I'd reached the Crossbell arc using translations from the fan group Geofront's fan translations - the same ones NIS America licensed for the official release. When I reached my destination, I found a captivating tale about a city struggling to maintain its identity between two superpowers and the lives affected as a result.

Crossbell suddenly made sense and I finally understood what makes it so special. This little Hong Kong-inspired city-state has character in abundance. I immediately resonated with Lloyd Bannings and the Special Support Section (SSS), a branch of the police meant to help citizens with everyday problems, rounded out by a wonderful cast with Ellie, Randy, Tio, Wazy, and Noel. From the peaceful rural outskirts like Armorica Village to the rundown charm of the SSS HQ, this small nation preservers despite its perilous situation.

As a contested territory between the continent's those superpowers, each mission expertly delved deeper into that sense of intrigue and wider unease. I became invested in its fate, the determination of its people and how they rallied against the imperialistic forces that sought to subjugate them. Trails from Zero set the scene well, while Trails to Azure effectively stole the show.

Azure ends with the SSS winning, though calling it a victory isn't entirely true either. Despite your efforts to stop the immediate threat, the city gets absorbed into one of its neighbors and later becomes the focal point of a continent-wide war. When we finally reach that saga's end, it's a hard fought victory you can only feel after spending countless hours in a series.

Crossbell's tale reached its ultimate conclusion with Trails into Reverie, which also serves as the final chapter for the Cold Steel arc. Peace has begun returning to the Zemurian continent once more and Crossbell's finally ready to embrace independence, though the intro scene makes clear this fight isn't over just yet. Even still, once Reverie finally reached the West, walking across the streets of Crossbell City left me feeling a then-indescribable joy.  

From the bustling department stores of Central Square to the street stalls of East Street, it was almost like coming home. All the long battles, the tireless fighting and everyone's hard work led to this moment of liberation. Where other RPG stories often go for standalone adventures these days even within the confines of a larger series, seeing that payoff finally come to fruition felt unbelievably sweet. It's not simply the destination, but also the journey getting there.

This moment wouldn't have hit nearly as hard without Crossbell Nostalgia. It's a fittingly named, energetic beat that accompanies you throughout Crossbell City during Reverie, but it's so much more than that. Crossbell Nostalgia encapsulates that feeling of success, that we've shaken off the great challenges this city had through an uplifting song. When I hear it now, I feel like I can face the day ahead. 

As the SSS walks through town, it's hard not to feel hopeful that the locals are actually living for themselves for the first time, a far cry from being stuck under the oppressive boot of the empire. Walking through the city, I became hopeful that good things were coming.

I can't say I ever feel this during Cold Steel's Crossbell segments even though I knew victory would eventually come. Caged Crossbell does a fine job conveying that sense of uncertainty regarding the country's annexation, but it's not an uplifting tune. By comparison, Crossbell Nostalgia gives me that hope that things will turn around. That peace doesn't last quite as long as you'd hope for in Reverie's opening, so hearing it again after snatching victory back only feels sweeter.

The song nails that atmosphere in a way only music can, and while Crossbell isn't a city I can ever visit, hitting play takes me back there once more.

Do you have any favourite tracks from the Trails series? Let us know in the comments below. You can also check out my full reviews for Zero, Azure and Reverie if you'd like to learn more.