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- These are my top 10 songs from each Trails game through CS3. They are my opinion after going back over each game's soundtrack. I didn't consider one or two tracks here and there if they were too similar to another song in the same, or another game. I also marked when something is an opening or ending song because those have lyrics, which is a bit different, as well as the fact that end songs are sometimes a bigger spoiler risk when searching them up. I've linked to each track on Falcom's Youtube channel for those that haven't heard them and would like to, or don't recognize all the names. Do be wary of spoilers in comments and thumbnails if that applies to you.
- Trails in the Sky (Sora no Kiseki)
- 1. Silver Will [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7zjsM5nQA]
- 2. Hoshi no Arika (Whereabouts of Light) (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OX6xpVVNF2o]
- 3. Hollow Light of the Sealed Land [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22qqs9jucn8]
- 4. Sophisticated Fight [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5EbReY7rA]
- 5. Challenger Invited [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1miii690HKE]
- 6. Feelings Soar With the Wind [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K7qCYaDzT8]
- 7. Release from the Spell and... [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtoRdVjjXMY]
- 8. Sora no Kiseki (Opening) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWIo2G6M-Oo]
- 9. Confession [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnqh8m4MiZs]
- 10. Setting Off [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7Lh7RlJVC0]
- Sky FC definitely has the weakest soundtrack in the series overall, but that's more of a credit to the rest than it is a insult to FC. Still excellent, but it probably has the most filler/generic sounding tracks.
- Trails in the Sky SC (Sora no Kiseki SC)
- 1. The Merciless Savior [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1GhOzlGXQk]
- 2. Silver Will (Super Arrange) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMwBxRpzoqU]
- 3. Hoshi no Arika (Instrumental version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3K-jn42Xsc]
- 4. I Swear (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sR6TFSqmyqw]
- 5. Silver Will Golden Wings (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCgMMqTJcpY]
- 6. The Truth Behind the Tragedy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8gLwfubJiY]
- 7. Fateful Confrontation [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ok9bzDzaS0]
- 8. The Dream Continues [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHCLsd0wsMU]
- 9. Looking up at the Sky [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqAzKJIr5aQ]
- 10. Whereabouts of Bonds [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIwlj5z8gGs]
- SC is a pretty significant jump up in quality from FC in my opinion. While I still feel only around half the songs in the game are particularly noteworthy the top end quality is outstanding, and some of these songs are still among my favourites from the entire series.
- EDIT: In version 2 of this list I decided to change a few things. I cut Strepitoso Fight (previously #8) and replaced it with Whereabouts of Bonds, while bumping up the other two. I also moved Merciless Savior up from 3 to 1. It really grew on me while I was watching a couple friends play through the game. Forgot just how satisfying it is.
- Trails in the Sky the 3rd (Sora no Kiseki the 3rd)
- 1. Dreamy and Boisterous Holy Land [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USwjWuD0YBg]
- 2. Looking Up at the Sky (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3TqH9ileB8]
- 3. Overdosing Heavenly Bliss [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUFqkmB5SSA]
- 4. Cry For Me, Cry For You (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiFqaTgjBbE]
- 5. Stairway to Gehenna [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLLhVMbiUgs]
- 6. Beard the Lion in His Den [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxAX2yvSBQ]
- 7. Cry For Your Eternity [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn7eKu4WNKk]
- 8. Illusionary Blue Flowers [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeCq5dLItXQ]
- 9. Castle of Illusions (Phantasmagoria) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDjFAWBwvyI]
- 10. The Final Choice [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=robYHoHOFK8]
- The 3rd is easily my favourite soundtrack in the Sky trilogy, which isn't something I would have been confident saying before making this list. It definitely has the highest consistent quality though, and was the hardest of the three for me to narrow down towards the end. My entire top 10 are outstanding tracks.
- Zero no Kiseki (Trails From Zero (unofficial))
- 1. Inevitable Struggle [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XUzvISRwUQ]
- 2. Way of Life (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgT0vP0VfEM]
- 3. Get Over the Barrier -Roaring- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYYetCVBko]
- 4. A Light Illuminating the Depths [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB9xkXuHquo]
- 5. Intense Chase [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OciAAIlivA]
- 6. Formidable Enemy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkL5oCAG52o]
- 7. Geofront [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsP7WSySVfk]
- 8. Zero No Kiseki [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFpB_zs7IK8]
- 9. Firm Strength [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmgApuXuBm8]
- 10. Gazing At Your Back [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT9ZgZ9qf7A]
- The Crossbell duology marks a substantial increase in the overall consistency of the soundtracks and it only goes up from there. That's not to say that Crossbell and onward has all my favourite tracks, but Falcom seemed to improve even further at this point at making every song for every situation excellent. Also to note, Get Over the Barrier has a standard version that's amazing as well, I just decided to only include one of them.
- Ao no Kiseki (Trails to Azure (unofficial))
- 0. Inevitable Struggle (Super Arrange) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lkaTGNE5ds]
- 1. Unfathomed Force [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9mL0PasBkw]
- 2. Mystic Core [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDy1DhTAXD4]
- 3. Destruction Impulse [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlBLyfet_jI]
- 4. Aoi Kiseki (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hqr5ykpdVU]
- 5. The Azure Arbitrator [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8CmfRgxvVQ]
- 6. Traces of D [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKefevuz-k0]
- 7. Seize the Truth! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s358AQzHMCU]
- 8. Concentrate All Firepower [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9E1eEJGP9o]
- 9. A Barrier to Get Over [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_09Af-jwimU]
- 10. Miss You [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKYjqbt0E70]
- The best soundtrack in the series up to this point, and it is not close. There just isn't a bad song in this game. I had at least some consideration for all but 4 or 5 tracks, and most of those are just jingles. Basically every song in every situation is great. I was pretty confident in which songs were in my top 5, but picking 6-10 was tough.
- EDIT: For whatever reason the super arrange version of Inevitable Struggle isn't actually listed in their Youtube or Spotify playlists, so I never ended up ranking it the first time around. It certainly deserves a mention though so I figured I may as well put it where it belongs. This version of Inevitable Struggle is one of my favourite tracks in the series.
- Trails of Cold Steel (Sen no Kiseki)
- 1. To Grasp Tomorrow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzDG5PeXgVk]
- 2. Crimson Wings -A New Wind- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_9WUb9LxJE]
- 3. The Decisive Collision [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB-APrkmSdw]
- 4. Tie a Link of ARCUS! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qnpg9Zc3_iE]
- 5. Don't be Defeated by a Friend! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsfGVHAqwMc]
- 6. Risking Everything, Here We Stand [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6jFYCAvklc]
- 7. Skies of a Strange Land [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSmJUB74bdM]
- 8. Ashita no Kodou (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf3nEAbLVKc]
- 9. I Miss You (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kX4x-8Ecfc]
- 10. Great Power [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYc9-2StzXI]
- Possibly my favourite soundtrack in the series, but I'm not certain. It's between this, 3rd, and Ao. I love the way this game uses guitar and violin. I'm definitely partial to violin in general and this game hits all the right spots.
- Trails of Cold Steel 2 (Sen no Kiseki 2)
- 1. Blue Destination [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Goj8hyy_L0M]
- 2. Sekou no Yukue (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ8h1lBHlO0]
- 3. I'll Remember You (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg_i3Ra-j-0]
- 4. Bring Up Trust [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMQnrk5Iobk]
- 5. Reverie Corridor [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hELEnwtlTo8]
- 6. To A Glimmering Tomorrow [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbDinyt3VCc]
- 7. A Heated Mind [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8QM6kSR9-Q]
- 8. A Quiet Decision [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c8J21xeABo]
- 9. Awakening [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f88tfiEAvXg]
- 10. For Those We Hold Dear, For Those We Love [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmEiQ0Zq2Ik]
- A very solid soundtrack, but I do feel that overall it is a small step down from Ao and Cold Steel. There are less songs that completely blow me away, but it is consistent and well made.
- Trails of Cold Steel 3 (Sen no Kiskei 3)
- 1. Spiral of Erebos [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHvnwxAg5ww]
- 2. Beyond the Journey (Opening, full version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w8nN9OkkB8]
- 3. Mourning Refrain (End) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bez5tLb4lYI]
- 4. Things Entrusted [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeIYx3ZhOm8]
- 5. Heart Transcend the Distance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsJlK4-Rciw]
- 6. Step Ahead [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8wbS0nDHzo]
- 7. Tragedy [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FXYZ8Ek9pc]
- 8. Brave Steel [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zciFSXZdxfk]
- 9. Beyond the Drifting Clouds [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQs2c5lKwyk]
- 10. Sword of Biting Gale [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r_tEhzh5X0]
- Probably my personal least favourite soundtrack. It's certainly not bad, there are good things here, but there was very little in this game that jumped out at me and made a lasting impression. Objectively it's almost certainly better than at least FC, but FC's songs stuck with me far more and have much more meaning to me. Just to note, #1 was a two horse race. I like the top two significantly more than anything else.
- And that's that. At this point in my life Trails is far and away my favourite game series, and their soundtracks are also among my favourites of all time. There's no other games that invoke so much *memory* in their songs for me. The songs go so well with the mood and it creates so many more memorable moments than could be achieved with a soundtrack that fades into the background. If you have not played them and have ever had even a passing curiosity in the series, I urge you to look into them. If you value RPG's with a cohesive world and well developed characters, plus a great soundtrack :) , then these games will do more than just about any other game in that regard. If you don't quit early, I promise you you will have some amazing experiences. There simply isn't any other series of games that treats its story like this, and to me, they're the games I've been wanting all my life.
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