Ys vs. Trails in the Sky

Lore & Background

Ys vs. Trails in the Sky was first announced in an issue of Dengeki PlayStation in November 2009. The game was created because Nihon Falcom wanted to make use of the PlayStation Portable's wireless ad hoc local multiplayer function, which they had not been able to incorporate into prior JRPG titles. The developers felt that both the Ys and Trails series, while JRPGs, contained many themes related to battle and conflict that lent themselves naturally to a fighting game. The game's engine was based on the one first used in Ys Seven.

Reader's Guide

Ys vs. Trails in the Sky is significant as a crossover title that brought together two of Nihon Falcom's most popular RPG franchises in a fighting game format. It debuted eighth on the Media Create Japanese video game charts, selling 30,047 copies in its opening week, and seventh on the Famitsu charts. The game sold well enough to warrant a 'The Best' budget re-release in July 2011. Its legacy includes a fan translation by the Geofront group in October 2021, followed by an official English release by Refint/games in 2025 for multiple platforms. The game's support character system included characters from other Falcom games such as The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch, Brandish, and Gurumin, expanding its crossover appeal beyond just Ys and Trails.

Did You Know?

• The game's engine was based on the one first used in Ys Seven.
• A fan translation by the Geofront group was released in October 2021; no official English version has been announced.
• The limited edition included the game's soundtrack, an album of selected music from Falcom's library, a special booklet, and a card for the Victory Spark trading card game.
• The game's music was a mix of original compositions and arrangements from Ys and Trails games by Yukihiro Jindo.