Dentao234
14 reviews liked by Dentao234
Well, after weeks/months of playing for probably 80-100 hours total, as well as a few recent all nighters, I have finally finished this. Probably would've gone faster if my Japanese was better at the beginning of my playthrough, and this is despite Rance's simple prose, which only has a slight spike in difficulty in the last act of the game. I consider Rance's prose to be among the easiest from renowned VNs (if you can call this a VN, it's debatable, but it often gets put into that group). In any case, it's always been the plan for me to only play 03 and maybe X, depending on if the translation arrives before I finish IX, in Japanese.
To call this an improvement on 01 and 02 is a huge understatement. Not only did they take all the good gameplay elements of 01 and made it into a simple, yet satisfying system that I generally didn't feel much of a need to grind for and also happen to prefer to random encounter systems, or at least wasn't bored with in the slightest, but it has a great soundtrack with a good mix of 'videogamey' and guitar tracks. Here's a few music tracks I especially liked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21io-c605NQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtjYwBSQ3Ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihZHdxC6yFY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhYNeqgwXGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-saWTLCJfg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdFNoHLOSks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeARZXoUx80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky8CiMTtUNY
And this game has style, man, it looks so good during gameplay, transitions and overall visuals. Genuinely one of the most stylish JRPGs I've played. They also took all the cool characters from 01 and 02, like Lia, Shizuka, Maria, etc., and put them in this, making pretty much everyone playable, too. The story is a major upgrade over both 01 and 02, which were small-scale and unambitious, mostly filled with "haha, sex!" humor and shit just happening (not that this isn't, but this has a lot more serious and emotional moments). It's also nice to see Rance have more empathy.
I kind of want to say I've been sold on Rance, but it's more like I've been sold on the series' potential. While this game and its story are fun as hell and well-paced (whereas 01 was too long for what it was going for, and 02 felt like an eternity despite being extremely short), I still feel like it's a little simplistic and unambitious for me, especially after the torture of 02 and 03's length being over 40 hours on average (in your native language!), though I recognise that part of this is due to this being a remake of a 1991 JRPG. I will say though, the worldbuilding is good in this, and the characters are a lot better written and more nuanced than in the first two games, but the character writing still leaves a bit to be desired in terms of depth. It's very much the usual high fantasy or JRPG tropes that you see now and then, not top-tier JRPG material, though still well-executed for what it is, and like I said, fun. So despite it being a common consensus that this is in the Rance top 3, usually with two of X, Kichikuou, IX or Sengoku taking the other spots, I probably won't end up having it up there. And if this is an indicator of how I'll feel about the series until IX or even X... uh oh, because I'm determined to get to X, one of the most ambitious works of fiction ever.
I'm not looking forward to playing 4, 4.1, 4.2 and 5D, so I'll probably knock those out ASAP (I'm actually playing 4 as I write this, it's better than 02 but I already miss 03's overall quality; 5D sounds even worse from what I know of it) to get to the allegedly good games like Kichikuou and VI. Well, at least the bad games like 02 are very short compared to the liked ones. The series has really good reviews across the board between VI and X, as well as with Kichikuou. I will also miss voiced Rance, for some reason this is the only game to have voiceacting in the series.
To call this an improvement on 01 and 02 is a huge understatement. Not only did they take all the good gameplay elements of 01 and made it into a simple, yet satisfying system that I generally didn't feel much of a need to grind for and also happen to prefer to random encounter systems, or at least wasn't bored with in the slightest, but it has a great soundtrack with a good mix of 'videogamey' and guitar tracks. Here's a few music tracks I especially liked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21io-c605NQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtjYwBSQ3Ho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihZHdxC6yFY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhYNeqgwXGs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-saWTLCJfg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdFNoHLOSks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeARZXoUx80
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky8CiMTtUNY
And this game has style, man, it looks so good during gameplay, transitions and overall visuals. Genuinely one of the most stylish JRPGs I've played. They also took all the cool characters from 01 and 02, like Lia, Shizuka, Maria, etc., and put them in this, making pretty much everyone playable, too. The story is a major upgrade over both 01 and 02, which were small-scale and unambitious, mostly filled with "haha, sex!" humor and shit just happening (not that this isn't, but this has a lot more serious and emotional moments). It's also nice to see Rance have more empathy.
I kind of want to say I've been sold on Rance, but it's more like I've been sold on the series' potential. While this game and its story are fun as hell and well-paced (whereas 01 was too long for what it was going for, and 02 felt like an eternity despite being extremely short), I still feel like it's a little simplistic and unambitious for me, especially after the torture of 02 and 03's length being over 40 hours on average (in your native language!), though I recognise that part of this is due to this being a remake of a 1991 JRPG. I will say though, the worldbuilding is good in this, and the characters are a lot better written and more nuanced than in the first two games, but the character writing still leaves a bit to be desired in terms of depth. It's very much the usual high fantasy or JRPG tropes that you see now and then, not top-tier JRPG material, though still well-executed for what it is, and like I said, fun. So despite it being a common consensus that this is in the Rance top 3, usually with two of X, Kichikuou, IX or Sengoku taking the other spots, I probably won't end up having it up there. And if this is an indicator of how I'll feel about the series until IX or even X... uh oh, because I'm determined to get to X, one of the most ambitious works of fiction ever.
I'm not looking forward to playing 4, 4.1, 4.2 and 5D, so I'll probably knock those out ASAP (I'm actually playing 4 as I write this, it's better than 02 but I already miss 03's overall quality; 5D sounds even worse from what I know of it) to get to the allegedly good games like Kichikuou and VI. Well, at least the bad games like 02 are very short compared to the liked ones. The series has really good reviews across the board between VI and X, as well as with Kichikuou. I will also miss voiced Rance, for some reason this is the only game to have voiceacting in the series.
Super Mario World
1990
My childhood game, the first I've ever played and finished (at four years old!) on my uncle's Super Nintendo. It is still a great game today, both nostalgic and timeless. A real good time.
Mighty No. 9
2016
Acredito que essa seja a primeira vez, que eu tenho a experiência de gostar de um jogo que ninguém gosta. Não estou aqui para dizer que Mighty No. 9 é injustiçado, pois isso ele nunca será. Foi um projeto apoiado por muitas pessoas, rendeu rios de dinheiro e, mesmo assim, não atendeu às expectativas. É normal que as pessoas fiquem chateadas. Talvez o Keije Inafune não tenha roubado todo o dinheiro, talvez ele tenha investido bastante em Azure Striker Gunvolt 1 e 2, e Mighty Gunvolt Burst... Nunca saberemos ao certo. Só sabemos que Keiji Inafune foi um lixo humano em dizer: "Mighty No. 9 é melhor do que nada".
Mighty No. 9 é um jogo muito bom, desafiador, BONITO e, com certeza, uma boa maneira de reformular o que Megaman foi um dia. Sei que muita gente vai discordar disso, mas o jogo não tem o gráfico com "explosões de pizza" que tanto disseram, os designs de chefes e personagens principais são INCRÍVEIS, e a jogabilidade é extremamente rápida e fluida. É um plataforma muito desafiador, onde sua ideia consiste em se arriscar para executar combos cada vez maiores e, ao final de cada fase, conseguir uma grande pontuação através disso... Só que... Ninguém esperava isso.
Mighty No. 9 não é Megaman, como as pessoas esperavam que fosse, mas sim um parente distante, algo que bebe muito da fonte, mas não fica naquela mesmice. Ele tem ideias inovadoras, que foram até mesmo utilizadas com uma roupagem diferente na série 'Azure Striker Gunvolt'. O level design de cada fase é projetado pra te fazer pensar em como você conseguirá "dar stun" no seu inimigo, ao mesmo tempo que deverá encontrar uma janela de oportunidade entre os obstáculos e os ataques dos seus inimigos, pra destruir o inimigo que você "stunnou", e conseguir uma pontuação de 100%, garantindo uma contagem para o seu combo.
Não se trata de um jogo de plataforma somente pela plataforma. Mighty No. 9 posiciona seus inimigos de forma certeira, garantindo que a experiência da mecânica de combo, não fique só no papel, e se torne também parte de seu level design, e isso é fantástico. O frenesi de cada fase nova, te leva a construir um combate contra você mesmo e a sua "afobação". Você precisa ser perspicaz e encontrar um método pra se distanciar dos obstáculos das fases e continuar o seu combo.
Quando se fala em Megaman e, consequentemente, no seu criador original, é óbvio que a maioria das pessoas esperam um jogo onde você só tenha que estourar os seus inimigos na espada (Zero) ou no tiro (X, ou só o Megaman, da série clássica), só que Mighty No. 9 é outro tipo de jogo de plataforma. Ele te convida a experimentar as pontuações a nível de hack n slash, mudando o fato de que você pode tomar dano, você só não pode fazer uma pontuação abaixo de 100%.
Focar no que o jogo te apresenta como oportunidade de jogabilidade, é o prato cheio dele, e eu acho que isso deveria ser óbvio. Jogar um jogo a partir do objetivo que ele foi criado, e não a partir da expectativa de ser idêntico a outra franquia que você já conhece.
Além de tudo isso, mais uma vez, os gráficos de Mighty No. 9 podem não ser a melhor coisa do mundo, e eu entendo no quesito de: "doamos dinheiro pra cacete pra esse cara fazer o jogo que ele prometeu", só que ainda é um jogo MUITO BONITO. Eu fiquei realmente impressionado. Essa é a primeira vez que eu jogo Mighty No. 9 na vida, eu nunca tinha visto mais do que apenas uns 10 minutos de gameplay, e sinceramente, toda a estética artística que mistura cartoon com algo próximo do Megaman X8, me agrada infinitamente. Eu sei que as pessoas queriam um jogo com gráficos de última geração, quando se fala de 2016 e PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4, mas dizer que o jogo é feio SÓ POR NÃO TER GRÁFICOS ATUAIS, é negar um estilo artístico que brinca com estética cartoon e modelos de transição PS2/PS3. Se o seu problema for o tanto de dinheiro que o Inafune ganhou, a crítica correta seria: "os gráficos poderiam ser melhores".
Com uma jogabilidade tão rápida e desafiadora, nós temos um ótimo plataforma, com mecânicas únicas e uma intensidade em te fazer querer tirar pontuações mais altas. O jogo é curto, a duração das fases também é curta, e tudo isso colabora para o fator replay, que é o objetivo do jogo com a sua jogabilidade.
Existem modos co-op online e corrida online também, muita coisa pra fazer, e nossa... Eu amei isso aqui. Não sei como ele saiu em 2016, mas eu esperava que mais pessoas gostassem... Eu realmente esperava não ser um dos poucos a gostar tanto disso aqui. A nota 9/10 é com o coração, é particular meu, mas se fosse pra ser mais sincero até 8/10 passava. Recomendo a todos que gostam de um bom plataforma e não está esperando exatamente um Megaman... Apenas o processo criativo que realmente envolve muita criatividade, bons levels designs e rapidez. Garanto que você vai se divertir.
Aos que não gostam de Mighty No. 9: nada contra, eu só acho que o jogo é bom, mesmo com os problemas de seu criador e toda a polêmica envolvendo o kickstarter.
Mighty No. 9 é um jogo muito bom, desafiador, BONITO e, com certeza, uma boa maneira de reformular o que Megaman foi um dia. Sei que muita gente vai discordar disso, mas o jogo não tem o gráfico com "explosões de pizza" que tanto disseram, os designs de chefes e personagens principais são INCRÍVEIS, e a jogabilidade é extremamente rápida e fluida. É um plataforma muito desafiador, onde sua ideia consiste em se arriscar para executar combos cada vez maiores e, ao final de cada fase, conseguir uma grande pontuação através disso... Só que... Ninguém esperava isso.
Mighty No. 9 não é Megaman, como as pessoas esperavam que fosse, mas sim um parente distante, algo que bebe muito da fonte, mas não fica naquela mesmice. Ele tem ideias inovadoras, que foram até mesmo utilizadas com uma roupagem diferente na série 'Azure Striker Gunvolt'. O level design de cada fase é projetado pra te fazer pensar em como você conseguirá "dar stun" no seu inimigo, ao mesmo tempo que deverá encontrar uma janela de oportunidade entre os obstáculos e os ataques dos seus inimigos, pra destruir o inimigo que você "stunnou", e conseguir uma pontuação de 100%, garantindo uma contagem para o seu combo.
Não se trata de um jogo de plataforma somente pela plataforma. Mighty No. 9 posiciona seus inimigos de forma certeira, garantindo que a experiência da mecânica de combo, não fique só no papel, e se torne também parte de seu level design, e isso é fantástico. O frenesi de cada fase nova, te leva a construir um combate contra você mesmo e a sua "afobação". Você precisa ser perspicaz e encontrar um método pra se distanciar dos obstáculos das fases e continuar o seu combo.
Quando se fala em Megaman e, consequentemente, no seu criador original, é óbvio que a maioria das pessoas esperam um jogo onde você só tenha que estourar os seus inimigos na espada (Zero) ou no tiro (X, ou só o Megaman, da série clássica), só que Mighty No. 9 é outro tipo de jogo de plataforma. Ele te convida a experimentar as pontuações a nível de hack n slash, mudando o fato de que você pode tomar dano, você só não pode fazer uma pontuação abaixo de 100%.
Focar no que o jogo te apresenta como oportunidade de jogabilidade, é o prato cheio dele, e eu acho que isso deveria ser óbvio. Jogar um jogo a partir do objetivo que ele foi criado, e não a partir da expectativa de ser idêntico a outra franquia que você já conhece.
Além de tudo isso, mais uma vez, os gráficos de Mighty No. 9 podem não ser a melhor coisa do mundo, e eu entendo no quesito de: "doamos dinheiro pra cacete pra esse cara fazer o jogo que ele prometeu", só que ainda é um jogo MUITO BONITO. Eu fiquei realmente impressionado. Essa é a primeira vez que eu jogo Mighty No. 9 na vida, eu nunca tinha visto mais do que apenas uns 10 minutos de gameplay, e sinceramente, toda a estética artística que mistura cartoon com algo próximo do Megaman X8, me agrada infinitamente. Eu sei que as pessoas queriam um jogo com gráficos de última geração, quando se fala de 2016 e PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4, mas dizer que o jogo é feio SÓ POR NÃO TER GRÁFICOS ATUAIS, é negar um estilo artístico que brinca com estética cartoon e modelos de transição PS2/PS3. Se o seu problema for o tanto de dinheiro que o Inafune ganhou, a crítica correta seria: "os gráficos poderiam ser melhores".
Com uma jogabilidade tão rápida e desafiadora, nós temos um ótimo plataforma, com mecânicas únicas e uma intensidade em te fazer querer tirar pontuações mais altas. O jogo é curto, a duração das fases também é curta, e tudo isso colabora para o fator replay, que é o objetivo do jogo com a sua jogabilidade.
Existem modos co-op online e corrida online também, muita coisa pra fazer, e nossa... Eu amei isso aqui. Não sei como ele saiu em 2016, mas eu esperava que mais pessoas gostassem... Eu realmente esperava não ser um dos poucos a gostar tanto disso aqui. A nota 9/10 é com o coração, é particular meu, mas se fosse pra ser mais sincero até 8/10 passava. Recomendo a todos que gostam de um bom plataforma e não está esperando exatamente um Megaman... Apenas o processo criativo que realmente envolve muita criatividade, bons levels designs e rapidez. Garanto que você vai se divertir.
Aos que não gostam de Mighty No. 9: nada contra, eu só acho que o jogo é bom, mesmo com os problemas de seu criador e toda a polêmica envolvendo o kickstarter.
I genuinely have no words. This game has become my favourite video game of all time, with the exception of a single visual novel. It set a new standard that I think I'll have to readjust quite a few of my ratings now. It's honestly difficult to even begin describing how I feel about this game, but I'll try.
Reverie is both a love letter and epilogue to the first three arcs of Trails, as well as the prologue to what comes next.
From the homely Liberl, to Crossbell's history of oppression and melting pot of a culture, to Erebonia's oppressive yet fascinating existence. From Estelle and Joshua's journey, to Lloyd's unyielding determination, to Rean's saga. All of that was already settled in Cold Steel IV, but unlike the bombastic, massive battles where everyone (well, almost — sorry, Kevin) from every possible side joined to end the conflict once and for all, Reverie decides to focus on a smaller amount of characters and make them go through incredible character development. That's not to say the stakes are low, though — this is still a JRPG. And so, the game, before the finale is split into three routes (actually just POV chapters but whatever), between which you can usually switch at will.
Lloyd's route, despite being the weakest of the three, is something that his character definitely benefits from. We have seen the SSS fight tooth and nail for Crossbell so many times that they, and other people, have forced expectations onto them. The land of Crossbell has been under constant threat of dictatorship and occupation by multiple parties. They just don't want to leave them alone. In spite of that, though, our guy Lloyd, who would face down the sun falling from the sky onto him and would still get back up, is still Lloyd, and it's hard not to love him for it.
Rean's route is a fitting after-story for the completion of his arc in CS4. While that arc may have ended, having doubts after everything is said and done is natural. It feels very organic and fitting as a character study.
C is a newcomer protagonist, and compared to the other two in this game, is more morally questionable. As someone with a dark past, he bonds with other misfits with complicated backgrounds. It's honestly really difficult to talk about this any further without spoilers, so I won't. But I'll just say that he's incredible.
Making a shorter Trails game split into three routes does wonders for this story's pacing, while at the same time having a wealth of side content. This is probably the best paced Trails game since Azure, and possible ever.
Falcom is at its peak with the technical (or at least until Daybreak/Kuro, wow that game is phenomenal), visual and sound aspects here. This is a very stylised game, with probably my favourite Trails soundtrack, which is saying a lot. Every route gets their own battle themes in a fitting style, such as having the spiritual sequel to Zero's Get Over the Barrier! and Azure's Seize the Truth! in Lloyd's route and Crossbell, as well as C's route's tracks, which blew me away. Not to mention the wonderful OP track. The gameplay is pretty much the same as CS4, but no complaints at that front either, especially since I enjoyed the fights in this one more. Trails was already my favourite JRPG turn-based combat of all time, and this just further cemented it.
While playing this series I was wondering what about it works so well for me. Before starting Trails, I was wondering if a 500+ hour series can even be worth it. Seemed like a series that would not be amazing enough to justify such a lengthy commitment over shorter, yet acclaimed JRPGs.
Trails, when it wants to be, is a masterclass on what you can achieve with characters and world building in a JRPG. Well, of course the several hundred hour long series would have good world building, but it is impressive nonetheless, especially if you're a completionist. I'm not one myself, but it would be a perfect fit if I was. The amount of dialogue NPCs have after any given story event is crazy. And then there's the in-story lore and world. The regions in every game feel completely different, and if you go back to a previous region in a future game, it feels like coming home. Different musical styles, viewpoints, vibes, etc. It's not like Falcom made a carbon copy of Tolkien's world or something — to me, Zemuria is one of a kind. This variety extends to the characters, too. The protagonists of the games so far (Estelle, Kevin, Lloyd, Rean, C) couldn't be more different. Despite being a series with plenty of tropes, it has enough diversity to feel fresh every time. That includes thematically. It's impossible for me not to look forward to what they'll show me next, especially with this behemoth of a buildup. Trails is just special to me. This review I'm writing is longer than my usual ones, but it feels like I can always say more.
It's also impressive but kind of funny how this game doubles as damage control for people's issues with CS4. If you liked CS4, there's little doubt you'll like this a lot. And if you hated CS4, you will probably enjoys this a lot more. This game is as much Cold Steel 5 as it is Crossbell 3, and as someone who's greatly enjoyed both sagas, I couldn't be happier. I will probably do some side content in this game for some time, or maybe I'll take a break. Or maybe I'll just boot up Kuro 1 (Daybreak 1) ASAP. Who knows.
This game marks the end of one thing, but the beginning of another. Liberlian Bracers, Kevin, the SSS, Class VII, it's been a pleasure to witness your journeys. This is goodbye for now, but I'm sure I'll see you again... Someday, somewhere.
Reverie is both a love letter and epilogue to the first three arcs of Trails, as well as the prologue to what comes next.
From the homely Liberl, to Crossbell's history of oppression and melting pot of a culture, to Erebonia's oppressive yet fascinating existence. From Estelle and Joshua's journey, to Lloyd's unyielding determination, to Rean's saga. All of that was already settled in Cold Steel IV, but unlike the bombastic, massive battles where everyone (well, almost — sorry, Kevin) from every possible side joined to end the conflict once and for all, Reverie decides to focus on a smaller amount of characters and make them go through incredible character development. That's not to say the stakes are low, though — this is still a JRPG. And so, the game, before the finale is split into three routes (actually just POV chapters but whatever), between which you can usually switch at will.
Lloyd's route, despite being the weakest of the three, is something that his character definitely benefits from. We have seen the SSS fight tooth and nail for Crossbell so many times that they, and other people, have forced expectations onto them. The land of Crossbell has been under constant threat of dictatorship and occupation by multiple parties. They just don't want to leave them alone. In spite of that, though, our guy Lloyd, who would face down the sun falling from the sky onto him and would still get back up, is still Lloyd, and it's hard not to love him for it.
Rean's route is a fitting after-story for the completion of his arc in CS4. While that arc may have ended, having doubts after everything is said and done is natural. It feels very organic and fitting as a character study.
C is a newcomer protagonist, and compared to the other two in this game, is more morally questionable. As someone with a dark past, he bonds with other misfits with complicated backgrounds. It's honestly really difficult to talk about this any further without spoilers, so I won't. But I'll just say that he's incredible.
Making a shorter Trails game split into three routes does wonders for this story's pacing, while at the same time having a wealth of side content. This is probably the best paced Trails game since Azure, and possible ever.
Falcom is at its peak with the technical (or at least until Daybreak/Kuro, wow that game is phenomenal), visual and sound aspects here. This is a very stylised game, with probably my favourite Trails soundtrack, which is saying a lot. Every route gets their own battle themes in a fitting style, such as having the spiritual sequel to Zero's Get Over the Barrier! and Azure's Seize the Truth! in Lloyd's route and Crossbell, as well as C's route's tracks, which blew me away. Not to mention the wonderful OP track. The gameplay is pretty much the same as CS4, but no complaints at that front either, especially since I enjoyed the fights in this one more. Trails was already my favourite JRPG turn-based combat of all time, and this just further cemented it.
While playing this series I was wondering what about it works so well for me. Before starting Trails, I was wondering if a 500+ hour series can even be worth it. Seemed like a series that would not be amazing enough to justify such a lengthy commitment over shorter, yet acclaimed JRPGs.
Trails, when it wants to be, is a masterclass on what you can achieve with characters and world building in a JRPG. Well, of course the several hundred hour long series would have good world building, but it is impressive nonetheless, especially if you're a completionist. I'm not one myself, but it would be a perfect fit if I was. The amount of dialogue NPCs have after any given story event is crazy. And then there's the in-story lore and world. The regions in every game feel completely different, and if you go back to a previous region in a future game, it feels like coming home. Different musical styles, viewpoints, vibes, etc. It's not like Falcom made a carbon copy of Tolkien's world or something — to me, Zemuria is one of a kind. This variety extends to the characters, too. The protagonists of the games so far (Estelle, Kevin, Lloyd, Rean, C) couldn't be more different. Despite being a series with plenty of tropes, it has enough diversity to feel fresh every time. That includes thematically. It's impossible for me not to look forward to what they'll show me next, especially with this behemoth of a buildup. Trails is just special to me. This review I'm writing is longer than my usual ones, but it feels like I can always say more.
It's also impressive but kind of funny how this game doubles as damage control for people's issues with CS4. If you liked CS4, there's little doubt you'll like this a lot. And if you hated CS4, you will probably enjoys this a lot more. This game is as much Cold Steel 5 as it is Crossbell 3, and as someone who's greatly enjoyed both sagas, I couldn't be happier. I will probably do some side content in this game for some time, or maybe I'll take a break. Or maybe I'll just boot up Kuro 1 (Daybreak 1) ASAP. Who knows.
This game marks the end of one thing, but the beginning of another. Liberlian Bracers, Kevin, the SSS, Class VII, it's been a pleasure to witness your journeys. This is goodbye for now, but I'm sure I'll see you again... Someday, somewhere.
Small edit: Rating changed to 4.5/5 because this game is fun as hell despite being very stupid at times
Wow, what a journey.
I'm not surprised this one is polarising, with people most often either yelling "peak fiction" or seeing this game as the one that messed up Cold Steel, or even Kiseki so far, right at the end. This game is a bit more difficult to write about than the other Trails games for me because it's so inconsistent. You have genuinely the worst padding in the series at times, and a lot of time wasted on stuff that doesn't amount to anything. On the other hand, you have some of the most hype stuff you'll ever see in a JRPG, and plenty of emotional moments.
On one hand you have MCU-level "Avengers moments" as opposed to the more organic ones in Zero to Cold Steel III (in CS4 they try to include everyone, so as opposed to something like Zero or CS3, they sometimes say/do their one thing then take a break from being in the story for a while relatively often), on the other hand you have some of the coolest stuff you'd dream to see in a connected universe that is only possible on this scale in Trails, such as 5-team dungeon raids and boss fights while old dungeon themes play in the OST. I am into so many long series with connected universes whose fans would salivate at the idea of even a fraction of this amount of crossover-ness.
It was difficult to decide whether to give this a 4/5 or 4.5/5, but I ultimately went with the more generous option since I enjoyed this more than CS3. It's definitely one of the coolest and most fun JRPGs out there, just heavily flawed and inconsistent, with both extremely tropey and generic ideas, as well as very creative ones that you don't see often.
Really looking forward to Reverie, I played the prologue and it's everything I've ever wanted. The best start to a video game I've ever seen, it has potential to be my favourite game of all time.
Wow, what a journey.
I'm not surprised this one is polarising, with people most often either yelling "peak fiction" or seeing this game as the one that messed up Cold Steel, or even Kiseki so far, right at the end. This game is a bit more difficult to write about than the other Trails games for me because it's so inconsistent. You have genuinely the worst padding in the series at times, and a lot of time wasted on stuff that doesn't amount to anything. On the other hand, you have some of the most hype stuff you'll ever see in a JRPG, and plenty of emotional moments.
On one hand you have MCU-level "Avengers moments" as opposed to the more organic ones in Zero to Cold Steel III (in CS4 they try to include everyone, so as opposed to something like Zero or CS3, they sometimes say/do their one thing then take a break from being in the story for a while relatively often), on the other hand you have some of the coolest stuff you'd dream to see in a connected universe that is only possible on this scale in Trails, such as 5-team dungeon raids and boss fights while old dungeon themes play in the OST. I am into so many long series with connected universes whose fans would salivate at the idea of even a fraction of this amount of crossover-ness.
It was difficult to decide whether to give this a 4/5 or 4.5/5, but I ultimately went with the more generous option since I enjoyed this more than CS3. It's definitely one of the coolest and most fun JRPGs out there, just heavily flawed and inconsistent, with both extremely tropey and generic ideas, as well as very creative ones that you don't see often.
Really looking forward to Reverie, I played the prologue and it's everything I've ever wanted. The best start to a video game I've ever seen, it has potential to be my favourite game of all time.
It's definitely flawed, I can definitely see where the complaints come from, but honestly, it's been a blast for me, and a major step up from CS1 and CS2. Definitely one of the better first parts of Trails arcs, not just graphically and with gameplay, but in terms of raw enjoyment and pacing. I might be in the minority with some of these, though.
A lot of first parts in Trails arcs are about exploration and character interaction, and I think the mentor/student dynamic in a school setting really helps with that. The more militaristic and sci-fi-ish setting really works for me. The field trips have some of the most fun episodic Trails content for me, and some of the cast being from Crossbell really brings an interesting dynamic to a cast that is for the most part from Erebonia. I also really like Rean in this one.
That ending really hit for me, as well. No idea how people waited an entire year for CS4 to come out like this. I immediately opened up CS4 and played the prologue, which blew me away, as well. The hundreds of hours invested into the series are definitely paying off. I will have high expectations for it and Reverie now. Let's hope that I end up being one of the people for whom CS4 really works, since I see extreme opinions on it more than anyone calling it mediocre or just okay.
A lot of first parts in Trails arcs are about exploration and character interaction, and I think the mentor/student dynamic in a school setting really helps with that. The more militaristic and sci-fi-ish setting really works for me. The field trips have some of the most fun episodic Trails content for me, and some of the cast being from Crossbell really brings an interesting dynamic to a cast that is for the most part from Erebonia. I also really like Rean in this one.
That ending really hit for me, as well. No idea how people waited an entire year for CS4 to come out like this. I immediately opened up CS4 and played the prologue, which blew me away, as well. The hundreds of hours invested into the series are definitely paying off. I will have high expectations for it and Reverie now. Let's hope that I end up being one of the people for whom CS4 really works, since I see extreme opinions on it more than anyone calling it mediocre or just okay.
So, I was sick in bed these past few days and have been going through this. At times it was the perfect thing to distract me as I got better, and at other times I genuinely think it gave me a worse migraine and fatigue than being sick ever did.
CS2 is weird because its peaks are higher than CS1's right from the beginning with its awesome premise, but it meanders more than CS1 or any of the Sky games ever did. You have so many similar dungeons that go on and on and on, with the game often involving repetition of slightly similar events or places in other areas in the middle of the game, as well as its later portion. Also, the game seems to never want to end, there's an epilogue after the credits to the finale, and then the intermission before the actual finale. I didn't mind it that much though because I really liked the Intermission and Divertissement chapters, but the actual last chapter being that long was unjustified. At least it was pretty emotional near the end, and the point it was trying to deliver was interesting. Rean's rival of sorts is pretty nice too, but I wish they had more screen time.
Overall a fun game, I'd put it above CS1. It is more ambitious than CS1, but more flawed for sure. I did play the intro to CS3 and the graphical upgrades that come with Falcom moving on from the PS Vita and years of technical advancement, as well as the improved gameplay and insane music have me very excited to play more.
CS2 is weird because its peaks are higher than CS1's right from the beginning with its awesome premise, but it meanders more than CS1 or any of the Sky games ever did. You have so many similar dungeons that go on and on and on, with the game often involving repetition of slightly similar events or places in other areas in the middle of the game, as well as its later portion. Also, the game seems to never want to end, there's an epilogue after the credits to the finale, and then the intermission before the actual finale. I didn't mind it that much though because I really liked the Intermission and Divertissement chapters, but the actual last chapter being that long was unjustified. At least it was pretty emotional near the end, and the point it was trying to deliver was interesting. Rean's rival of sorts is pretty nice too, but I wish they had more screen time.
Overall a fun game, I'd put it above CS1. It is more ambitious than CS1, but more flawed for sure. I did play the intro to CS3 and the graphical upgrades that come with Falcom moving on from the PS Vita and years of technical advancement, as well as the improved gameplay and insane music have me very excited to play more.
Cold Steel I is a game that almost doesn't feel like Trails. It's 3D now, the MC is more anime than all the others (the entire female cast wants him + Persona dating social links), a vast majority of the plot is episodic city exploration that bloats the narrative more than the previous games ever did. But the high points, especially the last part, redeem it.
The music is great (an obvious statement about a Trails game, but noteworthy nonetheless), the combat system is a step up from Crossbell's, and it just feels fun to play, with even its duller moments being pretty comfy. It doesn't have Sky's comfortable and homely vibe, it doesn't have Sky 3rd's level of themes and character writing, it doesn't have Crossbell's consistency and high points overall writing wise, but it does have one thing that it crushes the previous games in — the rule of cool.
Rean (as of this game) is no Kevin, but his struggles are quite compelling, and more importantly, he has a katana, which is the coolest weapon a Trails MC has had yet. He is a cool swordsman. And Cold Steel is very cool when it wants to be. The last act some real hype moments that rarely work for me in videogames, and they were done creatively. I immediately booted up the beginning of CS2 because I just couldn't wait.
Despite at times looking like an obvious lower budget JRPG (why replace 2D character portraits with 3D models..? it took some time to get used to), and having a worse (IMO) art style than Crossbell, CS1 definitely has a nice visual style. Despite being the first 3D Trails game, once you get used to how it looks, it's really nice seeing environments that would have been previously seen from a 2.5D, top-down view in their full glory.
Overall, it's a heavily flawed, inconsistent, almost messy (you could even say it sucks sometimes) game, but when it hits, it's very exciting, and leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to see more of this journey.
The music is great (an obvious statement about a Trails game, but noteworthy nonetheless), the combat system is a step up from Crossbell's, and it just feels fun to play, with even its duller moments being pretty comfy. It doesn't have Sky's comfortable and homely vibe, it doesn't have Sky 3rd's level of themes and character writing, it doesn't have Crossbell's consistency and high points overall writing wise, but it does have one thing that it crushes the previous games in — the rule of cool.
Rean (as of this game) is no Kevin, but his struggles are quite compelling, and more importantly, he has a katana, which is the coolest weapon a Trails MC has had yet. He is a cool swordsman. And Cold Steel is very cool when it wants to be. The last act some real hype moments that rarely work for me in videogames, and they were done creatively. I immediately booted up the beginning of CS2 because I just couldn't wait.
Despite at times looking like an obvious lower budget JRPG (why replace 2D character portraits with 3D models..? it took some time to get used to), and having a worse (IMO) art style than Crossbell, CS1 definitely has a nice visual style. Despite being the first 3D Trails game, once you get used to how it looks, it's really nice seeing environments that would have been previously seen from a 2.5D, top-down view in their full glory.
Overall, it's a heavily flawed, inconsistent, almost messy (you could even say it sucks sometimes) game, but when it hits, it's very exciting, and leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to see more of this journey.
This game is FUCKING CRAZY. I was skeptical over whether they'd top Sky the 3rd yet they somehow did.
I don't know how they did it, they somehow made three back-to-back 5-star, 10/10 games. This has NEVER happened to me in another series, even my favourites.
It's extremely emotional, the artstyle is awesome, it's fun to play (the small gameplay additions compared to Zero are appreciated), the characters are all awesome, they throw so many twists at you, the likes of which I haven't been this affected by since finishing my top 10 favourites across all media, that you can't help but binge. The backtracking is some of the least tedious in the entire genre from what I've seen. This is one of the closest things I've seen to perfection, from concept to execution, in my life. My only actual complaint is that the difficulty curve is kind of unreasonable in the last few fights of the game, but who cares, it was really hype.
And oh my GOD, the music... Trails already secured its place as #1 in terms of OST, beating Umineko, but this is on a whole other level. You have so many bangers, like the Azure Arbitrator or Mystic Core, but they're far from the only ones.
In terms of favourites, I'd place it around Utawarerumono 3. It's just that good.
I will be slowing down with my Trails binging and going through Cold Steel at a more leisurely pace so that I don't burn out but... wow, I'm definitely a fan.
I don't know how they did it, they somehow made three back-to-back 5-star, 10/10 games. This has NEVER happened to me in another series, even my favourites.
It's extremely emotional, the artstyle is awesome, it's fun to play (the small gameplay additions compared to Zero are appreciated), the characters are all awesome, they throw so many twists at you, the likes of which I haven't been this affected by since finishing my top 10 favourites across all media, that you can't help but binge. The backtracking is some of the least tedious in the entire genre from what I've seen. This is one of the closest things I've seen to perfection, from concept to execution, in my life. My only actual complaint is that the difficulty curve is kind of unreasonable in the last few fights of the game, but who cares, it was really hype.
And oh my GOD, the music... Trails already secured its place as #1 in terms of OST, beating Umineko, but this is on a whole other level. You have so many bangers, like the Azure Arbitrator or Mystic Core, but they're far from the only ones.
In terms of favourites, I'd place it around Utawarerumono 3. It's just that good.
I will be slowing down with my Trails binging and going through Cold Steel at a more leisurely pace so that I don't burn out but... wow, I'm definitely a fan.
The perfect addition that not only complements the game, but also highlights its brilliance and competence. It was a surprisingly character-driven DLC. Whereas Bloodborne was a more atmospheric and grotesque experience, The Old Hunters centered around the Hunters you face.
I absolutely fucking loved this shit; like, there's no need to babble further on how much I like Bloodborne, but I have to applaud how the DLC managed to add to the base game without being "more of the same", it had a unique taste especially in terms of the cast. My biggest issue with the original game pretty much was The Old Hunders' biggest strength. The DLC not only brings excellent characters but adds extra layers to the existing ones.
By meeting so many important lore figures, you really gain a new perspective on the events of Yharnam. The complexity and dichotomy each character carries matches how much I thought while I was playing the main game months ago. I don't think I'll ever forget my encounters with Laurence, Lady Maria and especially Ludwig. Not getting excited thinking about this game is harder than the game itself, dammit... The thing is, Bloodborne inspired a new passion in me and the DLC intensified it. Since I finished the game in early 2023, I've been playing more horror games and even digging up some horror books. And that's not for nothing, it's not me wanting to "elitize" the game, but Bloodborne really has a higher and even ethereal quality about itself; it is so profound and complex I just love it. Wondering about Yharnam and its history is an ineffable delight that the game 112% invites me to do. The result being that I'm thirstier than any healthy person should be for more Bloodborne or the like, and more is what I got. I'm sure the DLC will age on me just as well as the base game.
The Old Hunters saga was one whose linearity was perfect. I like the original game's sense of freedom, but Old Hunters being linear allowed for stellar thematic cohesion. As purposely chaotic as they are, the places are like a subtle mini-story that I doubt is coincidental.
As of today, I will be unable to think of Bloodborne without thinking of Old Hunters. I still prefer the base game, but the DLC cast is honestly just as memorable. And now Bloodborne is officially the perfect video game and it's become my favorite I guess. This game brings out the best in me and now it has finally taken its rightful place as my top 1.
I absolutely fucking loved this shit; like, there's no need to babble further on how much I like Bloodborne, but I have to applaud how the DLC managed to add to the base game without being "more of the same", it had a unique taste especially in terms of the cast. My biggest issue with the original game pretty much was The Old Hunders' biggest strength. The DLC not only brings excellent characters but adds extra layers to the existing ones.
By meeting so many important lore figures, you really gain a new perspective on the events of Yharnam. The complexity and dichotomy each character carries matches how much I thought while I was playing the main game months ago. I don't think I'll ever forget my encounters with Laurence, Lady Maria and especially Ludwig. Not getting excited thinking about this game is harder than the game itself, dammit... The thing is, Bloodborne inspired a new passion in me and the DLC intensified it. Since I finished the game in early 2023, I've been playing more horror games and even digging up some horror books. And that's not for nothing, it's not me wanting to "elitize" the game, but Bloodborne really has a higher and even ethereal quality about itself; it is so profound and complex I just love it. Wondering about Yharnam and its history is an ineffable delight that the game 112% invites me to do. The result being that I'm thirstier than any healthy person should be for more Bloodborne or the like, and more is what I got. I'm sure the DLC will age on me just as well as the base game.
The Old Hunters saga was one whose linearity was perfect. I like the original game's sense of freedom, but Old Hunters being linear allowed for stellar thematic cohesion. As purposely chaotic as they are, the places are like a subtle mini-story that I doubt is coincidental.
As of today, I will be unable to think of Bloodborne without thinking of Old Hunters. I still prefer the base game, but the DLC cast is honestly just as memorable. And now Bloodborne is officially the perfect video game and it's become my favorite I guess. This game brings out the best in me and now it has finally taken its rightful place as my top 1.
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