Gamma_
The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel is an amazing start to a new arc in this series. Coming in this game off of the heels of Geofront's Azure, it was nice to see the perspective of another area in the world going on at the same time as the Crossbell games. I think my only issue is how the Art system is changed from the Engimas to ARCUS, but I was able to get used to it and had a solid time going through this game. I enjoyed seeing all of the inner workings of Erebonia and what life was like here.
With The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel II I was very back and forth on if I truly do recommend this game. While I have been told this game is the weakest entry in the entire series so far, it is still far from a bad JRPG. I really did enjoy myself seeing how the Civil War in Erebonia played out, and how things were being picked up from the end of Trails to Azure.
My only real issues with this game really came with a lot of filler parts in the story that I felt like could have been condensed down, and the epilogue nearly ruined this game for me. Oh and there is some pretty important plot stuff that his hidden behind a NG+ series of books that you have to collect. I am not sure who thought that was a good idea.
My only real issues with this game really came with a lot of filler parts in the story that I felt like could have been condensed down, and the epilogue nearly ruined this game for me. Oh and there is some pretty important plot stuff that his hidden behind a NG+ series of books that you have to collect. I am not sure who thought that was a good idea.
The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel III for me feels like the peak of the entire Cold Steel saga. Playing from the perspective as a teacher at Thor's was really an interesting way to advance the story forward. I also enjoyed a lot of the combat changes this game introduces over Cold Steel II, even if it meant nerfing a lot of fun things (such as being able to summon Valimar in almost every fight) but I enjoyed it all nonetheless. While New Class VII can't really replace Class VII for me, they do do their job very well, and I am looking forward to seeing them grow in Cold Steel IV
Also that ending though lmao, giving Trails in the Sky FC a run for its money in the cliffhanger department.
Also that ending though lmao, giving Trails in the Sky FC a run for its money in the cliffhanger department.
The Legend of Heroes Trails of Cold Steel IV, oh man this was an adventure and a half getting here.
Honestly, this game was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, it brings everything to a nice resolution with the Cold Steel arc, while bringing in a healthy amount from the Sky and Crossbell arcs. With such a large cast of characters you would think this would turn into too many cooks ruin the soup, but shockingly, at least in my opinion, it is done every well and everyone has their appropriate role to play.
There weren't too many gameplay changes over CS3, just more quality of lfie improvements, but I have to wonder if this game was a bit too easy? I played it on hard and there were very few fights I was dreading. This could be due to Orders making certain things a bit trivial. There are some boss fights that are boiled down to mainly damage sponges than fun fights, so that can take a bit out of it, especially because one of them was a character I have enjoyed fighting through this series.
Really the only downside I can say is that the PC port of this is probably the worst of all the Kiseki games on Steam. The game would constantly lockup and drop frames at the strangest of moments, where it got to the point I just wanted to play this on my PS5 instead. Hell there was an instance something got corrupted at the very end of the game that prevented me from going forward unless I did a reinstall, so on terms of the port job it is probably the weakest entry.
But overall, this game is really solid, and is probably my favorite game in the entire Cold Steel saga. It wrapped up things nicely, while keeping just enough loose ends for Reverie and the Calvard arc. I just pray we start getting those localized in a more timely manner.
Honestly, this game was a lot better than I thought it was going to be, it brings everything to a nice resolution with the Cold Steel arc, while bringing in a healthy amount from the Sky and Crossbell arcs. With such a large cast of characters you would think this would turn into too many cooks ruin the soup, but shockingly, at least in my opinion, it is done every well and everyone has their appropriate role to play.
There weren't too many gameplay changes over CS3, just more quality of lfie improvements, but I have to wonder if this game was a bit too easy? I played it on hard and there were very few fights I was dreading. This could be due to Orders making certain things a bit trivial. There are some boss fights that are boiled down to mainly damage sponges than fun fights, so that can take a bit out of it, especially because one of them was a character I have enjoyed fighting through this series.
Really the only downside I can say is that the PC port of this is probably the worst of all the Kiseki games on Steam. The game would constantly lockup and drop frames at the strangest of moments, where it got to the point I just wanted to play this on my PS5 instead. Hell there was an instance something got corrupted at the very end of the game that prevented me from going forward unless I did a reinstall, so on terms of the port job it is probably the weakest entry.
But overall, this game is really solid, and is probably my favorite game in the entire Cold Steel saga. It wrapped up things nicely, while keeping just enough loose ends for Reverie and the Calvard arc. I just pray we start getting those localized in a more timely manner.
2021
Probably my favorite game in the series, would give this a higher score if there was a PC version that fixed a lot of the issues on Switch.
2022
:)
Exploring the world and filling out the map was fun...everything else not so much.
2001
Zaros save me, I have over 10,000 hours logged into this game.
Even with the PC version fixing everything, and it being an alright game, it misses a lot of charm of other Story of Seasons titles and feels like a massive step backwards compared to Trio of Towns.
Probably my favorite anime adaptation of a game that I've played. Yakuza and HNK mixes together much better than I thought it would.
For a Kamen Rider video game...this is surprisingly really good? Like I feel like the ground work was there for a truly amazing game. If anything this goes to show that a Yakuza type Kamen Rider game would go a long way for some people.
2019
One of the best JRPGs I have ever played, it adds so much to the base Persona 5 experience, and improves on the story in numerous ways. The entire 3rd Semester of the game has some of the best writing in a JRPG I've played and loved all of the new characters.
Trails in the Sky FC is the definition of a snowball game, once things get rolling it really doesn't stop. However, it doesn't help that the actual snowballing doesn't happen until you reach the final hour of the game and want to jump right into Second Chapter.
This game does a good job of setting up the world in which the next 12+ games will be taking places in and it got me really invested in a lot of things, but it is a really really slow burn. This is probably one of the few games in the series that I find hard to actually go back and replay. While I do appreciate everything the game did, it really does become an acquired taste. Don't get me wrong, this is still a really good JRPG in its own right, you just have to get through a lot of the build up to be rewarded with the true fruit of the game.
I will say though that this game is very cozy, and will give you a lot of warm feelings throughout the whole adventure, and there is a lot of merit into that on why I do enjoy this game a lot.
This game does a good job of setting up the world in which the next 12+ games will be taking places in and it got me really invested in a lot of things, but it is a really really slow burn. This is probably one of the few games in the series that I find hard to actually go back and replay. While I do appreciate everything the game did, it really does become an acquired taste. Don't get me wrong, this is still a really good JRPG in its own right, you just have to get through a lot of the build up to be rewarded with the true fruit of the game.
I will say though that this game is very cozy, and will give you a lot of warm feelings throughout the whole adventure, and there is a lot of merit into that on why I do enjoy this game a lot.
Easily one of my favorite JRPGs of all time, Trails in the Sky FC is the snowball gaining momentum, with SC being the snowball going down hill picking up speed.
The drama in this game is really good, and I love all of the characters that are set up in this game. This game is a massive payoff after playing through FC. More people need to play through the Sky games.
The drama in this game is really good, and I love all of the characters that are set up in this game. This game is a massive payoff after playing through FC. More people need to play through the Sky games.
Now this, this is kino. Trails in the Sky 3rd Chapter to me is just a grand crescendo and a fantastic send off for the Trails in the Sky trilogy. It not only sets up a great deal of stuff for the Crossbell arc and Erebonia Saga (and probably Calvard too) it introduces one of the best JRPG protagonists of all time.
This game also serves as a nice "send off" for everyone in Sky too as this game takes in an epilogue state for most of the big players from the Sky trilogy. I really did enjoy the supernatural aspect this story had going for it as well and was gripped to the very end.
The music in this game is also some of my favorite in the entire series as well. Just pump Overdose on Heavenly Bliss right into my veins. The music goes a long way in setting up such a fantastic atmosphere that I just can't get enough of it.
Overall Trails in the Sky 3rd is definitely one of my favorite games in this series, but the gameplay style change may not be for everyone. But it was a nice reprieve for me going from Sky into Crossbell.
This game also serves as a nice "send off" for everyone in Sky too as this game takes in an epilogue state for most of the big players from the Sky trilogy. I really did enjoy the supernatural aspect this story had going for it as well and was gripped to the very end.
The music in this game is also some of my favorite in the entire series as well. Just pump Overdose on Heavenly Bliss right into my veins. The music goes a long way in setting up such a fantastic atmosphere that I just can't get enough of it.
Overall Trails in the Sky 3rd is definitely one of my favorite games in this series, but the gameplay style change may not be for everyone. But it was a nice reprieve for me going from Sky into Crossbell.