The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

[Grand Conde]

Anyway just finished it. If you ignore the horrible pacing of the very end of part 2, I would say both 2 and 3 are as good as each other, with 1 a bit of a drag in comparison. The pacing here is better but the combat balancing is way off. They basically created a monster combat system wise and have no idea how to tame it. A random side quest in chapter 2 has the most difficult battle ffs.

Also I managed to barely miss out on a load of trophies. One card short, one MQ short etc.

World building and sense of location are top notch as always.

Objectively I can see why this is considered the best game in the series but this combat... Apparently 4 is the worst?

 

[winb83]

Anyway just finished it. If you ignore the horrible pacing of the very end of part 2, I would say both 2 and 3 are as good as each other, with 1 a bit of a drag in comparison. The pacing here is better but the combat balancing is way off. They basically created a monster combat system wise and have no idea how to tame it. A random side quest in chapter 2 has the most difficult battle ffs.

Also I managed to barely miss out on a load of trophies. One card short, one MQ short etc.

World building and sense of location are top notch as always.

Objectively I can see why this is considered the best game in the series but this combat... Apparently 4 is the worst?

From what I heard 4 has issues with the harem. It all comes to a head in that game and I’ve heard it’s distracting from the overall plot. Damn near every female character from the CS series is in the harem and all in love with Rean.

 

[bigdaddy88]

Good game, nikkas talk alot though geez only on chapter 3 folks online says it picks up after this chapter so we will see

 

[Vintage Eclectic]

Currently at the mid point of part 3. Just got

Spoiler: spoiler

Musse and Ash

I really don't see how this series has not gotten the anime treatment yet. All the key generalizations and stereotypes are there:

-Main character with a hidden power and past that can control a devine mech. Also a skilled martial artist that every girl loves/idolizes/crushes over.

-the suggested love interest

-best friend/rival setup

-multiple characters throughout the series all skilled in some form of combat/techniques.

-political disarray

-secret societies and multiple alliances formed

-etc

I think they have more than enough material.

Another thing. To those new to the series (i didn't get into it until last year), I HIGHLY suggest using a guide if you plan to not only get certain event items but also because there are A LOT of sidequest, exp, items that can be missed. Just a heads up.

 

[winb83]

Currently at the mid point of part 3. Just got

Spoiler: spoiler

Musse and Ash

I really don't see how this series has not gotten the anime treatment yet. All the key generalizations and stereotypes are there:

-Main character with a hidden power and past that can control a devine mech. Also a skilled martial artist that every girl loves/idolizes/crushes over.

-the suggested love interest

-best friend/rival setup

-multiple characters throughout the series all skilled in some form of combat/techniques.

-political disarray

-secret societies and multiple alliances formed

-etc

I think they have more than enough material.

Another thing. To those new to the series (i didn't get into it until last year), I HIGHLY suggest using a guide if you plan to not only get certain event items but also because there are A LOT of sidequest, exp, items that can be missed. Just a heads up.

I'm not so sure that's the midpoint. I guess it's close. Chapter 4 is pretty long.

They made an anime for Sky.

 

[bigdaddy88]

beat the first one i give a 7/10 slow and dragged and too much chatter. Story got good at the end.


Obviously gonna play part 2 but hopefully there is more story and less fluss..though i understand that the narrative is been told over the course of several games.

 

[winb83]

beat the first one i give a 7/10 slow and dragged and too much chatter. Story got good at the end.


Obviously gonna play part 2 but hopefully there is more story and less fluss..though i understand that the narrative is been told over the course of several games.

2 wasn’t my favorite but I love 3. 2 is necessary for the setup of 3 though.

 

[bigdaddy88]

2 wasn’t my favorite but I love 3. 2 is necessary for the setup of 3 though.

Is it as much of a drag as 1 or at least some more story telling?

 

[42 Monks]

I couldn't even finish 3 after repping 1 and 2 heavy.

 

[Grand Conde]

I couldn't even finish 3 after repping 1 and 2 heavy.

3 is better than 1 and 2 though.

 

[42 Monks]

3 is better than 1 and 2 though.

is it? the harem shyt is over the top as fukk
the combat is even easier to break. its brain dead
there's a huge difference between a huge solid cast - and a huge cast with a ton of useless characters.

compared to the other RPGs that've been dropping, the progression from one title to the next just ain't there. series can't afford steps backwards

 

[Grand Conde]

The combat has always been broken though.

It has by far the best pacing and world of the 3. The harem stuff isn't really something I notice or give a shyt about.

 

[42 Monks]

The combat has always been broken though.

It has by far the best pacing and world of the 3. The harem stuff isn't really something I notice or give a shyt about.

you could break the game 'eventually' in the earlier games. you'd like to see devs adjust to offer some sort of continuous challenge moving forward to keep fights engaging. its anything but that.
and how do you not notice when they throw that shyt into damn near every other character interaction

you can't say a story is about political strife, conspiracy, and the plannings of a revolution then have "damn, she sure is maturing into a lovely woman " dialogue every time a character is reintroduced

shyts weird

 

[bigdaddy88]

Most folks online and review pretty much say

3, 2 and then 1

the gameplay aint the issue just some nonsensical side quest and filler, but again i get that they are trying to tell a story over several games.

And of course the lack or better yet not enough voice acting is a bit annoying

And the whole little sister crush, i know its japan but just go with emma or alisa and call it a day

 

[winb83]

is it? the harem shyt is over the top as fukk
the combat is even easier to break. its brain dead
there's a huge difference between a huge solid cast - and a huge cast with a ton of useless characters.

compared to the other RPGs that've been dropping, the progression from one title to the next just ain't there. series can't afford steps backwards

In 1 and 2 Laura and Fie break the game. Fie as a dodge tank is borderline invincible and Laura in a couple moves can kill almost anything if not in 1 move. Use Alisa as a CP battery and Rean as extra help and that is the party.

The harem in 3 is optional. It isn't really integrated in the main story unless you count Muse's jokes. 3 evolves Rean into a tolerable character. The pacing is also better than almost any other game in the entire series except maybe Ao no Kiseki. That game Sky SC and the third Cold Steel game are the best in the series.

I'd say SC is my fav of the series Ao second and CS3 is third. CS3 by far is the best of the CS series but the CS series is the worst Trails series also by far.