Summary

Release Year: 2013
Genres: Role-playing game (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
Developers: Nihon Falcom
Publishers: Nihon Falcom, NIS America, XSEED Games

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel (2013) Review

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom and published by Xseed Games. It was released in Japan in 2013 and in North America and Europe in 2015. The game is the first entry in the Trails of Cold Steel sub-series, and the seventeenth overall entry in the long-running The Legend of Heroes series.

The game is set in the fictional Erebonian Empire, and follows a group of students at the Thors Military Academy. The player takes control of Rean Schwarzer, a new student at Thors who is assigned to Class VII, a special class that is tasked with investigating a series of mysterious incidents.

The gameplay in Trails of Cold Steel is similar to that of other games in the Trails series. Players explore a variety of environments, interact with NPCs, and battle monsters in turn-based combat. The game features a new battle system called the “Tactical Link System”, which allows players to link up with other characters in battle to perform powerful attacks.

The story of Trails of Cold Steel is well-written and engaging, with a cast of well-developed characters. The game’s world is also rich and detailed, with a long and storied history.

Overall, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a great JRPG that is sure to appeal to fans of the series and newcomers alike.

Gameplay

The Tactical Link System is a major addition to the Trails series, and it adds a new layer of depth to the combat. Players can link up with other characters to perform a variety of different attacks, including standard attacks, special attacks, and healing spells. The type of attack that is performed depends on the characters that are linked together.

For example, linking up with a character who has a high attack power will allow you to perform a powerful physical attack. Linking up with a character who has a high magic power will allow you to perform a powerful magical attack. And linking up with a character who has a high healing power will allow you to perform a powerful healing spell.

The Tactical Link System is a great addition to the Trails series, and it adds a lot of depth to the combat. It allows players to customize their combat strategies to fit their own playstyles.

Story

The story of Trails of Cold Steel is well-written and engaging, with a cast of well-developed characters. The game’s world is also rich and detailed, with a long and storied history.

The game is set in the fictional Erebonian Empire, which is a militaristic nation that is divided into seven provinces. The game follows a group of students at the Thors Military Academy, who are tasked with investigating a series of mysterious incidents.

The story of Trails of Cold Steel is complex and nuanced, and it deals with a variety of themes, including politics, war, and social inequality. The game’s characters are all well-developed and relatable, and they each have their own unique motivations and goals.

The world of Trails of Cold Steel is also rich and detailed, with a long and storied history. The game’s world is full of interesting locations and characters, and it is clear that a lot of thought and care went into its creation.

Overall, the story of Trails of Cold Steel is one of its strongest points. The game’s story is well-written and engaging, with a cast of well-developed characters and a rich and detailed world.

Graphics and sound

The graphics in Trails of Cold Steel are good, but not great. The game’s character models are well-detailed, and the environments are generally well-designed. However, the game’s textures are often muddy, and the game’s overall visual presentation is somewhat dated.

The sound in Trails of Cold Steel is good. The game’s music is well-composed and catchy, and the voice acting is generally good. However, the game’s sound effects are often repetitive, and the game’s overall sound design is somewhat uninspired.

Overall, the graphics and sound in Trails of Cold Steel are good, but not great. The game’s graphics are somewhat dated, and the game’s sound design is somewhat uninspired. However, the game’s music is well-composed and catchy, and the game’s voice acting is generally good.

Overall

Overall, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a great JRPG that is sure to appeal to fans of the series and newcomers alike. The game’s story is well-written and engaging, with a cast of well-developed characters and a rich and detailed world. The game’s combat system is also deep and rewarding, and the game’s graphics and sound are both good.

If you’re a fan of JRPGs, then you should definitely check out The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel. It’s a great game that is sure to keep you entertained for hours on end.