Topic: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3

The lack of AA definitely makes it a bit rough around the edges, but I suppose it’s in line with what we’ve come to expect from most Switch ports. It really does look excellent on handheld though. Especially Switch Lite. I have the first two games on Vita and it’s amazing how good this one looks in comparison.

Ya know what I really appreciate about this game, and Xenoblade for that matter? The ability to literally save your game at any point in time (barring mid battle, obviously). Middle of dungeon? No problem. Oh you wanna save scum? Hey, no problem. Enjoy the game how YOU want to enjoy the game. Standing ovation for Falcom and Monolith Soft. More games need to let you do this. It’s a huge burden lifted off your shoulders when you’re not restricted. Although, I do understand for some games, it can go against the design of the game where a particular dungeon is meant to be a challenge where you have to do it in one go, and the relief of finding the next save point is part of the enjoyment. Metroid Prime is another game where the designed save points work well. Bloodstained as well. But for JRPGs, Idk, I just really like being able to save anywhere, anytime.

@JaxonH 100% agree! It makes the experience so much more enjoyable. Both games also allows you to restart directly at the boss if you get defeated (ToCS3 did so at the first boss so I guess that's how it works in entire game; XC always does this).*
These titles respects your time.

*Most JRPGs have a save point right before the boss (otherwise it's cruel), but often sends you to the menu screen after a game over. XC doesn't do that and it seems that neither does Trails.

Fired up the first Cold Steel game on Vita. Definitely nice having this game on Switch.

I’m getting so into the game I started thinking about a concurrent playthrough of the first two while I play the third. I already know the main plot points but it’s still fun to play through. But the vita version doesn’t have the fast forward and it’s in 480p, and no cross save with PS4. So I fired it up on Steam on the television and got it running on maximum settings in 4K, 60fps. Looks great. And it cross saves with the Win 2 via Steam Cloud, and the game even has a portable setting that says “designed for GPD Win” which, if it can run on the ORIGINAL Win, it’ll do just fine on Win 2. And it does. Actually gets like 3 hrs battery life too, in 720p with 4X MSAA and V-sync p, anisotropic filtering, and some other added boosts. I may turn it down to 600p though just to get more battery life. Hard to tell a difference anyways.

@JaxonH that is some dedication!

@NEStalgia
Gotta say, I’m enjoying playing the first Cold Steel game as a prequel of sorts, already knowing the plot points but experiencing exactly how they unfolded for myself.

I’m getting so sucked into this series. Finally got far enough in Cold Steel 3 that things started picking up. And it made me depressed thinking it would all be over once I finish the game. Would have to wait an entire year for the 4th game to hit Switch. So I started thinking, well maybe I’ll play the other two games also to help fill the time in between. But then I started wondering, if I’m going to play the other two games maybe I should just go ahead and play them now. But I’m so sucked into the third game I don’t want to put it down either 😊 So now I’m in this weird in-between where I’m trying to play both concurrently lol.

If you’re gonna play the whole series, I have to recommend the Steam versions, except for 3 and 4 if you want hybrid versions, otherwise steam version is great for those too. I bought 3 on Switch and Steam, because I love the game so much I need it on both. I love how great the graphics are on the TV via Steam. 4k 60 (can even do unlimited but I’m a capped 60 kinda guy, no sense choking the hardware to squeeze hundreds of frames).

I edited the config for Switch Pro that maps start (map) to left dpad and select (notebook) to right dpad, and changed the activator for ZR to toggle, so that fast forward is now able to be toggled instead of holding the button. Just preference really. Map is easier to reach from left analog when left dpad is right next to it. Got the idea from the third game on switch which maps it to the bottom D pad. But bottom dpad was already used and left/right wasn’t, so ya.

Trails of Cold Steel series is so good. I feel overjoyed that I’ve finally gotten into the series because I kind of felt an empty hole after finishing Xenoblade Chronicles. Paper Mario is coming up, and Catherine Full Body releases tomorrow, and Persona 4 Golden is still in backlog, which, coupled with three different Trails games, makes me feel like I have tons of games that I’m dying to play all of a sudden.

I think playing all of them is a great move. But I also think playing the first two as prequels after the fact also works. It’s so cool going back and getting introduced to characters you already know from the 3rd game. Oh THAT’S how they met. Oh look, it’s Towa! Oh wow, that’s where he met Sara! Etc etc. Really cool.

Oh, definitely still worth going back to play 1 & 2, @JaxonH .... I just got through replaying the 1st ToCS & the first Trails in the Sky, so both are well worth it

@BruceCM
The moment I realized I could play the first two as a hybrid experience (TV via PC and handheld via Win2) is when I really decided it was worth exploring. If it was just handheld (Vita, plus sub-HD and no fast forward) or just TV (PS4) with no cross save between them... eh. I can’t really commit to hundred hours being locked in to how I play. Right now I’m off work for having C19 so sure, I can play on the TV this week. But there’s no way the first game could be finished in a week without repeated daylong binges. Having hybrid access changes everything.

And I gotta say, aside from the character models looking more simplified (kinda like how Persona 4 Golden models look more simplified and “handheld-esque”) it’s basically the exact same as the 3rd game. There really hasn’t been any major advancements in game design for this series. It feels almost exactly the same as the third game. Even down to the basic story beats (start with trials, introduce to new class, certain members don’t get along at first, girl falls with boobs onto face of guy, explore town and school, do first bonding events, get on train and proceed to tackle first real missions, etc). So it really doesn’t feel like a step back because the newer games were never really a step forward. And I don’t mean that in a bad way because the design was great to begin with. I just mean that it doesn’t really feel dated as you would expect. Steam version has the fast forward which is a HUGE asset. And by mapping it to toggle on and off it’s much more convenient than holding a shoulder button.

I love it. I really do love it.

@JaxonH That's both cool that you're starting 1 after all, and also that 1 does work well as a prequel. That was one of my most hopeful questions back in the comments threads on it...if it worked well playing it out of order as prequels. Sounds like it does...so that may well tempt me! Some stories work that way, and some don't.

Trying two concurrent different points in an arc, though....yuck! Any time I've tried anything like that I ended up abandoning both!

But that's cool....tempts me to consider 3 first.....I won't be getting to 1 for some time. Hard call. Some people love playing Torna before XC2 because they like the story to go in order, but I can't imagine playing it that way, to me the whole thrill was seeing where everything was and hearing the "mythology" of the past...only to see how "ordinary" it all was in it's own time and how different it all seemed compared to hearing about the legend afterward.

You've never played P4G, huh? Be prepared to lose 3 months easy... That's a massive time suck, and infinitely worth it. It's pretty much the only game that got more than slight play time on my Vita.
Still half curious about Catherine.....I don't love the gameplay and yet pick up and play works well for that. Not sure....$50's a lot for a puzzle climber even if the VN is awesome.

Right now I'm still working on Ori....had it on XB for years, and didn't get to it until it hit Switch. Booting XB to play a 2D Metroidvania just feels wrong. And I'm starting into DQXI finally (I'm still playing the demo part, with my real copy still shrinkwrapped...which feels weird.)

Edit: And I'm kind of.....I'm not "over" ACNH but I can't get into it....I play it, and this iteration seems so.....tedious? I find myself playing it to checklist things so I can get to something fun. Which I feel bad about. I utterly adored New Leaf.

Well, there's been a few tweaks in the main battle systems and the addition of the BP, @JaxonH.... Then, the parts in Divine Knights have been significantly improved, as well
But it shows how well they did those parts originally if you don't even notice all that You probably will as you progress, mind you

@JaxonH "(start with trials, introduce to new class, certain members don’t get along at first, girl falls with boobs onto face of guy, explore town and school, do first bonding events, get on train and proceed to tackle first real missions, etc)"

LOL that's basically a summary of every non-FF series JRPG ever, though.

@BruceCM
I definitely notice the small changes, BP and orders for sure, the AP attacks, etc, but it’s nothing that has really changed the overall structure of the games’ design.

@NEStalgia
I’ve played plenty Persona 4 Golden. Both on Vita, and now Steam. I just haven’t gotten too far in the Steam version yet. I love P4. I played P4 Dancing and actually got the platinum (only game I’ve ever done that for). I have the Rise Kujikawa 1/7 scale statue and the Yu figma proudly displayed on the shelf.

But for some reason Persona never grabs me enough to keep me playing all the way through. Even P5, P5 Royale, P4G on Vita, and now P4G on Steam and Win2. Idk. I love the games but for some reason I always start to get bored of the formula after a few dungeon runs. Starts feeling monotonous. The fact I never stuck with those games kind of speaks volumes in and of itself. Whereas every single Xenoblade game, be it on a hybrid system or not, I’ve beaten. Final Fantasy X Zane XII, I’ve beaten (beat FFX twice, in fact). Trails has me by the chestnuts and won’t let go.

Not saying the games aren’t great. I LOVE Persona 4 (more so than P5 even). But I can’t deny the fact that I seem to lose interest in playing all the games in that series around the same point in time, roughly 10-15 hrs in. Not sure why. I will get back to P4G though. And with God as my witness, if they ever bring it to switch I’ll probably never put it down until I’ve completed it.

You were never a fan of Pushmo? That was one of my guilty pleasures on Wii U and 3DS. Catherine kinda fills that void, except it’s Pushmo with sex, and instead of a giant make believe animal you play as a cheating scoundrel in boxer shorts. What’s not to love?

No but that's because they got it so good to start with....

@BruceCM

That’s what I was trying to get at.

And I don’t mean that in a bad way because the design was great to begin with. I just mean that it doesn’t really feel dated as you would expect

@Ralizah
I’m a good ways in to Trails of Cold Steel III on Switch, and now a good ways in to Trails of Cold Steel on Steam.

And I have to say...

This might be my new favorite JRPG series, under Xenoblade. It’s way better than Final Fantasy, and I’m gonna go ahead and say it... I even like it more than Persona. It just so dang good.

I knew you had expressed interest in playing down the line. At this point, I feel it would be irresponsible of me to not encourage you to do so. And regardless of whether you start at 3 like I did, I can almost guarantee you’ll want to play all of the games. Not because you feel you have to, but because you’ll want to. I jumped in at 3, read the story summary, and I have had no problems whatsoever. But it’s so good I started to worry that I’m going to beat this game and that’s gonna be it.... with Xenoblade done, what then? So I figured I could just go back and play the other two. But if I’m gonna do that, why not do it now. But I don’t wanna stop playing 3 either, I’m so into it. So I’m kind of doing both at the same time.

What I’m saying is, it doesn’t matter where you start, the inevitable outcome is that you will want to play all of them. Which order is up to you. It’s probably best to start with the first but I won’t deny I’ve had a fantastic time playing it already knowing the main beats of the story and kind of discovering how it all happened, as a prequel of sorts. But regardless this is a series you really should play. If you’ve been wanting Persona on Switch, I’ve got one better for you. And the game really does share a lot of similarities with Persona. It’s definitely different too, don’t get me wrong. But the school setting, the free time, the bonding events, the asking questions in class, the calendar... it’s all here, in one form or another. And a battle system that frankly, is second to none. This is hands-down the best turn based battle system I’ve ever experienced.

Just couldn’t stop myself from giving a ringing endorsement. I’m so utterly captivated right now.

edit
Should also add, it feels a bit like Harry Potter. Like, the first two games are Rean Schwarzer’s 2 years at the military academy and the 3rd starts off with him taking on role of teacher. The very first intro sequence from the demo, shows you with your old teacher from the first games, the “adults” who are coming to take over for their pupils who, while they have fought admirably, are in over their heads. That very much reminded me of Harry Potter Order of the Phoenix.

So going back in playing the previous two games, it kind of fills in that backstory of how he became the Ashen Chevalier. How he became the legend. It’s very Star Wars-esque playing them like prequels to get backstory after the fact. The one downside is the major cliffhanger and twist of the first game into the second, won’t be a surprise for me having read the story summary. I imagine that would’ve been a really good twist experiencing it for yourself.

@JaxonH Yeah, the setting reminds me of the new Fire Emblem game. At least, based on the way I've heard this series described.

Glad to hear you're enjoying it. I'm sure I'll get to the series eventually. Still hoping to find copies of the Vita games for a reasonable price, I think. Games like this are a better fit for handheld consoles.

@Ralizah
Totally. If it wasn’t for the fact I have a Win 2 and these games come with a portable setting specifically designed for the original Win (says “Portable Mode: Settings for devices such as GPD Win“) and the handy 2-4x Fast-Forward feature of the Steam version, which syncs with PC on the TV, I’d be playing on Vita instead. In fact, I even started up my old Vita save at first, before I realized it ran so well on Win2 with 3-3.5 hrs battery life.

I think most Vita games are probably at a point they’re being price gouged though. That typically happens after prices hit rock bottom, then when they’re all gone and only a few people have them left they jack the prices up for the remaining stragglers and latecomer collectors.

But, if you have a PS3, there is cross save, believe it or not. You would have to buy the game twice, and happen to still have a PS3 connected (really makes you appreciate Switch, doesn’t it) but it would be a way to play the first two hybrid without a Win2. Just a thought,

@JaxonH Tell me about it. I put off buying a few 3DS games, figuring the prices would stay low for a while, and now they're all being scalped to hell and back. It's even worse with Vita games, since a lot of them had lower print runs to begin with. My Vita collection would have been worth a lot of money at this point if I hadn't opted to buy almost everything digitally.

I've never owned a PS3, but a number of smaller games have that sort of cross-save support between Vita/PS4. They're usually actually cross-buy as well, which is nice. It's not as seamless as docking and undocking a Switch, but it's still fairly painless to upload a save to the cloud and then continue on a different device. A lot like going between Switch and Switch Lite, actually.

It's just a pity that NIS didn't get access to the Cold Steel games before now, as they likely would have ported all of them over by this point. I like XSEED, but they don't have the resources or the will to painstakingly port over their entire back-catalogue like NIS is doing for the Switch (something must have sold VERY well to convince them to go to all of this effort, because they're going above and beyond with the level of support they're offering; all their new games come over, they're gradually porting over older games, and they design ports of games they publish, like Ys and Trails).

I just caved in and bought the digital eshop version as it's now live here in Aus (7th of July). Downloading now... Still got my physical version on it's way but it looks like it won't arrive til next week.

@JaxonH hehe, you're starting to sound like me after playing CS1. Won't be long until you're diving into Crossbell and Sky. Crossbell is just freakin awesome because it's happening at the same time as CS1 and 2, but you get to see those familiar events from their perspective. And Sky also has a lot of moments that hint to what happens down the line, and it's pretty evident when you go back and play them that they knew to a fair extent how they wanted the whole story to go. And, Sky has this guy in all his awesome, hilarious, cheesey glory. Hmmm, might be familiar

@Ralizah
I think it was Disgaea 5, which did 500k copies by the end of 2017. Nearly as much as PS4 version and years after the fact. Then YS VIII which outsold the other versions.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as if anyone is paying Trails III much mind, as it’s still #124 on the eShop best sellers list (skipping free titles). So many people campaigned against anyone buying the game as a newcomer they basically scared everyone off. A perfect opportunity for a new player base to get into the series and it was basically squandered by gatekeeping. Not that I disagree with the sentiment that it’s better to play all of them but I don’t agree with warding people off if they don’t, or telling them it’s not worth it unless you’re already a fan. And I’m not entirely sure why that happened. Some of it was people who meant well and just wanted to stress the significance of overarching story, but went a bit overboard with it. Rather than saying “it’s preferred” it came out as “it’s a must”. But a lot of it was also gatekeeping from longtime fans clearly upset the series was leaving the PlayStation console. Always finding a reason to tell people to stay away. Either it’s price, or 3fps drop, or it’s 30fps, or it’s got a backstory with other games, or it‘a cheaper elsewhere, same old same old.

If XSEED brings over the first two I think they’ll do quite well. And I think sales for this one and the next one would actually increase quite a bit. I contacted them via their website and asked for them to bring the games over but I’m just one person. Usually it takes hearing it from a lot of people before they start reconsidering their actions. And a lot of these companies don’t make it easy for movements like that because it would take everybody hitting their Twitter at the same time and it’s really hard to organize stuff like that. And even when you do it’s no guarantee, which makes it all the harder to convince people to do it in the first place.

By the way the cross save with PS4 is definitely cool and really, no different then switch to switch lite. I’ve just kind of moved on from using my vita (or my PS4, for that matter) as most everything has now come to Switch/Steam. It does still offer handheld Trails in the Sky though (I guess so does Win2, and PSP emulation is immaculate, 4+ hrs battery life). But Vita is more comfy. That and Final Fantasy War of the Lions, as comfy handheld entries, is worth hanging onto for.

So, how far into the 1st one are you now, @JaxonH .... The weakest part of the 1st 2, by far, is the divine knight battles, IMO, so you'll appreciate the significant improvements to that part in 3