Topic: Trails Into Reverie

Trails Into Reverie is nearly upon us!

For those who don't know, this game is the finale to the 4-part Erebonia arc (Trails From Cold Steel, Trails From Cold Steel II, Trails From Cold Steel III, Trails From Cold Steel IV) and the 2-part Crossbell arc (Trails From Zero, Trails To Azure). All of these games are now on Switch, though the first two Cold Steel games have yet to be localized.

Even so, I jumped in with Trails of Cold Steel III on Switch and don't regret it for a second. Menu had a nice story summary, which had a convenient climax at the end of the 2nd game, which made Cold Steel III a rather decent entry to the series for me with such a major plot point wrapping up at the end of ToCS2.

The two Crossbell games originally on PSP (JP only) were recently given remasters, and the Switch versions are superb. A different studio handled the Switch/Steam versions than the PS4 so we got drastically superior releases with new textures and countless QoL additions.

This is the 7th game in the Trails series to release on Switch, the 5th to be released in the west. And it sounds like it's on point.

I have this pre-ordered as I want the physical and I know these games don't get huge print runs (I picked up Azure earlier in the year for the same reason) but it's going to be some time before I can start it.

I've tried to jump in at a few different points, playing 5-10 hours of ToCS III, I, Zero and now I'm all the way back in Sky FC and playing through in the original release order. Despite what anybody says, I think you can start from any of the known good jumping off points (including ToCS III). I just decided in the end that as I was able to go back to the start, and I'd enjoyed the intros of all the games I played, I may as well do so.

Really can't wait to get all the way to Reverie. I might get there at some point next year.

@mcdreamer
Respect.

I've seen so many gatekeepers tell interested new players they must go back and start at the very beginning, and what happens in the vast majority of cases is people are like, "wat, I gotta go play multiple hundred hour JRPGs on other old consoles or PC just to be able to start playing the Switch releases? Nah I'm good, I just won't bother"

Like, ya, it's totally a great experience if you want to and are up for it, but if the choice is between starting with Cold Steel III or not bothering to jump in at all because it demands too much of you, just play Cold Steel III. You'll be fine! Not like you can't go back and revisit earlier titles down the line if you decide to.

I'm swamped trying to wrap up Zelda TotK, 20 hours into Rain Code and Pikmin 4 is only weeks away. But I already picked up Cold Steel III again last week and started playing, cause I need to finish it, and Cold Steel IV, and both Crossbell games.

Even if I'm not playing this day one, I'm buying the CE and digital day one to support the series on Switch. I remember a few years back when getting Falcom games on it were a pipe dream. And I believe this is the last game outsourced to Clouded Leopard. Starting with the Boundless Trails PSP spinoff remaster, they're developing Switch titles in house.

@JaxonH Yeah, there's so much gatekeeping around this series. As you say, jump in where you want and you can always go back if you enjoy it want to fill in some gaps. Technically I'm spoiled on quite a few things (I know what happens at the end of FC as one example) because of they way I've approached the series, but I think it just doesn't matter. I'm still enjoying FC getting to know the characters, the world and enjoying the journey. And as much as I'm enjoying Sky, they are very much older games and might be a bit less approachable for some (though they're not really too bad even factoring in that I'm an "old" man ).

And yes, the support is another reason I'm picking up these games before I can play them too. I want the series to continue getting localised releases!

I'm also swamped with FF16, Diablo 4 and Street Fighter 6 (not to mention all the other stuff)! I'm currently carving out a bit of time each day playing FC on the Steam Deck before I go to sleep.

Always eager to support Falcom when given the opportunity.

My money is down for ze uber edition from ze NISA store.

Was there a LE from NISA??

@SwitchForce
Yes.

It's sold out now of course. Been sold out for a while. But it was up for preorder for like, half a year. Most their limited editions have very long preorder windows, and even shows stock remaining as the orders come in.

Looks like we've got some handheld footage on Switch.

Seems every bit as good as Cold Steel III and IV on Switch

NISA Store slippin' a bit. Standard copies arrived at retail this past Friday. Meanwhile, my order for the limited edition only just left Texas yesterday. If my backlog wasn't doing such an excellent job of distracting me, I'd be a bit pissed off about the late delivery.

Trails is never going to end at all honestly.