In my review of Saturday Morning RPG, I mentioned that the game didn’t feel lacking in depth, even though it had been obviously streamlined and stripped of some RPG tropes. Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is the complete opposite: this is JRPG at its deepest. And it feels really, really good.
I know I’ve been a bit late in reviewing this game, but we’ve been making over the site over the past few weeks, so pardon my tardiness.
With that out of the way, I have to say I’m completely enamored by this game. It is my first toe-dip into the world of Trails, I must admit, but what a way to start!
I’m about an hour and a half into the game, and already the story has so many layers, it would have easily won “Ace of Cakes” (don’t judge, my girlfriend is a pastry chef).
The combat system is fantastic. It reminds me a little of the Neptunia series: it’s a bit of real time with a lot of turn-based. It has not one, but two “magic” attacks. It has a link system. It’s got the lot.
Graphically, I can already tell this is going to be a visually stunning game, with very big worlds. I’m happy about that, as I’ve been feeling a little caged in lately. I am in an dungeon at the moment, though, but I know enough about the game to expect wide, sweeping vistas.
It does have some frame-drops during cutscenes, but during gameplay, it’s all smooth sailing.
The music is good, but I’m waiting for a standout track. I’m guessing they don’t want to go all out on the Prologue. The voice acting, though, is fantastic. I just wish it had Erin Fitzgerald in it. I know she’s a bit of a Marmite actress, but what can a guy do? I love her.
All in all, this is shaping up to be quite the game. It is quite story heavy (which isn’t a problem for me at all), but the battles are rewarding.
Looking good, Nihon Falcom!
Be on the lookout for my full review in the coming days.
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