People are too hard on CS1 (and FC) IMO. I personally like CS1 more than CS2. Actually, unfortunately, CS2 is my least fave game in the series. I really dislike how it makes me feel like I'm playing a children's saturday cartoon with how it's so formulaic and how each chapter end/climax comes across like some kind of power rangers dinosaur power skit. I also enjoyed the random unimportant npc chatter in cs2 alot less than cs1 because there isn't that stable classroom system where you can get familiar with/comfortable with all the regulars. It also has alot more traveling and loading times between npc chatter (Kinda like Azure). I still love the game though, plus it has some real high points like some of the best regular battle music in the series. It also has my fave sidequest in the series (It's like a detective mystery quest, you'll know it when you get there). Oh yeah, I have to mention though. CS2's ending is the worst, most frusterating in the series too IMO. Not because of a cliffhanger. But because it makes you go 'wait. WHAT? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!?' an effing TON Imo. Plus alot of those things just didn't make sense to me, they still don't actually in many of the cases. Back at CS1 though. It IMO has the best unimportant npc chat in the whole series so far IMO, along with possibly my fave soundtrack overall (giving it full credit for the tracks CS2 and such re-use), and it really isn't as slow as people say. The 'small/unimportant' plot points aren't small or unimportant, people just need to get the whole 'kill god, save the universe' rpg mentality out of their brain which sky 3rd/azure puts into your brain kinda. Not quite but you get the idea. I don't feel like I caught onto the whole c=crow thing that early, but I wasn't actively trying to figure out who C WAS either. I actually never do that kinda thing with mystery identity things. I always just don't bother trying and just focus on the current events. That said I do remember having major red flags and awoooga alarms going on at the part where you're rescuing people from the Mine, and like halfway thru Crow is like "imma stay behind and help escort the hostages back to safety". Not because of the excuse itself per say, but that's when I couldn't hep but be hit on the head with a hammer that dude is NEVER around when stuff is about to happen. Edit: Oh yeah, I have a hard time liking Millium too. She's better in CS2, but I still have a hard time liking her. She gets better when she has more interactions with someone else other than Rean though.
I just started, I'll give you my feedback when I'm done 🤗 So far, I've been EXTREMELY impressed by the voice acting and how the quality of the writing has translated into voice acting seamlessly! Wow! This voice acting and writing is literally better than AAA Final Fantasy XVI. What did you think about the voice acting!?
this is the first trails i played so i wasnt too familiar yet with how trails story and plot twists. this blew my mind away. i became a fans of trails series ever since. playing trails into reverie now. enjoy trails of cold steel saga. it will always hold a special place in my heart.
The quartz system in kuro is melded between old and new, spells have a separate system from the quartz. The quartz still are used for stats, but you can now build passives with those quartz' element values.
I appreciated that it was Millium who pieced together Crow's identity. Up until then the player could see why she would be a great field agent, but that moment showed why she was good at intelligence gathering. Non-spoiler, but you'll learn why she is so happy go lucky and possibly why someone like her contrasts the rest of the Ironbloods so much- you'll learn how someone like her was so needed Also, pay attention to Gideon's character in the context of Azure. Mind blown.
This was my 1st Trails game, and also my favorite thus far. (probably because it was my 1st) I'm happy to see you enjoying CS2. Be happy that you don't have to go backwards like I did to get the full breadth of the story. After CS2 is when I found out that it'd be best for me to go back and play the Sky trilogy and the Crossbell games before even attempting CS3 & 4.
@@luminous3558 I frequently see people complain that cs1 is way too slow and a drag and picks up after. Never saw anyone say they like cs1 more than 2 other than myself. I stay out of reddit and discord though.
I'm just like you. I started with CS1 jumped right into CS2 because of the cliffhanger and then went back to play the older games. Just finished Azure a couple of days ago and taking a small break from the series to avoid burnout. Playing Scarlet Nexus in the meantime.
Cold Steel 1's ending actually took me by surprise when I first played it. Major spoilers ahead for the ending of CS1: - - - - - - - - - - - Like you, I also suspected that C was Crow. However, my focus wasn't just on Crow. I also suspected Carl Regnitz (the father of Machias) and Duke Cayenne. That part in the Sachsen Iron Mine, where C's ship goes down after getting shot (yeah, I wasn't convinced C died either) and then Crow turns up with Prince Olivert and George convinced me that C couldn't possibly be Crow. The timing just didn't add up for me anymore, because Crow would have had to escort the miners to Roer, double back and disguise himself as C, fight Class VII, escape while pretending to die on his ship, remove his disguise and then somehow meet up with Prince Olivert and George in that very small window of time after C disappeared. I was like, "Yeah, no... there is no way that happened, it's too convoluted". So, I was then hyper-focused on Carl and Duke Cayenne... and it was only the last chapter, those moments where Rean was looking everywhere for Crow that I finally realized that I made a mistake in my assumptions. That said, it was a pretty nice surprise. I wouldn't have minded Carl or Cayenne, but Crow made it more personal. Even more so when I realized that I was tricked, lol.
You know, Carl or Cayenne would’ve been a good pick for C as well. Especially given how close Carl was working with Osborne. Machias would’ve gone down a really dark path if that was the case 😅
@@TheTheoLogan898 Yeah, it would have definitely changed things with Machias for sure. But I feel like he would have been just as surprised as the rest of Class VII. At the very least, I doubt he would have been onboard with the idea of his father playing caped crusader. XD
I am spoiled on who C's are. When I looked my Artbook that was included in Lionheart's Edition. I was so dumb that I looked on to it. I regret that I impatience at that time.
Nice review. So this was my 1st game in the series that i beat in 2020. I started 2 but i felt i was missing a lot of the context. So i took a break and went back and played the 5 games before. I just beat cold steel 1 again and im so glad i did. It made me appreciate the game more.
@@TheTheoLogan898 sky SC. Estelle trying to find herself after the end of FC is amazing. That reunite moment is amazing (I'm trying to be vague in case people haven't played that game I know some people play in different order). I would put Azure higher but the ending to me felt flat to me and the reveals didn't do much for me. Azure chapter 4 is nuts but the end to me felt like I'll be back there soon (sorry I'm trying to be vague in case someone hasn't played that game).
Since I started the series with this game, it was a bit harder to get into the older combat and Quartz system. It's definitely more beginner friendly in the Cold Steel games. Maybe it also helped that I played Tokyo Xanadu eX+ before the Trails series, so I felt right at home with the way those things worked in Cold Steel.
So the quartz change initially rubbed me the wrong way because I think the system in Azure was really good and didnt really need changing. However in practicality the change does not matter. After you acquire high level quartz you often end up with stat boosters that also grant you a set of arts similar to what you had prior. So its better for new players(ironically this is an odd place for accessibility if you played all prior games like a good boy) while not really removing much depth. Master Quartz and the additional link system make up for the lost complexity early to mid game. Though overall Coldsteel 1 is a rough start to a new arc in terms of combat and the games don't really find their footing till CS3.
Alright I loved Millium lol, she was such a nice contrast from the rest of the group and made me laugh many times. Especially her interactions with Machias and Jusis, they were hilarious together.
SPOILERS fir the Ending: ; : ; : I didn't see Crow's Betrayal coming, that reveal hurt me so much even though everything instantly made sense. (I realized it the in-game day before the reveal, but I didn't want it to be true.) 10/10 Plot Twist!!
There are things I like about the new quartz system, and there are things that I hate. so first off, the better things: 1) no quartz is useless anymore, like even if it's a crappy early game quartz it can still give some slight buffs for you and at times have more impact than a better one (Crystal Flood R generally being better than Maelstrom) 2) ability to use multiple of same-ish quartz (Nightmare + Petrify + Sleep) or (Attack 3, Attack 2, Mars Gem) 3) ease of use thus making new players more likely to come in but then come the bad parts too: 1) lines essentially lost their meaning, and my puzzle-loving brain can't build the perfect set for every character because I want to and enjoy it 2) some quartz lost value, (I know what you're gonna say, this collides with the first 1 in the part that I love about, but hear me out), EP Cut was the 2nd most used quartz in the previous two arcs because it provided the player with the highest amount of arts for 1 generic quartz (a synthesizeable one), now it's barely even worth running on your mages. Shield quartz is so mediocre because almost nothing does magic damage and thus why put it on ever? Why run Defense or Shield or HP if you can just build more power and almost oneshot bosses and that brings me to my final gripe 3) existence of the Chrono Burst art and Moebius MQ, this art+ MQ combo makes EVERY SINGLE FIGHT not a fight anymore because anybody can set it into their slot and suddenly the opponents won't get a chance to move. Whenever I play through the Cold Steel saga I tell to myself: "Moebius is banned and cannot be used for any reason other than leveling it up" and I try to stay away from Chrono Burst as well too.
The lines thing is even more sad when you think about how it relates to the users skill with Arts. Prior games where you had 4 different lines it was an indicator that the person wasn't good with arts while the longer the lines were indicated inherent skill with arts. Such as Olivier having Arnor blood which are said to be highly skilled in magic. Renne and Tio both being geniuses and being fed a lot of gnosis by the cult caused them to become unnaturally good with arts. The only merit that having less lines has now is a higher EP count in exchange for a lot more expensive unlocks. Comparatively having more lines is a lot stronger now with access to up to 4 different status quartz that can also boost atk by a lot.
"i cant imagine how its like to have to wait to play cold steel 2 after finishing 1" oh my sweet summer child, wait until you get to cold steel 3s ending, i honestly was shocked, i thought there was a bug or something, no way it can just end like that
@@TheTheoLogan898 17 Left, I play the series from sky to whatever is recent once a year, hopefully I’ll get it next year. I’m missing one for cs3 and that’ll be in the bag. These games are like crack my guy lol. I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself, it’s been fun to watch someone see what I see and appreciate it as well.
@@scarythingsarescary6493 Wait, you play the entire series every year? I always play each sub-series twice before the next one. And I tell myself when the final game is over. I'll replay the entire series from start to finish. But every year? holy heck.
Glad you liked it, also glad you don't have Alisa derangement syndrome (so many people never get over a bad first impression with her, it's nuts). I personally dislike the changes to the quartz mechanics, HOWEVER, I like it more in CS3 and 4 because they let you wear 2 master quartz simultaneously, and they are more liberal with the amount of 'free' artes the master quartz gives you. So you can focus more on stat-based quartz over spells but still have a decent amount of spells to play with. Actually I should begin with the following things you should know, and probably already know. But better to tell you before it's too late: 1: There's a short story (I forget what it's called) that you're supposed to read after Cold steel 1 but before cold steel 2. It's about class 7 being invited to Ymir (Rean's hometown) for some R&R after the super busy chapter in Heimdallr as a kind of formal/royal reward. I don't think it's massively important but you'll have some scenes in cs2 where people act like they went to ymir already when they haven't in cs1, but they have in canon if you read that short story. 2: Cold steel 2 unfortunately also expects you to play the entire game twice before cold steel 3. It has a stupid scene that is not available until NG+, and CS3 just up and assumes you saw it. You can just look at youtube for the 'secret' cs2 scene though. Be sure to look at it before you boot up cold steel 3. 3: Toval (bracer guy with a stun stick) is the guy in Carnelia btw. If you just want some backstory with him. Also, starting from CS3, you'll be introduced to a character who is featured in the Red Moon Rose series. Note that these books aren't 100% canon, but not 100% fiction either. They're kinda like Dracula books to Vlad Tepes.. Sorta. Kinda. Last, Hajimari (Trails into Reverie) comes out in like 15 days or something. So, you have 5 days to finish cs2, and 5 more for cs3, then 5 more for cs4. gogogo =P
I'll just not sleep and binge these games so I can catch up LOL I have the audio drama that you mentioned about Class VII going to Ymir. I'm about a quarter of the way through it. I'll have to look up that extra scene though along with Red Moon Rose!
The audio drama for CS1 not being in the game is actually criminal. It has like 3 or so key plot points relating to Rean's character. Imagine cutting the main characters story out of the game.
I’ve played a bit of CS 1 in the past and the only really big knock I have against it is the lack of chest messages. I started CS 1, played a few hours and really enjoyed it, then found out: Oh! I’m halfway through the story time to start from the beginning! Then FC and my laughter with the chest messages were just such an unexpected treat. I don’t know how I’ll feel when they finally go away but I’m sure tears will be shed.
Good review, I personally don't like when people compare Trails to Persona because they are very different, both cool in their own way, I also jumped immediatly to Cold Steel 2 after this one, years ago I had to wait like 4 years to play Sky SC after beating the first one, that was hell, I couldn't stand Machias and Alisa either, plus they were very useless in my party, but I liked Millium and Lammy, never got to use Alisa so I went for the teacher's route then Laura on NG+, about the quartz system, it's easier to get strong spells and you can stack quartz of the same type because of the lack of the lines system, that made the game a lot easier imo, for example, stacking Rean with Impede 1, 2 and more quartz that buff delay, makes the fight with Loa Erebonius a joke
the quartz change makes it less satisfying, and also mages are nerfed from this, as the 1 line doesn't allow you to unlock the most powerful abilities.
Cold Steel 1 was a bit of a grind for me, BUT THE ENDING! i am playing through cold steel 2 currently and cant wait to see where this takes us and hopefully see some more familiar faces.
CS2 has the worst ending in the series, and is my least fave game. I mean I still like the game. But the ending. ugh. If you like it, cool, if not, don't fret, it only gets better. Actually CS3 itself has probably the best final chapter in the series IMO. Soo good. The last last last moments of the ending are really abrubt and sudden though. Wasn't a fan of that in of itself. I didn't hate CS4's final chapter, but some people do for immersion reasons. The story is all emergency time sensitive oh noes, but the game is like.. here are 30 side-quests for you to do before you do the main story if you like even though your pants are on fire! It's fair criticism. But I've been playing games long enough that I've already been conditioned to be unaffected by that kind of thing.
i hope you enjoy for the next 3 games.. the CS 2 game is more like streamlined suikoden tho.. for quartz in CS 1, i think is too streamline for me (Azure still best for balance of streamlined and freedom usage) P.S: 1. Just remember some bits like the Prologue scene of CS 1 in garrelia fotress and the chapter when garellia fotress happen ( its for theory laater) 2. did you go to canon waifu or choose waifu you like?
I hate the waifu system myself. But honestly People dig on Alisa for all the wrong reasons. she is in fact clearly the best match for rean imo. People like to say Laura because they share swords in common. Seems like a really shallow reason to have a significant other IMO. I think Alisa is in fact the best match because both Rean and Alisa are very considerate to others. There's one scene, IIRC Alisa is standing on a balcony or higher floor looking over someone (Rean I think?) with Elliot and she makes an insightful comment to Rean's situation/inner feelings. Plus she's not a swordswoman, but she's still an athlete, and also like Rean, she has a kind of 'do it yourself' mindset. In any case, rean is frequently trying to sacrifice his own well-being for others, and probably could use a reciprocal of that devotion for his own benefit. That said I think a certain someone else in cs3 is probably an even better match for basically the same reasons. Except that other person basically has no chance at ever getting a husbando if it's not Rean due to technical reasons. I get the weirdness of it, but she's a good girl who deserves someone to care about her, and if that person isn't going to be Rean, it wont be anyone ever most likely (pretending this wasn't fiction for a moment here).
Cold Steel 1 was a fun game. And I keep wondering who this Alyssa person is that every person keeps mentioning since she is not in tze game. There is a girl named Alisa but nobody talks about Alisa. Only this imaginary Alyssa. I like Rean so far. He's cool. But best dad Lloyd is just better.
Coldsteel 1 is probably my least favourite game in the series but I still have a lot of fond memories playing it. So many goofy and cool moments all in one game
@@Stargazing_night_sky Pretty sure this is an extremely hot take but I actually prefer Coldsteel 2 to 3 and what I have played of 4 so far (I basically got burnt out after binging the series over a year up until 4 and put it on hold when the game made me do a bunch of whatever bracer missions in the middle of some pretty good shit). I just had a lot of fun playing Coldsteel 2 and really enjoyed the plot with Crow at the end, it also helps that I prefer og Class 7 and vastly prefer the XSeed translations over Nis. I'll probably come around on 4 once I get back to it though.
@projectmessiah I was just curious since a lot of people don't like CS2 lol but what's the difference between xseed and nis translations, if you don't mind me asking? I hear people complain about nis translations quite a bit but I don't understand why
@@Stargazing_night_sky I don't mind Nis but the XSeed translations just had more personality. You can tell if you pay attention to Rean's dialogue or inner monologues in Coldsteel 1 and 2 vs 3 and 4, he's a lot more flat when it comes to the less serious scenes in the latter.
@projectmessiah I'll keep that in mind when going into CS3 and 4 once I get to them. I played CS1 and more than half of 2 (dropped it and just watched a story summary vid on youtube cause I just got bored of it) and then went back and just started zero so it'll be a while before I get to CS3
The slow burn of CS1 is unfortunately imo why there is a bit of an entry barrier when it comes to the lore of the series as a whole. I think CS3 has a good attempt of helping new players into the story but I will say that CS3 has a worse cliffhanger haha. CS1 does a good job of getting the erebonia arc established but CS2 and CS4 are great payoffs and I definitely recommend doing the new game + in CS2 that earns you a very good story reward that applies later on. All I can say is that the staff of the school in CS1 definitely get around... Last thing but I would highly recommend getting involved with febnight's community while you are playing through the series if you are not already involved. The dedication and appreciation that community has for the series is amazing to see and I am sure there are many that would love to help you throughout your playthrough's! (P.S. The black records hit dif if you follow em)
Yeah - I get that "Persona" thing, but at the same time it irritates me that every game that has a school and a timeline in it, suddenly is compared to those Persona games. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE the Persona games, but to be honest - I love the legend Of Heroes games even more. And this game is not the only Falcom game (yes - I also like the other Falcom games too) that got marked with the Persona branding iron. One very underrated game that has the same "mark of doom" undeserved (in my humble opinion) plastered on it, is Tokyo Xanadu eX+. It's a great game that is a bit like a mix of a Cold Steel game and a Ys (like Ys VIII - Lacrimosa of Dana) game, and I think is very enjoyable (I like those two latest YS games, Ys VIII and Ys IX, very much too by the way). Anyway - Personally I think the second Cold Steel game is better than the first one. But to be honest - My favorites in the Cold Steel series still are Cold Steel III and Cold Steel IV. I cannot say too much because of spoilers, but I like certain characters even more than the characters in Cold Steel I and II.
I’m about 30 hours into CS2 currently (been playing it on stream on the channel) and I’m enjoying it even more than CS1. Excited to see where things go!
I might be in the minority but I feel its a huge loss losing the ability to mix and match quartz to unlock arts. I like Azure best for this, which has master quartz and still retains the old system.
I really did not like the change tonthe quartz system. I liked the old bersion because it allowed me to have more abilities and options. With this new system we get far fewer abilities. Later games have improved it to make it so that they give you more abilities with each quartz, but i also have to choose between cast time reduction, more MP, OR MP cost reduction.
Thanks to everyone who has been on this journey with me so far! Let me know what you thought of Cold Steel 1!
People are too hard on CS1 (and FC) IMO. I personally like CS1 more than CS2. Actually, unfortunately, CS2 is my least fave game in the series. I really dislike how it makes me feel like I'm playing a children's saturday cartoon with how it's so formulaic and how each chapter end/climax comes across like some kind of power rangers dinosaur power skit. I also enjoyed the random unimportant npc chatter in cs2 alot less than cs1 because there isn't that stable classroom system where you can get familiar with/comfortable with all the regulars. It also has alot more traveling and loading times between npc chatter (Kinda like Azure). I still love the game though, plus it has some real high points like some of the best regular battle music in the series. It also has my fave sidequest in the series (It's like a detective mystery quest, you'll know it when you get there). Oh yeah, I have to mention though. CS2's ending is the worst, most frusterating in the series too IMO. Not because of a cliffhanger. But because it makes you go 'wait. WHAT? WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN!?' an effing TON Imo. Plus alot of those things just didn't make sense to me, they still don't actually in many of the cases.
Back at CS1 though. It IMO has the best unimportant npc chat in the whole series so far IMO, along with possibly my fave soundtrack overall (giving it full credit for the tracks CS2 and such re-use), and it really isn't as slow as people say. The 'small/unimportant' plot points aren't small or unimportant, people just need to get the whole 'kill god, save the universe' rpg mentality out of their brain which sky 3rd/azure puts into your brain kinda. Not quite but you get the idea.
I don't feel like I caught onto the whole c=crow thing that early, but I wasn't actively trying to figure out who C WAS either. I actually never do that kinda thing with mystery identity things. I always just don't bother trying and just focus on the current events. That said I do remember having major red flags and awoooga alarms going on at the part where you're rescuing people from the Mine, and like halfway thru Crow is like "imma stay behind and help escort the hostages back to safety". Not because of the excuse itself per say, but that's when I couldn't hep but be hit on the head with a hammer that dude is NEVER around when stuff is about to happen.
Edit: Oh yeah, I have a hard time liking Millium too. She's better in CS2, but I still have a hard time liking her. She gets better when she has more interactions with someone else other than Rean though.
I just started, I'll give you my feedback when I'm done 🤗
So far, I've been EXTREMELY impressed by the voice acting and how the quality of the writing has translated into voice acting seamlessly! Wow! This voice acting and writing is literally better than AAA Final Fantasy XVI. What did you think about the voice acting!?
this is the first trails i played so i wasnt too familiar yet with how trails story and plot twists. this blew my mind away. i became a fans of trails series ever since.
playing trails into reverie now. enjoy trails of cold steel saga. it will always hold a special place in my heart.
The quartz system in kuro is melded between old and new, spells have a separate system from the quartz. The quartz still are used for stats, but you can now build passives with those quartz' element values.
I appreciated that it was Millium who pieced together Crow's identity. Up until then the player could see why she would be a great field agent, but that moment showed why she was good at intelligence gathering.
Non-spoiler, but you'll learn why she is so happy go lucky and possibly why someone like her contrasts the rest of the Ironbloods so much- you'll learn how someone like her was so needed
Also, pay attention to Gideon's character in the context of Azure. Mind blown.
This was my 1st Trails game, and also my favorite thus far. (probably because it was my 1st) I'm happy to see you enjoying CS2. Be happy that you don't have to go backwards like I did to get the full breadth of the story. After CS2 is when I found out that it'd be best for me to go back and play the Sky trilogy and the Crossbell games before even attempting CS3 & 4.
So glad I waited!
you like cs1 more than 2? nice. I feel like I'm the only guy who does so often.
@@Ghalion666 There is a lot of hate for CS2 so I don't think its surprising people enjoy 1 more than 2.
@@luminous3558 I frequently see people complain that cs1 is way too slow and a drag and picks up after. Never saw anyone say they like cs1 more than 2 other than myself. I stay out of reddit and discord though.
I'm just like you. I started with CS1 jumped right into CS2 because of the cliffhanger and then went back to play the older games. Just finished Azure a couple of days ago and taking a small break from the series to avoid burnout. Playing Scarlet Nexus in the meantime.
Cold Steel 1's ending actually took me by surprise when I first played it. Major spoilers ahead for the ending of CS1:
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Like you, I also suspected that C was Crow. However, my focus wasn't just on Crow. I also suspected Carl Regnitz (the father of Machias) and Duke Cayenne. That part in the Sachsen Iron Mine, where C's ship goes down after getting shot (yeah, I wasn't convinced C died either) and then Crow turns up with Prince Olivert and George convinced me that C couldn't possibly be Crow.
The timing just didn't add up for me anymore, because Crow would have had to escort the miners to Roer, double back and disguise himself as C, fight Class VII, escape while pretending to die on his ship, remove his disguise and then somehow meet up with Prince Olivert and George in that very small window of time after C disappeared. I was like, "Yeah, no... there is no way that happened, it's too convoluted". So, I was then hyper-focused on Carl and Duke Cayenne... and it was only the last chapter, those moments where Rean was looking everywhere for Crow that I finally realized that I made a mistake in my assumptions.
That said, it was a pretty nice surprise. I wouldn't have minded Carl or Cayenne, but Crow made it more personal. Even more so when I realized that I was tricked, lol.
You know, Carl or Cayenne would’ve been a good pick for C as well. Especially given how close Carl was working with Osborne. Machias would’ve gone down a really dark path if that was the case 😅
@@TheTheoLogan898 Yeah, it would have definitely changed things with Machias for sure. But I feel like he would have been just as surprised as the rest of Class VII. At the very least, I doubt he would have been onboard with the idea of his father playing caped crusader. XD
@@TheTheoLogan898 So much I want to say to this comment that I can't without spoilertasticness.
@@Ghalion666 >.>
I am spoiled on who C's are.
When I looked my Artbook that was included in Lionheart's Edition. I was so dumb that I looked on to it. I regret that I impatience at that time.
Nice review. So this was my 1st game in the series that i beat in 2020. I started 2 but i felt i was missing a lot of the context. So i took a break and went back and played the 5 games before. I just beat cold steel 1 again and im so glad i did. It made me appreciate the game more.
It definitely helps playing the previous games! Which one has been your favorite so far?
@@TheTheoLogan898 sky SC. Estelle trying to find herself after the end of FC is amazing. That reunite moment is amazing (I'm trying to be vague in case people haven't played that game I know some people play in different order).
I would put Azure higher but the ending to me felt flat to me and the reveals didn't do much for me. Azure chapter 4 is nuts but the end to me felt like I'll be back there soon (sorry I'm trying to be vague in case someone hasn't played that game).
Since I started the series with this game, it was a bit harder to get into the older combat and Quartz system. It's definitely more beginner friendly in the Cold Steel games. Maybe it also helped that I played Tokyo Xanadu eX+ before the Trails series, so I felt right at home with the way those things worked in Cold Steel.
So the quartz change initially rubbed me the wrong way because I think the system in Azure was really good and didnt really need changing.
However in practicality the change does not matter. After you acquire high level quartz you often end up with stat boosters that also grant you a set of arts similar to what you had prior.
So its better for new players(ironically this is an odd place for accessibility if you played all prior games like a good boy) while not really removing much depth.
Master Quartz and the additional link system make up for the lost complexity early to mid game.
Though overall Coldsteel 1 is a rough start to a new arc in terms of combat and the games don't really find their footing till CS3.
Trails of cold steel is my favorite JRPG excited for Trails into Reverie.
Alright I loved Millium lol, she was such a nice contrast from the rest of the group and made me laugh many times. Especially her interactions with Machias and Jusis, they were hilarious together.
She definitely grew on me in Cold Steel 2. But she was a bit much at first 😅
God I love the ending of CS1, it just went "So now we have fucking Gundams, LETS GOOOO!!!!"
SPOILERS fir the Ending:
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I didn't see Crow's Betrayal coming, that reveal hurt me so much even though everything instantly made sense. (I realized it the in-game day before the reveal, but I didn't want it to be true.) 10/10 Plot Twist!!
They did do a good job of misdirecting the player. Wish I didn’t call it so early 😅
I love this game my first trails game
There are things I like about the new quartz system, and there are things that I hate.
so first off, the better things:
1) no quartz is useless anymore, like even if it's a crappy early game quartz it can still give some slight buffs for you and at times have more impact than a better one (Crystal Flood R generally being better than Maelstrom)
2) ability to use multiple of same-ish quartz (Nightmare + Petrify + Sleep) or (Attack 3, Attack 2, Mars Gem)
3) ease of use thus making new players more likely to come in
but then come the bad parts too:
1) lines essentially lost their meaning, and my puzzle-loving brain can't build the perfect set for every character because I want to and enjoy it
2) some quartz lost value, (I know what you're gonna say, this collides with the first 1 in the part that I love about, but hear me out), EP Cut was the 2nd most used quartz in the previous two arcs because it provided the player with the highest amount of arts for 1 generic quartz (a synthesizeable one), now it's barely even worth running on your mages. Shield quartz is so mediocre because almost nothing does magic damage and thus why put it on ever? Why run Defense or Shield or HP if you can just build more power and almost oneshot bosses
and that brings me to my final gripe
3) existence of the Chrono Burst art and Moebius MQ, this art+ MQ combo makes EVERY SINGLE FIGHT not a fight anymore because anybody can set it into their slot and suddenly the opponents won't get a chance to move. Whenever I play through the Cold Steel saga I tell to myself: "Moebius is banned and cannot be used for any reason other than leveling it up" and I try to stay away from Chrono Burst as well too.
The lines thing is even more sad when you think about how it relates to the users skill with Arts. Prior games where you had 4 different lines it was an indicator that the person wasn't good with arts while the longer the lines were indicated inherent skill with arts.
Such as Olivier having Arnor blood which are said to be highly skilled in magic.
Renne and Tio both being geniuses and being fed a lot of gnosis by the cult caused them to become unnaturally good with arts.
The only merit that having less lines has now is a higher EP count in exchange for a lot more expensive unlocks.
Comparatively having more lines is a lot stronger now with access to up to 4 different status quartz that can also boost atk by a lot.
Don't forget to read Red Moon Rose!
Got it bookmarked!
"i cant imagine how its like to have to wait to play cold steel 2 after finishing 1"
oh my sweet summer child, wait until you get to cold steel 3s ending, i honestly was shocked, i thought there was a bug or something, no way it can just end like that
Oh crap… good thing I can just go into 4 then 😅
@@TheTheoLogan898 you are a lucky man indeed :)
Oh god, the wait for Cold Steel 4 was AGONIZING after that cliffhanger.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. Trails of Cold Steel 1 was my first Trails game.
8:42 wrong , Gideon and his squad got totally destroyed in Azure by the Red Constellation..
Hmm now I’m wondering which was the harder wait for audiences: The wait between FC & SC or the wait between CS1 & 2?
Real glad I waited to play these games to avoid that lol I imagine both times waiting were not fun
SPOILERS:
Definitely the wait between CS3 and CS4.
Glad you enjoyed it! One of my faves! Still trying to get that platinum ugh! Lol
Good luck! How many trophies you have left?
@@TheTheoLogan898 17 Left, I play the series from sky to whatever is recent once a year, hopefully I’ll get it next year. I’m missing one for cs3 and that’ll be in the bag. These games are like crack my guy lol. I’m happy you’re enjoying yourself, it’s been fun to watch someone see what I see and appreciate it as well.
@@scarythingsarescary6493 Wait, you play the entire series every year?
I always play each sub-series twice before the next one. And I tell myself when the final game is over. I'll replay the entire series from start to finish. But every year? holy heck.
When youre saying that cold steel is basically gundam it made me laugh a lot because now i cant shake that sentece off my head
I really don't like that they separate stat buff and spells in CS series with the quartz. Like WWWHHYYYY!?
I found about the Trails games by buying Cold Steel I and II on STEAM extremely cheap on sale
Glad you liked it, also glad you don't have Alisa derangement syndrome (so many people never get over a bad first impression with her, it's nuts). I personally dislike the changes to the quartz mechanics, HOWEVER, I like it more in CS3 and 4 because they let you wear 2 master quartz simultaneously, and they are more liberal with the amount of 'free' artes the master quartz gives you. So you can focus more on stat-based quartz over spells but still have a decent amount of spells to play with.
Actually I should begin with the following things you should know, and probably already know. But better to tell you before it's too late:
1: There's a short story (I forget what it's called) that you're supposed to read after Cold steel 1 but before cold steel 2. It's about class 7 being invited to Ymir (Rean's hometown) for some R&R after the super busy chapter in Heimdallr as a kind of formal/royal reward. I don't think it's massively important but you'll have some scenes in cs2 where people act like they went to ymir already when they haven't in cs1, but they have in canon if you read that short story.
2: Cold steel 2 unfortunately also expects you to play the entire game twice before cold steel 3. It has a stupid scene that is not available until NG+, and CS3 just up and assumes you saw it. You can just look at youtube for the 'secret' cs2 scene though. Be sure to look at it before you boot up cold steel 3.
3: Toval (bracer guy with a stun stick) is the guy in Carnelia btw. If you just want some backstory with him. Also, starting from CS3, you'll be introduced to a character who is featured in the Red Moon Rose series. Note that these books aren't 100% canon, but not 100% fiction either. They're kinda like Dracula books to Vlad Tepes.. Sorta. Kinda.
Last, Hajimari (Trails into Reverie) comes out in like 15 days or something. So, you have 5 days to finish cs2, and 5 more for cs3, then 5 more for cs4. gogogo =P
I'll just not sleep and binge these games so I can catch up LOL
I have the audio drama that you mentioned about Class VII going to Ymir. I'm about a quarter of the way through it. I'll have to look up that extra scene though along with Red Moon Rose!
The audio drama for CS1 not being in the game is actually criminal. It has like 3 or so key plot points relating to Rean's character. Imagine cutting the main characters story out of the game.
I’ve played a bit of CS 1 in the past and the only really big knock I have against it is the lack of chest messages. I started CS 1, played a few hours and really enjoyed it, then found out: Oh! I’m halfway through the story time to start from the beginning! Then FC and my laughter with the chest messages were just such an unexpected treat. I don’t know how I’ll feel when they finally go away but I’m sure tears will be shed.
They’re sorely missed
Good review, I personally don't like when people compare Trails to Persona because they are very different, both cool in their own way, I also jumped immediatly to Cold Steel 2 after this one, years ago I had to wait like 4 years to play Sky SC after beating the first one, that was hell, I couldn't stand Machias and Alisa either, plus they were very useless in my party, but I liked Millium and Lammy, never got to use Alisa so I went for the teacher's route then Laura on NG+, about the quartz system, it's easier to get strong spells and you can stack quartz of the same type because of the lack of the lines system, that made the game a lot easier imo, for example, stacking Rean with Impede 1, 2 and more quartz that buff delay, makes the fight with Loa Erebonius a joke
I definitely stacked Rean with Impede and it made the game way too easy 😅
@@TheTheoLogan898 exactly, some bosses can't even get a turn 🤣
the quartz change makes it less satisfying, and also mages are nerfed from this, as the 1 line doesn't allow you to unlock the most powerful abilities.
Cold Steel 1 was a bit of a grind for me, BUT THE ENDING! i am playing through cold steel 2 currently and cant wait to see where this takes us and hopefully see some more familiar faces.
I’m playing through CS2 also! It’s been a lot of fun so far!
CS2 has the worst ending in the series, and is my least fave game. I mean I still like the game. But the ending. ugh. If you like it, cool, if not, don't fret, it only gets better. Actually CS3 itself has probably the best final chapter in the series IMO. Soo good. The last last last moments of the ending are really abrubt and sudden though. Wasn't a fan of that in of itself. I didn't hate CS4's final chapter, but some people do for immersion reasons. The story is all emergency time sensitive oh noes, but the game is like.. here are 30 side-quests for you to do before you do the main story if you like even though your pants are on fire! It's fair criticism. But I've been playing games long enough that I've already been conditioned to be unaffected by that kind of thing.
i hope you enjoy for the next 3 games..
the CS 2 game is more like streamlined suikoden tho..
for quartz in CS 1, i think is too streamline for me (Azure still best for balance of streamlined and freedom usage)
P.S:
1. Just remember some bits like the Prologue scene of CS 1 in garrelia fotress and the chapter when garellia fotress happen ( its for theory laater)
2. did you go to canon waifu or choose waifu you like?
I hate the waifu system myself. But honestly People dig on Alisa for all the wrong reasons. she is in fact clearly the best match for rean imo. People like to say Laura because they share swords in common. Seems like a really shallow reason to have a significant other IMO. I think Alisa is in fact the best match because both Rean and Alisa are very considerate to others. There's one scene, IIRC Alisa is standing on a balcony or higher floor looking over someone (Rean I think?) with Elliot and she makes an insightful comment to Rean's situation/inner feelings.
Plus she's not a swordswoman, but she's still an athlete, and also like Rean, she has a kind of 'do it yourself' mindset. In any case, rean is frequently trying to sacrifice his own well-being for others, and probably could use a reciprocal of that devotion for his own benefit.
That said I think a certain someone else in cs3 is probably an even better match for basically the same reasons. Except that other person basically has no chance at ever getting a husbando if it's not Rean due to technical reasons. I get the weirdness of it, but she's a good girl who deserves someone to care about her, and if that person isn't going to be Rean, it wont be anyone ever most likely (pretending this wasn't fiction for a moment here).
I picked Laura instead of Alisa. She just had a better personality imo.
Cold Steel 1 was a fun game. And I keep wondering who this Alyssa person is that every person keeps mentioning since she is not in tze game. There is a girl named Alisa but nobody talks about Alisa. Only this imaginary Alyssa. I like Rean so far. He's cool. But best dad Lloyd is just better.
Didn't knew this was 6th game i thought this was first
Well, now you know! Are you currently playing the Cold Steel games?
@@TheTheoLogan898 nope not gonna play it not for me personally
My nicknames for Jusis and Machias: Useless and Munchy-ass.
Coldsteel 1 is probably my least favourite game in the series but I still have a lot of fond memories playing it. So many goofy and cool moments all in one game
What about cold steel 2? Im curious
@@Stargazing_night_sky Pretty sure this is an extremely hot take but I actually prefer Coldsteel 2 to 3 and what I have played of 4 so far (I basically got burnt out after binging the series over a year up until 4 and put it on hold when the game made me do a bunch of whatever bracer missions in the middle of some pretty good shit). I just had a lot of fun playing Coldsteel 2 and really enjoyed the plot with Crow at the end, it also helps that I prefer og Class 7 and vastly prefer the XSeed translations over Nis. I'll probably come around on 4 once I get back to it though.
@projectmessiah I was just curious since a lot of people don't like CS2 lol but what's the difference between xseed and nis translations, if you don't mind me asking? I hear people complain about nis translations quite a bit but I don't understand why
@@Stargazing_night_sky I don't mind Nis but the XSeed translations just had more personality. You can tell if you pay attention to Rean's dialogue or inner monologues in Coldsteel 1 and 2 vs 3 and 4, he's a lot more flat when it comes to the less serious scenes in the latter.
@projectmessiah I'll keep that in mind when going into CS3 and 4 once I get to them. I played CS1 and more than half of 2 (dropped it and just watched a story summary vid on youtube cause I just got bored of it) and then went back and just started zero so it'll be a while before I get to CS3
The slow burn of CS1 is unfortunately imo why there is a bit of an entry barrier when it comes to the lore of the series as a whole. I think CS3 has a good attempt of helping new players into the story but I will say that CS3 has a worse cliffhanger haha. CS1 does a good job of getting the erebonia arc established but CS2 and CS4 are great payoffs and I definitely recommend doing the new game + in CS2 that earns you a very good story reward that applies later on. All I can say is that the staff of the school in CS1 definitely get around... Last thing but I would highly recommend getting involved with febnight's community while you are playing through the series if you are not already involved. The dedication and appreciation that community has for the series is amazing to see and I am sure there are many that would love to help you throughout your playthrough's! (P.S. The black records hit dif if you follow em)
Yeah - I get that "Persona" thing, but at the same time it irritates me that every game that has a school and a timeline in it, suddenly is compared to those Persona games. Don't get me wrong - I LOVE the Persona games, but to be honest - I love the legend Of Heroes games even more.
And this game is not the only Falcom game (yes - I also like the other Falcom games too) that got marked with the Persona branding iron. One very underrated game that has the same "mark of doom" undeserved (in my humble opinion) plastered on it, is Tokyo Xanadu eX+. It's a great game that is a bit like a mix of a Cold Steel game and a Ys (like Ys VIII - Lacrimosa of Dana) game, and I think is very enjoyable (I like those two latest YS games, Ys VIII and Ys IX, very much too by the way).
Anyway - Personally I think the second Cold Steel game is better than the first one. But to be honest - My favorites in the Cold Steel series still are Cold Steel III and Cold Steel IV. I cannot say too much because of spoilers, but I like certain characters even more than the characters in Cold Steel I and II.
I’m about 30 hours into CS2 currently (been playing it on stream on the channel) and I’m enjoying it even more than CS1. Excited to see where things go!
@@TheTheoLogan898 Heh - You are in for a ride, and a few surprises. But as you are by now a Falcom game "veteran" I am sure you already suspect that.
I might be in the minority but I feel its a huge loss losing the ability to mix and match quartz to unlock arts. I like Azure best for this, which has master quartz and still retains the old system.
Azure definitely has the best combat
I really did not like the change tonthe quartz system. I liked the old bersion because it allowed me to have more abilities and options. With this new system we get far fewer abilities. Later games have improved it to make it so that they give you more abilities with each quartz, but i also have to choose between cast time reduction, more MP, OR MP cost reduction.