The Legend of Heroes:
Trails of Cold Steel III
Sony PlayStation 4
IT’S A testament to the intrinsic pull of The Legend of Heroes series that noted videogame developer Nihon Falcom proudly disclosed production on the third installment in the Trails of Cold Steel subset during its 2015 stockholders meeting. The optimism accompanying the announcement was likewise due in large measure to the potential of the title to push the franchise’s foray into current-generation consoles. Needless to say, the Tachikawa-based company deemed its bullishness merited; after all, the first two releases in the Erebonia arc proved to be critical and commercial hits, and there was little reason to believe that the next one would not be as successful.
Parenthetically, Nihon Falcom’s plans for The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III involved the expansion of the sequel’s reach beyond Japan. To ensure the efficient allocation of resources in the attainment of its growth objective, it thought to forego the creation of a version for the PlayStation Vita; as popular as the portable gaming device remained in the land of the rising run, interest just about everywhere else around the world waned. And, true enough, it formalized its intent and confirmed the title’s status as a PlayStation 4 exclusive by the time it met its shareholders anew.
Nihon Falcom knew the change in tack was a risk, but one it was willing to take in an effort to widen the scope — and minimize, if not altogether eradicate, restraints in, and constraints on, the presentation — of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III. For those directly involved in the production process, there was simply no better way — or, to be more precise, no other way — to appreciate the final output than on the PS4. They had grandiose designs, and, the yeoman’s job the Vita did in hosting the first two installments notwithstanding, they were convinced the handheld would no longer be up to the task in seeing those designs through.
As things turned out, Nihon Falcom was right to keep its focus on the PS4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III now in gamers’ hands is nothing short of outstanding. And, for those from the outside looking in, it would have been unable to realize its creative vision were it compelled to include the Vita in the development process. The finished product is a technical marvel that requires considerable hardware resources, and would, in fact, be best appreciated when taken for a spin on the PS4 Pro; the base model tries, but often struggles to pass even eye and ear tests.
Given the richness of the lore surrounding The Legend of Heroes series, Nihon Falcom deserves props for making the latest installment of the Erebonia arc easy to pick up by relative newcomers. In this regard, the script is finely tuned and attuned to the needs of the less aware. Apart from a concise summary that brings gamers up to speed on events that occurred in Trails of Cold Steel I and II, it provides interactions between the characters that deftly give the lay of Trails of Cold Steel III’s land, so to speak. And, crucially, it does so in such an unobtrusive way that those already steeped in the history won’t feel as if they’re obliged to sit through tons of exposition.
Needless to say, there can be no discounting the work NIS America has done to come up with an eminently laudable localization of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III. With XSeed having been responsible for the flawless English translation of Trails of Cold Steel I and II, it faced not insignificant pressure to keep up with existing quality standards. And for all the criticism it absorbed for its far-from-unimpaired efforts in bringing Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana, the latest release in Nihon Falcom’s other revered franchise, to the West, it succeeded in its endeavor. All the I’s are dotted, all the T’s are crossed, and not a sole punctuation mark is out of place. More importantly, the narrative flavor is retained in the transition from extremely nuanced Japanese to highly literal English.
And what a story The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III heralds. Picking up a year and a half from where Trails of Cold Steel II left off, it finds principal protagonist Rean Schwarzer taking on his new job as instructor in Thors Military Academy. He’s charged with mentoring Class VII composed of Juna Crawford, Kurt Vander, and Altina Orion, but away from the main campus, for reasons he will later understand. Through interactions between the leads and with non-playable characters in and about the town of Leeves, the plot is fleshed out and motivations manifest themselves.
The end of the civil war found Erebonia becoming much bigger than the Republic of Calvard, its erstwhile rival. Schwarzer’s critical role in bringing about the current state of affairs initially brings about distrust within his class. Among those annexed by imperial rule is Crossbell, from where Crawford hails. Vander is part of a celebrated military lineage just relieved of its previously prominent duty as protector of the first family. Orion saw action in the frontlines. After a trial that forces them to reexamine their sentiments, however, they wind up forging a bond that figures to grow deeper over time.
As is typical of the series, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III unfolds at a deliberate pace. And because the storyline focuses on the Branch Campus, even gamers already having devoted hundreds of hours to Trails of Cold Steel I and II will find plenty of new things to uncover. In school, interactions serve to deepen relationships. Outside its walls is a clearer picture of post-war proceedings. From the suburbs of Heimdallr in Central Erebonia to Crossbell in West Zemuria, change is portrayed through the eyes of citizens of the republic determined to restore a semblance of normalcy to their lives.
Progression in The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is counted in days, but its sheer depth and the ample support provided by well-produced cutscenes lead to immersive gameplay. And, soon enough, Schwarzer and Company are thrust in battle. Not surprisingly, the superb combat mechanics in previous installments are retained save for a handful of improvements, among them the Brave Order system which grants the party of four hot-swappable characters collective offensive and defensive benefits. It faces the enemies in turn-based fashion, during which gamers can choose to improve field positioning, make use of items on inventory, or launch attacks. And, yes, certain instances again lend to mechanical warfare by way of Deus-Excellion and Panzer Soldat weaponry.
Four difficulty options are on tap, but it bears noting that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III also has a Nightmare Mode that lives up to billing. As in all but the most crucial elements, gamers are given the option to speed up play. Most cutscenes can be skipped, and enabling Turbo Mode allows for accelerated combat phases and traversal of field areas and dungeons. In any case, at no point will the effective “rushing” compromise comprehension of the overarching narrative. Significantly, there’s also plenty for those so enjoined to stay on the other extreme of the spectrum. Side quests for bonuses abound. Vantage Master is, for all intents, a full-fledged deck builder, amping you’re stakes for in-game collectors. And, for good measure, fishing is back and still eminently enjoyable.
To be sure, it helps that The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III provides ample eye and ear candy. It’s a visual marvel that boasts of vibrant colors and sharp detail, especially on a PS4 Pro attached to a screen capable of rendering 4K resolution. Else, it’s at a solid 1080p, and only in a few instances did it fail to run at a steady 60 frames per second. At the same time, it manages to retain its usual high standards for sound; the music is memorably fitting for the occasion, with smooth rhythms accompanying expository sequences and louder themes at the ready for adrenaline-pumping engagements. Voice acting isn’t always present, but it’s rock solid on all the important parts, benefitting immensely from the return of — and experienced provided by — most actors in the series.
In sum, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a veritable masterpiece designed to get gamers lost in its world of interest and intrigue. It’s both intimate and grandiose, darker than Trails of Cold Steel I and II but likewise deeply affecting. It can last anywhere from 70 to north of a hundred hours, but, regardless of the time spent awash in its splendor, it culminates in a twist that ably earns its shock value. And therein lies what is, perhaps, its only lasting negative: the inevitable — and, under the circumstances, seemingly interminable — wait for Trails of Cold Steel IV. Highly recommended.
THE GOOD:
• Outstanding storyline culminating in a twist
• Impressive visuals and music and voice tracks
• Retains intricate combat system, with incremental improvements
THE BAD:
• Occasional frame drops
• Small text during combat
• Pace can be plodding to start
RATING: 9/10
POSTSCRIPT: As a turn-based role-playing game with a grandiose storyline, Battle Chasers: Nightwar appears more fit for consoles or personal computer systems. All the same, Handy Games succeeds in porting the iteration of noted artist Joe Madureira’s fantasy comic-book series over to iOS devices without hardly any noticeable compromises. It certainly starts off big, with an engrossing cinematic setting up the premise. Principal protagonist Gully and airshipmates Garrison, Calibretto, Red Monika, and Knowlan find themselves stranded in a mysterious island after being shot down by unknown forces. A wealth of mana in the area subjects them to hordes of enemies, and their efforts to stay alive while finding out the reasons for their predicament form the crux of the narrative.
Controls and feedback are slick and fast on both mobile phone and tablet. Battle Chasers: Nightwar requires movement over a significant area, and screen taps along the overworld and inside dungeons are nothing if not responsive. Random encounters during exploration phases or specific quests abound, and difficulty spikes can be jarring. Thusly, grinding becomes a must in order for the characters to level up their skills and abilities. And while only three at a time can participate in combat, all will have to be in the rota to keep the party balanced. Battle gauges fill up to unlock on demand individual and group attacks that magnify their power.
On the whole, Battle Chasers: Nightwar packs a wallop, featuring an art style that stays true to its source material, a soundtrack that succeeds in setting the proper moods, and tons of action within a compelling plot that ties everything together. And it’s technically efficient as well; graphical options abound, allowing gamers to go for high-resolution settings under optimal conditions or select lower ones to prolong battery life. In any case, they can save their progress, quit the game at any time, and pick up from where they left off whenever they want. In short, it’s perfect for gaming on the go. At $9.99, it gives ample bang for the buck.
THE LAST WORD: Sturmwind EX will be out on the Nintendo eShop next month. As the improved and updated version of the shoot ‘em up released on the Sega DreamCast six and a half years ago, it offers up to 16 levels of button-mashing mayhem. Even the difficulty settings are decidedly retro: progress on Mission Mode can be saved only upon completion of each stage. And for the most masochistic of gamers, there’s the Arcade Mode, which lays the game out in six phases with absolutely no continues.
