The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

Trails of Cold Steel 3 is a masterclass in storytelling that improves nearly everything in the franchise's history.

The only real fault you can attribute to Trails of Cold Steel III is how it doesn't quite match the lofty heights the previous two titles deservedly reached. Even so, for those who can look past the microscopic excursions into overdrawn dialogue, technical hitches and a less-than-focal attention to the characters it introduces, as opposed to those it brings back, there is still so much to admire a...

I could practically trace my whole writing career via Falcom’s The Legend of Heroes series. As a whole, it’s been around since before I was born, but I was right there hustling as a budding games critic when Trails in the Sky dropped for the PSP. It wasn’t the first to be localized, but it was the first to really find an audience. Nearly a decade later, this world’s story is still being told. Span...

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III brings the Erebonia arc of the Trails series to its second half - under a new western publisher. Here's how everything turned out:

It's been a few years but Rean is back and this time, he's leading his very own Class VII in one epic adventure so let's get to it.

The Trails series has managed, not without some difficulty, to become one of the most beloved JRPG series in the West still running today. Most of its success is thanks to excellent worldbuilding and writing, which makes the series fell more like a novel than a video game. The world feels more alive than any other JRPG setting, and even regular NPCs have their own personal stories that evolve thro...

All in all, Trails of Cold Steel III is an excellent Legend of Heroes game that brings the series to a more modern standard. The graphics are a lot better, the battle system is a lot more in-depth if not easy to break and the story is intriguing throughout. If you’re new to the series or have only played the previous Cold Steel games however, you’ll find yourself lost at times with the overall plo...

Fans of the original Trails of Cold Steel will want to pick up this second entry, but newcomers might want to get up to speed before diving in.

Trails of Cold Steel III doesn’t do a whole lot with the transition to more powerful hardware, but it doubles down on everything that made the first two games great. The story and characters are the best they’ve ever been, the already excellent combat has been refined even further, and the stylish new battle camera and presentation overhaul give the experience much more character, even if the game...

Trails of Cold Steel II on the PlayStation 4 is the definitive edition of the video game. With a rich narrative full of world-building and fleshed out character, it's a journey well worth the time sink.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III the third 80-hour RPG in a series of equally lengthy games. If you're a newcomer, it's a daunting and probably foolish task to try and play this game. If you're a die-hard fan of the Cold Steel series already, you'll get plenty of satisfaction out of the continued plot development and engaging combat. Even the most dedicated of fans, though, are likel...

Ultimately, these are straight ports and while they don't feel entirely necessary, it's the definitive way to play two solid RPGs. Cold Steel 3 sets the stage with a gripping story and entertaining gameplay, while Cold Steel 4 delivers an exciting conclusion that sometimes strains under its ambition. Together, they finish an integral part of one of gaming's most compelling sagas, and while I'm rea...