Beginner Tips

[8bucksquall]

Just blitzed the Sky series, now about to get into Cold Steel. Any helpful guides for missable quests/items/tips?

[Kurosu]

Yes, check out the guides at neoseeker , here is the one for the first game
https://www.neoseeker.com/the-legend-of-heroes-trails-of-cold-steel/walkthrough

The author Zoelius goes in much detail and they are also nicely organised , be carefull not to skip a line when reading and you shouldnt miss anything (thats how I messed up)I think they also have them posted and Gamefaq

[Stabbey]

Here's a spoiler-free mini-guide for missables:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/538680/discussions/0/1471967529574789500/

It's so spoiler-free that I don't even say where the chapter is taking place, just the chapter number.

[Citronvand]

Any reason you're skipping the Crossbell games?

[Kurosu]

Originally posted by Citronvand:

Any reason you're skipping the Crossbell games?

Those arent localised in the west yet. (officilaly)

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by Kurosu:

Those arent localised in the west yet. (officilaly)

I'm aware. But the fantranslations are fine in my opinion, certainly now with Geofronts new translation for Zero.

The Crossbell games continue some character development Joshua, Estelle & Renne that was started in Sky plus the fact that there are certain things in Cold Steel that you won't appreciate if you haven't played the Crossbell games beforehand such as the epilogue in Cold Steel 2, not to mention everything in Cold Steel 3.

That's why I wondered why he is skipping them. I don't mind as long as he is making a conscious decision.

[Kurosu]

Originally posted by Citronvand:

Originally posted by Kurosu:

Those arent localised in the west yet. (officilaly)

I'm aware. But the fantranslations are fine in my opinion, certainly now with Geofronts new translation for Zero.

The Crossbell games continue some character development Joshua, Estelle & Renne that was started in Sky plus the fact that there are certain things in Cold Steel that you won't appreciate if you haven't played the Crossbell games beforehand such as the epilogue in Cold Steel 2, not to mention everything in Cold Steel 3.

That's why I wondered why he is skipping them. I don't mind as long as he is making a conscious decision.

I am sorry but everyone that says you wont enjoy the epilogue in cs2 and the parts of cs3 is just exaggerating. I havent played the crosbell games yet but I enjoyed everything regardless.
Will you miss a few refferences ? Sure.
Will you enjoy it even slightly less ? Nope

And the argument of cold steel spoiling things for crossbell is a double edge sword. Since cold steel 1 and 2 kinda happen at the same time as the crossbell games, the one you choose to play first will reveal something for the others.

That said , I dont recommend skipping the Crossbell games. Just saying they are not as mandatory as people lead you to believe.

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by Kurosu:

I am sorry but everyone that says you wont enjoy the epilogue in cs2 and the parts of cs3 is just exaggerating. I havent played the crosbell games yet but I enjoyed everything regardless.

That's not exactly what I said. Of course you can enjoy Cold Steel without playing the previous games. But...

Will you miss a few refferences ? Sure.

A few? That's a bit of an understatement.

Will you enjoy it even slightly less ? Nope

That is a big fat lie. Do you think someone watching Infinity War without watching any of the previous movies will enjoy it as much as someone who has watched every movie and knows all the characters and events e.t.c. Of course not. You have no emotional connection whatsoever to characters you have never seen before.

And the argument of cold steel spoiling things for crossbell is a double edge sword. Since cold steel 1 and 2 kinda happen at the same time as the crossbell games, the one you choose to play first will reveal something for the others.

I didn't even bring this up. But if you are OCD about spoilers the only correct way would be to follow this guide: https://imgur.com/a/vL0SdjH
Not that I would recommend it though, constantly jumping from game to game and protagonists will be a jarring experience for sure.

That said , I dont recommend skipping the Crossbell games. Just saying they are not as mandatory as people lead you to believe.

So what exactly is the problem. All I did was to ask why he was skipping the Crossbell games, I even said that I didn't mind as long as it was a conscious decision.

[Kurosu]

Originally posted by Citronvand:

Originally posted by Kurosu:

Will you enjoy it even slightly less ? Nope

That is a big fat lie. Do you think someone watching Infinity War without watching any of the previous movies will enjoy it as much as someone who has watched every movie and knows all the characters and events e.t.c. Of course not. You have no emotional connection whatsoever to characters you have never seen before.

Just because its not your own personal prefference doesnt make it a lie.
And you compared an apple to an orange. There are how many MCU movies again ? The crossbell games are only 2. Not to mention of course that you just compared movies to an RPG series ( and a Japanese one no less).

For what is worth I am not directing you personally. The exaggeration of how "vital" Crossbell games are to enjoy CS3 has been done by many people.

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by Kurosu:

Just because its not your own personal prefference doesnt make it a lie.
And you compared an apple to an orange. There are how many MCU movies again ? The crossbell games are only 2. Not to mention of course that you just compared movies to an RPG series ( and a Japanese one no less).

I'm not going to explain why I think it is a valid comparison since it's not really important, let me instead ask you a question. I assume you have played Cold Steel 3? Or at least finished 1 & 2. Do you think someone that begins at Cold Steel 3 without playing the previous 2 Cold Steel games will enjoy it *as much* as someone who have played Cold Steel 1 & 2 beforehand?

[Kurosu]

Originally posted by Citronvand:

Originally posted by Kurosu:

Just because its not your own personal prefference doesnt make it a lie.
And you compared an apple to an orange. There are how many MCU movies again ? The crossbell games are only 2. Not to mention of course that you just compared movies to an RPG series ( and a Japanese one no less).

I'm not going to explain why I think it is a valid comparison since it's not really important, let me instead ask you a question. I assume you have played Cold Steel 3? Or at least finished 1 & 2. Do you think someone that begins at Cold Steel 3 without playing the previous 2 Cold Steel games will enjoy it *as much* as someone who have played Cold Steel 1 & 2 beforehand?

IExcept that Cold steel 3 is a direct sequel of 2 and 1 ( its in the name after all) and they are port of the same story arc : The Erebonia one.
The Trails series are divided in 3 arcs (so far) : 1 ) The sky ones ( 3 games) 2 ) Crossbell ones ( 2 games) and 3 ) The Erebonia arc. Next one will be at the Republic.

I said that you can play COLD STEEL without the Crossbell games, not Cold steel 3 without the first 2 installments of the cold steel series of the same arc.

Once again you made a silly comparison.

I have made my points, the decision is up to OP. We have both already seen the story regardless.

[8bucksquall]

Oh boy. Did not mean to start an argument. My plan is to play CSI and II then wait for the Crossbell games to release later this year. From my understanding CSI and II spoil less for the Crossbell games.

Also, thanks everyone for the guides!

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by Kurosu:

IExcept that Cold steel 3 is a direct sequel of 2 and 1 ( its in the name after all) and they are port of the same story arc : The Erebonia one.
The Trails series are divided in 3 arcs (so far) : 1 ) The sky ones ( 3 games) 2 ) Crossbell ones ( 2 games) and 3 ) The Erebonia arc. Next one will be at the Republic.

They are not independant stories though, Crossbell's story continues in Cold Steel, so does many characters from Trails in the Sky as well. I'm starting to get the feeling you have only played Cold Steel?

I said that you can play COLD STEEL without the Crossbell games, not Cold steel 3 without the first 2 installments of the cold steel series of the same arc.

You can play Cold Steel 3 without playing the first 2 games, you just won't enjoy it nearly as much, which is my point. You said "Will you enjoy it even slightly less ? Nope". That is what I'm objecting to. I never said you couldn't play Cold Steel without Crossbell, I said you won't enjoy it as much.

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by 8bucksquall:

Oh boy. Did not mean to start an argument. My plan is to play CSI and II then wait for the Crossbell games to release later this year.

Heh, yeah me neither, I was just wondering if you were skipping the Crossbell games and why. Because if you had said something like "What's the crossbell games?" or "I don't know where to get them" I would have explained and/or helped you. I was not going to hold a gun to your head and force you to play them before Cold Steel haha.

From my understanding CSI and II spoil less for the Crossbell games.

Some argue that certainly but I'm not sure, it depends on which spoilers you think are worse I guess. Personally I think Cold Steel has worse spoilers because I care a lot about the politics and Cold Steel spoils the fate of Crossbell. But someone else might think that Crossbell has worse character spoilers. So it depends. That's why I didn't bring up spoilers in the first place.

But you won't appreciate the epilogue of Cold Steel 2 as much as if you had played Crossbell first, I can tell you that much. But it is not the whole world and won't ruin the series or anything.

You say the Crossbell games will release later this year? Have they announced it?

[8bucksquall]

My apologies. They are being released on PS4 in Japan and it is hinted for an Western release. Nothing in the plans for this year. Now I'm conflicted on if I should play Crossbell now or not

[Citronvand]

Originally posted by 8bucksquall:

My apologies. They are being released on PS4 in Japan and it is hinted for an Western release. Nothing in the plans for this year.

Ah, ok. In that case I expect the first Crossbell game to be released in 2022 considering Cold Steel IV will have its English release 2021 and a year is a fair time to translate, no? That's just me speculating.

Now I'm conflicted on if I should play Crossbell now or not

As someone who have played them, I would recommend it, but it is ultimately your choice. Regardless of spoilers I think it would be a smoother experience since you don't have to jump back to old graphics and mechanics after you'de done with Cold Steel 2. Plus you don't have to swap protagonists from Rean -> Lloyd -> Rean.