Finished the game, disappointed

[vortex]

You know, I really loved Trails in the Sky. And Cold Steel 1 looked like it was leading into something awesome. But having just finished 2, I feel like very little actually happened in this game.

[OnlyOffensive]

in terms of actual global plot progression, cold steel is definetely above sky by ALOT. And thats just 2 games out of 4.

[Dragon]

I find that none of the Trails games are about "stuff happening" anywhere near so much as they are about "living the life" of the characters.

[Stabbey]

Some people say that Cold Steel 1 and 2 combined are the equivalent of Sky FC, and CS 3 and 4 are the equivalent of Sky SC. Too much plot for two games, not enough for four.

You can definitely see the story stretched thin in places in CS 2. The game constantly repeats certain beats like the heroes being unable to defeat the bad guys, then someone comes in at a very convenient moment to save them just in the nick of time. This happens over and over and over again.

The game introduces a bunch of villains in CS 2, but because you're meant to defeat them in CS 3 or 4 (most likely), you don't get any satisfying arcs like what happened in Sky SC.

[ZWabbit]

Cold Steel sprawls. The scope of the story that Falcom wanted to tell was frankly beyond their technical ability to execute with the Cold Steel series, both from an actual technology perspective (CS was basically one of their first "modern" console games) and from a prose perspective. Sky was able to be fairly efficient with its story beats, actually having the world around the characters advance irrespective of what point in their development those characters were at. In CS, it's like we're waiting for Class VII all the time to actually show some initiative beyond their standing as students before the world is allowed to throw more serious situations their way. The time it took to "show" all of the development Falcom seemingly wanted Class VII to go through, all too often makes it look like Class VII hasn't actually grown at all. And Rean, dear god Rean. By the end of CS2 he's the last person I would personally put any faith into for any sort of serious leadership role, simply for his inability to make hard calls. Not because he's too pure hearted like with Estelle, but because he's simply too insecure.

[Trix]

Топ

[Kyle G]

Definitely the weakness of Cold Steel story-telling is there is way too much characters, thus very little time to wrap up each character's individual arcs in a satisfying way. Like other people here are basically saying, so much happens with so little development. Both from a personal character level, and an overall narrative persepctive. If you think Cold Steel 2 is bad in how anti-progressive it felt, just wait until Cold Steel 4 ever gets localized. It is the epitome of the problems Cold Steel 2 has times worse. It hurts. Especially since it's supposed to be the finale of the Erebonia saga.

[Stabbey]

Originally posted by Sandvich of Peace:

Definitely the weakness of Cold Steel story-telling is there is way too much characters, thus very little time to wrap up each character's individual arcs in a satisfying way. Like other people here are basically saying, so much happens with so little development. Both from a personal character level, and an overall narrative persepctive. If you think Cold Steel 2 is bad in how anti-progressive it felt, just wait until Cold Steel 4 ever gets localized. It is the epitome of the problems Cold Steel 2 has times worse. It hurts. Especially since it's supposed to be the finale of the Erebonia saga.

Darn. I had heard that all the awful harem garbage was cranked up to 11, so that any bonding events with most female characters is loaded with romantic subtext (or they skipped the subtext and went for a bullhorn), which was a bad sign, but I don't know how bad the rest of the story gets.

[Oguzhan]

CS has a lot of problems that sky didn't have sadly.

The focus is too much on the MC meaning other characters don't get as much. I don't care about what anyone says if you don't give your other characters that s a fail in this kinda game. EVERY game in the series before this made sure to develop its characters. Not to mention Rean is just a persona MC meaning he is not that interesting. A typical shounen hero, yeah right what an interesting character. Compare that to Estelle who gets so much character developement (and still gets in the Crossbell games) to this shounen guy.

The MC is a bit of a checklist. He has a super power and a Knight (I don't mind him having them though since his power made him more suitable as a candidate for Valimar), bunch of ladies that love him even though he is just a nice guy who doesn't make any moves (dense characters I don't like), and a sister who is in love with him. Btw if you actually pay attention to her dialogue, 96% of it is about her brother. She is either teased about him or worried about him.

There are a lot of scenes with style over substance (more so in CS2).

Characters don't pay attention to other party members. For example Gaius just says "I am glad you two are okay too" when he sees his other friends whoose life was also in danger and haven't heard from in a long time. Alisa and Millium don't even acknowledge them being there.

A lot of otaku bait. Lots of loli ass shots for example the first time you see Millium close up is an ass shot. Altina has MULTIPLE ones. The first time you see Fie in CS1, she is sleeping on a bench with a really short skirt. A lot of the final bonding events with the ladies for example Alisa just so happens to teleport on your lap, or you just happen to sleep on a bench WHILE SITTING 90 degrees and your lady friend with gigantic tits gives you a lap pillow (that's what its called right). And who can forget the brilliant (sarcasm) outfit that Altina has in CS2 and Fie in CS3 and 4.

I have other problems too but I have mentioned them soooooo many times in these discussions that I don't see anymore reason to do so.

That being said there are a lot of good in these games too. Going around the overworld is really nice, especially recruiting students. The towns look beautiful even with the low horse power. I mean trails was always good when it comes to design of towns but seeing them in 3d is quite nice. The music is still great and the NPCs are great too.

My overall opinion on the CS games (at least the first 2) is, good but not as good as everything before.

[Oguzhan]

Originally posted by Sandvich of Peace:

Definitely the weakness of Cold Steel story-telling is there is way too much characters, thus very little time to wrap up each character's individual arcs in a satisfying way. Like other people here are basically saying, so much happens with so little development. Both from a personal character level, and an overall narrative persepctive. If you think Cold Steel 2 is bad in how anti-progressive it felt, just wait until Cold Steel 4 ever gets localized. It is the epitome of the problems Cold Steel 2 has times worse. It hurts. Especially since it's supposed to be the finale of the Erebonia saga.

Soooo if they continue this trend I might as well just drop the series. Because I also hear that Osborne is a "villain" because of the stupidest reason. By that I mean the stupidest and the laziest reason to try and make a character sympathetic.

I doubt they will drop the otaku stuff too since their main market aka japan is filled with loli loving otakus.

It was a good ride trails. I will most likely play CS 3 and 4 just to see the end of this damn arc which has been built up since the first game (so far a dissapointment btw, the more I play it the more I find issues) and I will most likely continue to marathon the previous games but yeah. I am done.

That being said, I hope people who continue to stick with it have a great time. Otaku stuff is just not for me. But hey to each his/her own.

[Kyle G]

Originally posted by Oguzhan:

Originally posted by Sandvich of Peace:

Definitely the weakness of Cold Steel story-telling is there is way too much characters, thus very little time to wrap up each character's individual arcs in a satisfying way. Like other people here are basically saying, so much happens with so little development. Both from a personal character level, and an overall narrative persepctive. If you think Cold Steel 2 is bad in how anti-progressive it felt, just wait until Cold Steel 4 ever gets localized. It is the epitome of the problems Cold Steel 2 has times worse. It hurts. Especially since it's supposed to be the finale of the Erebonia saga.

Soooo if they continue this trend I might as well just drop the series. Because I also hear that Osborne is a "villain" because of the stupidest reason. By that I mean the stupidest and the laziest reason to try and make a character sympathetic.

I doubt they will drop the otaku stuff too since their main market aka japan is filled with loli loving otakus.

It was a good ride trails. I will most likely play CS 3 and 4 just to see the end of this damn arc which has been built up since the first game (so far a dissapointment btw, the more I play it the more I find issues) and I will most likely continue to marathon the previous games but yeah. I am done.

That being said, I hope people who continue to stick with it have a great time. Otaku stuff is just not for me. But hey to each his/her own.

Oh yeah they ruined Osbourne really bad in CS4. It's such a contrast to how he used to be one of the only redeeming qualities of the Cold Steel arc. Just like you I'm still gonna play CS3 and CS4 when they get released in English. But yeah I'm sorta not looking forward to the Calvard arc after all this.

[Oguzhan]

So what you are saying is, they actually did do what I am thinking about which is basically a lazy way of trying to make a character sympathetic right at the end by giving a really stupid excuse.

What is with falcom and trying to make their villains sympathetic? They give us these really terrible people as villains who clearly enjoy hurting others but oh it's fine cause of this one thing. The only time they did a good job with this was Lance maiden due to her showing how honorable she is throught ao no kiseki. The rest just feel cheesy.

I don't like Weissman because he is sympathetic or anything, I love him due to how delicious it is to watch him, seeing his chess game with Cassius and finally seeing him die a brutal death. Until cs4 Osborne was basically Weissman with a different color scheme. I loved him due to the pressure he gives off. It was satisfying.

[Cold_Reverie]

...I have no idea what either of you are talking about. Osborne is one of the best characters in the series, and CS IV cemented that for many people.

EDIT: Mind putting under spoiler tags what you think happens? Of course if you actually want to know any details they're probably gonna include spoilers. Possibly major ones.

[Oguzhan]

Originally posted by Cold_Steel_IV:

...I have no idea what either of you are talking about. Osborne is one of the best characters in the series, and CS IV cemented that for many people.

He was one of the best ones but if they did what I have heard to make him sympathetic than what we have been seeing so far was not Osborne but just a puppet. Don't defend bad writing.

[Cold_Reverie]

Originally posted by Oguzhan:

He was one of the best ones but if they did what I have heard to make him sympathetic than what we have been seeing so far was not Osborne but just a puppet.

Sorry. I added an edit to my post just after you made yours. I'll quote it:

"Mind putting under spoiler tags what you think happens? Of course if you actually want to know any details they're probably gonna include spoilers. Possibly major ones."

Also:

Originally posted by Oguzhan:

Don't defend bad writing.

Kindly stop assuming things.

[ZWabbit]

Your opinion. The way that Osborne was built up over the course of the CS arc reeked of hamfisted handwaving left and right. We're constantly told how he's some sort of military and political genius, and Falcom goes right on to undermine the believability of that claim by making most of his opponents either outright incompetent or utterly unimaginative. To face the likes of Albarea and Cayenne requires little to no guile, and even Rufus doesn't particularly impress once his rationale is laid out in CS3/4. At every turn it feels like everyone trying to face down Osborne is holding back and the real powers that be that have the resources to cripple him don't ever make any serious attempts either. Osborne succeeded because Falcom wanted him to succeed, not because any of the challenges he faced felt at all genuine, because Falcom did next to nothing to make those challenges feel like actual challenges.