Are the Legend of heroes trails of [thing] games good? Or are they only enjoyable to very specific people (like the atlier and neptunia games)?
>>343183652
They're not waifushit if that's what you're asking, they're proper RPGs.
Start either with Gagharv Trilogy on PSP (1. Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch, 2. A Tear of Vermillion, 3. Song of the Ocean) or with the Sky Trilogy on PC.
Trails in the Sky First Chapter and Second Chapter are currently the only ones available but they make one whole story-wise and fully close it. There's also 3rd Chapter that's not yet translated but it's already confirmed to be in the works and to come out next year, it's more of a side-story that takes place behind the scenes of events from FC and SC rather than a continuation.
Whichever you start with, they're good enough starting point but I'd suggest Sky FC and SC. Just make sure to play the PC and not the PSP versions for Sky games as the PC ones are better and have high rest sprites + 3rd will be PC-only.
>>343183652
I beat the first Cold Steel recently.
It starts off as meh... the story starts off slow. The characters are meh at first but grows on ya slowly. By midway.. it's still kinda a meh story with halfway decent characters.
Once you get towards the end, that's when things start snowballing and getting good. Then the last 10% of the story is when it starts kicking ass and then leaving you wanting to play the next game asap because it's a fucking cliffhanger...
I guess it get a free pass since the first game was long enough to be considered a full rpg unlike .hack games.
>>343185145
Wanna know how I can tell you're a newfag to Trails series?
They're all divided into trilogies and you need to play entire trilogy for each to get the whole plot, since they're meant to be 1 whole game that's only split into multiple parts for financial reasons.
>>343185308
but arent they full games?
>>343185145
I did the first dungeon and have recently unlocked fishing.
It's dragging does it get better? Thinking of going back to P4G which im only 8 hours into atm.
>>343185308
>They're all divided into trilogies and you need to play entire trilogy for each to get the whole plot
Thanks for stating the obvious sherlock.
>Wanna know how I can tell you're a newfag to Trails series?
Wanna know how I can tell a elitist asshole?
By the way... the last part of the trilogy isn't even out yet in japan so get off your high horse and fuck off.
>>343185447
No, that's not Falcom's design philosophy.
They all end on a cliffhanger that's only resolved in 2nd/3rd game, every time.
You've got the Gagharv Trilogy with 3 games that are actually just 1 game split into 3 parts.
Then you've got Sky Trilogy which is 1 game split into 2 parts (FC and SC) with the 3rd game being an Epilogue kind of deal, giving you more info and fleshing out what's already been shown.
Then you've got the Zero Azure Duology which again is 1 game split into 2 parts.
And now you've got Cold Steel which is 1 game split into 3 parts.
>>343185638
>It's dragging does it get better?
Not for a very long while. It drags on and on until you get near the end. These small fanservice parts are probably the best you'll get until the end of the game when the story finally gets going.
now I longer want to buy cold steel.
Guess I check out sky instead
>>343186089
Cold Steel is definitely the weakest out of Trails games so far if that makes you feel any better.
>>343186567
In terms of story, at least. Gameplay is pretty fun but considered easy since you get a lot of tools to work with in combat.
>>343187007
>>343186702
>>343186348
these people mean nothing to me
>>343186908
No offense but why the fuck would anyone play Trails for anything but story?
Cold steel 2 fix the loading times on vita?
>>343183652
Cold steel is good
Sky games are shit.
>>343187176
Weak bait
>>343187104
Because they're good games? I mean, if you don't play the games for the gameplay, that's fine with me, but I do think that's kind of stupid. No offense meant, of course.
>>343183652
They're legit JRPGS. If you enjoyed those kind of games when you were younger (16bit and 32bit era) then you'll like it. It's nothing like the shit that's get pushed nowadays (Atelier, Neptunia)
>>343187250
Trails series is explicitly about telling a story though, which is what I meant. The gameplay has always been secondary in these games and it shows, with all of them until Cold Steel having mediocre gameplay.
>>343187176
I agree, also Emma best waifu.
>people lumping together Atelier with Neptunia
I fucking hate everything.
The Atelier games are all super solid and Neptunia is all just "lol high numbers" bullshit.
>>343187476
Fuck off with your garbage moeshit cancer.
>>343187476
They're both weebshit made for degenerates.
>>343185145
Objectively wrong. The end of CS was pants on head retarded. The whole 'gotta go save the festival' and 'all part of the keikaku' was bad enough, then suddenly mechs becuase that fits in a fantasy universe right? I almost threw at the Sharon reveal.
>>343187213
Nigga skys games are dated as hell.
>>343187401
I like Alisa more.
>>343187775
>Nigga skys games are dated as hell.
Go die in fire you underage scum
>>343187719
>then suddenly mechs becuase that fits in a fantasy universe right?
They can mix sci-fi and fantasy because it's FICTION. There's nothing wrong with technology and fantasy all in one. Deal with it.
>>343187775
>I like Alisa more
Jesus, can taste worse than this even exist?
How are the first two LoH games?
>>343187719
But mechs and robots and shit have been in the Trails universe since FC. I haven't played anything past SC but it's not anything farfetched.
>>343188065
>mechs and robots have been in the Trails universe since FC
Yes and FC was good because it had good characters, not because it had a good story. CS on the other hand had no good characters while also somehow having a worse story.
>>343183652
AZURE FLAMES GATHER ON MY BLADE
>>343188065
>How are the first two LoH games?
You mean the very first two "originals"? Non-canon.
The 1st one got remade as part of the Gagharv Trilogy on PSP (Tear of Vermillion).
The 2nd one is forgotten and irrelevant.
If you like JRPGs then you'll like the Trails series because it follows the classic formula to the letter.
If you don't like JRPGs you probably won't like them though since there's nothing too innovative about it.
>>343188350
I was just commenting on the "suddenly mechs becuase that fits in a fantasy universe right" part. I don't know anything about the actual story.
>>343188617
Wait, so was the first one some kind of bonus alongside the LoHIV remake? Either way I'm probably going to play both of them on the PC Engine just to see the origins of the series before I dive into the Gagharv games.
>>343189380
It's more that those games are simply not really LoH games but rather Dragon Slayer games, Falcom's older series. The 6th Dragon Slayer was subtitled "LoH" which then overtook the trademark.
Universe-wise the first three LoH games have nothing in common with the Trails games and take place on the same planet as Dragon Slayer, they are de facto Dragon Slayer games.
Trails in the Sky is the start of the Trails series.
Not to mention the Gagharv Trilogy has infamously bad translation. Bamco was so lazy they literally just machine translated the game and took few guys from marketing to touch it up to sound more cohesive, but they only touched up the first few hours of the game and then the rest is literal machine translation of Google Translation proportions. It's a hilarious clusterfuck.
Seriously just avoid those games if you don't know Japanese.
>>343189743
Interesting tidbit. Thanks for the knowledge good sir.
>>343190403
Np. Also by "first three" I obviously meant the PSP three, rather than overall, seeing as 1st and 2nd are just Dragon Slayer games subtited LoH and LoH2 respectively.
>>343189743
Now I wonder if I should start from Dragon Slayer and work my way back up to LoH. Maybe by the time I've done with all those and LoH1 through 5, Zero and Ao Evo will have dropped in price.
>Seriously just avoid those games if you don't know Japanese.
I wouldn't say I "know" Japanese but I'm working on it. Actually, part of my reason for learning it was to play all these untranslated/badly translated Falcom games.And in the future I'll be able to play new Falcom games long before they come out here. Shame the PS4 version of Ys VIII is delayed cause I'd be tempted to import it. After that is Sen III and I'm 5 games behind so that's not happening anytime soon.
>>343190819
Dragon Slayer games are quite shitty, they do everything inferiorly to Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, they are legitimately not worth playing.
LoH3-5 (the ones later ported to PSP) are where it started getting good but alas the shitty translation completely raped them because Bamco couldn't be arsed to hire translators.
The only reason you could possibly have to play the Dragon Slayer shit is if you're a masochist because there's a ton of them and they were definition of crappy rehashes.
>>343191034
To add to this, this is the clusterfuck you'd be getting yourself into:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_Slayer#List_of_games
Nord Highlands is the worst place in this game. Way too much backtracking if you don't want to miss anything.... including a hidden sidequest that makes you go back and forth across the entire desert from town to fort and then a missable red book which makes you do the same shit going back and forth...
Whoever created this is a asshole.
>>343183652
Only for people who like long games, not only long games, but slow paced long games.Did I just play a fucking 70 hours prologue?I don't think Falcom has ever heard of evening the pace between sequels.It's as if Amuro only got into his Gundam on the 30th episode.
>>343192064
>including a hidden sidequest
The game holds your hand the entire time, I only noticed there are fucking hidden side-quests when I had already lost plenty of them.
>>343187207
slut
>>343187401Slut that never opens up through the entire first game.
>>343183652
Do you carry anything of worth to Cold Steel II?
Considering that before wading through New Game+ in the first game.
>>343193424
>The game holds your hand the entire time
No it doesn't. They never tell you who or when there is a hidden side quest available. You have to either use a fucking guide or talk to every npc at every time period of the day to find those hidden sidequests. Shit's a pain in the arse without a guide.
> I only noticed there are fucking hidden side-quests when I had already lost plenty of them.
And sadly if you miss too many, you cannot get the highest grade possible. This is fucking bullshit.
>>343193963
You get some bonus perks depending on what level Rean is at your endgame. Not a big deal really..
> Level 69 or lower - Sepith x 100 (All Colours), Attack 1, Zeram Powder
> Level 70 - 79 - Sepith x 300 (All Colours), Attack 1, Soul Blur, Zeram Powder
> Level 80 or higher - Sepith x 500 (All Colours), Attack 1, Soul Blur, Saintly Force, Zeram Powder
>>343193970
>No it doesn't.
Yes it does.
- Full maps.
- Objective markers.
- Reminders of where you have to go.
- Anti-grinding features like halving the EXP points to let you know you are already strong for that area.
That's why hidden Side-quests are unexpected.
>>343187593
Neither are even bad. It's just the fanbases that are awful.
>>343193963
You don't carry levels, just status Itens and sephit really.
The most important thing would be relationship values, that is carried over for specific conversations in the sequel, so if you are okay on that part, no need to keep playing.
>>343194115
Completely useless shit.
>>343185145
>I guess it get a free pass since the first game was long enough to be considered a full rpg unlike .hack games.
I'd rather be short like the Dot Hack games, an Introduction Game shouldn't be 60+ hours long.
>>343194616
Many fanbases are 10x worse in this place, you wouldn't be able to enjoy anything if you are sensitive about their behavior.
Here I am, wading through military academy affairs and political intrigue thenGIANT FUCKING ANCIENT ROBOTS, XENOSAGA BABY!
Seriously, everyone in Class VIIis getting an ancient robot, right? The story had already hinted the existence of several of them, not to mention the mass produced ones. Just like my Japanese Animes.
>>343194509
>Game keeps your level in check by applying Anti-Grinding.
>Monsters and Boss' difficulty and health soars sky high in the last Dungeon.
For what purpose?
>>343196129
Nord Highlands legend definitely points towards one.
>>343187158
No, the game is pushing the Vita enough as it is.
>>343197097
Because even the laziest player can buy Megalith to spam Nep's S-Craft (with Domination) and make every normal battle irrelevant
Last dungeon's boss can be cheesed with Bells and the magic delay reduction Master Quartz. Though if you haven't leveled any and tried that, you'd never know which would be fair to be mad about
>>343194509
>Yes it does.
>- Full maps.
>- Objective markers.
>- Reminders of where you have to go.
>- Anti-grinding features like halving the EXP points to let you know you are already strong for that area.
>That's why hidden Side-quests are unexpected.
I honestly through we were talking about holding your hands through all the hidden side quests because that is what you quoted me on when you first replied here >>343193424. It feels like you've moved the goalpost to everything else besides hidden side quests.
And my arguement still stands, it does not hold your hands in finding any of the hidden quests. You either use a guide or talk to everyone at all hours.
I recently started playing trails in the sky and I fucking love it to death
they're so comfy and cozy and have a very nice vibe to them
>>343184293
>3rd will be PC-only.
wait 3rd isn't even out yet on PSP?
>>343197097
>>343198979
IIRC, other outs for the last dungeon's boss include Delay and Faint spam - they just need to actually connect once and then you should be able to keep them up - and Chrono Burst +/- Burst Drive abuse. Fortunately, the dungeon drops EP Charge III like candy
>>343191034
Only the first two Legend of Heroes games (and both OG Dragon Slayer and Romancia) are worth skipping. The rest of the franchise is worthwhile at some level or another, starting with 1985's Xanadu which is hardcore as it gets for a game that old.
Semi-weekly reminder that Xanadu Next is coming to GOG/Steam and y'all better get it so Falcom-senpai will notice us and provide more Western fantasy-centric elements in their games.
>>343199136
>wait 3rd isn't even out yet on PSP?
No? Unless you mean the Japanese version, which has been out for years.
XSeed was already bold enough to release the 2nd on the PSP in this day and age, it might have sold pitiful numbers, with many just coming for the PC version.
>>343199760
>they just need to actually connect once
I was too busy getting pissed after the 10th time didn't connect, before trying it ever again, sticking to luck hoping the A.I. would go full retard.
Which it did, I only defeated that thing after it got retarded and spammed the move where it absorbs one character non-stop, then he just kept attacking normally, not doing anything else.
>>343186348
>>343186702
>>343187007
>>343187138
>Idol Culture and Rock n' Roll.
>Yet still at the Radio phase.
This just ain't right.
>>343200852
Too bad they didn't localize the vita trails in the sky. I'd buy it despite already owning the steam version.
>>343204018
Is there any to when the PC and PSP versions have been available for so long? I don't know if the "Evolution" releases bring anything new.
>>343204780
well not in the west. The PC version of Trails in the Sky came out in the west around the time the vita version came out in Japan..
Towa is best girl.
>>343205084
Why is she so short? She is Suzu tier.
>>343202812
Well, they have poor man's not-telephones/computers/internet as well as cars and military shit. Just missing television really
>>343205084
So pure
>>343204780
evo versions have
-full voice acting. I seriously mean this. even irrelevant npcs that don't become major characters are voiced
-rearranged soundtrack. sometimes its good, sometimes it isn't
-new portraits. same as soundtrack, preference varies by person
-new sidequests. occasionally funny, but nothing earth shattering
-looks better on vita, clearer image and nice color
-portable
-funny limited edition items like figurines
Main attraction is the voice acting. Depending on the quality of performance, evo takes the most dramatic scenes to the next level or, at worst, they stay the same.
>>343205653
>-full voice acting.
Damn... now Xseed really won't localize it because they can never get any jap voices for any falcom games.
>>343205653
Well then, that's a lot of stuff, probably XSeed hasn't considered yet, a lot of work would be needed.
>>343205653
>even irrelevant npcs that don't become major characters are voiced
Really bizarre in Cold Steel, some Major NPCs aren't voiced, yet other nobodies are voiced.
Seriously, Toval's voice being saved for the Second Game is just crazy.
>>343187719
The Sharon reveal was fucking obvious if you have played the other games in the series.
Mechs aren't new to the series either - plenty of them in TiTS SC alone.
That's not to say the ending was amazing, because it wasn't - the final dungeon and boss were a let down despite the great ost. I still enjoyed it though and am looking forward to what comes next/
>>343184293
You have the first two games mixed up.
>>343183652
The games aren't as mundane as Atelier or as campy as Neptunia. From what I've played, they're pretty straightforward JRPGs, but I haven't touched the 3D games or Trails In the Sky.
>Are they good
I enjoyed Tear of Vermilion and haven't finished Moonlight Witch, but they were enjoyable from what I can recall. I can't strongly recommend them, but if you're a fan of JRPGs minus the camp or melodrama, you might find LoH worth looking towards. At the same time, it might seem boring.
I have no comment for TitS onward, but they look rather boring to me. I don't really like the transition into 3D.
>>343207832
>the final dungeon and boss were a let down despite the great ost.
I find the Final Dungeon and its Boss more impressive than what happened right after.
>>343207534
>Really bizarre in Cold Steel, some Major NPCs aren't voiced, yet other nobodies are voiced.
And there are some scenes when the rest of the cast was voiced while Rean is the only one without a voice..... what were they thinking?
>>343209067
Probably budget constraints, Rean is in more scenes than everyone else by virtue of being the Protagonist, so they had recored lines only for the most important bits.
>>343183652
I own the lionheart edition of Cold Steel, but haven't touched it because I haven't finished SC yet. And CS2 is coming out in september supposedly. God I wish I could get obsessed with SC enough to bulldoze it.
So do the Gagharv Trilogy on PSP have anything to do with the sky games and onwards going on which I would assume are taking place in the same world?
>>343210032
Dunno, not played that one yet; I do know Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel happen in the same world though, at close timelines.
>>343210032
No.
