The Legend of Heroes Thread - Trails of Cold Steel in the Sky

[Deleted member 7219]

It's extremely easy to get 'cheated' out of bracer points (or books...) in these games. Not only there are hidden quests, but sometimes the quest itself has a non-obvious requirement for best points.

In FC there was ofc that triggering rare book 'quest' that required you to backtrack just before progressing. TO OTHER ZONES!
Simply evil.

So you get rated on how well you do the job? Interesting! Any quests like that in FC?

 

[SCO]

Yeah of course. It's the whole basis of the (bonus point) reward system in all games, simply doing all sidequests won't get you max bracer points, which expresses itself as a reward near the end, or on newgame+ or on the sequel (for max bracer points mostly).

On another matter altogether dis gambling quest in SC with Schera...

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Yeah of course. It's the whole basis of the (bonus point) reward system in all games, simply doing all sidequests won't get you max bracer points, which expresses itself as a reward near the end, or on newgame+ or on the sequel (for max bracer points mostly).

On another matter altogether dis gambling quest in SC...

Just read a couple of Prologue walkthroughs and it turns out I missed a couple of dialogue options where I could have got extra BP.

Spoiler

One was in the Mayor's house where I was searching for clues, I answered one of the questions incorrectly (something about it being caused by a stranger), the other was in Mistwald when finding the bandits, and jumping straight in to the fight instead of hanging back for more insult dialogue (I actually hung back the first time, but exited and reloaded and chose the first option instead - cost me some BP.

I've decided I'm not going to search down every BP, the game is too big for that. I'll just play it and enjoy it.

 

[SCO]

It's mostly useless. No one sane replays jrpgs.

The hidden quests are sometimes kinda implied in the dialog near the end of chapter, i just did one where i was told it would be polite to visit someone and lo and behold, a quest.

 

[TigerKnee]

Kloe got nerfed severely in SC and almost entirely replaced by a much better character later on anyway.

 

[SCO]

Still has a single line orbament like Oliver so she's still OP (water specialization kinda hurts). She's just slightly underleveled because she starts with the same level as she had on the end of FC like everyone else, but later.

Her s-break (full healing and +DEF, resurrect if dead) and one of her debuff crafts are still essential to not get your ass kicked in hard and nightmare (that one that lowers speed and attack by 30% that you can spam, especially with Schera in the party because of her 'bring turn forward' skill). In fact it's the only way to grind Poms that is not a attack item (that ultra XP and quartz monster with no weakness).

Her magic attack also hits hard.


I'm OP again and the combat holds no challenge again. This is a really fucking swingy game. I think it's going to happen again cause the game just dumped the tier 2 orbaments on me on the factory. Pattern seems to mobs are easy, except in the prologue, bosses are 'hard' (not really, just requiring some sort of simple tactics).

Or maybe i just grinded too much lel.

 

[Shadenuat]

If Olivier wasn't so good with his gun I could already run a Girl Power team
Why are you so good you bastard?
Why?

Spoiler

Aww now they give me Zane too. Why can't I just have 6 characters party...

 

[Crooked Bee]

I'm running an Olivier + three girls team, and somehow I think that's perfectly appropriate

Spoiler

even though Olivier unsurprisingly happens to be bi

 

[Deleted member 7219]

I've been playing Fallout 4 this evening, but I'm looking forward to jumping back into First Chapter tomorrow and washing the awful taste of Bethesda out my mouth.

I've finished the Prologue and I'm on my way to the second town.

 

[Shadenuat]

Well game, what can I say,

good fucking job at ruining everything good in you by dumping Joshua-like anime dark past 101 TM on every character now

PARTIAL SPOILARZ

Spoiler

The only characters who somehow managed to dodge the bullet are Kloe and Olivier (well, 50/50 for Olivier), and partially Estelle, but her meeting with Joshua made me hate Joshua even more somehow, and I didn't think it was even possible, but instead of hate it was replaced with downright disgust. He was almost on the level of main character from Sword Art Online, with his returning being as interesting to see as popping a zit

Lovely Kloe, doing her amazing girl-girl moments with Estelle, sharing feelings - best touching paint nails awkward lovely adoracute moments - thanks god for you Kloe, thank you for you being normal, and thank you Olivier for being a scumbag and not dark past TM to the end you are heroez.

Extra SHIT bonus points for running out of cliche dark past stories and giving Agate same fucking story as Joshua+Estelle and dragging lovely Tita into it, haha, screw you who wrote that crap
There is so much emo writing and just trash dialogue they talk about EVERYTHING
Guess since they re used same locations from first game they decided that talking about obvious stuff over and over and over and over was good idea

Now Player, enjoy the same bloody JRPG cliched ending Chekov's gun dungeon copied FOUAR TIMEZ, with a Dark Past Naruto boss at the end of every one

It is so bad to see these confident and nice characters suddenly need to PROVE THEMSELVES TM against made up crappy 1-dimensional bosses, so they would tell you their DARK PAST TM stories that are all fucking same anyway.

And the worst part about all this is that, first half of the game made me feel like game became a lot better than Part 1. I don't know if it actually was a real choice between Schera and Agate but if it is true then
You can choose companions and they get unique banters it's like Baldurs Gate 2 improvement over BG1.
The bosses are more interesting and harder, but most importantly, there are so many quests that are actually have some imagination in them, many are easy to miss or fail, and collecting bracer points is actually challenging. Even some of the simpliest quests lead to something interesting and good rewards

Spoiler

Also I think Schera became even funnier than she was. Beginning of the game with her, running with your aunty solving quests is best part of the game.
Oh Schera, hitting on everyone in pants including underaged boys , why can't we have game all about you

Well... I need to finish 2 more endgame dungeons... dropped game in rage yesterday on 2d Naruto boss

And to think I had thoughts somewhere around midgame with all the cool flying ships scenes "Wow, this game becomes something more than just a side distraction for me. I didn't think I'll play 2d part but now I can't wait for 3d part" you almost had me on incompetent army debunked cliche and politics based around new military capable steanpunk engines game. ALMOST.

And why the fuck old upgraded crafts did not recieve new animations?!

And why wind gem that gives you most spells cuts your Arts Damage?

...god this game is long. I think I ate all food from the fridge, used up all coffee and ran out of tea bags just playing it.

...there should be a special developer's Hell for game designers who put fishing into RPGs.

 

[Crooked Bee]

...god this game is long. I think I ate all food from the fridge, used up all coffee and ran out of tea bags just playing it.

I like side activities in RPGs though. Yes, even fishing.

 

[Shadenuat]

Okay I finished it. In big pain I'd say, since it dragged forever and dungeons, repeated bosses and terrible emo writing was barely survivable. Even really cool music and flying ships couldn't save last acts of the game from banality and boredom and also shitton of backtracking. And then there was a Sephiroth JRPG boss.
It's all maybe not a huge step back from first game, but a very very tangible one.

Hard to imagine who made this game, and how does one combine something innovative and unorthodox for JRPGs like time dependant quests and normal grown up characters (and Plot Pianos dropped on you like orbal tech problems with actual gameplay consequences... well I won't spoil anything) and then shits all over it with JRPG cliches.

Never fucking touching these series ever ag--

Spoiler

woah
...now wait a min--

Spoiler

well

CAN'T WAIT FOR PART THREE HUH

 

[SCO]

These games are so painful. It's like the writer does something cool and then the boss comes up and takes a big dump on it.

"What about the romance hu? If we want a plot hook for a girl protagonist it HAS to be romance"

"Incest is ok, they were only siblings for 2 years anyway"

"Should we refer to the shonen player protagonist - which never was - in this conversation between two friends here to break the Bechdel test even if he literally isn't in the game"

"It's time to get eppik"

REMOVE JOSHUA FROM THE PREMISES

 

[Atlantico]

These games are so painful. It's like the writer does something cool and then the boss comes up and takes a big dump on it.

"What about the romance hu? If we want a plot hook for a girl protagonist it HAS to be romance"

"Incest is ok, they were only siblings for 2 years anyway"

"Should we refer to the shonen player protagonist - which never was - in this conversation between two friends here to break the Bechdel test even if he literally isn't in the game"

"It's time to get eppik"

REMOVE JOSHUA FROM THE PREMISES

I just finished the FC and I just ... I just... no. No, no, no. ... the incest plot, it broke it for me. If they were going to have a damn romance plot why did they make them siblings?? WTF Japan? Is friends from the same neighborhood too goddam square for you?

The worst thing is, there was no need for a romance plot between Estelle and Joshua IMO. The game already has a plot (for what it's worth) and the producers make this the fulcrum...? WTF happened?

Sorry, I'm just venting here, having just completed the game and feel betrayed somehow. This game has everything going for it IMO and then it just shat in its pants at the end.

I totally agree with your post, it's like the writer comes up with something cool and then it's ruined for him. And by extension us.

 

[Shadenuat]

TBH anyone even remotely experienced with anime and it's genres (and JRPGs) would have seen all of that coming a mile away since Part 1, all up to dramatic part at the end of Part 2

Spoiler

where they kiss before almost die and then fall into the sky and then don't die cause dragon

It would be an almost a betrayal of JRPG spirit if, for example, Joshua actually hooked up with pirate girl Josette.

I personally was just in a symbolic, made up denial due to more or less tame and not retarded Part 1, but disaster, including Ancient Civilization Dungeons TM and Sephiroth Angel Boss TM and BoyGirlLove Defeat Plot TM was just waiting to happen.

 

[SCO]

I just finished the FC and I just ... I just... no. No, no, no. ... the incest plot, it broke it for me. If they were going to have a damn romance plot why did they make them siblings?? WTF Japan? Is friends from the same neighborhood too goddam square for you?

The problem is actually otaku pandering. Incest fantasies are extremely common in the demographic, but they're illegal to show in Japan. So one of the siblings is 'adopted', to the point it's a standard meme in horrible post 2000 animu (along with harem-shit etc), so their stupidity infects even serious investments of time and work.

I actually 100% suspect that producer interference was exactly what happened.
The game plot is perfectly functional with Estelle looking for her brother (even if Joshua backstory is frankly stupid). And i think this is what it originally was.

The 'romance' feels bolted on top as a easy way to add 'characterization' to Estelle and Joshua (and otaku pandering).
In my, admittedly peculiar, but still functional mind i'm already hostile to traditional romance in my entertainment, my reaction to incest who everyone on the gameworld is 100% fine with, is frankly disbelief. Especially with Joshua. You know,

Spoiler

the coldblooded assassin who just got his fucking memories and that Estelle's fucking father knew who he was all along (i'm also feeling grief at not being able to influence Estelle's terrible life decisions like in a wrpg admittedly... No Estelle. Don't date your genetically modified mindfucked assassin brother with unclear ties to superpowered terrorists you idiot).

Not surprisingly this series by all accounts takes a nosedive into dweeb animu hell, with added bad 3d. Hell, i think it's not Falcom making them anymore and the 'remakes' manage to have worse art (and full voice acting, because that's a great idea in games with large scripts. GREAT.)

I'm not ignoring your FF naruto-episode ancient civilizations sephiroth objections Shadenuat, I just paused playing after the first second naruto boss, the traitorous pupil of the eastern old martial arts master. Probably forever.

 

[Crooked Bee]

For me, the meat of SC so far is revisiting the areas you visited in FC, doing bracer stuff, and interacting with PCs and NPCs. Those parts are really good atmosphere-wise, and I'm enjoying them a lot. I wish the entire game was like that.

The ridiculous epikk stuff just feels really tacked-on, as does the romance plotline. So I'm just focusing on the good bits. It's still one of the most enjoyable and relaxing games I've played recently; I'm happy they translated it.

(Also, added a spoiler tag to your post, SCO, since not everyone ITT has finished FC.)

 

[Atlantico]

The problem is actually otaku pandering. Incest fantasies are extremely common in the demographic, but they're illegal to show in Japan. So one of the siblings is 'adopted', to the point it's a standard meme in horrible post 2000 animu (along with harem-shit etc), so their stupidity infects even serious investments of time and work.

I actually 100% suspect that producer interference was exactly what happened.
The game plot is perfectly functional with Estelle looking for her brother (even if Joshua backstory is frankly stupid). And i think this is what it originally was.

The 'romance' feels bolted on top as a easy way to add 'characterization' to Estelle and Joshua (and otaku pandering).
In my, admittedly peculiar, but still functional mind i'm already hostile to traditional romance in my entertainment, my reaction to incest who everyone on the gameworld is 100% fine with, is frankly disbelief. Especially with Joshua. You know,

Spoiler

the coldblooded assassin who just got his fucking memories and that Estelle's fucking father knew who he was all along (i'm also feeling grief at not being able to influence Estelle's terrible life decisions like in a wrpg admittedly... No Estelle. Don't date your genetically modified mindfucked assassin brother with unclear ties to superpowered terrorists you idiot).

Not surprisingly this series by all accounts takes a nosedive into dweeb animu hell, with added bad 3d. Hell, i think it's not Falcom making them anymore and the 'remakes' manage to have worse art (and full voice acting, because that's a great idea in games with large scripts. GREAT.)

I'm not ignoring your FF naruto-episode ancient civilizations sephiroth objections Shadenuat, I just paused playing after the first second naruto boss, the traitorous pupil of the eastern old martial arts master. Probably forever.

I'm in complete agreement SCO, the romance plot really seems bolted on - and the point you make in the spoiler about the terrible life decisions, yes, exactly! I felt like the game wrested controls from me and went all stupid, and became a 12 year old otaku girl. This in a game with a lot of smart and funny scenes and dialogue, didn't take itself too seriously and seemed to be there to have fun, have and adventure and light villainous drama. Sigh.

 

[Shadenuat]

I just paused playing after the first second naruto boss, the traitorous pupil of the eastern old martial arts master. Probably forever.

Probably for the best, since that means you only beaten about 3/5 of the game.

Spoiler

As later it makes you backtrack WHOLE WORLD again ON FOOT, and then copies 4 towers and 4 bosses (yes same bosses since they make dramatic retreat first time) AGAIN

Kekeke

 

[TigerKnee]

I honestly don't understand why you guys thought this game was going to do "something different from all the other ANIME JRPGs" or whatever.

 

[Crooked Bee]

Probably because FC, and the non-epic parts of SC, are surprisingly (and comfortingly ) low-key for an anime JRPG, or just most RPGs in general.

 

[Malpercio]

I'm not seeing the creepy incest angle between Joshua and Estelle. It's not like they were adopted as toddlers.

The fact we saw the first time they meet and they were like what, 10, makes them more childhood friends than anything. Plus Tits is very 90 anime rather than modern anime LN, so I'm not seeing the otaku pandering angle either.


Lunar was far more creepier and I haven't seen anyone commenting on that ever.

 

[Deleted member 7219]

It's not incest in my view if:

a) they aren't related (important, this one)
b) they aren't step-siblings (I also think this is fairly important)

I think most real legal systems treat the same thing. I think morally there may also be:

c) they don't share the same parents (through adoption).

I don't think Joshua ever got adopted did he? If so, I guess it could be incest from a moral point of view.

 

[TigerKnee]

Joshua used the Bright family name and Estelle/Cassius both treat him as if he were their brother/son (in the case of the former, that changes eventually I guess)

It's about as good as being adopted - I don't think any storyteller would add in a scene where Cassius drags Joshua to whatever the equivalent of an adoption agency and register would be in the Trails world considering his backstory

 

[Malpercio]

Also I agree on whoever said Agate backstory was cringey shit. During CH6 (?) I was like "duuuude, you have like the most generic backstory ever, cut it"

Chapter 8 on other hand, I thought having to re-visit all of Libert on foot would be painful, but it's surprisingly entertaining to see the game world reaction to the giant plot development.