The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV[lower-alpha 2] is a role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. It is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes franchise, and is the final entry of the Cold Steel tetralogy.[2] The game was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2018, and is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 27, 2020, with ports for Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows also being scheduled for release in 2021.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Cover art
Developer(s)Nihon Falcom[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)
  • JP: Nihon Falcom
  • WW: NIS America
Director(s)Takayuki Kusano
Producer(s)Toshihiro Kondo
Programmer(s)
  • Toru Endo
  • Nobuhiro Hioki
  • Atsushi Oosaki
Writer(s)Hisayoshi Takeiri
Composer(s)
  • Hayato Sonoda
  • Takahiro Unisuga
  • Yukihiro Jindo
  • Mitsuo Singa
Series
EnginePhyreEngine
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 4
  • JP: September 27, 2018
  • NA: October 27, 2020
  • EU: October 27, 2020
  • AU: November 3, 2020
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: 2021
Microsoft Windows
  • WW: 2021
Genre(s)Role-playing
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay

The game plays similarly to Trails of Cold Steel III as a traditional JRPG with turn-based battles, bringing back features such as the Order system, Orbment system, mini-games and battle commands being mapped to specific buttons rather than various menus. Each character from the new Class VII in the game has new, unique S-Craft techniques in combat.[3] Additionally, characters utilize Lost Arts (returning from Cold Steel II), which are significantly more powerful than regular Arts but expend a full EP gauge.[4]

There are, however, several changes compared to the previous Trails of Cold Steel game, such as modifications to the Order and Break systems. Some characters were given weaker Orders that are upgradeable by finding treasure chests that lead to "trial" battles with fixed characters that can be used. Enemies now also required "far more" break damage before the Break state can be inflicted.[5] Mini-games between larger battles include blackjack, poker, and other puzzle games.[6] The Japanese release contains over 100 hours of gameplay.[5]

Characters

The game has the largest roster of characters in the tetralogy, including the heroes of Class VII, the heroes of Liberl, and Crossbell’s Special Support Section.[6] The game is largely centered on characters from Class VII.[5] However, several playable characters from older games were made unplayable for this game.[5] Main characters include Rean Schwarzer, instructor of Class VII, among others such as Estelle Bright, Joshua Bright, Renne Bright, Agate Crosner, Tita Russell, Lloyd Bannings, Elie MacDowell, Tio Plato, Randolph Orlando, and KeA Bannings.[7][8][9] The game does not include character Sergei Lou, due to the voice actor Unsho Ishizuka dying a month before its release.[5]

Story

The game is a direct sequel to the prior three Trails of Cold Steel games, set two weeks after the final battle in Trails of Cold Steel III.[10]

Juna, Kurt, and Altina awaken to find out that Rean Schwarzer was captured by his father, Giliath Osborne.[5] Determined to rescue Rean and put a stop to Osborne's plans, Juna takes charge of Class VII and travels all over Crossbell and Erebonia to try and figure out what Ouroboros and Osborne's plans are. During their investigation, they discover that the governor-general of Crossbell, Rufus, had been using his position to find and take possession of the last remaining Divine Knight. The group finally discovers the location of the facility where Rean is being held at and stage a rescue mission. Upon arriving, they find Rean has already fully succumbed to his Ogre curse, but the presence of all of his friends allows him to reconstruct his heart and regain his senses. Crow decides to rejoin Rean's side. Osborne arrives and explains to them that all of the Divine Knights have been awakened, they can begin the "Rivalry", which involves the Divine Knight holders battling each other until only one remains, with the survivor becoming the new vessel for the Great One, Ishmelga. Rean swears to put a stop to Osborne's plan as he makes his escape.

Later in the game, as in versions prior, the player is given an airship - initially one of two Merkabah airships, a class commanded by a Dominion of the Gralsritter - to explore areas introduced in prior games, although the city of Heimdallr is left unvisited and inaccessible since Erebonia is under martial law.[5] New areas are also introduced, for example the village of Ulster, which previously appeared in a related manga.[5]

As Rean and his friends regroup, it is also revealed that Millium had survived, having taken the form of the sword Valimar now wields. In addition, it emerges that, due to external intervention, Prince Olivert survived the destruction of the Courageous with only an eye lost in the ordeal, and now commands a larger, more powerful airship, the Courageous II, which replaces the Merkabah as the group's primary transportation. Rean decides to proceed with the Rivalry for now, as it is their only means of reaching Osborne. They first confront and engage Rutger and Arianrhod, and they are both defeated. Rutger passes away peacefully while Arianrhod is murdered by Rufus before she can defect to Rean's side. Both Rutger's and Arianrhod's followers join forces with Rean. Meanwhile, as the Curse begins to take hold over all of Erebonia, the entire country begins to mobilize for war against Calvard Republic. Osborne and Ouroboros then raise a massive floating fortress where they wait for Rean's arrival.

While his friends and allies disable the fortress' defenses, Rean and the new and old Class VII board the fortress itself and fight their through its defenders, defeating Cedric, Rufus, and Black Albreich, leaving Osborne as the final Divine Knight holder. It is also revealed that Osborne is in fact the resurrected form of Dreichels, an ancient hero who was instrumental in the formation of Erebonia who had taken the Curse within himself and arranged events as Chancellor as part of his plan to permanently destroy the Curse. Rean and Osborne then face off in one final battle, with Rean being victorious.

In the game's normal ending, with Osborne's defeat, Rean inherits the Curse but is not strong enough to contain Ishmelga. Instead, he, Crow, and Millium sacrifice themselves to destroy Ishmelga, freeing Erebonia of the Curse at the cost of their own lives.

In the game's true ending, which is unlocked by clearing the game once, Rean is able to find a way to separate Ishmelga from his soul. While Rean is freed from the Curse, Ishmelga physically manifests. Rean and all of his friends and allies work together to defeat Ishmelga for good. Rean has one final farewell to the spirits of Osborne, Rutger, and Arianrhod. With their duty done, the Divine Knights use up the last of their power to restore Crow's body and the sword containing Millium's soul before disappearing. The Emperor recovers from his wounds and retakes control of Erebonia. War with the Calvard Republic is averted and Rufus is arrested, with Osborne being made the scapegoat. Despite having been loyal to Osborne, Claire and Lechter return to their respective roles, with both continuing their duties within the Intelligence Division and the Railway Military Police. Cedric escapes and joins Ouroboros. Crossbell manages to win its independence. Millium's soul is transferred to a backup body the Gnomes had prepared, resurrecting her, albeit without her memories as a sword. Later, Rean and his friends all attend Prince Olivert's and Scherazard Harvey's royal wedding and celebrate.

In a post-credits scene, the remaining Ouroboros members meet with their leader, the Grandmaster, who assures them that despite the setbacks Ouroboros suffered, events are still going as planned. She estimates that Rean's efforts have given the world three more years before its end, and declares the beginning of the "Eternal Regression Plan".

There is also an unlockable extra scene after completing the game, with a "normal" versus a "true" ending depending on requirements met.[5]

Development

Plans for a fourth title in the Trails of Cold Steel metaseries were revealed in an interview with Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo in November 2017, stating that the company originally intended to end the metaseries after Trails of Cold Steel III but thought it would be difficult ending it there, making the decision to develop a fourth entry to properly conclude the series' third story arc.[11]

Like the previous entries in the tetralogy, the game was developed using the PhyreEngine game engine.[12]

Release

In late 2017, the game was initially given a release window of Q4 2018 in Japan for the PlayStation 4,[13] which was later narrowed down to September 27, 2018.[14] A "limited edition" was also sold in Japan.[15]

An official English localization by NIS America was announced on April 1, 2020,[16][17] scheduled for release on October 27, 2020 for the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe, and November 3, 2020 in Australia and New Zealand. Ports for the Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows are scheduled for release in 2021, with exact dates not yet confirmed.[18]

Reception

Frontline Gaming Japan reviewed the Japanese PlayStation 4 release of the game in February 2020. Giving it a score of 90/100, the review stated "the Kiseki series is a pinnacle of modern Japanese RPGs, and Sen IV does not fail to live up to the series’ legacy." The review did question some of the "balancing" of the battle system compared to older games in the series, with the giant robots fights described as more tedious. It did praise how plot threads from older games were concluded, and noted the Vantage Master minigame had been improved.[5] The review praised the soundtrack, calling it superior to III.[5]

References
  1. Nintendo Switch version ported by Engine Software.[1] Microsoft Windows version ported by Engine Software and PH3 Games.
  2. 英雄伝説 閃の軌跡IV -THE END OF SAGA- (Eiyū Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki Fō -The End of Saga-) in Japanese.
  1. "Game Details - Engine Software BV". Engine Software. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. Johann C. K. (June 28, 2018). "Trails of Cold Steel IV- Interview With Producer". Frontline Games Japan. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  3. Romano, Sal (July 5, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV details Ironbloods, new S-Crafts". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  4. Wallace, Kimberly (April 1, 2020). "Exclusive Interview: Five Fast Questions And Answers On Trails Of Cold Steel IV". Game Informer. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  5. Johann C. K. (February 10, 2020). "Review- Trails of Cold Steel IV". Frontline Gaming Japan. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  6. Sal Romano (July 14, 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV 'Character' trailer". Gematsu. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  7. Romano, Sal (July 12, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV details three more characters". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  8. Romano, Sal (May 24, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV details Special Support Section characters, Japanese limited edition". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. Romano, Sal (May 10, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV details Septian Church and former Class VII characters". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  10. Sitzes, Jenae (August 10, 2020). "Trails Of Cold Steel 4 Pre-Order Details: Release Date, Special Edition, And Where To Buy". GameSpot. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  11. Sato (November 20, 2017). "Falcom Originally Wanted To End With Trails of Cold Steel III; Hopes To Release Next Part In 2018". Siliconera. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  12. Wen, Alan (October 6, 2019). "Hot on the Trails of Falcom, Japan's longest-running RPG developer". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  13. Romano, Sal (December 20, 2017). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV ~The End of Saga~ announced for PS4, launches fall 2018 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  14. Romano, Sal (May 22, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV launches September 27 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  15. Rafael Antonio Pineda (May 24, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Game Launches on September 27 in Japan". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. Wallace, Kimberly (April 1, 2020). "The Legend Of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Announced For North America". Game Informer. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  17. Romano, Sal (April 1, 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV coming west for PS4 this fall, Switch and PC in 2021". Gematsu. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  18. Romano, Sal (June 23, 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV for PS4 launches October 27 in the west". Gematsu. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
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