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The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

|Japan, United States|Strategy, Turn-based Strategy

9.1 /10

Aww Amazing!

Hot

6k ratings
Time to beat
Main
59h
Main + extras
87.7h
Complete
108h
Trailers & screenshots
Why play it

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a 2013 Strategy, Turn-based Strategy, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure game rated 9.1/10 from 6k ratings, with a main story of about 59h, available on PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is the sixth installment in the main Trails series, serving as the beginning to the Erebonia arc. The game follows Rean Schwarzer and his fellow students of "Class VII" at Thors Military Academy, a newly formed class at the academy which is the only one not segregated by social class, composing of both Erebonian nobility and commoners. The basic gameplay is nearly identical to the previous entries with a few changes. The biggest change to the battle system and also counting as a brand new feature is the "Tactical Link System". The "Tactical Link" allow players follow up with three different kinds of link attacks, dealing additional damage and providing various other benefits. "Tactical Link" becomes a more useful asset to the player as the story progress and characters level up their "Link Levels" with other characters. As the link levels increase, you will obtain new link abilities such as healing the link partner or increase the CP gain of the partner.

Story and worldbuilding

Among the nations on the Zemurian continent, the mighty Erebonian Empire has been quick to outwardly stake its claim militarily; yet politically, ugly bouts of internal conflict between the upper class and commoners attempting to rise to power have been steadily intensifying day by day. The Noble and Reformist Factions have been none too kind to one another over the years, and tensions between the two only stand to worsen if compromises aren’t made in the very near future. Rean Schwarzer, like any other citizen of the Imperial Nation, is no stranger to these rising conflicts: the class system has been deeply embedded into the hearts of every Erebonian since the days of old. As a seventeen-year-old student preparing for his new life at Thors Military Academy, however, he notices that his crimson uniform differs from the standard ones issued to his peers—typically green for commoners, and white for nobles. Enter, Class VII of Thors Military Academy. For the first time in the prestigious academy’s history, rank means nothing and skill means everything. With nine hand-picked students of various backgrounds and abilities, Rean included, Class VII readies itself to dive deep into the political quagmire that threatens not only them, but the Empire as a whole.

Game highlights
Rating momentum

Aww Amazing!: 9.1/10 across 6k ratings. This score says: bump it to the top of your backlog.

Play style

Leans into Strategy, Turn-based Strategy, Role-playing (RPG), with a main story around 59h. Check if that style and time commitment fit you.

Reviews

20 media reviews

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Media

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Game InformerKimberley Wallace · 14 Jan, 2016
8.5/10

With fun combat, interesting twists, and a cool social system, Trails of Cold Steel is one of my favorite recent RPGs

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GuardianAndy Robertson · 25 Jan, 2016
10/10

Trails… is a superb example of classic JRPGs done right.

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DestructoidChris Carter · 22 Dec, 2015
7/10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel follows a lot of classic JRPG conventions, and as a result, it doesn't do a whole lot of things that haven't been done before, and better elsewhere. But the combat system still holds up, and the characters are charming enough to see the story through until the end.

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KotakuJason Schreier · 1 Jul, 2016

A hero sandwich that's way too heavy on the bread.

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RPG SiteZack Reese · 23 Jan, 2016
8/10

While it takes some time to get started, the combat and writing in this game help push it beyond its boundaries.

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RPG FanAudra Bowling · 7 Sep, 2024
7/10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel - Northern War is an average mobile RPG adaptation of an enjoyable anime side story, bogged down by a horrible translation.

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WccftechFrancesco De Meo · 2 Aug, 2017
8/10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel takes the best of the Trails in the Sky games and enhances it to new heights. While the school setting isn't particularly innovative, all surrounding mechanics have been masterfully implemented, resulting in a game that's incredibly engaging despite the slow pace and a few other minor issues. Additional, the wealth of PC exclusive features make the game one of the best consoles to PC port ever released.

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Hardcore GamerBradly Storm · 22 Dec, 2015
9/10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is hands down the best JRPG this year — and that’s saying a lot considering how many great ones have come out in the past twelve months.

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INVENSe Yun Jeon · 29 Apr, 2021
7.5/10

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is one of the chronicles of the "Trails Series" that connects the epic. Although there is a discrepancy in it, but it includes well-defined characters and great battles that make sense.

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Movies Games and TechAlex Chessun · 10 Feb, 2021
7.5/10

Trails of Cold Steel‘s remaster might just be the best version of the game, but the developer’s barely passable effort makes it hard to recommend as a repeat purchase, with the Japanese audio being the only worthwhile addition. For anime and JRPG fans who haven’t ventured onto Class VII’s campus, it’s an easy recommendation with its excellently crafted world likely to inspire many to embark on the 4-game journey. While its niche appeal might deter a wider audience, those who do give it a shot are unlikely to come away disappointed, despite its rough edges.

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