The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a 2013 role-playing game by Nihon Falcom. It’s the first part of the Trails of Cold Steel branch, and it sits within The Legend of Heroes series. It follows Trails to Azure and is set in the Erebonian Empire.

Release and ports
- Debuted in Japan on September 26, 2013 for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.
- English version by Xseed Games released for PS3 and Vita on December 22, 2015.
- Windows port with extra English voice acting released in 2017.
- PlayStation 4 remaster released in Japan in 2018 and worldwide in 2019.
- Nintendo Switch version released in Japan/Asia in 2021.
- You can transfer saved games across PS3, PS Vita, and PS4 (cross-save).

Gameplay and features
- Classic turn-based JRPG with new 3D character models and free camera.
- Faster battle commands and a new Link system for pairing characters to gain follow-up attacks and other benefits; Link Levels grow as characters team up.
- The familiar AT (Action Time) gauge for turns stays, and the Orbment system is streamlined.
- Master Quartz from Trails to Azure returns, and you can transfer saves between platforms.

Setting and story
- Takes place in Erebonia after the Trails in the Sky trilogy and alongside Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure.
- Follows Class VII at Thors Military Academy in Trista, a mixed-class group led by Rean Schwarzer.
- During school field studies, they witness a power struggle between nobles and reformists, and clash with the Imperial Liberation Front led by the masked “C” (Crow).
- They explore a mysterious old schoolhouse and uncover a Divine Knight named Valimar.
- After Osborne is assassinated by Crow, civil war erupts. Rean becomes an Awakener with Valimar, and Crow reveals himself as an Awakener too. The story sets up events for Trails of Cold Steel II.

Reception and impact
- Generally favorable reviews, with praise for localization, the refined combat, and life-sim elements.
- Famitsu gave PS3/Vita versions 34/40.
- Noted for solid action, deep characters, and a readable story that blends school life with political intrigue.

Sales and awards
- Won a spot in the 2013 Japan Game Awards as a Future Division title.
- In its first week, the Vita version sold more than the PS3 version in Japan.
- The game was financially successful for Falcom, earning about 1.9 billion yen in net sales and 700 million yen in operating profit.