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Tired out TCS1 from a friends recommendation. This is my first Legend of Heroes game and now I’m hooked on this series, lol. What impressed me, on top of the great characters and the overall story, was the world building and political situation they had set up. But dang, that twist at the end of the Old Schoolhouse and the finale. It was something out of Xenogears and Zone of the Enders; fighting on foot to fighting inside a mech. Then the Boss mech flies in to kick your rear end. And I really liked all of Class 7, which hurt then they stayed behind to let Rean escape over his objections. I though the game was subtly pushing Rean and Alissa (then Crow I guess), but I ended up with Laura as the LI and it was a gut punch seeing her on Valimar’s view screen saying goodbye to Rean personally. When the credits rolled I immediately bought the second game and started it because I didn’t want it to end like that, lol.
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Apr 30, 2021 23:11
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Thinking back to my TCS1 playthrough: since there wasn't any lyrics or singing for the first two songs of Class 7's Festival Concert, I've headcannoned that Machias and Jusis sang a duel version of Judgement from Yakuza Zero, and Emma performed the game's ending song.
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May 1, 2021 22:31
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Slow going in TCS2, I arrived at Lunaria Nature Park, but already Valimar reminds me a lot of BT from Titanfall 2. Like him already. And I hear his VA is also Legion from Mass Effect? Even better; I also really liked Legion
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May 2, 2021 04:20
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Going straight from TCS1 to 2, it really reminds of a PS2 era JRPG where you have to switch disks at the halfway point.
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May 6, 2021 15:21
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Last Celebration posted:It would have been really nice if they did the thing the others did and had your CS2 starting stats basically be your endgame ones. The whole thing still works since scarcely any games let you start with all the sick moves you’ve been using most of the game like Gale and Flame Impact tho, so it feels like booting up a postgame save and not like Megaman Battle Network sequels. That would have been really cool, but I appreciate that at least everyone kept their Crafts from TCS1, and now those crafts are getting upgraded versions as I'm leveling them up.
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May 6, 2021 16:16
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Going through TCS2 and I got to Laura and Emma's reunion scene. I really like Laura, did the dance scene with her in CS1, so it was great seeing her and Emma one-shot the Ice Dragon Cryptic (especially since it gave me a hard time in the first game). Then when the Fungus Lizard spawned in, I just had Rean and Laura nuke it with Overdrive, Chaining Burst attacks, and their S-Crafts. And I liked the callback to the end of the first game with Laura reiterating that she'd be Rean's unbreakable sword. All in all, great scene.
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May 29, 2021 16:23
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Aw man, the end of Act 1 of TCS2 is amazing It and the following Intermission Chapter are hitting all the plot beats perfectly This game has me more hooked in than the first CS game Laura being the last one to call out to Rean in that heart felt way... especially when they just had a scene together talking about how their swordsmanship might not have a place in a war with tanks and mechs, and how once again her swordsmanship was ineffective... that hurt deep 
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Jun 5, 2021 06:53
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I've started Act 2 of TCS2, I've been thinking and maybe some of you can help clarify something What exactly does Class 7 want to do in the war? I understand they don't want to join the Noble Alliance, but also they don't want to join the Imperial Army and prolong the war. And they're not so delusional to think they can enter the theater as a third faction and get both sides to stop fighting. So they want to be a neutral party and go around all of East Erabonia to ease the burden the war is having on the people, like they were doing during their Field Studies... until the War is over? And also they want to liberate Thors Academy from the Noble Alliance... even though doing so can allow an opposing army to set up a FOB towards the Capital that the NA currently occupies. So in that sense, they're still opposing the Noble Alliance? I dunno, I think maybe they should have joined up with the Imperial Army and act as a sort of Strike Force and use the Courageous to make Hit-and-Run attacks on key NA assets or stick with relieving the burden on the people while also undermining the NA.
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Jun 7, 2021 00:23
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Okay, maybe I hadn’t really associated siding with the Imperial Army with condoning the Reformist Faction or Osborne. It just looks to me that while people like Crow and the Imperial Liberation Front had legit grievances with Osborne’s agenda, the NA as a whole just seems like they’re angry the plebs are chipping away at their power. And in that sense they’re the clear bad guys who shouldn’t win the war
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Jun 7, 2021 00:58
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Moofia Boss Val posted:Also, the Imperial Army doesn't really do any cruel shenagains in CS1+2. The "imperials are NOT your friends" thing would have been better driven home if we had scene them acting more... ruthlessly, perhaps bombarding NA occupied settlements, taking people hostage because they are related to known NA leaders, etc. Yeah my only real interaction with the Imperial Army are Major Vander in Nord, Elliot’s father, and Clair of the RMP (even if she respected Osborne, she’s show to respect Class 7 and gives them support when they decide their place in the war). If the game pushed more the idea that the Imperial Army agreed with Osborne’s ideals or wanted to keep the status quo Osborne had in place wrt growing nationalism paving over Erabonian culture or imperialist expansion, I’d get why Class 7 would take a third path and try to push their own version of change for the country. As it stands now, I was viewing the Imperial Army as a state army fighting a guerrilla war against a coup instigated by group of autocrats; and even though the NA does have legit grievances with the Reformists/Osborne, Erabonia under their control will still be bad, but in a different way. SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 20:03 on Jun 7, 2021 |
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Jun 7, 2021 18:18
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I've only played TCS1 and am currently in the early part of Act 2 of TCS2, but Rean is never going to do anything approaching this with his LI, is he
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Jun 11, 2021 16:15
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I've only gotten through CS1 and through Act 1 of CS2, but in addition to what people have said, Vivi, Linde, and Mint are good so far too
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Jun 14, 2021 01:03
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Sounds like my reaction to the end of CS1, lol Can’t wait til I get to the third game
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Jun 29, 2021 17:34
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If we’re going to post our WHAT THE gently caress moments, though, I just got to the point in CS2 where Celdic is burned down on Jusis’ Dad’s orders. Now that was a WTF moment to me
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Jun 29, 2021 17:49
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TooManyUzukis posted:As someone who obsessively reads all NPC dialogue, that poo poo hit me harder than most I think. No other series makes you care about NPCs nearly as much! Oh same here! Talking with one NPC during that when they mentioned the Market Manager Otto, I was with Rean being like “Oh no… don’t tell me…”, immediately ran to his house, and had the gut punch of walking to what was basically his funeral
SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 19:06 on Jun 29, 2021 |
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Jun 29, 2021 17:57
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I've been playing through CS2, and I'm in agreement with people here, the gameplay is a blast and I'm having such a great time playing through it. Sometimes it can get samey, but I think that's on me for having Rean and Laura in the party at all times. So the play is The Second Form - GALE, and Radiant Blade Spin to nearly kill all the monsters. But then again, the fights can very quickly go not in your favor if you slip up at time, from my own experience. Right now I'm in in the Finale inside the Infernal Castle - Laura was so cool before the fight with Duvalie, brushing off the taunts and being super respectful to her opponent. Alisa said it best "I feel like Laura's already won the duel before the battle's even begun." And it was really funny at the end that Duvalie got her second wind through the power of  I do feel bad for her at times when so many people dunk on her, but she makes it so easy- At first, I was little annoyed that each of the Stratum bosses all end the same way: Class 7 declares victory, boss gets second wind and is about to beat Class 7, then one of their allies swoops in to cover their escape. But then I remember that they're all still kids, still growing, and they're up against the best of the best of Ouroboros and Jaegers. The fact that Class 7 managed to back each boss into a corner and force their second wind is impressive enough; and at this rate they're going to grow into extremely powerful fighters in their own right - McBurn is so anime and it owns, literally punching a hold in space and time to take out his sword, lol. But also seeing Victor Arseid go all out against him in that fight was also extremely cool. And Laura wants to surpass him? drat, she's going to be so badass SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 17:46 on Jul 15, 2021 |
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Jul 15, 2021 15:53
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One more I just remembered: When the Courageous is dodging the missile barrage from the Noble Alliance Capital Ship to get to the palace, I wasn't the only one thinking that those missiles had to have hit the city below, right?
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Jul 15, 2021 19:19
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So I got up to nearly the very end of Cold Steel 2 up to the final free day at the Academy Man... what a wild endgame this was... My thoughts throughout that whole thing was: - Okay, let's do this! Crow + Vita vs Class 7! - Valimar vs Ordine! This is so anime with Rean's crony lines, but it still works cause I care about this rival mech battle - Oh hey Duke Cryann, I forgot you were still here- OH poo poo! Vermilion Calamity! Holy poo poo, now this is a final boss! - drat Tessra-Rosa is so cool being a Mech Gilgamesh - Laura and Rean fighting the Vermilion Calamity together like Dreichles and Lianne, love it - Oh awesome! Valimar and Ordine fighting together. Heck yeah, Union Slash: Deadly Domination! - Oh no Crow... - Aw man, this whole scene with Crow saying goodbye to everyone... kind of wish he had more to say for Laura, Gaius, Emma, and Millium though - Oh hey Duke Cryann, I forgot you were still here-  - Oh poo poo Rufus! Oooh, you magnificent bastard: you're going to take credit for stopping Duke Cryanne aren't yo- - Wait, WHAT! Osborne! I mean, I figured you lived, but I didn't expect you to come back so soon - drat, Osbrone, after everything you just did... I can believe your threat to Ouroboros is genuine and can make good on - Oh poo poo, he just came out on top as the undisputed power ruling Erebonia... oh poo poo Crossbell is screwed... - Rean, wait, you aren't going to try to kill Osborne, are yo- WHAT! He's Rean's father! Oh nononoonon... - The Crossbell Chapter was me just saying "Rean. Rean no. Rean pls no" - It really feels like all of Rean's progress towards building up his self-esteem just got hit hard with a reset button. That Osborne pushed. - Rean's friends are really kind to welcome Rean back from his CIA sponsored mission to steal state secrets... - Oh no, they're all graduating early while Rean has to stay behind a year... I mean I get why; it's to keep doing what they've been doing during the Civil War, just now they're flying under Osbrone's radar while preparing for the moment to save Rean from being under Osbrone's thumb like Crow was... but still - At least these Laura x Rean scenes soften the blow  ... even though CS3 assumes Rean didn't have a close companion in this game - Man... the last Free Day... it was almost two months ago that I finished CS1 myself. So being back in Trista and doing the same thing I was doing in the last game, after all this... really a melancholy feeling. This game is so good
SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 04:56 on Jul 17, 2021 |
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Jul 17, 2021 02:56
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Veryslightlymad posted:I need to replay CS2 to double check my memory. I think he might know you're going to Heimdall before you do. Can't confirm that. It'd be in Trista, though. I forget when the cast makes the plan, so I might be wrong. I just beat CS2, so I can at least confirm that the plan to take back Heimdall, or at least for the Courageous to fly to the Imperial Villa to save the Emperor with the 4th and 5th armor divisions retake Heimdall, is made right after you liberate Trista and Thors academy. And I think Andre is there playing while you're walking around the night of Dec 30th as well, though I can't recall if he teases that he knows you're going to help retake Heimdall
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Jul 21, 2021 21:26
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SyntheticPolygon posted:Started CS3 and I didn't realise how much I missed these characters. Not even just the main party, I was really happy to see Patrick make an early appearance. It's a good feeling to be back in Erebonia. I’m just about to finish CS2 myself, and I had a blast throughout the whole thing. And I’m going to go back to the Sky games to prepare for CS3, so reading all of this is heartening
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Jul 25, 2021 17:29
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I finished Trails of Cold Steel 2 I teared up when Millium started crying for the first time, and everyone started crying with her I think Cold Steel 1 and 2 are up there on my all time favorite games Time to play the Sky trilogy so I can be ready for Cold Steel 3 and 4
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Jul 25, 2021 23:31
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MythosDragon posted:The final boss music perfectly capturing how not only every member of the cast feels, but also you feel knowing this is the final hurrah with these dudes cement that as the best scene in the series forever. Yeah, also helps that I made everyone so OP and had Crow there as well with the Phantasmal Mirror, the final boss rolled over. I felt like it was the cumulation of the hardships everyone overcame that year and made them so much stronger for it
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Jul 26, 2021 01:34
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Veryslightlymad posted:They are a third faction. Period. They're pretty explicit in wanting to get Crow back and reunite the class. This literally cannot happen if the Imperials win, as that government sees him as a terrorist. While the Noble faction doesn't even consider Crow a criminal, (since he's on their side) the rest of the class is pretty on the ball in seeing them as autocratic usurpers that would be terrible for the common people and also by this point in the game personally kidnapped Rean's sister and tossed Machias's dad into political jail. Oh hey, I remembered this If you have time, I'd really like to hear your elaboration on this I can definitely see now where you're coming from though Class 7 basically took up the Bracer's mantle to help the people of Erebonia in ways that the Noble Alliance and Imperial Army couldn't or wouldn't allow. And these small acts had a snowball effect, from saving Elliot's sister leading to Celdic being liberated, helping Angie leading to one of the 4 Great Houses pulling their support, to eventually saving the Emperor himself from the Noble Alliance and foiling Duke Ceyenne's schemes. And it would have paved a way to a big government reform, since the corrupt heads of both factions were out and people like Machia's dad and Rufus appeared to be more level headed and an improvement over Duke Ceyenne and Chancellor Osborne... if Osborne didn't come out the left field to reveal that he was still alive and Rufus was his sleeper agent. So now the old Status Quo was brought back... or worse, Osborne has no one to stop him and he's emotionally manipulating Rean into working for him and crush anyone who could oppose him. That's one part of the ending I really do like. Rean's now in Crow's place: burdened with the title of Chevalier and all but conscripted to fright for the current ruling power of the state, if only because he feels responsibility for the current state of things. And Class 7 is traveling around Erebonia, doing what they've been doing during the Civil War, only avoiding Osbrone's radar now: helping the people in ways only they can do, get stronger, and prepare for the moment they can save their dear friend. SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 23:21 on Jul 26, 2021 |
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Jul 26, 2021 20:46
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Veryslightlymad posted:Its design is throwing you off, but Van doesn't fight with a sword, he fights with a stylized type of jian, which is a kind of mace. It's not nano-meter sharp. It's not sharp at all. So.... it doesn't have a sheath because it doesn't need one. Yeah, I think you an I are on the same wavelength Before Rufus revealed himself to be the first Ironblood, I thought his actions of usurping Duke Cayenne and taking out Grianos and Vita was him trying to position himself as a hero for ending the Vermilion Calamity, but also use that to broker a peace with the Imperial Army and Machia's dad, who pretty much was next in line as head of the Reformist Faction, since he seemed to be a honor-bound friendly adversary type, like Camus from Fire Emblem. And with Prince Olivert also being there, yeah it was sooo close to Class 7 coming out as victors in the whole thing. But then Osborne walks in and not only reveals he was in control the entire time, but also managing to turn Rean into his pawn But it's like you said, too. Class 7 isn't down for the count. And the Chancellor being so focused on Rean means he's underestimating all of them, which gives them a chance to turn things around. edit: And on top of the Epilogue showing how Class 7 proceeds, having Millium shed tears for the first time over having to leave lays the seeds for her eventual defection from the Ironbloods, since in the Finale it did kind of sting, on top of the other gut punches, when she ran over to Osborne (I think, I'll have to see when I eventually get to CS3 and 4) SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 05:43 on Jul 27, 2021 |
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Jul 27, 2021 04:36
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Don't know if Osborne talk is done but... As someone with the rare experience of only having played Cold Steel 1 and 2 so far, Osbrone so far comes off as a pretty compelling antagonist. Like, dude has a vision for Erebonia, through commoner reforms and annexing surrounding territories for economic growth. And he has a charisma that you can understand why someone like Machias' dad would work with him. But there's this underlying worry that the reforms and expansion are only benefiting him alone, and if getting Carl over to his side was manipulating his hate for Nobles with his niece's suicide. Then there's his uncaring ruthlessness in getting his way, Vulcan is one thing but I did understand from Scarlet's story and what happened to Jurai City and C that Osborne will trample over anyone who would stand in his way. Then there's the Finale of CS2 where I fully believed his threat to crush Ouroboros underneath his heel if they got in his way was genuine and something he could actually do, what with how he walked onto the scene like Crow didn't shoot him in the heart and revealed that he was pulling the strings on all sides of the war with Rufus and the Imperial Army. And then there's the thing with him being Rean's biological dad. It puts a whole new spin, because to me at least, the way he appeared in Rean's memory and spoke looked like someone who genuinely cared for his son. But now Osborne is using that connection to emotionally manipulate Rean into working for him. So does he still care for Rean, did he ever, or does he see Rean as another pawn for his agenda? edit: I'm going to get into the Sky Trilogy next and probably see a recap of Zero/Azure unless the official American releases come, but it's going to be interesting seeing what people think of Osborne and Erebonia as a whole from an outsider perspective SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 03:11 on Jul 28, 2021 |
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Jul 28, 2021 02:56
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Thinking back on my TCS2 playthrough, the second Bonding Event with Emma has the choice to comment if she looks better with or without her glasses on I chose the without glasses options, thinking it was going to lead to something later in the game, but nothing happened Was there something I missed, or is that only if you chose Emma as the LI?
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Jul 30, 2021 02:59
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Looks like there's a trigger on the handle he's holding Maybe this is a sword that can also be fired like a gun?
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Jul 30, 2021 21:55
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I’ll get to it eventually, but Trails of Cold Steel 3 doesn’t allow to you transfer saves from CS2, right?
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Aug 3, 2021 01:01
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Saoshyant posted:It's not that it doesn't allow, but more that CS3 was initially made in hardware were the previous games weren't present at the time. So, no, there's no save importing, and honestly nothing much would make sense importing anyway. It's a sequel nearly two years later where Class VII's interactions basically reset. That’s… kind of sad in the grand narrative of things, considering where CS2 leaves off
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Aug 3, 2021 01:12
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Yeah, I guess that’s another part of it too. I liked the interactions and relationship development from friends to lovers between Rean and Laura in the first two games. And it’s a little bit of a bummer that gets ignored/reset in the third game SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 01:25 on Aug 3, 2021 |
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Aug 3, 2021 01:22
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Is there an Mass Effect Codex-style explanation for how Orbal Firearms work in Zumeria? What I mean is, in Mass Effect guns work by using the titular mass effect fields to shave off a sliver of a metal core and fire it like a miniature rail gun I know there's guns like Towa's Arts Guns, but that was a special case, as it could basically fire off Aqua Bleed/Air Strike/Fire Bolt/Needle Shot But what about Fie's Gunswords, or the rifles used by various armies? Looking at Fie and Sara's weapons, they have what looks like glowing green orbments installed. Maybe they fire off Air Element powered shots? Or maybe it's like Mass Effect guns, but instead of mass effect fields firing off shaved off metal rounds an Air Orbment uses compressed air to fire the bullet, sidestepping the use of a primer and hammer? SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 01:29 on Aug 11, 2021 |
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Aug 11, 2021 00:07
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Kuro's soundtrack is going to slap so hard It's got a "Kamen Rider in Roaring 20s America" feel to it
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Aug 13, 2021 00:37
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Are there any podcasts that, like, go into a deep dive into the Trails series?
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Aug 13, 2021 02:21
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secretly best girl posted:While I do not know of any currently, I co-host a JRPG show that keeps falling dick-first into trilogies and we've discussed doing Sky soon. Oooh, thanks!
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Aug 16, 2021 02:30
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So I'm currently at Chapter 3 in FC, and I've been thinking about the differences between Trails in the Sky and the first two Cold Steel games. I think of Sky as a Ghibli movie while Cold Steel is a mecha anime. FC does evoke a lighthearted, coming of age story with two young kids as they walk across the country, meeting colorful characters and getting into adventures. Cold Steel has an episodic feel, with a core cast of characters coming together, despite various views and backgrounds causing friction, in the first game/half of the season, then trying to survive in the middle of a war breaking out in the second game/season. And then there's Rean and Valimar checking off all the mecha anime tropes, with Crow and Ordine also checking off the rival enemy mech tropes. And I've been thinking about comparisons between Estelle and Rean, and how some view Rean as a weaker character, but I think they're both good in their own ways Estelle is an open book, and for good or ill always says what's one her mind. And despite the hardships she's gone through from the Hundred Days War and hardships she's experienced on her quest to become a full-fledged Bracer, she holds onto her optimism in the face of more pessimistic views and people. (I'll probably have more to say as I get to the end of FC and into SC) Rean had a traumatic experience from a young age, and that's been crutch for him in all aspects in his life; from keeping relationships with friends and family at arms length, to even when he decides to take up swordsmanship he holds back from fear of what he could become. But deep down, he does want to make deep connections, and jumps to defend others, so even if he is afraid of his power, he'll become a monster if it can save his sister or classmates. It's what makes the moment in CS2 when he learns Spirit Unification that much stronger. And it's in spite of all these issues that he's still able to overcome the Trials and become the Ashen Awakener. So I felt, at least, that he earned the power ups. SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 15:07 on Aug 16, 2021 |
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Aug 16, 2021 02:39
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...It was mistake to read all that, having not gotten to CS3 or 4 yet
SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 19:49 on Aug 16, 2021 |
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Aug 16, 2021 19:43
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I don't want to come into CS3 and 4 with a colored perspective just yet, but it's a little dis-heartening to hear that 4 apparently drops the ball on some things. I got burned by Mass Effect 3, so I hope CS4 doesn't get as bad as that. Then again, I'm kind of a big softie who doesn't like it when bad things happen to fictional characters I like in stories, so maybe I'll be fine with the backpeddaling on darker stuff, as you all keep implying SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 20:32 on Aug 16, 2021 |
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Aug 16, 2021 20:25
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CharlestheHammer posted:Rean has the protagonist problem where everyone loves him and the writers seem genuinely afraid to give him any real conflict that isn’t completely internal. I keep seeing this comment, that everyone loves Rean. But from what I’ve played in CS1 and 2, I got the sense that Rean suffers from self esteem issues and has a tendency to blame himself or think that he’s undeserving of people’s affection. So in that sense I just see everyone trying to reassure a person suffering from chronic depression.
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Aug 16, 2021 23:08
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So to get away from the CIA documents, I’m on the final chapter of Trails in the Sky FC and almost done with the game Coming off from Cold Steel, FC has been very charming. The characters and writing is just as strong here as it was in Cold Steel, and every character has been likeable in their own ways. Standouts are - Estelle and Joshua, while I admit it is kind of weird seeing them fall in love after they were introduced as sister and adopted brother, they play off each other so well it kind of works (as opposed to, say, Rean and Elise) - - Agate, who admittedly is just Red Head Cloud Strife in my mind, in that he tries to act cool but Estelle always keeps dunking on him. Though slapping Tita in Chapter 3 was very not cool And the old way of slotting in Quartz in different configurations to give you different spells kept things fresh coming off of the gameplay in the two Cold Steel games I’ll probably complete FC this week, and most likely immediately start SC if it ends on a cliffhanger like Cold Steel 1 does. SgtSteel91 fucked around with this message at 23:00 on Aug 18, 2021 |
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Aug 18, 2021 18:08
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quote:I'll be real I think I like Rean and Laura more than Estelle and Josh.
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Aug 19, 2021 03:29
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