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Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

-A Faint Glitter of Light-



The epilogue installment of Falcom's Trails in the Sky JRPGs is finally out in English. Trails in the Sky the 3rd does away with some major conventions from the first two games: Estelle and Joshua Bright are no longer the main characters. Instead of roaming more-or-less freely around the regions of the Liberl Kingdom, The 3rd takes place in a huge linear dungeon much like the Altered Spaces from SC's Chapter 7. There are far fewer surprisingly-intricate backstories for random faceless townsfolk. Sidequests are a thing of the past, and you only ever have one goal: to fight your way through the dungeon and escape.

That must sound like a recipe for disaster, but I'd say The 3rd is the best yet--a wonderful send-off for the Trails in the Sky series and all the characters I've gotten to know and love.

I'm going to assume that anyone reading is already familiar with Trails in the Sky FC and SC, because...well, you kind of need to be if you want to have any bearing on what's going on.





I sure wish every job I had was this easy.
Meetings ordained by the Goddess always come suddenly and unannounced.
Don't go getting your hopes up. Nothing of interest's gonna happen.
Behold! The most powerful force in the universe!
So the time to begin is finally upon us.



Well, this is foreboding.
To hell with it! Not like we got any better options!
You're a knight. Do your job.
There'll come a day when I get used to all these funky talking objects, I'm sure...
Moon Door 1: Orbal Gear Project Part 1 - First Day
Moon Door 1: Orbal Gear Project Part 1 - Second Day
Just how long does this place go on for?
We have enemies in this place...and it's not just the fiends.



!☆⯅?⭗¥#$⯁?!
What happened to the capital while I was away?!
Star Door 1: Julia's Day Off
I fear I may have underestimated just how bizarre a situation this is.
Sun Door 1: Capua's Delivery Service
Now look what you've done.
So one of the stars of the show makes his grand appearance.
Star Door 2: The Salt Pale
That was a truly delightful spectacle.



How have I managed to survive being twisted around your fingers for so long?
Star Door 3: The Banquet
All we can do is keep looking for answers.
See you guys on the other side.
It seems our enemies have quite literally opened the gates of Gehenna.



When are you going to stop acting?
Star Door 4: Journey's End
Here comes trouble.
Sun Door 3: The Arena - Normal
Moon Door 3: Descended Wings - Part 1
Moon Door 3: Descended Wings - Part 2
Moon Door 3: Descended Wings - Part 3
Moon Door 3: Descended Wings - Part 4
Put me in, coach!
Star Door 5: Swordsmanship
I wouldn't be a good big sister if I didn't look out for my little sis, now, would I?
Moon Door 2: Client - Part 1
Moon Door 2: Client - Part 2
I'm in. Let's get to work.
Star Door 6: Training, Agate-Style
Moon Door 1: Orbal Gear Project Part 2 - The Meeting
Moon Door 1: Orbal Gear Project Part 2 - The Testing
Man, this is the best reunion party ever...



It's time to seriously focus on getting out of this place and back to the real world.
Sun Door 2: Legendary Angler Estelle
Moon Door 4: Departure - Part 1
Moon Door 4: Departure - Part 2
I can't help but feel my being here is a mistake of some kind.
Star Door 7: The Epstein Foundation
You must REALLY want to end up splattered all over the floor.
Sun Door 4: The Casino -Gambler Jack-
Let's get nasty!



And here I thought we were finally going to get an answer.
Star Door 8: Return to the Empire
So our friend's left us a message, huh?
I guess this is just fate or somethin'?
Star Door 9: Like a Mother
I can only hope that I don't disappoint.
Trails in the Chest
Moon Door 5: The Happiness Stone - Part 1
Moon Door 5: The Happiness Stone - Part 2
Are we even going to be able to go home...?
I wasn't expecting to end up fighting you here again...
Ordinarily, this is where I'd pitch in and help out...
Star Door 10: Gordias-Class Experiment Report
What a cruel twist of fate that we should meet again like this.
Star Door 11: Phantom Thief B Report
Sun Door 3: The Arena - Hard
Now, right down to business, Kevin.
Whoever we end up facing, we'll find a way to win.
Don't count yourselves out just yet.
I hope you're ready for this!
Don't hold back! Show me what you've got!
Star Door 12: I Accept Your Request
Defeat me. That is all.
I'd appreciate it if you would all lend me your strength.
This place really has been full of memorable experiences.
Let's get this over with so these guys can move on!
Star Door 13: Assault on the Imperial Guilds
Let the hunt begin.
Sun Door 5: Campanella's Quiz Game
Very well, then--do as you will! Defeat me, and break this mask!
Fate truly is a funny thing.
I knew it.



Once we step through that door, there'll be no going back.
This is practically another day for me now.
Well, I suppose that's enough exposition for now.



It's time to truly bring an end to what was started half a year ago.
I wonder if this is a coincidence, or maybe even the will of the Goddess?
Unbelievable... How did that end up being recreated in Phantasma?
Star Door 15: Paradise
Sun Door 3: The Arena - Nightmare
Star Door 14: Phantasmal Blaze
From now on, I will be the star of this show!
See you at the top!
That Lord of Phantasma really does know how to shake things up.
What was that?!
It couldn't be...
I think we've reached our destination.
How do you expect to defeat me?
Shall we?
This is the last thing I'll ever ask you to do.
I guess this is it.
In the thousand years the Gralsritter has existed, that's not something that has happened often.

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 03:21 on Sep 23, 2017

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Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 00:16 on Jun 9, 2017

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"
Oh cool, I was wondering if someone was going to LP this.

Ibblebibble
Nov 12, 2013

Had good memories of reading the first two Laps so looking forward to this one.

Erpy
Jan 30, 2015
(insert title here)
That was pretty quick, considering the fact the game's been out for less than a month.

Anyway, this opening's really neat and a cool departure from the slow-paced opening of FC and the dramatic followup opening of SC. It's totally a Bond movie opening with Kevin being even slicker than Pierce Brosnan. It's also really nice to see both "goofy flirt"-Kevin and "Weissmann murdering"-Kevin getting some screentime.

Little note: Kevin's Sacred Breath craft was always capable of curing status ailments, even in SC. It didn't remove debuffs like Tita's upgraded Vital Cannon did, but it did cure abnormalities.

Another little note: the panicking NPC on the deck, Aldan? He's from FC and SC. He's an airship spotter you first run into at Bose's landing port where he's making preparations to photograph the Arseille. In SC, he's all over the place, always trying to nab a shot of the Arseille, but always JUUUUUST missing the action. When the Arseille docks in Bose for the dragon capturing operation in SC, that happens to be the one day he's NOT at the airport (airship traffic having been suspended due to the dragon attack and all) and when Estelle tells him the Arseille was in Bose but just took off again afterwards, he completely breaks down. He's still in Bose during Chapter 8, bugging the orbal factory owner to fix up his camera which got disabled by the Aureole. Looks like he still has crappy luck half a year later. :)

This introduction's a nice call-forward to Cold Steel, with shoutouts to Bareahard, the Kreuzen province, the Reinford Group and the term Merchant of Death being used. There are also nobles cursing "that upstart chancellor".

Erpy fucked around with this message at 21:03 on May 28, 2017

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"

Erpy posted:

This introduction's a nice call-forward to Cold Steel, with shoutouts to Bareahard, the Kreuzen province, the Reinford Group and the term Merchant of Death being used. There are also nobles cursing "that upstart chancellor".

Not to mention the Northern Jaegers and North Ambria. Granted Weissman was from North Ambria, but the area becomes a lot more relevant in the Cold Steel arc

Endorph
Jul 22, 2009
maybe link the LPs of the first two games in the op?

EponymousMrYar
Jan 4, 2015

The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.
THE OPEN CHEST DIALOGUE IS BACK! :flashfap:

That being said, I too like the bond-ness of this opening. It (re)-introduces Kevin and lets you get your toes dipped in the combat and spell casting system.

Omobono
Feb 19, 2013

That's it! No more hiding in tomato crates! It's time to show that idiota Germany how a real nation fights!

For pasta~! CHARGE!

Really Pants posted:

CHEST PHRASES ARE BACK, BABY

:five:

Some Numbers posted:

Not to mention the Northern Jaegers and North Ambria. Granted Weissman was from North Ambria, but the area becomes a lot more relevant in the Cold Steel arc

Uh, I didn't know that; so Kevin decided for a middle finger the size of the Liber Ark at the end of SC, it makes sense that Weissmann was so pissed for those five seconds. The question now is, did W became :argh: rear end in a top hat supreme :argh: because of North Ambria or was he always like that?


E: Kevin is already lamenting the lack of an easily trolled Estelle in his life :lol:

Omobono fucked around with this message at 20:45 on May 28, 2017

Erpy
Jan 30, 2015
(insert title here)

Omobono posted:

:five:


Uh, I didn't know that; so Kevin decided for a middle finger the size of the Liber Ark at the end of SC, it makes sense that Weissmann was so pissed for those five seconds. The question now is, did W became :argh: rear end in a top hat supreme :argh: because of North Ambria or was he always like that?

It's an easy-to-miss line in FC. When Estelle and Joshua attempt to cross the Sanktheim Gate into the Grancel region and Alba bails them out, he introduces himself to the soldiers as a scholar from North Ambria and the soldiers verify this. Of course, it may have been part of his cover, but as Weissmann points out in SC, a large part of his cover WAS based on the truth of him really being an academic. And yeah, the way Kevin executed Weissmann was just loving spiteful. It'd be like executing Agate by locking him in a small house and setting it on fire or executing Kloe by trapping her on a ship and then sinking it. If it wasn't Weissmann we were talking about, I'd say they were out of line with this.

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


Endorph posted:

maybe link the LPs of the first two games in the op?

First Chapter
Second Chapter

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"
I could've sworn there was something else that confirmed he was from North Ambria...

VVV: I meant from SC or FC.

Some Numbers fucked around with this message at 22:41 on May 28, 2017

Cake Attack
Mar 26, 2010

there is but its in this game

Endorph posted:

maybe link the LPs of the first two games in the op?

dont do it theyre bad

Tallgeese
May 11, 2008

MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR


If possible, could you show enemy descriptions please? I like those little bits of info.

Good to see you doing this one, the LPs for 1 and 2 were good.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Endorph posted:

maybe link the LPs of the first two games in the op?

Tallgeese posted:

If possible, could you show enemy descriptions please? I like those little bits of info.

Done, and done.

I meant to have those and I totally forgot, thanks for the reminders.

The Doomhammer
Feb 14, 2010

It really was nice seeing the chest phrases return.

It was also nice to go back to SC to find they've been patched in there, as well.

Anyway, looking forward to this LP!

VolticSurge
Jul 23, 2013

Just your friendly neighborhood photobomb raptor.



Cake Attack posted:

dont do it theyre bad

They are? Most Goons I've asked about them have given me overall positive opinions.

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"

VolticSurge posted:

They are? Most Goons I've asked about them have given me overall positive opinions.

Cake Attack is joking; the first LP is his.

It would be like me telling you to avoid my current Cold Steel LP.

VolticSurge
Jul 23, 2013

Just your friendly neighborhood photobomb raptor.



Some Numbers posted:

Cake Attack is joking; the first LP is his.

It would be like me telling you to avoid my current Cold Steel LP.

Oh,sorry. Sometimes sarcasm goes right over my head.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 00:19 on Jun 9, 2017

Rabbi Raccoon
Mar 31, 2009

I stabbed you dude!
Awww I was researching ways to LP this. But it's just as well. I doubt I'd do as good a job as Pants will.

This really is a great game. Absolutely fantastic. There's really only one issue I have with it, but I'll get to it when it's relevant. They do a great job at giving every character something to bring to the table. I was even wondering how it was gonna work with such a defense oriented character as the main protagonist, but Mortal Punishment took care of that. And, for the first time, Tita was a mainstay in my party. She was MVP by the end. (also hey, if that's a spoiler you don't want revealed I'll redact it, but considering every character from the first came back for the second, I figured it was a safe bet)

Anywho, I'm really excited to get in on the ground floor on this. It'll give me my fix until they take care of the New Game Plus Quartz bug.

Rabbi Raccoon fucked around with this message at 02:47 on May 29, 2017

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


I suppose it's too much to hope for that Dorothy is the new recruit....

EponymousMrYar
Jan 4, 2015

The enemy of my enemy is my enemy.

ultrafilter posted:

I suppose it's too much to hope for that Dorothy is the new recruit....

'Wait, why'd you hire a reporter?'
'It was either that or the Grallsritter would be published the next day.'
'Wow, usually you just kill people like that.'
'I tried.'
'Haha sure you did.'
'Really hard.'
'Oh.'
'PLEASE DON'T LET US BE PUBLISHED!'
'Oh wow. Now I'm scared.'

tithin
Nov 14, 2003


[Grandmaster Tactician]



Cleared the first two games but I'm probably not going to get to this for some time, so this LP was well timed.

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"

Rabbi Raccoon posted:

And, for the first time, Tita was a mainstay in my party. She was MVP by the end.

Maybe I need to give her more of a shot, but I found that I wanted to use other characters more, so she kept getting crowded out.

Rabbi Raccoon
Mar 31, 2009

I stabbed you dude!

Some Numbers posted:

Maybe I need to give her more of a shot, but I found that I wanted to use other characters more, so she kept getting crowded out.

Yeah. This game is built around switching everyone around fairly regularly, but I found myself using her much more than I had in the past. And there's a certain Quartz late game that turns her cannon into a complete poo poo-wrecker for randoms

tithin
Nov 14, 2003


[Grandmaster Tactician]



How do the Trails of Cold Steel games tie into Trails in the Sky?

Omobono
Feb 19, 2013

That's it! No more hiding in tomato crates! It's time to show that idiota Germany how a real nation fights!

For pasta~! CHARGE!

Dorothy, keep on keeping on and being you. :3:

tithin posted:

How do the Trails of Cold Steel games tie into Trails in the Sky?

The Sky series takes place in Liberl (more or less anime UK), the Cold Steel series is in the neighboring Erebonia (anime Germany led by chancellor anime Bismark).

The Doomhammer
Feb 14, 2010

tithin posted:

How do the Trails of Cold Steel games tie into Trails in the Sky?

They're set about a year or so after this game in the Empire of Erebonia, with a new main cast and all that.

tithin
Nov 14, 2003


[Grandmaster Tactician]



Isn't that where old mate Olivier is from?

I hope we run into him again.

Erpy
Jan 30, 2015
(insert title here)
There's a side event in this game regarding Olivier that essentially kicks off the events in the Cold Steel games.

Ibblebibble
Nov 12, 2013

Dorothy wanted to be a phantom thief? Can't help thinking of a Trails x P5 crossover and what that would look like.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

tithin posted:

How do the Trails of Cold Steel games tie into Trails in the Sky?

They tie a lot more closely into the two currently-untranslated Crossbell games. Whenever someone in Cold Steel mentions things going down in Crossbell, it's an oblique reference to one of those.

Rabbi Raccoon
Mar 31, 2009

I stabbed you dude!
I've heard that Crossbell more or less serves as the final act to the Zemuria series

Tax Refund
Apr 15, 2011

The IRS gave me a refund. I spent it on this SA account. What was I thinking?!
Huzzah! I haven't even finished reading the SC LP (I managed to lose track of it), so I'm definitely not going to look at this one for a few more weeks. But I'm really glad to see that I'll be able to read the third part as well once I finish reading SC. Thanks for doing this!

Some Numbers
Sep 28, 2006

"LET'S GET DOWN TO WORK!!"

Rabbi Raccoon posted:

I've heard that Crossbell more or less serves as the final act to the Zemuria series

Not true, Cold Steel 3 is going to take place after Azure I believe and then the story is moving forward in Calvard.

Cherri-Aeron
May 29, 2013

I can't possible be this 'Rean Schwarzer' you speak of.
Yay! I've been looking forward to an LP of this since it came out, even if I have already finished it. Such a good game.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

Hwurmp fucked around with this message at 00:22 on Jun 9, 2017

Rabbi Raccoon
Mar 31, 2009

I stabbed you dude!
...OK there's two things in this game I had a problem with.

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Erpy
Jan 30, 2015
(insert title here)
If Erika wasn't so ludicrously over-the-top, she'd probably be obnoxious. Well, she still kind of is and I feel sorry for everyone who has to put up with her, but she's such a fruitcake she's also kind of amusing.

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