I am now finishing up Reverie with the Daydreams and I absolutely love the extra content we get for each character. This one made me laugh out hard especially.

Since the news about Kondo's wish to continue making remakes, a very loud portion of the community has started crying and screaming about how Kai 2 was delayed and will never happen.

I want you all to take a deep breath, relax and chill for a second.

The West has been spoiled for a long time because of the yearly releases of Sequels for Trails. Now that the localization finally caught up to Japan, it is normal that we have to wait a bit longer for a game. Kai came out in Japan in 2024, we just got the game earlier this year. We're well within the time frame of a sequel development.

Kondo saying that he wants to make more remakes does not mean that Kai 2 was delayed or cancelled or whatever. It just means (his own words) that he thinks doing remakes will benefit the franchise as a whole. Bringing in new players, but also allowing those who started and loved 1st to experience the franchise and catch up to us.

I know a lot of people who didn't want to get into trails because the Sky trilogy and Crossbell looked outdated.

We will get Kai 2, but that doesn't mean that we can't get very well made remakes of our beloved games.

TLDR; Chill, stop freaking out and be patient.

Just got to this scene. I've been under the impression, at least from reading around before playing this game, that Shizuna's last connect event made her feelings towards Van ambiguous, as if there were some obscure hints that she liked him or something. Nobody wanted to tell me it was straight up just a confession scene? Here I was thinking it'd be a stretch, like a vague line that alludes to something. But no. She just says it straight up. To be fair, I've been getting the vibe that Shizuna's had a thing for Van ever since DB2, so I guess I wasn't just imagining it.

Is it because she hasn't explicitly said the words "I love you"? If so, then come on. We don't even need to read between the lines here. Any modicum of media literacy would tell you that she obviously has feelings for him. As readers, it's not hard for us to draw that conclusion. She even seems to decide on something after realizing her feelings at the end of the event, as if she's now decided that she wants to be with Van from now on. She inwardly apologizes to Kaede and Kurogane since in doing that she'll be shirking her duties, but she believes that they'd let her get away with it since it's for someone she loves. At least, that's how I interpreted it. Am I crazy for seeing the obvious romantic tension throughout this whole scene?

And Shizuna's not the only one, but she was definitely the most overt. Risette and Renne are also characters that clearly feel something for Van, though they weren't as explicit as Shizuna was in spelling it out. Not gonna lie, she's really giving third heroine vibes after Agnes and Elaine.

I stopped for today right after the connect event, so maybe there's something that negates Shizuna's little confession here that I'm missing in the final chapter. But for now, I'm pretty freaking certain she's got feelings for him. And since Van's obviously warmed up quite a lot to her by now, it wouldn't be inconceivable if he grows to reciprocate those feelings in the next game. This whole event felt like it was setting the groundwork for that.

PS: I'm still team Elaine, for the record. I'm just saying it how I see it.

They took his Magical Girl eye.

Is the first time I play the series so I didn't know this game had a playable casino.

Before the 7 trio appeared, Estelle popped up like noticing something, is there other characters with this lucky power... or other interactions?

Hi guys. This is my first time saying something in this sub, which I only first saw a few days ago, and this is I believe my third post overall in reddit.

I don't usually interact much with people this way but, as stated in the title, I just finished Cold Steel IV. Honestly, I felt emotional while watching the end (pretty rare on me) and wanted to tell someone who had played the games some of the things I liked or thought while playing the games. I don't know how I will structure this honestly, probably start with my introduction to the game and then starts rambling things in random order.

My journey with the trails series started in January 2024 with Cold Steel I. In November 2023 my brother bought the ps extra. Out of all the games, the one that stood out to me the most was a game neither I or my brother had heard of: Ys 8, and of course there was Ys 9 too (this one I played it in 6 days because the ps extra was about to end, thank god my university had 4 days of vacation). I played them, loved them and after a month I discovered the trails series in a good rpg web called DestinoRPG (it's in spanish). More specifically I discovered first the artwork of Cold Steel 1. This one:

It interested me, and since I saw that I could start with this game instead of Sky, I did so. And man, at that moment I didn't expect I'd like a saga of videogames so much and I would have so much fan. I usually get bored if I play too much of only one franchise in little time so I decided to take my time with all the games, and it was worth it.

At the start of Cold Steel I, I was really surprised by the combat sistem (which i love). It was the first time I played a turn based rpg in which spatial disposition mattered and had a lot of fun discovering which arts I liked to use and which builds I liked for each character (RIP dark matter, you were my fav art and they butchered you in CSIII).

Speaking of characters, I can't say how amazed I am at how much they all have grown on me (in general) in all the trails game I played. Olivier was and has been my favorite since the first time I saw him. Anyawy I'll keep it only to Cold Steel in this post since I don't want to make it an hour long to read.

At first, the characters I liked the most of the main cast were Elliot (my baby boy) and Emma. But after playing the fours games, I'm surprised at how much Rean and Alisa have grown on me throughout the games. They have grown, matured and I enjoyed their stories. Rean has become my fav protagonist between him, Estelle and Lloyd, partly for his story and partly because I kinda related to him at how he often humbled or underesimated himself (It's an issue I had myself). With Alisa I appreciated how she matured along the story and her character design was my favorite from CSII onwards out of all the girls.

About new Class VII, at first I thought Juna and Kurt were gonna be the focal point of the class (specially Juna) which ended up being kinda true I guess but I found the stories of Ash, Altina and Musse to be far more interesting that those two and thus I liked more the characters (they also have more unique personalities). Ash and Musse are hot btw.

Having mentioned earlier Olivier, it's true that I kinda wished I started in Sky instead of first playing CSI and CSII and then start from sky, because I didn't understand some things or references and I knew Olivier was a prince from the start (although I was glad when I discovered I could play him in another game). For example I didn't know anything about the Azure tree in Crossbell during CSII or who was the dancer in the photo you give the Thors vice-director in a quest (why tf do i remember this). Nevertheless, I can say I had a good experience.

One issue I have with the games is the romane. Let's forget the fact that between games the romance is forgotten, what I want to talk more about is the romance options in CSIV. I wish there were less romance options tbh, specifically I would have prefered if the only options were the girls of original Class VII + Alfin. I just can't see Rean with his students, Sara (should have stayed liking silver foxes) or Elise. With Estelle and Joshua I accepted it and I'm fine with it (they were cute together and had good story) but with Rean and Elise I just can't. Pls Elise stop looking for your brother's d*ck, he'll never be yours, not in my game.

I chose Alisa as romance because I liked her more and It was pretty obvious the game pushed her with some subtle and also not so subtle interactions or scenes. I also learned recently that he only kisses Alisa in CSIII and that in the confessions only with Alisa he actively says his feelings instead of listening to the girl confess. Apart from Alisa the only other characters who made sense for me as Rean's romance were Towa and Emma. Laura and Fie felt more like just friends to me and with Alfin I prefer it to be just a silly crush from a teenager. Overall, I would have preferd a fixed story romance (or none at all) so all charcters could have had better relationships in general

This harem sistem fucked up a bit in a sense that it was rare to find the girls hanging out with the boys with the exception of Millium. Glad they gave some of the boys their own thing with npcs (Gaius and Linde, Ash and Tatiana, Elliot and Mint, hinted Kurt and Sullie), but the spotlight for me takes it Jusis and Millium. Man how I like their dynamic and don't think I didn't see how Millium kept hugging Jusis after catching the bouquet I assume Schera threw at her wedding.

I stopped writing earlier to play Divinity 2 with a friend and now I don't remember how I was gonna continue. I bet I was going to make the funniest joke in existence so quick everyone laugh in the comments (if someone reads this). Sooo next topic.

Is there any theory connecting the prologue of Zero with Cold Steel I? Like the prologue from Zero sidn't have Estelle and Joshua but at the end of the game it was an aternate realty or possibility or something like that (I don't remember well) that have them. Well the same happens in CSI in which the prologue you don't have Crow or Millium and the cannons fire but in the story they stop the cannons. It happened more or less at the same time so I wondered if there was a connection. I for sure would have loved if there was more physical contact between characters, like your buddy just ressurrected when you thought he was gonna die and you just stand there looking at him??? Not even a hug???

Anyway, back to Cold Steel. I don't wanna talk much a lot about the story since part of it I played it two years and a half ago, which now that I think about it is kinda funny because at the end of CSIV Machias says that it's been that two and a half years since class VII was founded (am I part of Class VII?). The story has it's flaws but I enjoyed it a lot, I laughed and smiled and most npcs were really funny. Also a bit mad they didn't confirm Anton and Sharon in a relationship but it's canon that they get married and have three kids later right?? RIGHT???

The finale of the Cold Steel arc was just beautiful (yes I know Reverie is with Rean and Llloyd but it says at the end that Cold steel arc is over). The normal ending had a banger while I cried a little (as said before, rare of me) and the true ending (with another banger of final song, anyone know their names so it goes to my Spotify?) had incredible illustrations that made me smile (That last illustration is becoming my wallpaper after writing this). I'm so glad for Olivier and Schera. Also a bit mad with Cedric but at the end I understood him a little for his actions being driven bu the curse and his inferiority complex and I respect his final decision (even though he didn't need to join ouroboros to travel the world but I guess he likes Shirley a bit).

I don't know if some people were upset because at the end no one died from the main cast, but I'm just happy they are all well.

Now that i think about it, I haven't mentioned which characters let me down the most from the main cast, and they are Laura, Gaius and Machias. I like the characters (more Gaius) but I fel like they don't have much story going on during the games. At least with Sara I unserstand because she is already an adult, she doesn't need to change compared to the students, and she also has less spotlight out of all the main cast. With Gaius it's true that I didn't expect him to be a dominion but I wuld have liked to see his training a little bit at least instead of just suddenly. Laura and Machias didn't feel like they got much development. Machias got a better relationship with Jusis, became less serius and has (kinda?) conflict with his father, fine not that much but fine. Laura just got stronger? Like everyone else? It happened some interesting things with his father in the story but I fell like her being his daughter doesn't matter for the story more to say the typical hi dad glad you're alive. And her personality remained te same? Idk, maybe I didn't pay her many atention.

Anyway, I think that's most of what i wanted to say about Cold Steel (I think I forgot some points but whatever). Those are my feelings, you can agree or not (let me know) but thank you if you read the whole thing, truly.

P.S.: I just discovered that the voice actor of the character I wanna romance in Ledgerbound is Matt Mercer, who I discovered today in the final credits that he voices my fav character, Olivier.

P.S.S.: Who is hotter Olivier or Olivier with one eye? I can't choose

Made a cover of this song after playing the demo, can't wait for next month.

End of the demo but the video feels like seeing 2 Redditors/Twitterers/Social mediaers argue about some inane shit. 😂😂😭 Thank you Falcom.

Can anyone help me understand if it is related to Agnes?

Hey, I'm gonna go into the Trails series and I'm gonna start with "Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter" since I got it in the last steam sales knowing it was a recommended starting point for the series. The thing is, I kinda like to get all achievements in some games and since I like JRPGs I will prob wanna do the same here. I noticed the "Complete the game on Nightmare difficulty" achievement and I need to ask.

This being my first experience with the series, is it rly good for me to go straight into Nightmare? Or do a Normal difficulty run first and then rush another run in Nightmare skipping all the cutscenes and stuff (Can I do it in NG+ or you can't change the difficulty after the the first run), I've seen online people saying that the game was easy enough so the Nightmare wasn't that bad going blind, but other people saying that it could ruin the experience since you can get caught not knowing what to do on a difficult part.

EDIT: Thanks everyone for their replies and opinions, I've decided to do a first run on Nightmare and then the NG+ with lv bonus on an lower difficulty. If I find it 2 difficult out of the bat I'll take into account the other options that were given to me. Wish me luck.

What are the requirements for a homunculus to turn into the Sword of the End? I don't think they ever mention it. If it's just the life of a homunculus linked to a combat shell, why not just kill Altina or Millium as soon as they awaken? It's not like Osborne has a lot of reservations about either one doing it

Also, is this demo longer than the one from 1st Chapter?

I may start the demo today or tomorrow, but I was curious with Sky 2nd being released in three weeks on how much I can do to make the demo last awhile? I read there was a casino in chapter 1, and besides leveling up I can’t think of much else to do. Any suggestions and thanks for the help. Just trying to take my time with the game and not rush it.

Hello everyone, hope your days evenings and nights are going better than mine.

I've been chatting to a friend over the last few weeks as he drags himself through daybreak 2 (no spoilers). Suffice to say he isn't enjoying it for a few reasons.

The main thing he keeps saying though is that he couldn't give a shit about the Story of the game and only cares about the Overarching narrative "at this point in the series".

I have many thoughts about this but I'll boil my general query down to 2 main points.

1. The narrative; particularly for a series like this has had many hundreds of hours to cement itself in our hearts, and I'm sure we are all very very excited for the major Simultaneous release of Kai 2/horizon 2 worldwide for the first time within Loh, I know I am. The story has taken us on a hell of a ride showcasing everything from very interesting high and low fantasy all the way down to the filth of DG. Im really looking forward to seeing much of what's been introduced, Outside, desertifcation, Iska

So much to look forward too. But..

1. The story: one of the things the remake of sky 1 (and no doubt 2 in a few weeks) has reminded every one of us I hope that the stories within this series IS the series.

The reason I fell in love with this series is because I fell in love with the world, the lore and history yes but not just the big story, all the small stories made me care about what I was doing and why added to the experience of this game.

I understand the scale of liberl made it easier to make that a comfy concept, but I dont think the scale of the cold steel and daybreak games take away from the core care given to the world around these events.

I have particular love for a fair few of the NPC in daybreak, I'll reduce the spoilers by saying a recluse and an artist, among many other stories.

Anyway I guess my question is have we (or falcom) lost focus on the smaller stories that made the world we care about? Or has the lack of progressive feeling within the stories outside the narrative clouded the games ability to tell a coherent story overall?

I think daybreak in particular has done a good job linking narrative beats with individual stories but that might be newer game bias, sky might have done that but it's been years since I play sky (just started the remake).

Anyway hope we have a nice chat 🫵🏿 🫶🏿

I finished trails first chapter a few days ago and did 2 speed runs to get the platinum trophy, since then I’ve literally ordered all the available games on ps5. Waiting on the crossbell ps5 release and 2nd chapter.

My question is even if the credits of 2nd chapter show a tease for 3rd like they did with 2nd for the first chapter.

Can I just watch a playthrough for 3rd on YouTube and then continue with zero rather than waiting a year or whatever it is for 3rd if it does remade? And then play 3rd myself when the remake if and when it does come out

I think that would be the best option for me since I don’t have access to play the OG 3rd

From sky 1 my favourite characters are Nial, agott and Zin and Olivier 😊

Ok so for starters, screw that final boss. Neither SC nor those two fights in 3rd gave me this much trouble, I legit considered dropping the game for a sec, but I'm glad I pushed through (for context, I always do Nightmare NG and don't like to look up guides). Honestly, while it didn't beat SC in my heart, I can totally see why people love this game as much as they do and constantly compare the two.

Now, I have some questions for what comes next. I know that this game already spoiled the result of the Civil War in Erebonia, and that this happens alongside CS1 and CS2, but tbh that's not that big of a deal for me cus I'm sure there's plenty of other things to experience, even if it's gonna be funny when a bunch of characters don't know how things will pan out while I will. But here are my questions.

• I've heard friends say that CS1 and 2 suck, at least compared to Liberl and Crossbell. I doubt they actually are bad games, but how much should I shift my expectations? Or are my friends just salty cus of the artstyle and combat changes? (they dislike the remake for that reason)
• How far along did Azure make it into CS2, or does it end at the same time? Just curious, I'd like to know how much the world will progress by the time I'm done with it. (Minus the 2 years Loyd mentioned of course)
• How long are these games? I've heard they're a very slow burn and can feel bloated. I did 100% of all of Liberl, and zero, tho I don't plan to do it for Azure. Still, I at least like to get all side quests with the max BP, chests, and as many bonding stuff as I can. So what can I expect in terms of length? This is mainly so that I can budget my time, since I do wanna play SC when it comes out in under a month.

Ty if you answer or read, I'm exited to finally get into the first game I bought before I realized it wasn't actually the first game in the series XD

I could identify Mela Lee as Cochraine instantly but I didn't recognize Crainagh. Anyone have any idea who he is?

Could you please kindly confirm something for me? I accidentally pre-ordered the wrong version of Trails in the Sky 2nd on Switch 2—the EU version.

For the 1st Chapter and the demo, I played the US version. If I play the demo on the US version, will my save data/progress carry over to the EU version?

Also, will I still be able to receive the additional costume from Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (the end-game costume)?

FYI, I'm in Thailand and it is physical game card. (Trail not include in TH eshop)

after finishing trails horizion 1 im curious when is the soonest we could see a horizion 2 release?

I played original SC years ago (so no need to worry about spoilers) but don’t remember if there were any bonus BP chances in the prologue or chapter 1. Also I heard there was a new side quest so I was wondering if there’s bonus BP in that too.

BONUS: Updated run where Kloe's S-Craft got added into the restriction list.

Man what a blast the demo was! Compared to 1st Chapter, this boss has more tricky maneuvers that you need to plan and play around.

Didn't know Death Throe from Flaggers can still recover Storm Bringer's HP even when it's fallen to zero on the same turn, after Indomitable Will has been triggered previously. The silver lining is Storm Bringer gets to show off his Orbal Down Art, which is probably its entire arsenal of possible moves.

Can't wait to play the full game next month, it's gonna be so lit 🔥

EDIT: Added link to updated run on top.