Game Notes [The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III]

What a bottomless pit this is.

Trails of Cold Steel is just so incredibly fun!!!!

It's fun, I'm curious about what happens next, it's fun, and the battles with all the different characters are the best.
While playing this, I realized I've spent more time on this than any other game in the Trails series.

I'm going to share my thoughts with high energy this time as well.
I'm dizzy from the sheer intensity of Cold Steel III.

A new academy, new companions

The setting shifts from Trista to the town of Leeves, and Rean takes on the position of an instructor at the newly established Thors Military Academy, Leeves Branch Campus.

Exploring the town is different from when I was a student.
Patrolling the town as an instructor rather than hanging out with classmates was a fresh experience.

"Is there anything you're having trouble with?"
Every time I asked the students that,
"Oh, we're fine," they'd say,
brushing Rean off lightly. It's funny how they don't rely on him at all.
Thinking, "The students seem annoyed. You need to be careful about personal space," I still kept pestering them, turning Rean into a bit of a creepy instructor.

Anyway, Instructor Rean becomes the homeroom teacher for the new Class VII.
There were only three members at first, so I was like "???"
In the previous game, it was a class of nine from the start, so how did it shrink this much???
Two more were added later, but it still felt a bit lonely.

Well, that's how life at the branch campus begins.
The branch campus principal, Aurelia, is also incredibly strong. The Golden Rakshasa is just too cool.
It's amazing she was able to suppress things during the civil war.
Even in the game, it's said,
"Couldn't you have won the civil war if the top brass weren't incompetent?" to which she replies,
"We wouldn't have won, but it would have dragged on for another year." How cool is that.
I love it.

As usual, the new Class VII is treated as a special operations class, so it's days of academy life followed by special operations.
I was used to it from Cold Steel I, so as I was clicking through, I got a reward.
Reuniting with members of the old Class VII during special operations.
"I've been waiting for this!!!!"
I'm so happy. Not only am I happy to see everyone I love again, but above all, they all look so wonderful now that they've grown up!!!

Part of it is the updated character models, but wow, they've all grown so much...
My parental instincts are kicking in.
It's good, it's really good.

I was surprised that even Laura hugged me, but I'm actually really rooting for Rean & Laura...
They're both martial arts idiots, and they're a good match in how they're both a bit out of touch with the world.
They were flirting during the poolside event, so they should just start dating already.
But well, Rean is a natural-born lady-killer, after all.
His girlfriend would have a hard time if they were together.

The way he gets closer to Randy was also the best.
The Trails series takes plenty of time to advance the story, so it beautifully depicts how the bonds with companions grow over time.
The new Class VII students, who didn't warm up to me at first, gradually open up through special operations. That feels just right and is very satisfying.

Bonds deepening in the bath, getting naked together, is also good.
(Though, I can't forgive the girls for soaking their hair completely in the tub. Tie it up, put your hair up.)

I also like the new character, Major Michael, for being such a stickler for the rules.
Every time I checked my email and closed the ARCUS, he was standing right behind me, so I was always startled. Stop surprising me.

The relationship with Claire is also revealed, deepening the character designs.

Yes, what I really felt this time was the character design. The backstories of the Ironbloods were told, which added a lot of depth to the story.

I thought the Ironbloods were just cheat characters, but understanding the circumstances that led them to their current positions made me love them even more.

I thought the Ironbloods were devoid of emotion, so I'm very happy to learn that Claire, and even Lecter, are quite emotional.

I'm always impressed by how good they are at character creation.


So, I've rambled on about my initial impressions as they came to mind, but let's get to the main topic.

A dense story

It's never been thin, but this time it was truly dense.

Rean was unable to control the power of the Ogre. He said that if he released it, he would go berserk.
Under a precarious instructor, his students grow, wanting him to rely on them more.
How endearing, cute, I love them.

When he tries to call Valimar, thinking he can't let Rean carry the burden alone, the old Class VII members step in to help.

...As an aside, while I did a lot of Valimar-musou in Cold Steel II, in this game, there were too many "Ashen Chevalier, Valima--" "Wait a second!" moments, which made me laugh. There were times when I called Valimar without a moment's hesitation because I couldn't call him at all, and I wondered if Rean was actually getting really frustrated because he couldn't call him.

Back to the story.
Rean's growth as an instructor this time was also very reliable.
The old Class VII members also grew individually by doing things that "only they could do."

I really love how Jusis described Rean not as the "center" of Class VII, but as the "center of gravity." As expected of a best friend.

Among them, Sharon and Millium stood in the way as "enemies" in the final stages. It was painful.
I writhed in frustration and bitterness at the fact that they had no choice but to do so because of their positions.
Doesn't it not matter anymore, whether it's Ouroboros or the Ironbloods!?
Come over here!!

But that wasn't possible, so we battled.
When it comes to battle, I show no mercy; I defeated them thoroughly.

However, I was outplayed by Chancellor Osborne.
Millium and Altina, the homunculi of the Oz series, were the Chancellor's goal this time
to create the 'Sword of the Primordial Void' necessary to cause the 'Great Twilight'
They were the beings that could become that 'Sword of the Primordial Void.'

The one guaranteed to be able to become the Sword of Void was Altina, number 74 of the series.
She was kidnapped and about to be sacrificed.

In the scene where Altina whispers "I have to save him" to Rean, who is being pushed back by the final boss, the Holy Beast, I couldn't take a screenshot because I was crying. I was struck by how brave Altina had become, thinking of her companions even at a time like this, and I, a middle-aged person, was devastated.
"Altina!!!"
As I was sobbing and wiping my tears with a tissue, it happened,

unexpectedly

Millium takes a fatal blow while protecting Altina, who was trying to protect Rean--.

Please, stop it, following Crow in Cold Steel II, my heart can't take it.
Why did it come to this...

Just like the player, anger, sadness, all emotions became one

Look, it's happening.
The shock was so strong that I don't even remember how we defeated the Holy Beast.

Millium, why... no way...

In the midst of the confusion, another shock.

The mask shatters, and he goes from Siegfried back to Crow.
Whaaaaa, it really was Crow after all!!!
Please, someone stop Rean!!!!

The player's emotions are a total mess, what are you doing to me?

And on top of that, Rean's ogre power isn't suppressed, and he gets captured by Osborne, who boards the Black Divine Knight.

And that's where Cold Steel III ends.

No, no, no, no, it ends right here?

If I had played this in real-time, I would have had to wait until the sequel came out? Wait, that's terrifying.

I started playing Cold Steel IV immediately.
Because I couldn't bear to leave it like that!!!

I'm doing my best with my students to get Instructor Rean back.
Seriously, what is going to happen now!!!! Trails of Cold Steel!!!!

Other small notes

The Trails series is only on its fifth entry, but every time it gives me a 'No way!' moment.
Among them, George. I really liked him.
I was so happy and excited when he came to visit Leeves.
And yet, he was a member of the ≪Gnome Workshop≫. George, Georges, Georg. I see.

I mentioned this back in Cold Steel I, but the George & Angelica couple was my favorite.
When Siegfried appeared and Angelica questioned Crow's death, she dug up his grave and realized the body was a dummy, then George appeared and fired at Angelica.
My heart, as a fan of George & Angelica, was shot too.
No, you can't do that, George, you can't shoot Angelica!!
The player's feelings didn't reach him.
...That said, she's alive, right? They didn't show an Angelica death scene, so she's fine, right??

In the final chapter, when Towa confronted George, he said 'Angelica is dead,' but that's a lie, right?? What's going on!!!!

A screenshot I took thinking it was a peaceful scene. This, too, is no longer peaceful.

Did Prince Olivert, Toval, and the Radiant Blademaster really die??
After what happened to the Courageous, it seems hopeless, but is it okay to hold onto a glimmer of hope...

Oh, and one more thing I remembered from the bike image.
Falcom, isn't your knowledge of motorcycles incredibly deep?
The bike design is what it is, but the way they ride is very realistic.
The movements when backing up, the two fingers on the lever, and putting the right foot down when stopped. (At driving school, they teach you to put your left foot down and keep your right foot on the rear brake, but when you actually ride, the opposite is easier.)
As a motorcycle rider, I'm really happy that they paid attention to such small details.


Anyway, let's switch gears and move on to a collection of small notes.

Starting with this couple.

I'm convinced these two are a married couple, but it's strange, they weren't dancing together during the dance scene at Valflame Palace.
Wait, divorce???

I was wrong. Because their bond is so deep, they don't dance in public. I get it.
In the final chapter, it was revealed that Gaius had become a squire of the Gralsritter.
A witch and a Gralsritter... that's great!!!!
I see, it's a step up. The best couple!!!
I have high expectations for their relationship in Cold Steel IV. Please give me some sweetness.

Since Cold Steel I, this group has always been the most reliable.
Their combat style is so well-rounded that I used this team whenever I could.

And another lovable character

I really like Patrick.
We had our differences during our student days, but he's a character who has grown well.
And when he reunited with Gaius, he didn't let his slip of the tongue from Cold Steel I fade away over time; he apologized.
Seriously, he's such a good guy. I love him.

And finally, this is completely trivial, but look at this.

Isn't that an umbrella, old man? Couldn't you have done something about it? Couldn't you have made a plastic umbrella?

Summary

Come to think of it, the books in this game were also very interesting.
Tomatonio, The Hero of Unrighteousness, Edgar the Inhuman.
Why are they able to write such interesting stories every single time? I wish they would publish them as books.
(I just looked it up and it seems they were released as paperbacks as a bonus, so I quickly got them used—it's irresistible!)

I realized I had been playing for a surprisingly long time.
It felt like I was just enjoying the game and before I knew it, I had exceeded 80 hours, so I must have been quite hooked.

I intend to see the ending of this damn fairy tale through to the end.