The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV

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The Legend of Heroes:Trails of Cold Steel IV
Trails of Cold Steel IV Japanese Cover.png
Developer(s) Nihon Falcom [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) NIS America
Director(s) Takayuki Kusano
Producer(s) Toshihiro Kondo
Programmer(s)
  • Toru Endo
  • Nobuhiro Hioki
  • Atsushi Oosaki
Writer(s)
  • Hisayoshi Takeiri
  • Yoshihiro Konda
  • Syunsei Shikata
Composer(s)
  • Hayato Sonoda
  • Takahiro Unisuga
  • Yukihiro Jindo
  • Mitsuo Singa
Series Trails
Engine PhyreEngine
Platform(s)
Release
September 27, 2018
  • PlayStation 4
    • JP: September 27, 2018
    • NA/EU: October 27, 2020
    • AU: November 6, 2020
  • Nintendo Switch
    • JP: March 18, 2021
    • WW: April 9, 2021
  • Windows
    • WW: April 9, 2021
  • PlayStation 5
    • WW: February 16, 2024
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV [lower-alpha 3] is a 2018 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and is the sequel to Trails of Cold Steel III and the final entry of the Trails of Cold Steel arc.

Contents

Trails of Cold Steel IV was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2018 and worldwide in October 2020, with ports for Nintendo Switch, Windows and Stadia released in April 2021. A PlayStation 5 port was released in February 2024. A sequel, Trails into Reverie , was released in 2020.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Trails of Cold Steel IV is similar to previous Trails games, being a turn-based Japanese role-playing video game. Gameplay is based on that of Trails of Cold Steel III , with many features returning. [1] Several changes compared to the previous Trails of Cold Steel games include modifications to the Order and Break systems. Some characters were given weaker Orders that are upgradeable by finding treasure chests that lead to "trial" battles with fixed characters that can be used. [2] Mini-games include blackjack, poker, and other puzzle games. [3]

Plot

Two weeks after the events of Trails of Cold Steel III, Chancellor Giliath Osborne has taken control of the Erebonian Empire and intends to start a war with Erebonia's neighboring country, the Calvard Republic. Meanwhile, Class VII flees to Eryn, a secret village of witches, where they form a plan to rescue Rean Schwarzer, captured by Osborne after losing control of his Spirit Unification power. During their rescue mission, they learn that Rufus Albarea has awakened the seventh and final Divine Knight El-Prado. After rescuing Rean, Class VII is joined by allies from within and outside of the Empire to stop the Great War.

During the course of the story, Class VII, while resolving numerous incidents across western Erebonia caused by either political issues, the Great Twilight or Ouroboros's plans, uncovers the mysteries surrounding the Divine Knights, their Awakeners, and the dark history of the Empire. After the Ebon Knight Ishmelga was corrupted by humanity's malice, it became an evil sentient being, manipulated the Gnomes, and spread the curse to control humanity, causing many tragedies and forcing the reincarnated Dreichels, Giliath Osborne, to become its Awakener in return for saving his son Rean. Since then, Osborne has been planning to destroy the Great One and its curse. Class VII eventually face Osborne and Ishmelga and emerge victorious.

In the normal ending, Rean absorbs Ishmelga into Valimar but is unable to contain it, so he along with Crow Armbrust, Millium Orion and their Divine Knights sacrifice themselves to destroy it. In the true ending, Rean expels Ishmelga out of himself and Valimar; Ishmelga then transforms into the Great One, but is defeated and destroyed by the combined efforts of Rean, Class VII, and all of their allies. After the battle, Valimar and the Divine Knights sacrifice themselves to use the remaining power of Sept-Terrions within them to grant Crow, who became an immortal after dying in the civil war and was expected to die permanently after the destruction of the curse, and Millium, who became the Sword of the End, a new lease on life. The Great War ends on its second day, and the Imperial Army returns to Erebonian borders.

After the post-war issues have been resolved, including an end to the Erebonian occupation of Crossbell, Class VII transfer Millium's soul from the sword into a backup body and together with their allies attend the wedding of Prince Olivert and Scherazard Harvey.

Development and release

Plans for a fourth Trails of Cold Steel game were revealed in an interview with Nihon Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo in November 2017, where he stated that Trails of Cold Steel III was originally intended to conclude the story arc but Falcom found it difficult to satisfactorily wrap up the story without a fourth entry. [4] Like the previous Trails of Cold Steel entries, it was developed using the PhyreEngine game engine. [5] The Nintendo Switch version was ported by Engine Software [6] and the Windows version by PH3 Games.

The Japanese release was initially scheduled for late 2018 for the PlayStation 4. [7] It was released in Japan for the PlayStation 4 on September 27. [8] A limited edition was also sold in Japan. [9] Localization into English was handled by NIS America. [10] [11] It was released for the PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe on October 27, 2020, and November 6 in Australia and New Zealand. A port for the Nintendo Switch was released in Japan on March 18, 2021, [12] April 9 in North America and Europe, and April 16 in Oceania. [13] Windows and Stadia versions were released on April 9, 2021. [14] [15] A PlayStation 5 version bundled with Trails of Cold Steel III was released on February 16, 2024. [16]

Reception

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. [17] [18]

Notes

  1. ↑ Nintendo Switch version ported by Engine Software. Windows version ported by Engine Software and PH3 Games.
  2. ↑ Nintendo Switch version published by Nippon Ichi Software in Japan.
  3. ↑ Japanese: 英雄伝説 閃の軌跡IV -THE END OF SAGA-, Hepburn: Eiyū Densetsu: Sen no Kiseki Fō -The End of Saga-

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<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero</i> 2010 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is a 2010 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It takes place in Crossbell, a city-state located between two great powers fighting for control over it, and follows Lloyd Bannings and his colleagues Elie MacDowell, Randy Orlando, and Tio Plato. The four form the Special Support Section, a newly formed department of the Crossbell police. The game and its 2011 sequel, Trails to Azure, form the Crossbell arc of the series.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel</i> 2013 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a 2013 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It was initially released in Japan for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita before being localized in English by Xseed Games in 2015.

<i>The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails</i> 2012 video game

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails, known as Nayuta no Kiseki in Japan, is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It was first released in Japan for PlayStation Portable. A high-definition remaster was released in Japan for PlayStation 4 and Windows in 2021 and for Nintendo Switch in 2022. This version was localized in English by NIS America and released in September 2023.

<i>Trails</i> (series) Video game franchise

Trails, known as Kiseki in Japan, is a series of science fantasy role-playing video games by Nihon Falcom. It is a part of their larger The Legend of Heroes franchise and began with the 2004 release of Trails in the Sky. Trails features a large cast of characters and consists of interconnected story arcs set in different nations on the continent of Zemuria: Liberl, Crossbell, Erebonia, and Calvard. The series primarily features turn-based combat, with a few spin-offs and more recent entries featuring other styles of gameplay.

<i>Tokyo Xanadu</i> 2015 video game

Tokyo Xanadu is a 2015 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game was developed out of Nihon Falcom's desire to create a game of a different type and setting than their other role-playing game franchises, The Legend of Heroes and Ys. The game was first released in Japan for the PlayStation Vita in September 2015, and worldwide in June 2017.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails at Sunrise</i> 2016 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails at Sunrise, known in Japanese as Akatsuki no Kiseki, is a 2016 role-playing gacha game developed by UserJoy Technology and published by Nihon Falcom. It is a spin-off of the Trails series, itself a part of The Legend of Heroes franchise, and was first released in Japan for browsers. Trails at Sunrise was later ported to Windows, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS, and Nintendo Switch. The PlayStation and Switch versions were discontinued in 2022.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II</i> 2014 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a 2014 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and serves as a sequel to The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III</i> 2017 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a 2017 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series, and serves as a direct sequel to The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure</i> 2011 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is a 2011 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. Trails to Azure serves as a sequel to Trails from Zero (2010), forming the second and final part of the series' "Crossbell arc".

<i>Ys IX: Monstrum Nox</i> 2019 video game

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is a 2019 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. A part of the Ys series, it was released for the PlayStation 4 in Japan in September 2019 and worldwide by NIS America in February 2021. The game received additional releases for Windows, Nintendo Switch and Stadia in July 2021, and PlayStation 5 in May 2023. Ys IX received generally positive reviews from critics.

In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.

In the video game industry, 2022 saw the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the industry, slowing hardware sales for most of the year as well as development delays for major titles. The industry continued its trend of acquisitions and mergers, highlighted by Microsoft announcing its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for nearly $69 billion. The industry as a whole continued to deal with issues such as workplace harassment and discrimination, alongside crunch periods, leading to at least the quality assurance staff at three separate studios to vote to unionize.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak</i> 2021 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak is a 2021 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes franchise, and is the first game in the Daybreak story arc. It marks the second half of the Trails series and is the first to be set in the Calvard Republic. The game follows Van Arkride, a young man working at Arkride Solutions Office as a Spriggan, a bounty hunting detective.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie</i> 2020 video game

The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie is a 2020 role-playing video game developed by Nihon Falcom. The game is a part of the Trails series, itself a part of the larger The Legend of Heroes series. It was released in Japan for the PlayStation 4 in August 2020, with ports released for the Nintendo Switch and Windows in August 2021. An English version was released in July 2023, additionally being ported to PlayStation 5. Trails into Reverie is considered the end of the series's Crossbell and Erebonia arcs and serves as the precursor to Trails Through Daybreak.

<i>The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War</i> 2023 anime series

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel – Northern War is a 2023 Japanese anime miniseries based on the Trails video game series by Nihon Falcom. The series follows a conflict between the Erebonian Empire and the North Ambria State and is set during the ellipsis between the video games Trails of Cold Steel II and Trails of Cold Steel III. It follows Lavian Winslet, who leads a small platoon of Martin Robinson, Iseria Frost, and Talion Drake within the Northern Jaegers mercenary corps.

References

  1. ↑ "システム | 英雄伝説 閃の軌跡Iv -The End of Saga-".
  2. ↑ Johann C. K. (February 10, 2020). "Review- Trails of Cold Steel IV". Frontline Gaming Japan. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  3. ↑ "ミニゲーム | 英雄伝説 閃の軌跡Iv -The End of Saga-".
  4. ↑ Sato (November 20, 2017). "Falcom Originally Wanted To End With Trails of Cold Steel III; Hopes To Release Next Part In 2018". Siliconera. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  5. ↑ Wen, Alan (October 6, 2019). "Hot on the Trails of Falcom, Japan's longest-running RPG developer". Eurogamer . Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Game Details - Engine Software BV". Engine Software . Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ Romano, Sal (December 20, 2017). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV ~The End of Saga~ announced for PS4, launches fall 2018 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  8. ↑ Romano, Sal (May 22, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV launches September 27 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  9. ↑ Rafael Antonio Pineda (May 24, 2018). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Game Launches on September 27 in Japan". Anime News Network . Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  10. ↑ Wallace, Kimberly (April 1, 2020). "The Legend Of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Announced For North America". Game Informer . Archived from the original on April 4, 2020. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. ↑ Romano, Sal (April 1, 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV coming west for PS4 this fall, Switch and PC in 2021". Gematsu. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  12. ↑ Romano, Sal (December 16, 2020). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV for Switch launches March 18, 2021 in Japan". Gematsu. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  13. ↑ Romano, Sal (January 12, 2021). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV for Switch launches April 9 in North America and Europe". Gematsu. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  14. ↑ Lada, Jenni (March 5, 2021). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV PC Will Appear in April". Siliconera. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  15. ↑ Lada, Jenni (March 25, 2021). "Trails of Cold Steel and Ys Stadia Debuts Dated". Siliconera. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  16. ↑ Croft, Liam (October 30, 2023). "PS5 Versions for Trails of Cold Steel 3 and 4 Coming 16th February". Push Square. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  17. 1 2 "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures . Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  19. ↑ Vogel, Mitch (August 29, 2021). "The Legend Of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life . Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  20. ↑ Rudek, Jordan (August 29, 2021). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  21. ↑ "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Review (PS4) | Aces high". Push Square . August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  22. ↑ "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Review | Aces high". RPGamer. August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  23. ↑ Bowling, Audra (August 29, 2021). "The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV". RPGFan. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
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