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, The Legend of Heroes: 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. After the battle, using the remaining power of the Sept-Terrions within the Divine Knights, 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, are granted 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 of Cold Steel</i> 2013 video game

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<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 of the game 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.

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<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 Trails Through 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 The Legend of Heroes: 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 television series set in the universe of Trails, a video game franchise by Nihon Falcom. It was produced by Tatsunoko Production and had twelve episodes aired weekly from early January to late March 2023. The series was licensed and dubbed in English by Crunchyroll. A mobile game spinoff by UserJoy Technology was released in Japan in December 2023 and will release worldwide in May 2024.

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 . 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 May 3, 2021.
  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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