LogFAQs > #960973960

UshiromiyaEva posted...

What's the word on the first one now that it's out over there, any good?

Edit: I mean I'm sure it's GOOD, but HOW good?

I'm hoping we get the other unlocalized ports first at least. I'm sure I can get through Sky if it's from the comfort of my television.

Spoiler-free as I can get, but spoiler bars for folks who want nothing. note that I still haven't finished the final chapter because I've been busy, but I'm close enough that I feel I can write this:

Story:
Vann is probably best protag since Sky. And I don't say this as a setup for "low bar" jokes -- he's genuinely well-written. Some of the other party members hit a similar level, but unfortunately, not all. A few literally get no characterization, which is impressive given it's not a short game.

Main plot starts off really strong, but quickly falls off. One chapter in particular is, for my money, the worst-written chapter of any Trails game, and there's some steep competition there. There's also a lot of attempts to be darker and grittier that just don't work; they feel forced or fake instead. A few things even feel Problematic to me with a capital P; your mileage may vary.

Random NPCs are probably the best written they've been in a while. We still have the problem we've had since Cold Steel 1 (and has gotten worse in the last couple) where there's lower-tier NPCs who are boring and who sound like they're talking out of a textbook. That said, the game takes steps to keep the good NPCs around so we can keep going back to them, and it really helps.

Gameplay:
I think it's a really cool system in theory, and for the first dozen or two hours. Expanding real-time attacks to be more dynamic is great, and flowing into the turn-based system after you get a stun (which is basically required) feels really good. Unfortunately, there are simply not nearly enough moves to keep real-time options to keep you interested for the length of a 100-hour RPG.

Furthermore, the turn-based system suffers a major dumbing down. Setting up a build went from galaxy-brain in Sky, to normal-brain in CS, to caveman in Kuro. I'm fine with them changing things up -- with Sky in particular, I know a lot of people who beat FC or more without ever understanding how orbment setups worked -- but this is too much.

Finally, there's no minigames. Not even fishing. This is literally the first Trails game without fishing. At that point, is it even an RPG?

Art / Music:
Game is actually super beautiful? Like I am impressed, especially given it's on a last-gen console. We pay for that in loading times, but if you have a PS5 or an SSD in your PS4, well. Let's just say I'm jealous.

Musically, it's the same general quality as the last couple games. You know what you're getting at this point, and I don't know what else to tell you.