Board 8 > MZero plays Trails of Chilled Steel [Spoilers]

(+) Yeah! (+)

xp1337 posted...

As for playing the Sky games. While PC is the best option if that's out but you're saying Vita is open then really the only call is getting the PSP versions digitally on Vita. 3rd is PC only though so =/

Oh right, I should mention that I live in Japan and am fluent in the language, so I could get the Evolution versions on Vita. I could also get a used PSP and all 3 games for cheaper than the three Evolution versions. Do the Evolution versions have a lot of extra content?
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Well at least I know the Evo versions are voiced, and my impression is that people think the voice acting is quite good.
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Oh, I'm not 100% sure. To my knowledge, the Evolution versions main draw is they fully voice everything. I know the battle system was also revamped, but made utterly broken in the process. Zero Crafts turn bonus lmao. Oh, they also remixed the soundtracks but most opinion I've heard (and I'm inclined to agree) is that it's inferior to the original OSTs. But the original OST might still be available as an option? Not sure.

I don't think I've heard much else in the way of added content besides maybe some for-fun superbosses? But I'm definitely not an authority on that.
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Most people consider the Evolution versions of Sky to be inferior because they messed with the battle system in bad ways and the art is more generic. They did add field attacks and voices though, which are both improvements (and the voices are really good).

EDIT: The Evo versions of Crossbell though are suppose to be just straight upgrades, from what I understand.

xp1337 posted...

I think Sky being spoiled by CS+CS2 is overrated. Sure, you get a couple of things here and there but eh.

It's not really overstated.

It spoils that Joshua and Renne are Enforcers, that both leave Ouroboros eventually, that Loewe dies, and states during the story instead of just in the side books that the Liber Ark incident happened and left Liberl and the southern part of Erebonia without orbments. It's nearly every major plot point and twist from the end of FC and throughout SC.

I mean sure it doesn't spoil EVERYTHING but that's quite a lot.

Oh and of course, it spoils Olivert's identity in the first bit of CS1 which is an endgame Sky SC twist, but that ship has sailed for TC awhile ago!

I'm aware of that. And comically I think you failed to list the most in-your-face one (Edit: oh you got it now) but I think it's scarce enough on most of the details of these things that it's not as bad as it's being made out to be.

I mean, there are spoilers definitely but I don't think it's ruinous or anything.
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Crosbell is Zero and Blue right? Do I need to play those before 3 as well? x.x
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I'm hearing that you should.

but unfortunately over here the chances of localization of Crossbell seem... poor.
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If you can read Japanese than you can just get those. I'm pretty sure the consensus among the fanbase is that Zero/Ao are the strongest entries in the series, so they're worth playing even if only for that reason I feel like.
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That being said I don't think any of us actually know how important it is. We're just going on hearsay
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We don't know for 4 anyway because it's not out yet. But I think they've made it clear that 4 is like this grand finale to every arc thus far so... I'm betting it'll be pretty important.

As for 3... I mean you don't necessarily have to play the previous games to understand it but there's quite a few moments where there's an emotional cue that comes from playing the previous games that'll be completely absent without them. Your actual enjoyment of the game would certainly suffer.

But that's only assuming that you actually enjoyed and have fond memories of those games. If the prospect of playing the old games puts you off so much to the point that you're forcing yourself to play them, to be honest you probably won't benefit that much from them. Like, even if you know the character, if you don't give a shit about that character regardless it's not going to matter lol
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I've been thinking about getting a PSP anyway, so maybe I'll just pull the trigger and get the Sky games, Ao, and Zero. I don't mind playing them, I was just kind of hoping to be ready to play CS4 at launch. Beating 7 (rather dialogue heavy) JRPGS by September is... a tall order, to say the least lmao but I would rather get the best experience rather than the earliest experience
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I wouldn't encourage rushing too hard, since I could easily envision getting burnt out with this series.

Even though I say that, I played 5 Trails games back-to-back a year ago and my only thought after finishing was "fuck the next game can't come soon enough", so...
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I'd kill to have almost the entire unplayed Kiseki series to occupy me until the end of September lol

That single series somehow managed to have 3 of my favorite RPGs in it.

Well actually I guess I don't really envy having to go through the beginning of FC again
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I played the entire Trails in the Sky trilogy after beating CS1 on the PC while waiting for CS2 to be released on Steam.

No regrets.
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I did read the entire Harry Potter series in like a week when the last movie came out because I wanted to take this girl to see it, so I have done something similar before! Of course I wasn't working at that time >_>

Also why am I in a swimming lesson with Cloud Strife? This isn't what I was expecting when he called me :I
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he needs to train you for Emerald WEAPON
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Well that was easy

Got a PSP for like $30, and got all three sky games for like 10 bucks total. New plan:

Finish CS1
Sky 1-3
Zero
Ao
CS2+3

Finish all of that by September 28th, play CS4

Place your bets now on how far I'll actually get because I will, of course, fail miserably!
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that's like what? a week and a half per game?

i believe
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I do not believe, if it's a week and a half per game.

CS1+2 alone took me like 80-100 hours each. The other games are all long in their own right, and I've been led to believe CS3 is the longest of the series. Of course I wasn't trying to rush through the games with that playtime I quoted, but in particular this is also a series I don't recommend rushing through.
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I was joking. That does not strike me as a plausible pace.

BTW, to add to the plan, after you beat CS2 there's a NG+ exclusive sidequest in it. Look it up on Youtube or something. It's super dumb it's locked behind NG+ and it's important.
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I could do it

That's about how long it took me to beat each game <_<

And I'm a habitual every-NPC-after-every-story-event talker so I didn't rush at all.

xp1337 posted...

BTW, to add to the plan, after you beat CS2 there's a NG+ exclusive sidequest in it. Look it up on Youtube or something. It's super dumb it's locked behind NG+ and it's important.

From what I've heard, Ao has one of these as well. I'm not positive though, as I haven't played it.

Ao just has a super boss. Not really story relevant. Well, until CS3 came out and presented something that might actually be relevant to a small detail regarding the area the boss is in but it's still overall very insignificant.

There's also technically an added scene near the middle but it's not new information so much as just showing you something you probably would have already deduced after completing the game.
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Rean's sister is kind of dumb just wandering into the creepy old building

Didn't expect Devil Rean. Playable Crow hype. And my Lord that music was jammin. Great scene
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MZero11 posted...

Rean's sister is kind of dumb just wandering into the creepy old building

Didn't expect Devil Rean. Playable Crow hype. And my Lord that music was jammin. Great scene

I thought it was implied that Elise was more or less manipulated into that.

aww yeah that fight. Devil Rean da best. I love Crow's S-Craft too. Exceed! also a top-tier boss theme.

Chapter 4 is where Cold Steel really starts picking up IMO. And with one possible exception it just keeps ramping up continuously.
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Wow I thought Elise had a brother complex. Then I met Fiona
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My only complaint so far is not enough fighting. Which is too bad cause I actually really like the battle system. Also I'm a big fan of the EXP multipliers for doing well in battle. I like when games reward the player for being good
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They do try to provide ample stretches of dungeon crawling and fighting, but there can be stretches where all you do is go from cutscene to cutscenes sometimes. Part of Trails series's commitment to full world building.
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Shadow Dino posted...

They do try to provide ample stretches of dungeon crawling and fighting, but there can be stretches where all you do is go from cutscene to cutscenes sometimes. Part of Trails series's commitment to full world building.

I get the world bulding and such but like I'd rather bust up some baddies than look for a guy who lost his hat and run around looking for an old record. It's not bad though.

Oh man Elliot's story hit me in the feels. The music was on point for that scene as well.

Side note: Sky games came in the mail today. Wow SC is two discs, haven't seen a multi-disc game in ages!
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Yeah. SC being a multi-disc PSP game kept it from making it to PSN for a long time. It finally made its way there, but it was years IIRC.
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Chapter 8 is even funner on PSP

(insert disk 1)
(insert disk 2)
(insert disk 1)
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Update: found Trails of Zero at the used game shop for less than 3 bucks. The collection is nearly complete!

Game update: I'm trying to kill a strong monster under the harbor. Yay fighting

Machias was actually pretty great during the whole Laura/Fie fight sequence. His past transgressions are forgiven (mostly)
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It's kind of weird how some characters get their s-craft so late
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Why did it take so long for someone to break that freaking flute

Finally

Also Darth Maul missed me like every time he attacked >_>
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I was expecting to be one shot by C during that fight, but it seemed to progress normally and just ended via time out. Kinda odd for an unwinnable fight
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Yeah I was totally expecting to get demolished and he just... missed Rean every time. It was kind of funny.

Anyway HELL YES Crow has joined Class 7. One of my favorite characters so far. Unfortunately Millium came too and she's even more annoying now, running around causing problems and being hyperactive. I know she's only like 13 or so but she acts like a 5 year old

Also I thought it was funny how Crow got sent back for skipping class and failing and such and in the next scene he's sleeping during class.
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If you're playing on Nightmare C does actually significantly overpower you there

But not like, crazily so.

I'm a noob so I'm on normal :>
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Millium's antics work well with Jusis for some reason
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I actually did bring Jusis when we had to chase her around the school, and I was wondering how those scenes are different based on who you choose to go with
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I better bump this before it dies like the Bracers Guild ohhh

But wait! There's a bracer's guild in Reglam! I guess they aren't all gone

Also Millium's method of waking Rean up made me uncomfortable
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MZero11 posted...

I better bump this before it dies like the Bracers Guild ohhh

yo i came as soon as soon as i saw the smoke from the topic list

too bad i can't hire bracers to investigate the cause anymore
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MZero11 posted...

Also Millium's method of waking Rean up made me uncomfortable

What's weird about a 13 year old girl bouncing on top of you in bed and talking about banan- oh
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It's quite the alarm clock.
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What is the deal with changing light bulbs in these games >_>
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Trying to catch that gold fish hurt my wrist
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MZero11 posted...

What is the deal with changing light bulbs in these games >_>

an important life lesson for us all

I dunno, I think it's an easy way for Falcom to fit a bunch of stuff in one quest. Get you on the road, talk about sepith attracting monsters, explaining why the roads are safe when monsters roam the world, and an opportunity for something to go wrong to give you a battle if needed.

MZero11 posted...

Trying to catch that gold fish hurt my wrist

Rean just doesn't have the skill of ESTELLE, GODDESS OF FISHING and thus you have to pick up the slack personally.
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Wish they'd hurry up and sort the next game out for localisation. Finally looked like we were back on track after they managed to get Sky 3 out last year and now we're most likely gonna be 4 games behind again before we even see another translation.
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It seems Millium dreams about Emma's boobs

Finally something we have in common not really
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