Current Events > I'm playing through Cold Steel 3 right now. *progressive spoilers*

(+) Yeah! (+)

I decided that I ought to play through it now, before CS4 comes out and I get completely burned out on the games. Then again, I _did_ play through CS 1 and 2 back to back, and had no problems investing 140 hours between the two games.

Anyways, a couple of early thoughts. I like that they started introducing some fanservice for returning Kiseki players. Having Tita and Agate show up within the first 5 minutes is nice. Nice to see Patrick actually like Rean now. Guess he was forced to acknowledge Schwarzer after CS2 (and finding out that Rean was a noble, the classist git). Also, hello Towa. What are you doing here? I thought you were taking a government job? Guess working at a royal academy campus is technically a government job. >_>

"O-or... maybe shows that my figure's filled out a little bit more---"

I mean, i wasn't going to say anything, but man. Nihon Falcom _really_ knows who they're selling games to, don't they?

So, they built an entire campus for the troublesome people of Erebonia to receive schooling/training, huh? Seems like a lot of cost just to keep them out of the way. Looks like they acknowledged how important Class VII was, but saw how much of a disruption its creation had on Thors Academy in Trista.

After playing through the prologue, makes me wish I had of taking the time to go through the Crossbell games and the little chapter vignette in between Cold Steel 2 and Cold Steel 3. These games are so dense with characters and lore that I keep forgetting their names. I even forgot Vita Clotilde ended up surviving the end of Cold Steel 2, though I'm surprised to see her "show up" this early.

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Tag

I basically marathoned from Sky the Third to CS3 earlier this year. I'm ready for CS4

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I never played The 3rd, despite owning it. Not a super huge fan of Kevin, and my impression of the game was that it's a side story ancillary to the overall plot. I also really want to see localized versions of the Crossbell arc. I should recognise Juna from somewhere, but I can't remember exactly who she's attached to. I also consumed as little media as possible from these games, so I could go in as fresh as possible.

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Alucard188 posted...

I never played The 3rd, despite owning it. Not a super huge fan of Kevin, and my impression of the game was that it's a side story ancillary to the overall plot. I also really want to see localized versions of the Crossbell arc. I should recognise Juna from somewhere, but I can't remember exactly who she's attached to. I also consumed as little media as possible from these games, so I could go in as fresh as possible.

Sky the 3rd is probably the single most lore heavy game in the series. I would definitely recommend checking it out at some point. I didn't much care for Keving going into it either, but he grew on me.

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Alucard188 posted...

I never played The 3rd

yikes

I'm amused at how subtly venomous people are in this game. I mean, Juna's as subtle as a battering ram, but Kurt especially waspish about training. He's like Jusis, but without any of the charisma. Good to see that the Chancellor's penchant for not throwing out anyone he deems valuable is creating delicious friction. Wonder what the purpose of this branch campus is. I suppose we'll find out in due time.

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Pfft. Rean complimenting Randolph's body while they're the only two people in the men's bath. Sitting side by side. This is Dorothee's dream come true.

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Heh. I forgot that the Capua brats started their own delivery company using their airship.

Huh. I don't remember Thomas being part of the Gralsritter. Was that in CS2? So much happened there that I forgot most of it.

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I wasn't able to finish the 3rd for the longest time as well, but boy does it give so much damn information that I regret waiting so long.

Also Tita needs her hat. Also Agate without his headband.....

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I'm so jealous of you tc

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Nice, finally getting to CSIII. The stuff with Thomas was part of the Black Records crap in NG+ of Cold Steel II. Most people recommend others to just Youtube it, since Falcom was on some shit when they cooked that up.

Though tbh I have the feeling that CSIII and IV are going to be pretty rough for those who didn't go through Crossbell.

Alucard188 posted...

Was that in CS2? So much happened there that I forgot most of it.

it's only shown in NG+ pf cold stee l2

also tag

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Leanaunfurled posted...

Nice, finally getting to CSIII. The stuff with Thomas was part of the Black Records crap in NG+ of Cold Steel II. Most people recommend others to just Youtube it, since Falcom was on some shit when they cooked that up.

Though tbh I have the feeling that CSIII and IV are going to be pretty rough for those who didn't go through Crossbell.

I'm going through it like somebody who doesn't have the resources to get games that aren't localised, largely because I can't be arsed to do it.

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Alucard188 posted...

Heh. I forgot that the Capua brats started their own delivery company using their airship.

Huh. I don't remember Thomas being part of the Gralsritter. Was that in CS2? So much happened there that I forgot most of it.

NG+ only scene at the end of the game, only after obtaining a series of books. Might as well search it on YT

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I suspected as much, but I confirmed it right now. Your perspective when talking to NPCs shifts depending on where Rean is standing relative to the NPC. I like it. It slows a lot of thought on Falcom's part.

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Heh. If I'm Rean (someone who has little understanding of the story from outside Rean's perspective), then completely new players would be Juna (I don't know what's going on, but this thing needs doing, so let's do it!).

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That red-haired girl in Saint Arkh... I know her. I can't remember where, though. Ah well. I'll find out later, I suppose.

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tote_all posted...

psshhhhh

Nothin' personnel kid.

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Another mysterious loli, this time in a forest. Rean gathers them like ducklings. Not digging the eddying red glow around her. Malevolent little strumpet.

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I am in the middle of CSIII myself, in the beginning of chapter 2. I am using the difficulty mod, so it's incredibly challenging so far.

The game has so far referenced quite a few things from the crossbell games, even NPCs. It's great to see how past characters are doing.

Also to second what others have said, the 3rd sets the grander tone for the rest of the series and introduces many plot points and a few important characters.

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This chapter just keeps introducing new people, or people I feel that I should know. First, the red-haired woman from the airport. She's very familiar, but I can't place her. Second is that magical forest loli, of whom Rean detects no malevolence. Third is the giant, middle-aged bruiser guy. He's either a jaeger or a bracer. Probably a bracer, considering that they're more or less "outlawed" in Erebonia. I feel like I should recognise him as well.

Oh, and Vivi looks good in her new outfit.

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Well, at least now we know who the red-haired girl is. If I played the Crossbell games, I'd know earlier than this, but yeah. Interesting that she's an enforcer for Ouroboros, and her cousin is a Bracer (I think - his past is "complicated").

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Ok, yeah. I see how people who haven't played Ao and Zero would be lost. Randolph isn't an ex-bracer - looks like he's an ex-Red Constellation member. it's nice discovering these things outside of the context of having played through the previous games; it gives the world's history greater significance. You're only part of the world, which flows regardless of what part of it you're in.

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Musse seems to be taking on the role of Emma, as in, gently pushing people towards an end. I wonder if she's a witch as well. I mean, Laura picked up on _something_ about her when they met briefly. Meanwhile, Ash has history with Lechter. Wonder what his story is.

lol I'm the only one posting.

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My wife just finished playing this one. What love interest did you pick from the first two games?

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ScazarMeltex posted...

My wife just finished playing this one. What love interest did you pick from the first two games?

Fie for the first game, and Alisa in the 2nd one.

Now we're going to Hamel. I remember it being used as a way for Erebonia to start a war with Liberl by accusing them of destroying the town. I believe Joshua is also from there. No, not Joshua. Or maybe Joshua as well as the original antagonist from TitS. I'm _so_ bad at remembering names for this series.

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Not so interested in 3 and 4 due to a couple of character assassinations.

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Alucard188 posted...

Fie for the first game, and Alisa in the 2nd one.

I pushed for Alisa but my wife went with Emma for both games. She never listens to me on that kind of shit. I pushed for Ann or Kawakami in Persona 5 but she went with lameass Makoto.

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Oh fuck, that emblem. He's the one that Fie's searching for, huh? Looks like they were successful in "reuniting". Unless I'm misremembering, him being alive is thanks to the Black Workshop, which is also how Osbourne faked out the ILF and seized power from Ouroboros as a result. Fuck, this story is convoluted.

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Hot for teacher

Sarah is bae

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Who is Sarah?

spikethedevil posted...

Not so interested in 3 and 4 due to a couple of character assassinations.

don't worry, there's both figurative and literal instances of that in 3 as well

Alucard188 posted...

Or maybe Joshua as well as the original antagonist from TitS. I'm _so_ bad at remembering names for this series.

Nah, you're right. Joshua and the antagonist (Loewe) grew up together, in Hamel.

stahlbaum posted...

Who is Sarah?

Class VII's teacher. The hotter Scherazard.

there is no one named Sarah in the series

Leanaunfurled posted...

Class VII's teacher. The hotter Scherazard.

Stahl is being a pedant because Ps2 misspelled Sara's name.

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Oh, doy.

Shut up style bum, you know what I meant.

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@Leanaunfurled

Dunno. Both women are playful, have massive racks, and can hold their liquor. Only one of them wields a whip and laughs like a dom, though.

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Alucard188 posted...

Dunno. Both women are playful, have massive racks, and can hold their liquor. Only one of them wields a whip and laughs like a dom, though.

One is a redhead, though. Checkmate :^)

now as much as i think sara is the best girl, how is her hair red????? its pink

ScazarMeltex posted...

I pushed for Alisa but my wife went with Emma for both games. She never listens to me on that kind of shit.

Imagine pushing for Alisa when the game does enough trying to push her on you as the love interest on its own

OmegaShinkai posted...

Imagine pushing for Alisa when the game does enough trying to push her on you as the love interest on its own

That's why I went with her, because she felt like the canon choice of the first two games. Try and tell Kiseki fans that, though.

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Alucard188 posted...

That's why I went with her, because she felt like the canon choice of the first two games. Try and tell Kiseki fans that, though.

The canon choice for CS1 and 2 is unironically Crow lmao, there's a flashback in 3 to the dorm the night after they retook Thors and Rean is shown to have picked no one and just thinks about getting Crow back.
Obviously this is because Falcom in 2017 was too lazy to figure out a way to import decisions from a PS3/Vita game onto PS4, even though CS2 had an online option to import cross-platform saves.
it also lets them pander to the fujo crowd and avoid upsetting people who like the rest of the harem in one move

@OmegaShinkai

If you're going to post in here, please post respective to where I am in the game. Rean hasn't been anywhere near Thors yet in 3. I know about Thors in 2, so I'm hoping that that's what you're referring to.

Edit: Oh, I misread that. The flashback is in CS3, but is of CS2. I get it now.

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I'd think it's pretty obvious I'm referring to CS2, because the big romantic confession with your chosen girl happens in the dorm immediately after the battle at Thors and Celine tells Rean to go spend time with someone special before the Courageous heads to Heimdallr.

But if you pick no one Rean just goes to the dorm alone and does his repetitive speech about bringing his terrorist best friend back to high school, which also happens to be the canon choice because actually picking a girl would annoy anyone who picked the others, and we can't have that when half of Erebonia ends up in love with Rean.

OmegaShinkai posted...

I'd think it's pretty obvious I'm referring to CS2, because the big romantic confession with your chosen girl happens in the dorm immediately after the battle at Thors and Celine tells Rean to go spend time with someone special before the Courageous heads to Heimdallr.

Yeah, I glossed over most of the message when I read the words 'Flashback in 3'. Not taking any chances. Not enthused at Reiss talking nonchalantly about future events in 3, either.

OmegaShinkai posted...
But if you pick no one Rean just goes to the dorm alone and does his repetitive speech about bringing his terrorist best friend back to high school, which also happens to be the canon choice because actually picking a girl would annoy anyone who picked the others, and we can't have that when half of Erebonia ends up in love with Rean.

The consummate harem lead.

Anyways, I'm grinning like the Cheshire Cat when Agate's recounting events of the Liberl Incident. Such good games. I want to see the OG power couple again.

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Alucard188 posted...

Not enthused at Reiss talking nonchalantly about future events in 3, either.

now correct me if i'm wrong, but i seem to recall you talking about accidentally getting spoiled about something in cs3 over on the falcom board was i think? i'm not inconsiderate enough to actually mention anything specific tho so quit being weird

I think he meant your character assassinations smack talk.