How do you start with the middle? It’s not a riddle. It’s a question that needs to be asked when playing Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II as this is definitely not a stand-alone game. Sure, you can play it that way, but it’s noticeably not intended for it. In all honesty, if you haven’t played Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel, there’s not much point in playing the sequel. Not only is it a direct sequel to the first game, it’s a direct continuation that picks up only a month after the ending of the original game. If it wasn’t for the sheer size and scope of the games, Trails of Cold Steel and Trails of Cold Steel II could honestly be one continuous game that would clock in at nearly a couple hundred hours.
Once again, you’re playing as Rean Schwarzer, student of Thor’s Military Academy. There is absolutely no reason to ruin this game’s plot, nor the storyline of the original. Doing so should probably be a crime, so you won’t see any spoilers in this review. If you have questions about the first game though, please take a peek at my review of Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel here. Not much has changed here, except for our story has progressed, our supporting cast has separated due to circumstance, and war is coming to the Erebonian Empire. School is most definitely out in this one, and you definitely won’t be spending much time at the military academy. Essentially, the entire first game was building the groundwork for the epic storyline that’s starting to rapidly unfold now. Also, keep in mind that if you played the first game on either PS3 or Vita, you can still load your saves into Cold Steel II and continue on with your original data. Pretty awesome, that!
In terms of gameplay, not much has changed. This is a direct sequel and the basic engine is the same, although things are definitely a hair cleaner this time around. In addition to link abilities, an overdrive function has been added, and mech battles allow for partner changes, but honestly, it’s just a bit of functional tweaking to add some spice. Basic gameplay is essentially unaltered, and that’s good since combat was well thought out and well-structured in the first game. You can backtrack more now, and there are a bunch of hidden things to do, so you completists out there won’t be disappointed. Turbo mode is still intact as well, allowing you to blaze through tedious grind sections with ease and move back to the utterly glorious storyline. Oh yeah, and you can get a motorcycle, so there’s that.
Then there’s the story. The story is everything in the Trails of Cold Steel series, and the sequel definitely doesn’t disappoint. The rivalry between Rean and Crow is a focal point for the story and everything else swirls around them like a maelstrom of political and military intrigue. The writers, and by extension, translators, deserve medals for Trails of Cold Steel II. Falcom is the undisputed king of the JRPG and this is no exception. All the relationships you build upon in the first game start to come to fruition now, with moments that alternately tug and your heartstrings and leave you furious. You frequently get a feel for how human Rean is during conversations, both in the battlefield and during cutscenes. That pretty much goes for the entire supporting cast as well as they develop over the course of the game even further, building upon the foundations set in the original story arc. At this point, it makes sense why Trails of Cold Steel was more linear than its sequel. The story is obviously intended to grow all the characters in a specific direction, then allow you more freedom within the second game. It pays off too, leaving you unable to set the controller down the further you play.
Graphically, as with its predecessor, Trails of Cold Steel II could look better. There are subtle texture upgrades from the first game however, and things look slightly cleaner and better, but it’s still obvious in many ways that this is a remaster. The character work is fantastic though, and the whole game still oozes a unique charm that’s the hallmark of the Legend of Heroes franchise, using well-thought out characters in combination with unique yet familiar design work to weave a visual tapestry that perfectly complements the story and gameplay. You’re not going to be bowled over by the visuals, but this is still a slick-looking game that doesn’t stutter, hitch, or have any performance problems of any kind. Load times are solid and consistent, and it’s noticeable that some of the particle effects are slightly upgraded as well.
If, for some reason, you’re simply unwilling to play the first game in the series, fear not. There are a few flashback sequences that will give away a fair bit of the first game’s plot and vaguely familiarize you with the circumstances of the war in Erebonia. But they are also spoilers, so if you’re going this route, you will definitely ruin major story points for the first game, and that’s a shame since everything so far in the plot leads you here in a remarkably well thought out way. Likewise, you still get your warm-up tutorial again with the second game, and there are some optional training exercises that will get you the rest of the way there if you need them. I never felt like the game’s systems were too complex and the training is mostly a beginner’s primer. If you’ve played a few JRPGs, it’s likely that you can puzzle this one out without help, though some of the nuances are definitely handy.
XSeed has done a simply spectacular job of localization and vocal work on Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II, and it shows in every inch of the game. It will definitely be interesting to see what happens in the fall though, as NIS America is taking the reins of the series with the Western release of Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III in September. Hopefully the localization will be just as good as Falcom’s legendary stories and gameplay! In addition, there is a fourth and final installment to the series which was released in Japan in September of 2018, and it’s safe to assume that the entire quadrilogy will be released in English. This will definitely be a series worth waiting for.
In the meantime, we have the first and now the second title in the series available with all the bells and whistles, and they’re damned good. Trails of Cold Steel II is everything you could want out of a JRPG and more. If every RPG was this good, no one would play anything else! Sure, you can expect a few grindy bits and a slow spot or two, but pretty much across the board, pacing is excellent, gameplay is clean and streamlined, and you actually care what’s happening to the entire cast, even the villains! Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a must-buy for any serious RPG fan and anyone who loves a solid storyline. Epic battles, tender moments, and candid segments abound in what’s easily one of the best offerings the genre has had in years. Don’t miss out. Go buy Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II today. And while you’re at it, go buy the first game if you haven’t already. You won’t regret it. Not one bit!
This review was based on a digital copy of Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II provided by the publisher. It was played with a PS4 Pro running in 1080p on a 55” Sony LED TV. Images used are purposely from the beginning of the game so as not to give any spoilers. Now go fight the good fight!