Review: Trails of Cold Steel IV (Reviewed on PS4, coming to Switch and PC)

[@Chaos_Dragoon]

all four cold steel games makes me want trails in the sky to come to the PS4 and Switch.

[@JRPGJungle]

Same! I hope they do a collection or something one day (the fact the crossbell arc got redone for PS4 in JP gives me hope!) :3

[@IceofDream.]

You can enjoy them on Vita I played the whole series myself on handhelds except cold steel 4 yet

[@elijahcubilo535]

@@IceofDream. Same.

[@Flixcer1404]

u maybe look for it on steam ,the games is really old even your old PC can be able to run it

[@harryalvarez9486]

I have the Trails in the Sky collection on Steam, they run fine.

[@Olphas]

Team Alisa all the way! Great review :) I'm in the final chapter now, touring the country presumably one last time, and I hope to finish it over the weekend. It does drag a bit here and there and sometimes feels a bit too big for its own good, but as you say - there is a lot of pay off! A few days ago I looked through all the screenshots I made through the whole arc and it really brought home, how much all the characters have grown. They were so young and tiny in the beginning! I just love Class VII, old and new, and it is so great to see them, their relationships and the whole gigantic cast blossom one more time. Can't wait for the big finale, the true ending - and for what this series does next.

[@jmporkbob]

Just passing through again, now that I finished CS4 last night. Man, I felt immensely rewarded, knowing all the games before this.

[@Buff_Cupcake]

I'm really glad I stumbled on this channel. I completely lost touch with JRPG's over the past few years or so and this has really helped me get up to speed.

[@JRPGJungle]

I’m so glad to hear that! Thank you :))

[@CrimRui]

You only lose a touch with good JRPGs if you follow sites like IGN who only focus on tripple A titles and some indies. Follow sites like Gematsu or sites that cover all of Japanese game and you will never miss one.

[@allanrpg]

I've played all trails games released in west so far. Trails of cold steel IV is really good and provides a very cool ending for the saga. Some of the fan service scenes I particularly don't like that much, but the worldbuilding and character development are so good. Ok, the huge number of meaningful characters have made it hard to develop some of them more properly but even so I love (most of) them.

[@Curlorly06]

I’m getting closer to finishing CSIV, I’m definitely coming back to hear your review once I’m finished!

[@exia2321]

After playing 8 games prior to CS4 within the past year, can definitely say it was all worth it to get to Cold Steel 4. Ended around 171 hours for my first playthrough and NG+ after to get the rest of the bonding trophies I missed to get the platinum. Most of the flaws I'd say would be pretty much nitpicks as well. Aside from what you've mentioned with weird text issues and va recasting, the latter I don't mind much considering how this year has been, I did feel a bit of padding during one part of the game. Once again all of them are just minor nitpicks. While it'll be a while till the next Kiseki game that came out in Japan back in August, I'm pretty content with taking a break for now. But it was a journey very worth going through from beginning till where it is atm

[@lenleon3699]

I know where you mean. ACT 2 was basically filler and could have been shortened.

[@exia2321]

@@lenleon3699 You called it lol

[@dobadobadooo]

Just reached Act III now, and so far I'm really enjoying the game, to the point that it might be my favorite in the series thus far. And while I do have some minor gripes with it, like you said it doesn't really detract all that much from the overall experience. Can't wait to see the ending, thanks for the review!

[@shibaarmy4385]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! This is definitely GOTY for me. My next goal on Cold Steel 4 is to platinum it

[@buckroger6456]

Good luck. Looks like it might be a hard platinum to get but then again I just suck at the card mini game.

[@reanschwarzer6749]

@@buckroger6456 I have 100% all hajimari no kiseki same.

[@buckroger6456]

@@reanschwarzer6749 your a beast!! I've thought about going back for the platinum on cold steel 1&2 but still haven't done it.

[@reanschwarzer6749]

@@buckroger6456 I have platinum 1,2, 3,4 ( 3 & 4 versión Jp :D ) and hajimari no kiseki, I need new game kuro no kiseki :)

[@buckroger6456]

@@reanschwarzer6749 wow!! I sadly dropped CS4 after 150hrs, game was too bloated for me. I wish they would tighten up the story more. Honestly CS4 left me with a bad taste and I'm probably done with the legend of hero's series going forward. Too many jrpgs are just 100+ hours of mindless quest instead of staying with a much tighter story. But at least I have the Y's series, even if it's not turn base.

[@TheTekSone]

picking this up today finally for switch

[@TarksGauntlet]

The TOCSIV review I've been looking forward to the most! The majority of us out there talking about this game are years deep into the series and are mostly preaching to our own choirs. It's always very interesting, and honestly, extremely useful, hearing the opinion of somebody who only came in at CSIII.

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you so much dude :’) sometimes I worry I’m out of depth covering it but I try remind myself the other perspective is important too, so hearing that really means a lot. Now I’m done with mine, looking forward to watching yours! (amazing work getting it out by embargo btw haha :))

[@feeamerie5011]

So looking forward to my four games marathon. Great review as always tiger x

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you :))

[@606hunter1]

I've been having an amazing time playing cold steel 4 so far (a little of 40 hours now). The only issue I really have so far is that money feels quite a bit tighter than the previous entry. I'm team Alisa too but all the characters are great. Fingers crossed for the crossbell games to get official translations in the future

[@equalopportunity2048]

Great review! I understand why it's so decisive to some players, but I love this game to death. Few other series can make me laugh, cry, scream, or cheer the way the Trails series has, especially IV. Even my minor quibbles are blown away by everything else it excels in. Thanks for your work!

[@amurter19]

A lot of trails fans are big into trying to get people to play it in the proper order, and while I did personally and think it's best to, if I didn't I think 4 would have got me interested in playing the other arcs as opposed to being 'spoiled'. Cs4 drops a lot of proper nouns and events from past games with only enough context for the story at hand. Someone could definitely have fun going back and connecting the dots to things referenced, or finding out big things that cold steel never touched on.

[@JRPGJungle]

I completely agree! I feel much more pushed to go back than bummed for spoilers and I think each game is so dense there’s plenty to still learn. I hope it sees more people (myself included) play more of the series :)

[@senzetion]

I'm really looking forward to play it next year since for the rest of this year my schedule is pretty much filled up with getting the Platinium Trophy on Demon Souls and then Like a Dragon and Cyberpunk. Thank you for this stellar review.

[@J-Runn87]

Haven't beat the game, but I'll be back to watch you review. I'm really enjoying Cold Steel 4👍🏼

[@buckroger6456]

Glade someone is 😅

[@michaelcoffey1991]

Loved this watch :) glad you had so much enjoyment with the franchise.

[@456whocares]

I'm on act 2 right now. Took me 2 months to get through the sky series and I played geofronts translated trails to zero.

[@Kruxx26]

Great review! I'm glad you loved it. I finished the game a couple of days ago and it was a an amazing experience. I'm glad I played all 9 games. I absolutely love this series

[@acebreaker7]

As someone who’s played every game in the series up to this point I found this game to be more leaned towards the fan service with the inclusion of characters from different arcs which felt incredible and overall I enjoyed this game but it’s not my favorite in the series/arc

[@Oreossssssssify]

Yea hopefully when they move forward they make the teams more manageable and tone the fan service all the way or at least make it likeable

[@CrimRui]

Team Laura all the way. I got this one but still did not started as I have Like a Dragon, 13 Sentinels and Sakura Wars in line waiting. So many great Japanese games. Looking forward to this one.

[@Harrison11106]

I'm the same. Interesting how Reans love interest varies by country: In Japan it's Alisa, here stateside it's Laura, followed by the silver haired girl & Towa.

[@master_shadow555]

now waiting for the trails of beginning to be localized

[@JRPGJungle]

Fingers crossed :)

[@varinstar7]

Technically this isn’t the end for the cold steel storyline as there is a sort of epilogue game released in Japan called Hajimari no Kiseki. No word on when it will come to the west though

[@JRPGJungle]

True! I really hope it comes over :) looks like a lot of fun!

[@marc-ap4699]

I'm playing it right now ( imported version with Kitsune overlay translation with remote play ) and it is the Coldsteel/Crossbell version of Trails in the Sky the 3rd , it is amazing so far and the new introduced characters for the future new arc seems promising ! Read book 3 & 9 from Coldsteel 4 it is mandatory !

[@Anishiroisekai]

Is a really long journey if like me you play all the games, but that make more special to play the end of all, now waiting for the pc release to be ready for hajimari no kiseki and a new journey after that :D

[@UmildisTV]

Hey JRPG Jungle lady, just wanted to say I really enjoy your scripts and videos. Appreciate your efforts to making this content :)

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you so much :33

[@oneofnone7947]

Played 1 on a wim then was downloading 2 after 1 and preordered 3 the minute I was able same with for almost though 4 and my God just my God

[@master_shadow555]

Trails of cold steel getting anime. Idk how it’s gonna turn out. It definitely is not gonna be 12 eps unless they decide to cut out lots of content.

[@JRPGJungle]

Yeah, it better have more than 20 episodes a season (if they do more than one, I haven’t actually looked into it yet). It could be a good way for some to catch up on the series before the next part comes out (although the games will obviously provide much more depth). I’ll hopefully watch it, but it doesn’t make me want to play the original Cold Steel 1 and 2 any less :33

[@DavidRBrown7]

I love the series and I am loving this game. However, the one thing I dislike is the Pom Pom Party mini-game which is horrendously difficult (although probably not for tetris fans). As I have the platinum trophy for the other three I will be playing this a while longer, but I am sure if I will get the platinum here, purely because of that mini-game.

[@Jetzer12]

it's actually really easy and this is coming from who has been always been bad at puyo puyo and tetris

[@Tamipriest]

Solid review as always , keep it up ^^

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you! :))

[@diannerenard]

I love trails of cold steel. Characters are kinda anime-ish, but plot and specially the gameplay system are great.

[@aidilasyraf154]

Many people seem to dislike the 1 and 2, but for me someone who never play any of their games, get really blown up when I know this game has a very large scope, auto buy other series still waiting for 4

[@diannerenard]

@@aidilasyraf154 yeah, its pretty good stuff. Premise is kinda silly with the academy setting, but things get quite intense once the apparently random incidents fits in the bigger picture and the enemy presence becomes clear. I would say that the issue people had, was that CS 1 and partially 2 felt a bit like the prologue to a much greater story. Lots of worldbuilding and setting up the situation.

[@MicksUp]

Team Emma here, glad she finally got the screentime and relevance she deserved in CS4 (her Bonding Events are probably my favorite ones out of all the CS saga) anyway yes, this is definitely one of my favorite Trails games, probably along with Sky the 3rd, Ao and CS2

[@JRPGJungle]

Ooh interesting to hear, I'll have to do more of her bonding events on my next playthrough :))

[@TheEpitomeofSass]

i HIGHLY enjoyed this series. Finally finished Trails of Cold Steel 4 with over 130 hours clocked and it was soooo worth it. I played since TCS1 and i'm so sad to see it done, But I'm happy with this arc's ending and I'm REALLY hoping the next arc centers on Ouroboros because they're still kept in secret and i still have no idea what the enforcers/their "grandfather" really do

[@dohalimilqarasdeldemenanci8483]

2:47 it is, the experience is like 100x better if you did!!!

[@HybridAngelZero]

Man, I REALLY need to get caught up on this series. At this point, I don't know if I want to get them all on PS4, or wait until the Switch versions of Cold Steel 1&2 get released in the west.

[@JRPGJungle]

I hope those Switch versions come over! It would help me too haha :)

[@Miumiu0404]

Trails series is like the soap opera of jrpgs. Full of anime clichés, tropes and cringe but still enjoyable and fun. The amount of playable characters in this game is also astoundingly overwhelming.

[@t-vann48]

Yeah these games definitely have some tropes, but I'd say its incredibly minor in the overall scheme of the series. I would say the biggest thing in the series is the world building and that is anything but cliche. It has some incredibly unique and well done world building that is really deep and surprisingly consistent throughout all 9 games in the series. The fact that random NPC characters go through their own trials and hardships is something that I think gets overlooked a lot but is so freaking cool.

[@shawnmichaelsdu85]

I just finished Trails of Cold Steel II on PS4! ^^' I really prefered this one compared with the first game. On many aspects. Trails in the sky was great too. Now I need to finish 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim but I'm curious about Trails of cold steel III and IV! :-) We have Ys 9 coming too... So many JRPGS and no time to play them all!! ^^'

[@Harrison11106]

With luck I can begin part 04 soon. Really dug the other 3, pity that data didn't carry from 02 to 03; maybe that'll change when all 4 come to PC.

[@RaifSeverence]

As someone with parts 1 to 3 on pc already, and data doesn't transfer from 2 to 3, its highly unlikely. Also, a few things to note regarding coldsteel, 1 and 2 were originally ps3 titles. 3 was developed for ps4 and came out before the ps4 versions of 1 and 2 released. 4 came out after the ps4 versions of 1 and 2, hence why you can import data from 1 to 3 into 4. The best way for this saga to get the continuous save data import treatment youd like would be for them to make a Trails of Cold Steel Complete collection and sell all 4 games as a single product.

[@harryalvarez9486]

@@RaifSeverence I wouldn't mind that, but that's far into the future I think (at least a decade, if the ME trilogy remaster is anything to go by). When I played 04 for 1st time yesterday, it DID look for save data from 01 & 02 when I started a new game, but since those were both PS3 titles it was a moot point, it did give me some things from 03 since that was a PS4 title too (extra costumes & some other knick knacks, not like 01 to 02 where I actually got some orbs & my levels mostly carried over).

[@oOPrettywinxOo]

Trails of Cold Steel IV in a nutshell: You are playable! You are playable! Everyone is playable! 🤣 I am also playing this game (having started with the first Cold Steel game). Love it so far but I am also far from finished (after 153 hours no less! Ofc I am doing side quests).

[@buttertoast1146]

No that's hajimari lol

[@elijahcubilo535]

Fun fact: Alisa was originally supposed to be the main character of the cold steel arc and Rean was just her love interest, but that was changed because a big part of the plot was the main characters mysterious "Ogre strength" power, which originated from a scar over their heart. Rean became the main character because he is male and he can be topless without the game becoming rated M, while Alisa would have to have a bra or something on. Also, in Trials in the Sky, Joshua was supposed to be the main character, while Estelle was just a close friend turned lover who tagged along, but that was changed at the last minute to give the game a female lead, but I played all three Sky games and it always felt that both of them were the main character, not one main character and one supporting character.

[@buttertoast1146]

Why haven't you played cold steel 1 and 2??

[@Kenko_4]

I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the game! I've played the previous (Sky Trilogy, Crossbell, Cold Steel 1-3) and this game was a satisfactory ending to a long and fulfilling journey (especially if you get the true ending). As you said in the review, the game has so many positives that any of the minor negatives don't even detract from my overall experience. I have played all of the games with Japanese VO, so I don't think any of the voices were changed. I forgot that CS3 was your first Trails game and it's great to hear you were able to enjoy the game despite all of the characters from the other characters returning from previous games. I think it helps that CS3 was the intro to the new Class 7 and they are again one of the main focuses in this game. Now I'm excited to hear when they will localize Hajimari. I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard that there is a cutscene in Hajimari that previews the new engine which is exciting! Great review and thanks for sharing! Thank you, Danny

[@Metalkake]

Argh cannot decide whether to get into this series or starting with Xenoblade on the Switch 😅

[@JRPGJungle]

Both are great! Haha if you’re into exploration right now, I’d recommend Xenoblade, if you’re feeling some character development, I’d recommend Trails (both have those two things of course, but I think those are their strengths). Whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll have fun ^_^

[@Metalkake]

@@JRPGJungle BOTH! Both is good 😊 thanks again for the awesome content! You and TarksGauntlet are the ones I trust when it comes to this stuff 👍

[@TornadoWhirl33]

Play through the first two Cold Steel games since they;re already on PS4.

[@GeminiSunrise06]

It was a great journey! The ending was not surprising and i was disappointed by the romance at the end. But overall it was awesome.

[@elijahcubilo535]

I really like Laura in the previous games, her character is so unique even among a weird group like class 7, and I loved hearing her unique take on different events. She just had a different way at looking at things then the rest of the cast and I enjoyed that. I also that using different characters doesn't just slap a different name on text in cutscenes or use a different voice, I really love how each character has their own written lines so they get real personality not just in side quests but in the main story too. But Laura's voice actor is so bad in cold steel 4. It sounds like they were trying to match the pitch of her old voice actor and overcorrected so she sounds like a guy. Almost like in Spider-man 2018 Peter looked to be in his early 30s, rather than the mid 20s they were trying to portray and in Miles Morales they overcorrected and made him look 17 or 18.

[@lusterTJ]

Yh it's here...and I'm late. Thanking you for this

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you for watching ^__^

[@rikkucrowe]

Laura voice threw me off so bad at first but I am still loving the game and I'm only up to cross bell and its massive Plus having played 1-3 Watched the lore videos for trails in the sky and zero theres alot of beats that hit and it doesnt help the ending of 3 is still very real for both me and the characters Millium sharon the jaeger king

[@gaeb611]

Rean is a Harem Protagonist confirmed

[@supersaiyanbro]

Can anyone tell me if this game has an English dub?

[@JRPGJungle]

It does! 👍🏻

[@supersaiyanbro]

@@JRPGJungle thank you so much ima get 3 and 4

[@JRPGJungle]

Hope you enjoy them ^__^

[@supersaiyanbro]

@@JRPGJungle actually I just saw 1 and 2 are on the PS4 as well and on sale… this whole time I thought those were ps3 games so ima start with 1 if i like it I’ll get 2 and go from there

[@superattackhd3444]

I havent played anyone yet but want to play trails of cold steel 4 but is it important to play everyone before it can i only 3 before 4 and watch the summary of 1 and 2

[@buckroger6456]

You can do that and still get what's going on since both 3&4 cover most of what happens in 1&2.

[@superattackhd3444]

@@buckroger6456 thanks

[@tonytony8872]

As much as I love this series and 4....there are problems I have that were present in all of the games but 4 really elevated the issues I have unfortunately. The complete lack of consequences The fact all the bad guys are actually "not" bad guys and the fact it's hard to take the situations seriously when the characters dont seem to Other than that its pretty great though

[@danielguerrero1438]

I just can't wait for falcom to move away from Class VII as a whole and don't have any of them come back on to the next Arc

[@kahseng111]

emmm 4 final episode so finally the mc team can finally get the victory /....?

[@elijahcubilo535]

Man, the Narrators accent is really thick when she says Last one, as in previous game. I was over halfway through before I realized she was saying last one, not lost one. I'm not the only one who thinks that, Right?

[@JRPGJungle]

You’re probably not, I’ve had people say it in other videos haha :)

[@elijahcubilo535]

@@JRPGJungle great review by the way. Really enjoyed it plus no spoilers. That's hard to do.

[@JRPGJungle]

Thank you very much! Especially thank you for the insightful comments too, had no idea about Alisa! It’s a very interesting series :)

[@elijahcubilo535]

@@JRPGJungle What's really funny is they didn't realize having a topless girl show up in the first game with a scar on her chest(if you play the Japanese PC version you can still find the texture for Alisa with the scared chest) would raise the ratings a lot until the very last stage of production. Everyone says cold steel 1&2 feel like one game split in half, and it is. Cold steel was originally a trilogy, but the first game had to split in half so they could decide on a male lead, and change the story a bit. They picked Rean because he had lots of scenes with Alisa. The same thing happened with trials in the sky, first and second chapter were split in half because at the last minute they decided to change the script and make Estelle the lead instead of Joshua.

[@JRPGJungle]

So interesting! It’ll be really fun to play those games with that knowledge :) sounds like an interesting series to read up on when I’m done too!

[@mangakavlog]

I'm playing Trails of Cold Steel and it's being pretty boring for me, I played 12 hours of the first game. Do you think I should invest more time because it gets better or do you think I won't like the series at all?? I try to understand why everyone love this series but it's being really boring to me

[@exia2321]

The Trails series usually takes a bit of time to start up cuz of its strength in the world building. There is a plot that does get interesting in my opinion, but the strength has been how the game builds its world. If you're not much for being immersed in the world itself, the series may not be for you. It is fine to start on Cold Steel 1 as it's overall pretty self contained, but the games do connect in the long run and its one of those series where you have to be in it for the long run or else it probably isn't for you. And this isn't to mean any offense as not everyone has the time to dedicate to a whole series nor the patience to go through all the games prior to get to where it is now. It's just how the series is as all the games pretty much attribute to how the world in the Trails series is. They aren't stand alone games like how other RPGs like FF, DQ, Persona, Tales of, and many others that can have any game be an entry point unless it's stated as a direct sequel like FFX-2. All the games very much connect from the Trails in the Sky Trilogy, Crossbell Duology with Trails From Zero and Trails to Azure, and then the Trails of Cold Steel quadrilogy. You can view it like a MCU version of JRPGs or even something like Harry Potter. In my opinion, I do feel you can enjoy the series without all the older games prior to Cold Steel 1, but I wouldn't be vouching for only that as I've played through all the older games prior to Cold Steel and I wouldn't have had it any other way. And on another note, JRPG Jungle is one who started on Cold Steel 3, but she's enjoying what she has played with CS3 and CS4. I've even heard someone started on Cold Steel 2 and then got into the series that way. And once again, this isn't to offend or make you stand out. I've seen others be intimidated by the series given how long it is as well as the time necessary dedicated to it. This won't be for everyone and there's nothing wrong with that. I myself, as much as I love the series, will also call this a double edge sword as again this isn't something everyone can get into for reasons I've stated. And I know other mutuals that will also say the same as well. I'd say if anything try to finish Cold Steel 1, but if you don't want to, that is completely fine.

[@jclosed2516]

Too bad we PC gamers still have to wait for several months until we can play Trails of Cold Steel IV. I try to avoid spoilers as much as possible, and of course do not watch any LP. Too bad they did not released this game for every platform at the same time. In that aspect publishers like CDPR do a better job. They just tell people of other platforms to wait a while, so they can release it on all platforms at the same time. Oh well... I have to wait for a long time. That's life I guess.

[@jameswinter3832]

Bump

[@MrMidnight007]

Well it had some good points but it truly wasn't all that good and definitely not as good as Cold Steel II, but I give about a 7 so above average but ultimately held down by the nonsense and stupidity so a real shame.