The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III Reviews
Trails of Cold Steel III marks another school year full of adrenaline-pumping battles, interesting new faces, and unexpected hardships amidst political turmoil
The only real fault you can attribute to Trails of Cold Steel III is how it doesn't quite match the lofty heights the previous two titles deservedly reached.
Trials of Cold Steel III is another excellent addition to a franchise that gains so much of what makes it absorbing from the huge amount of background detail and world-building that's been achieved in earlier entries in the series. Newcomers should be aware that taking the time out to play Trials of Cold Steel I and II is advised to get the absolute maximum amount of enjoyment out of this one but, even if you're jumping in fresh, there's still plenty to love here once you find your feet. With a massive cast of well-written characters and tons of excellent combat and exploration spread across its epic running time, this is a top-notch addition to the Switch's library of JRPGs.
Trails of Cold Steel III it's another great port to add to Nintendo Switch's library, but if you haven't played the previous two games (not available on Switch), you can miss important story details. If that's not the case, be ready for a long adventure that will leave you wanting more... and in the middle of an interesting cliffhanger.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a narratively rich role-playing game, with deep and well-drawn characters and stories ranging from epic to tragic, without dwelling too much on stereotypes, an almost physiological element of this genre. Too bad for the absence of the first two chapters in Nintendo Switch's game library. Though exhaustive and rich in detail, in fact, the various summaries in the start screen can not make up for the lack of "playful experience" that only a direct use can return.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A few unfortunate backsteps make the first native PlayStation 4 entry something of a disappointment, but Trails Of Cold Steel is still one of the best old school JRPGs around.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III the third 80-hour RPG in a series of equally lengthy games. If you're a newcomer, it's a daunting and probably foolish task to try and play this game. If you're a die-hard fan of the Cold Steel series already, you'll get plenty of satisfaction out of the continued plot development and engaging combat. Even the most dedicated of fans, though, are likely to be turned off by the dated visuals and confusing Legend of Heroes crossovers that mar an otherwise impressive story-driven JRPG.
As the third game in a set of direct sequels, tied into several other games set in the same world and timeline, it’s simply amazing those creative juices are still flowing and coherent. It’ll be over soon, but jeez, hell of a run.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 is not a perfect game, marred by its pacing, spontaneous voiceovers, and heavy-handed use of anime tropes along the way. That aside, the additions of game speed increase on top of more strategic options in combat and intriguing characters make this entry of the franchise a rewarding one, presenting wonderful payoffs for those invested in the journey. Even still, newcomers receive enough organic context and subtext along the way to still feel fulfilled as the journey progresses. Few RPG franchises, especially ones this lengthy, can provide a starting point in the middle of the series, and Cold Steel 3 finds a way.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 3 is an excellent role-playing game of classic style, absolutely unmissable for the veterans of the saga. Everyone else may find themselves overwhelmed by excessive references, compromising the experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is a large scale classic JRPG with well-designed characters and an interesting storyline, which may seem a bit long with interludes and digressions on the "normal" life of the main characters and political intrigue. This is a small masterpiece that will encourage you to buy the two previous parts of the trilogy and make you look forward to the announcement for the European market of the fourth and final part of the story.
Review in Russian | Read full review
With its solid gameplay mechanics, excellent world-building and character development, The Legend Of Heroes: Trails Of Cold Steel III is an excellent Japanese role-playing and a more than worthy new entry in the long-running series. Some small flaws like slow pacing do not impact the experience as much as the lack of knowledge about the entire series do, which lessens the impact of several events and plot development. This makes Trails of Cold Steel III a game that must be played only after the previous two entries in the series have been completed.
Trails of Cold Steel III is the best game in the series so far. You're going to have to play the first two titles to get the full picture, but you'll be rewarded with one of the most enjoyable RPG sagas in modern gaming. This latest entry strikes a near perfect balance between story and gameplay, all while juggling an ever-growing cast of great characters and an in-depth, hugely rewarding battle system. Cold Steel III is JRPG joy from start to finish, and it sits alongside the likes of Persona 5 and Dragon Quest XI as one of the PS4's finest.
After a long, grueling wait, the Legend of Heroes makes its triumphant return and I am more than happy to report that the wait has been worth it as Cold Steel III delivers on all fronts with improved visual fidelity, performance and a slew of meaningful new mechanics. Led by a cast of unforgettable characters and an intriguing story arc that will have you begging for more when the credits roll.
Trail of Cold Steel III brings its classic JRPG hijinks to the portable confines of the Switch for folks who like to have their cake and eat it on the go, too. Visuals on the TV are not as crisp as the PS4 version and performance also has some occasional hiccups at times. If the thought of getting your Cold Steel fix anytime and anywhere sounds appealing, however, then this is the version for you.
Legend if heroes : Trails of Cold STeel III is a good JRPG with good fights, but the story is like a giant prequel to the fourth episode, with poor main issues, and the graphisms are one generation late.
Review in French | Read full review
Nihon Falcom has delivered yet another stellar entry in the Trails of Cold Steel series. If you're a newcomer, you'll need to start at the beginning to genuinely appreciate the whole package. However, if you're a long-time fan of the franchise, then you'll love every thrilling second of it.
If you are a JRPG fan, this series is a must-play. It’s one of the strongest running, second only to Persona in my opinion. It’s funny, charming, engaging, and occasionally heartbreaking. And it’s absolutely worth the investment.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III drops JRPGo fans into the middle of a massive story arc and then has a tendency to meander. However, it provides more than enough thrills and compelling moments to make this an adventure worth taking.
Overall, an enjoyable port of a great game.