The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Language: US Format: NoNpDRM

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The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a masterclass in narrative-driven JRPGs developed by Nihon Falcom and published by XSEED Games. Set in the majestic Erebonian Empire during a period of rising political tension between the nobility and the reformist faction, players follow Class VII—an elite, experimental military academy unit bringing together students from all walks of life. The g...

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Game Overview

Trails of Cold Steel immerses players in a deeply realized world where they step into the boots of Rean Schwarzer and his diverse classmates at Thors Military Academy. The gameplay is split between academic life and tactical operations: during school days, players manage their free time to bond with classmates, study, and raise social stats through the Bond and Life systems. During field studies, players explore vast 3D environments, complete quests, and battle ferocious monsters and political enemies.

The combat system utilizes the proprietary AT (Action Time) Battle engine, enhanced with ARCUS tactical links that allow characters to execute devastating coordinated follow-up attacks, guarding maneuvers, and powerful cooperative crafts. With its fully 3D engine, rich world-building, fully voiced dialogue scenes, and extensive storytelling, Trails of Cold Steel stands as one of the premier role-playing experiences on the PlayStation Vita.

Quick Specifications

Title: The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Platform: PlayStation Vita (PS Vita)
Release Date: December 22, 2015 (US), September 26, 2013 (JP)
Genre: Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) / Turn-Based Strategy
Developer: Nihon Falcom
Publisher: XSEED Games (US) / Marvelous (JP)
Players: Single Player
Region Format: Region-Free (Physical / Digital via PSN)
Age Rating: ESRB T (Teen)

Key Features

Engaging Bond and Social Link System: Deepen friendships with your classmates during free-time days to unlock special combat abilities, character background stories, and unique epilogue events.
Strategic Turn-Based Combat: Master the tactical AT (Action Time) battle system utilizing Link Attacks, Arts, Crafts, and powerful giant mecha combat known as Divine Knights.
Immersive World-Building: Explore the expansive Erebonian Empire, interacting with fully realized townspeople, academy students, and political factions whose lives change as the plot progresses.
Seamless Cross-Save Support: Easily transfer your save data between the PS Vita and PlayStation 3 versions to continue your adventure on either system.
Massive Epic Narrative: Experience a sprawling, multi-layered story featuring thousands of lines of voiced dialogue and deep political intrigue that bridges directly into subsequent sequels.

Frequently Asked Questions (Q&A)

Do I need to play previous Trails games before starting Trails of Cold Steel?

No, Trails of Cold Steel is an ideal entry point into the franchise. It takes place in a brand-new region (the Erebonian Empire) with a fresh cast of characters, meaning you do not need to play the Liberl (Trails inss the Sky) or Crossbell arcs to understand the main story, though long-time fans will spot fun Easter eggs.

Does the PS Vita version support cross-save functionality?

Yes, the game features full cross-save support between the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3 versions. You can upload your save data to the cloud directly from the game's menu and download it on the other platform.

How long does it take to complete a single playthrough?

Trails of Cold Steel is a massive JRPG. A standard playthrough focusing on the main story and core character bonding events typically takes between 60 to 80 hours, while completionists aiming for all quests and trophies can easily surpass 100 hours.