The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
Sixth Trails game, set in Erebonian Empire with Class VII.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is a role-playing game from 2013, developed by Nihon Falcom. It marks the sixth entry in the Trails series, which itself belongs to the larger The Legend of Heroes franchise, and takes place concurrently with *Trails from Zero* and *Trails to Azure*. It first launched in Japan on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, with an English localization from Xseed Games arriving in 2015. Later ports include a Windows version from Xseed in 2017 (featuring extra English voice acting), a PlayStation 4 release in Japan in 2018 and worldwide in 2019, and a Nintendo Switch port for Japan and Asia in 2021. As the first game in a four-part arc, it was followed by *Trails of Cold Steel II* in 2014.
Gameplay stays close to earlier Trails titles, offering a traditional Japanese RPG experience with turn-based combat, but adds free camera movement and fully 3D character models. A new battle system speeds up command selection, and a "Link" system lets characters pair up for follow-up attacks and other benefits, with Link Levels improving as the story progresses. The "AT" (Action Time) battle system returns, showing turn order for allies and enemies on a bar. The Orbment system has been streamlined, and the "Master Quartz" system from *Trails to Azure* is carried over. Cross-save functionality allows save data to be shared between the PlayStation 3, Vita, and PlayStation 4 versions.
The story takes place in the Erebonian Empire, after the *Trails in the Sky* trilogy and at the same time as *Trails from Zero* and *Trails to Azure*. It centers on "Class VII" at Thors Military Academy in Trista, a new class that mixes nobility and commoners, unlike other classes. The group includes protagonist Rean Schwarzer (a commoner later adopted into a noble family), Alisa Reinford, Elliot Craig, Laura S. Arseid, Machias Regnitz, Jusis Albarea, Emma Millstein, Fie Claussell, Gaius Worzel, and instructor Sara Valestein. They are later joined by Crow Armbrust and Millium Orion. Over the school year, Class VII goes on field studies across Erebonia, witnessing the empire's power struggle between the aristocratic Nobles and the Reformists led by Chancellor Giliath Osborne, which threatens civil war. They clash with the terrorist group Imperial Liberation Front, secretly backed by the Noble Alliance and led by the masked "C," and investigate the academy's old
- Developer
- Nihon Falcom
- Release Year
- 2013 (Japan)
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Role-playing video game
- Series
- The Legend of Heroes (Trails series)
- English Localization
- Xseed Games (2015)
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel
- Developer
- Nihon FalcomPorted to the Nintendo Switch by Clouded Leopard Entertainment.
- Publisher
- Xseed Games
- Director
- Takayuki Kusano
- Producer
- Toshihiro Kondo
- Programmer
- Nobuhiro Hioki · Toru Endo
- Writer
- Hisayoshi Takeiri · Aichiro Miyata · Syuuji Nishitani
- Composer
- Hayato Sonoda · Takahiro Unisuga · Saki Momiyama · Tomokatsu Hagiuda · Yukihiro Jindo
- Series
- Trails
- Engine
- PhyreEngine
- Platforms
- PlayStation 3 · PlayStation Vita · Windows · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch
- Genre
- Role-playing
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game is set in the Erebonian Empire and takes place after the Trails in the Sky trilogy and concurrently with Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure. The plot centers on Class VII at Thors Military Academy, a class not segregated by social class, composed of both nobility and commoners. The protagonist is Rean Schwarzer, a commoner later adopted into a noble family, alongside classmates such as Alisa Reinford, Elliot Craig, Laura S. Arseid, Machias Regnitz, Jusis Albarea, Emma Millstein, Fie Claussell, Gaius Worzel, and instructor Sara Valestein. They are later joined by Crow Armbrust and Millium Orion.
Reader's Guide
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel is significant as the first part of a four-part arc, followed by Trails of Cold Steel II in 2014. It introduced a new battle system with a 'Link' system for follow-up attacks and streamlined the Orbment system while inheriting the 'Master Quartz' system from Trails to Azure. The game received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its combat, character depth, and localization. It won a Future Division award at the 2013 Japan Game Awards and generated significant profits for Falcom, with 1.9 billion yen in net sales. The English localization filled a gap for Western audiences, though the lack of prior English releases for Zero no Kiseki and Ao no Kiseki made the narrative harder to grasp for some players. The game's ports, including a Windows version with additional voice acting and a PlayStation 4 remaster with 4K support, extended its reach.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed using the PhyreEngine game engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel?
It is a 2013 role-playing game made by Nihon Falcom that serves as the sixth installment in the Trails sub-series of the broader The Legend of Heroes franchise. Players take on the role of a student squad known as Class VII as they unravel political and military crises across the Erebonian Empire.
Who is the protagonist of Trails of Cold Steel?
The story follows Rean Schwarzer, a former special-forces operative who takes on the role of instructor and field leader for Class VII at the Ouroboros Academy. He is accompanied by a rotating cast of student companions, each with their own combat style and personal motivations.
How does Trails of Cold Steel relate to other games in the Trails series?
Its plot unfolds at the same time as Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure, so the three titles share overlapping characters and events while following different protagonists. As the sixth entry, it also draws on lore and world-building established in the earlier Trails in the Sky and Zero/Azure arcs.
What is the main conflict in Trails of Cold Steel?
Class VII is pulled into escalating tensions between the Erebonian Empire's military, its political factions, and a covert organization whose schemes threaten national stability. The narrative layers personal vendettas, diplomatic crises, and a larger conspiracy that ties multiple factions together.
How does the story of Trails of Cold Steel end?
The final arc forces Rean and his students to confront the true architects behind the empire's turmoil, resolving the immediate crisis at great personal cost. The conclusion underscores the bonds forged within Class VII and sets the stage for the sequel, Trails of Cold Steel II.
More in Trails 1-21
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