If you didn't already know, Falcom's long running The Legend of Heroes franchise includes a lot of games — and all of them contribute to a huge overall story. The property's popularity has increased significantly over the last several years here in the West, with the Trails of Cold Steel series introducing loads of new players to the ongoing saga.
The West is still waiting to catch up with Japan, however. Publisher NIS America is doing its best to bring more of the Trails games overseas in a timely manner, but in Japan, The Legend of Heroes is well into its latest arc, which began with Kuro no Kiseki last year. Thankfully, Falcom has told us that it intends to bring the Kuro games West — it's just a matter of when.
But is Falcom just going to keep making The Legend of Heroes titles forever? What's the end goal here? In an interview that we recently conducted with Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo, he stated that the overall story is "about 60%-70%" complete. We assume that Kondo-san is taking the soon-to-be-released Kuro no Kiseki II: Crimson Sin into account with that percentage.
So, after three Trails in the Sky games, two Crossbell titles, four Trails of Cold Steel games, massive crossover adventure Trails into Reverie, and the two aforementioned Kuro games, The Legend of Heroes is only just closing in on being three quarters complete. That's some dedication!
"Originally, I was happy to just to let the series go as far as it could with no real sense of an endpoint, and honestly, I didn't think it would continue as long as it has. We’re extremely glad to be able to continue to work on it," Kondo told us.
We'll be publishing the full interview with Kondo-san in the very near future, so keep an eye out.
Comments 23
They got me hooked. I'll play Trails until I'm old and gray if I have to as long as the quality stays where it is!
All those games, and yet they are masters of tying everything together across the different releases. Its a remarkable series that is flying far too low under the radar
Been addicted to the series for almost 3 years now. Keep porting everything to the west so we can experience the whole story. Hopefully the sky trilogy will come to ps4/5. I believe the first 2 games are on psp so maybe they will eventually come via pd plus premium/extra/game catalog or whatever they decide to brand the service tomorrow.
Yes They Will Keep Making Games In The Legend of Heroes Franchise Once The Trails Saga Is Over They've Been Doing So Since The Mid 80s So I Doubt They Will Stop Now.
I guess it will be this saga and another one and maybe and end title.
Anyways, we are probably not even at 50% here in the west.
On chapter 6 of trails of cold steel 1 and so far its been good but not to pleased with the visuals
@Lorcan Ironically, this series to me does a great job of showing that having anime troupes in your game, doesn't automatically make the game bad.
Yes, those anime troups doesn't necessarily always elevate the game, but it does show that having them shouldn't be a reason for a game to be bad in the first place.
Anyways, that's what I am getting from playing TOCS 1 and now 67 hrs in TOCS 2.
@UltimateOtaku91 I played it on PC, but I think its was originally a ps2 game.
Kingdom Hearts: "First time?"
@Lorcan I've heard so many people say that Trails in the Sky has bored them and it makes me glad that I started out with Trails of Cold Steel. Sure, the first ToCS is also a bit slow-paced but man does it get better and the second game is an absolute roller-coaster. Then the third and fourth titles continue that streak.
I mean sure, if you want to experience the entire story then starting with Trails in the Sky is the way to go. But if you lose interest in the series because of one game, then what's the point in playing it. I'd rather start with the good stuff so that the series can draw me in. And now I'm hooked, so I'll happily play anything Legend of Heroes, even if it's "boring". I just love this franchise so much now.
@Lorcan I would agree the first sky game is quite slow. Maybe watch a summary video of the first game and starting with the second game. I haven’t played it but it does appear to have a much better pace. Also if you play the cold steel games then go back to the sky games, a lot of the characters will be familiar which should help you stay interested.
I'm jumping in with Zero probably hopefully I don't get to confused.
@Lorcan Sky First Chapter is pretty rough to start. I also dropped it and then came back later, absolutely loved it the second time around and binged and bought the entire trilogy.
@UltimateOtaku91 Which version are you playing? They were PS3/Vita games. The modern remasters are based on the Vita version because of obvious Cell shaped reasons.
The PS4 remasters are ok looking. Not amazing, but good for a Vita remaster. The new Switch version and PS bundle AFAIK is the same version. I don't see this series on PS Plus Premium. They did used to be on PSNow, but it was the PS3 streamed version only, and the PS3 version definitely looks notably worse than the PS4 remastered Vita version. And the saves aren't compatible.
Granted, it's Falcom and even 3 and 4, the new games, look pretty iffy. It's basically P4G as the visual standard....
Amazing the job they did with continuity. Played ToCS 1-4 and noted just a single mistake. Baffling considering the dozens of characters and time span. Kudos to the guys in charge! Would love to see their whiteboard covering the timeline, milestones and connections. Absolutely mind blowing I guess.
Really looking forward to continue the saga.
@NEStalgia I'm playing the ps4 version, I don't mind the character models but it's the environment that's urking me, so bland and empty but it's understandable as it was a vita game.
Does the graphics improve with each new entry?
@UltimateOtaku91 They do improve over time, just not every game. Cold steel 1 and 2 have the same visuals but Cold Steel 3 and 4 and Reverie have improved visuals, and Kuro no Kiseki, the latest arc, has improved visuals on top of the last 3 games.
@UltimateOtaku91 Just be happy it's not the PS3 version. I tried that on Now just to play on cloud and noped out so fast..... 😬
The graphics are pretty similar with 1 and 2. 3 and 4 are definitely a leap ahead, but no falcom game is a particular looker. Honestly 3 looks almost the same on switch and PS4 except they messed up the text on switch and it's low res upscaled and it's eye torture, so it's still better on PS4, not for the game visuals, but the text.
Similarly ys9 is a slideshow on switch. It's 60fps on PS4, but it doesn't look much prettier.
3 and 4 are definitely easier on the eyes than the vita games though, even if not up to "modern" standards.
All I wish for in this series is that they do not screw up the translations like they have been in some other games/anime. Just keep them as authentic as usual without trying to insert the politically correct BS that is infecting everything else now.
As for the story progression, suits me fine since I have been enjoying the series so far. If Falcom can keep building upon and improving what they already have, I welcome more games into the series.
@Lorcan Just to let you know, Trails in the Sky FC is boring the entire way through. The second game is definitely more interesting, but still suffers from some poor pacing.
I guess I should start playing eventually, if I ever wish to catch up in time heh.
@Ralizah u gotta remember that fc is a very old game and the first to transcend after that simple old school trilogy that came before it right? As it onky landed at 50 hrs it was perfect sc was a solid right as well through and through. Played that ish on the ps tv and was amazing
@Lorcan its starts off slow but picks up quick trust u should stick with it but if by 20hrs it doesn nothing for you then id skip cause cold steel is no better at its pacing and tropes
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