Info about The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel:

Official game description:
_Among the nations on the Zemurian continent, the mighty Erebonian Empire has been quick to outwardly stake its claim militarily; yet politically, ugly bouts of internal conflict between the upper class and commoners attempting to rise to power have been steadily intensifying day by day. The Noble and Reformist Factions have been none too kind to one another over the years, and tensions between the two only stand to worsen if compromises aren’t made in the very near future.  
Rean Schwarzer, like any other citizen of the Imperial Nation, is no stranger to these rising conflicts: the class system has been deeply embedded into the hearts of every Erebonian since the days of old. As a seventeen-year-old student preparing for his new life at Thors Military Academy, however, he notices that his crimson uniform differs from the standard ones issued to his peers—typically green for commoners, and white for nobles.  
Enter, Class VII of Thors Military Academy. For the first time in the prestigious academy’s history, rank means nothing and skill means everything. With nine hand-picked students of various backgrounds and abilities, Rean included, Class VII readies itself to dive deep into the political quagmire that threatens not only them, but the Empire as a whole._  
\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  
Taking place on the same continent as the fan favorite _Trails in the Sky_ offshoot of Nihon Falcom’s storied _The Legend of Heroes_ franchise, _Trails of Cold Steel_ (_Sen no Kiseki_ in Japanese) is the first in the series to tread Erebonian soil and explore the inner political conflicts of this oft-mentioned powerhouse nation in detail. Delve into the expansive lore that has become synonymous with the series, enjoy school life and bond with fellow students to earn new abilities in battle, take advantage of speedy, tactical turn-based combat with the newly-developed “ARCUS” system, and uncover dramatic events that stand to change everything these two opposing social classes stand for.  
**KEY FEATURES***   _A World Rich in Depth for Veterans and Newcomers Alike_  
    The events of _Trails of Cold Steel_ are expertly told so that longtime _Trails_ veterans and casual RPG fans alike can equally enjoy its detailed, highly nuanced storyline.  
*   _New Link System Adds Depth to Combat_  
    Take advantage of the Combat Link System by bonding with your allies throughout the school year, netting you a variety of combat benefits including healing, guarding and more.  
*   _A Sleek Update to a Classic Growth Mechanic_  
    _Trails of Cold Steel_ streamlines the classic “Orbment” magic system from previous titles with new “ARCUS” units, allowing for more ready access to abilities and quicker customization.  
*   _Experience the Game as Never Before_  
    50% more lines of English voice-overs have been added to the PC release, bringing a fresh experience to even those who have played it before on console.

Release date: Aug 2, 2017

Categories: JRPG, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Character Customization, Story-driven Gameplay, Narrative-driven Gameplay, School Life Simulation, Bonding System

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 50; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant stability issues and controller support problems with the game on Steam Deck. While some users reported a seamless experience, others faced frequent freezes, crashes, and audio issues. Controller support was noted as basic, with issues in key configuration and character movements. Despite these problems, some users had a positive experience, finding the game playable and enjoyable on Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $29.99 - $39.99
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users generally find the game worth the full asking price due to the high number of quality hours and enjoyment it provides. However, some users suggest buying it on sale, indicating that while the game is valued highly, there is a sentiment that a slightly lower price would be more appropriate for some buyers. The mention of the game being worth more than the current full price also suggests that the community sees high value in the game, potentially justifying a price close to the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 80.0h
  - Story completion: 60.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple references to the length of time required to complete the game and its various components. The first quote mentions a range of 60-80 hours for game completion, which aligns with the typical total time to finish the game. The second quote supports this with a specific example of 99 hours recorded on a save file. The third quote highlights the extensive time spent on activities like talking to characters and reading lore, which contributes to the overall playtime. The fourth quote indicates that chapter 6 represents about 85% of the game, suggesting that the main story can be completed in a significant portion of the total playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow start and takes time to become engaging, with fun typically starting around the halfway mark or during significant story events.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Second encounter with the baddies
  - Time to anchor: 20h 0m
  - Friction: Slow pacing; Repetitive chapter formula; Uneven voice acting; Tedious combat at times
  - Unlock drivers: Story picks up pace; Novelty of the story wears off; Engaging combat mechanics
  - Conditions: Engaging with the story and characters; Unique combat mechanics; Playing on a harder difficulty; Using turbo mode to speed up repetitive parts
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and character development.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on character interactions and story progression.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: JRPG fan; story lover
    - Reference games: Persona 4; Suikoden
  - Completionist Collector (sale)
    - Motivation: Achieving 100% completion and collecting all items.
    - Playstyle: Thorough and meticulous, often replaying sections to ensure nothing is missed.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: completionist; collector
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Combat Strategist (buy)
    - Motivation: Mastering the combat system and overcoming challenging battles.
    - Playstyle: Strategic and experimental, focusing on combat mechanics and team optimization.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: strategist; challenge seeker
    - Reference games: Wild Arms 4
  - Lore Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Exploring the interconnected world and lore of the Trails series.
    - Playstyle: Explorative and comparative, often replaying older games in the series.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Trails series fan; lore enthusiast
    - Reference games: Trails in the Sky FC; Trails in the Sky SC; Trails in the Sky TC


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Strong character development (weight 0.92): The game features well-written characters with deep development and engaging interactions. Players appreciate the character growth and relationships throughout the story.
- Engaging and detailed story (weight 0.88): The game offers an interesting and well-told story with compelling plot twists and a rich narrative. The storyline is captivating and keeps players engaged.
- Fun and strategic combat (weight 0.49): The combat system is enjoyable and offers depth with various strategies. Players find the combat mechanics engaging and well-implemented.
- Excellent soundtrack (weight 0.39): The game's music is highly praised, ranging from good to memorable tracks. The soundtrack enhances the overall gaming experience.
- Immersive world-building (weight 0.36): The game features a rich and detailed world that is immersive and well-developed. The world-building is praised for its depth and narrative integration.
- Long gameplay duration (weight 0.15): The game offers a long playtime, often around 60-70 hours, with additional side quests and high replayability.
- Smooth transition to 3D (weight 0.11): The game's transition to full 3D is praised for feeling natural and being a significant upgrade from previous 2D versions.

Common complaints:
- Slow narrative pace (weight 0.62): The game's story progression and overall pacing are criticized for being slow, particularly at the beginning. Players find the plot development to be monotonous and drawn out.
- Repetitive dialogue and gameplay (weight 0.27): The game features repetitive dialogue and exploration, contributing to a sense of monotony. Some sections of dialogue are deemed unnecessary and drag on.
- Subpar graphics (weight 0.26): The graphics are criticized for being aged, not spectacular, and overall not meeting top-tier standards. Some players find the graphical quality to be a letdown.
- Stiff and unnatural animations (weight 0.2): Character animations are described as stiff, awkward, and unnatural. This affects the overall immersion and visual appeal of the game.
- Cliffhanger ending (weight 0.2): The story ends on a cliffhanger, leaving many plot points unresolved. This has disappointed players who were expecting a more conclusive ending.
- Weak final boss battle (weight 0.09): The final boss fight is criticized for being weak and irritating. Players found it to be a disappointing conclusion to the game.
- Filler content (weight 0.09): The game includes a significant amount of filler quests and content, which some players find boring and unnecessary.
- Lack of quality-of-life features (weight 0.08): The game lacks certain quality-of-life features such as autosave and auto text advance, which can make the gameplay experience less smooth.
- Predictable plot (weight 0.08): The plot is criticized for being predictable, with developments and twists that players can see coming.
- High time investment (weight 0.08): The game requires a significant time investment, which some players feel is not worth the payoff.
- Combat balance issues (weight 0.08): There are balancing issues in combat, making it feel somewhat unfair and unbalanced at times.

Gameplay feedback:
- Turn-based tactical combat (weight 0.42): The game features a turn-based combat system with tactical elements, including character movement, positioning, and strategic planning. Players can manipulate turn order and execute cooperative attacks.
- Bonding events and character relationships (weight 0.32): The game includes bonding events and a bonding points system for character development. These events and interactions deepen character relationships and backgrounds.
- Story and character development (weight 0.32): The game emphasizes story-driven gameplay with rich character development and interactions. The narrative pace and storytelling approach are key aspects of the player experience.
- Orbment magic system (weight 0.27): The game includes an orbment system for character builds, inspired by Final Fantasy VII's Materia. This system allows for customization of skills and magic.
- Slow story progression (weight 0.19): The story has a slow initial pacing and progression, which can affect the overall narrative experience.
- Link system for combat (weight 0.18): A combat system featuring a link mechanics that allows for group and cooperative attacks. This system enhances the strategic elements of battles.
- NPC interactions and exploration (weight 0.18): The game features exploration and interaction with NPCs, including dialogues and side quests that enhance the gameplay experience.
- Engaging combat system (weight 0.15): The combat system is diverse and engaging, with various mechanics that add complexity and depth to battles.
- Turbo mode for faster gameplay (weight 0.15): The game includes a turbo mode that allows for faster gameplay, enhancing accessibility and gameplay mechanics.
- Mini-games and side activities (weight 0.14): Various mini-games, such as fishing, and side activities like field studies add depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Traditional JRPG gameplay (weight 0.13): The game follows traditional JRPG gameplay mechanics, with a narrative-heavy approach and fantasy elements.
- Character customization (weight 0.12): Players can customize and improve their characters through various systems, including orbments and other details.
- School-life narrative (weight 0.09): The story includes school-life content and a school-based narrative, adding a unique setting to the game.
- Difficulty settings (weight 0.08): The game offers difficulty adjustments and settings to cater to different player preferences and skills.
- Long gameplay hours (weight 0.08): The game provides 60+ hours of gameplay, offering extensive content and a lengthy experience.
- Part of an ongoing series (weight 0.07): The game is part of a series with interconnected and overarching stories, appealing to fans of the series.

Performance notes:
- Stable and smooth performance (weight 0.38): The game is reported to have stable performance on PC with minimal bugs and smooth frame rates, including support for 60 FPS.
- Improved graphics and visuals (weight 0.37): Many players noted improvements in graphics and higher resolutions compared to previous games. However, some feedback mentioned dated or outdated visuals.
- Excellent PC port (weight 0.27): The PC port is praised for being solid and well-optimized, with customizable settings and high-quality performance.
- Crashes and technical issues (weight 0.22): Some players experienced frequent crashes, especially in final areas and during boss fights, as well as other technical issues like freezing bugs and fullscreen problems.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.19): The game runs well on low-end hardware, including older laptops and the Steam Deck, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- Animation and graphical issues (weight 0.12): Players noted various issues with animations, including mouth animation problems, robotic character movements, and clipping issues.
- Audio and save issues (weight 0.09): There are reports of audio issues and problems with the save game design, including the lack of an autosave feature.
- Minor bugs and optimizations (weight 0.09): Some players encountered occasional bugs and minor issues, but overall, the game is considered well-optimized with fast loading times.

Recommendations:
- Start with Trails in the Sky FC (weight 0.29): For those interested in the Trails series, it is recommended to start with Trails in the Sky FC rather than Cold Steel. This provides a better introduction and foundation for the series.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.14): The game comes with a strong recommendation for fans of the series and newcomers alike. It is highly praised and recommended to be played fully to appreciate its depth and quality.
- Detailed world-building and strategic combat (weight 0.14): The game is recommended for those who enjoy detailed RPGs with deep storytelling, character development, and strategic combat. It appeals to fans of the genre who appreciate intricate world-building.
- Good jumping-on point for new players (weight 0.13): The game is considered a good starting point for new players who want to test the waters and see if this type of JRPG suits their taste. It is also recommended for newcomers and franchise veterans alike.
- Use mods for better experience (weight 0.1): Players are advised to use mods like SenPatcher to fix port issues and the HD Texture mod for better UI at higher resolutions. These mods enhance the overall gaming experience.
- Play earlier games for better experience (weight 0.1): It is recommended to play the older games first for a better experience. This includes playing the Sky trilogy and Azure+Zero before moving on to Cold Steel.
- Worth playing for narrative and gameplay (weight 0.08): The game is worth playing for its narrative context, character development, and improved gameplay. It offers a rich experience for those who enjoy story-driven games.
- High overall rating (weight 0.08): The game has received an overall rating of 4.5/5, indicating a high level of satisfaction among players. It is considered one of the best JRPGs and is highly recommended.
- Recommended for fans of reading and relaxation (weight 0.07): The game is recommended to anyone who likes reading to relax. It offers a great story where everything feels connected, appealing to those who enjoy immersive narratives.

Other player notes:
- Voice acting issues (weight 0.08): The game has inconsistent voice acting quality, and the main story lacks full voice acting, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Mod for battle speed (weight 0.04): Players have requested a mod to adjust battle speed, indicating a desire for more control over gameplay pacing.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.15): Players are frustrated primarily due to the slow pacing and repetitive elements in the game. This includes a slow start to the story and combat, excessive dialogue, and repetitive exploration. Additionally, technical issues such as game crashes, lack of autosave, and difficulty spikes contribute significantly to the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the game for its engaging combat system, well-developed characters, and interesting narrative. The combination of good storytelling, music, and gameplay mechanics, along with enjoyable side activities and mini-games, creates a satisfying experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players feel satisfied with the game's story and character development, as well as its tactical combat and solid voice acting. The rewarding story developments, improved gameplay mechanics, and the overall positive experience with the game's features contribute to this satisfaction.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): Players are excited about the engaging combat mechanics, strong emotional bonds with characters, and the unfolding story. The anticipation for future game releases and the engaging story with surprising twists also contribute to this excitement.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.1): Players feel nostalgic due to the familiar characters, hub town, and the overall atmosphere reminiscent of classic JRPGs. The personal connection to the original cast and characters, as well as comparisons to previous games in the series, evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Players are disappointed with the game's focus on high school and romantic events rather than political and military aspects. The weak story, uninteresting bonding events, and repetitive narrative structure, along with technical issues and lack of character development, contribute to this disappointment.
- Joy (weight 0.05): Players experience joy from the game's characters, story, and combat system. The positive experiences with the game's storyline, world-building, and the emotional attachment to characters create a joyful experience.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the game's strong story, interesting characters, and detailed world-building. The engaging storyline, combat system, and the overall positive experience with the game's features fuel this enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's innovative gameplay, world-building, and story mechanics. The rich character development, deep world, and the overall quality of details in the game are highly valued.
- Engaged (weight 0.03): Players are engaged by the game's compelling RPG experience, diverse characters, and rich lore. The interesting turn-based combat and complex story with political themes keep players deeply involved.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game for its absorbing story, loveable characters, and the deep connection they feel to the game world. The game's features and characters make up a core part of the players' gaming experience.
- Happy (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's high-quality music, well-voiced dialogue, and good gameplay. The overall positive experience and the recommendation to others contribute to this happiness.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Players are engaged with the game's solid turn-based combat, ambitious story, and rich world. The deep combat system and character development keep players invested in the game.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players are looking forward to the sequel and future releases in the series. The slow burn and slow pace of the story build anticipation for what is to come.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the game's story and character arcs. The unexpected love for the game and its narrative twists create a sense of surprise.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Players express affection for specific characters and interesting story twists. The positive opinions on favorite characters and their development foster this affection.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's captivating story and great new cast of characters. The engaging combat mechanics and the overall positive experience fuel this excitement.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the tedious combat and inconsistent story elements. The wasted time on NPC interactions and daily life events contribute to this frustration.}