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

Official game description:
**Welcome to the New Class VII** – Explore the newly annexed lands of the Empire with a brand new squad, and catch up with familiar faces from the past.  
**An Immersive Story** – Experience an epic story developed across three titles, and crafted for new and old fans alike. Also includes an interactive introduction to catch up new players to the ongoing story so anyone can dive right in to the world of Trails of Cold Steel.  
**Combat Honed to a Fine Edge** – Challenge oncoming threats with a combat system that has been refined over the course of decades. The addition of features like Brave Order and the Break System open up new possibilities in battle.  
Story
-----
Rean Schwarzer uncovers a dark plot that threatens his homeland. To face their enemies, he must prepare a new generation of heroes as an instructor at a new branch campus and guide them towards victory.  
Nearly a year and a half has passed since the Erebonian civil war, and much has changed since then. From the shifting stances of countries to the internal politics of the Empire, and even the life of Rean Schwarzer, the shadows of the past have given way to the embers of a new chapter. Now graduated from Thors Military Academy, Rean has become an instructor at the Thors Branch Campus, a newly-opened academy that quickly finds itself thrust onto the national stage. It is here that he takes the lead of a brand new Class VII, and must guide a new generation of heroes into an unknown future. Though all is calm now, the nefarious Ouroboros organization continues to weave a dark plot that could engulf the entire continent in war...or perhaps something even more sinister.  
Trails of Cold Steel III invites players into a world full of intrigue and excitement that is years in the making. They will embark on a whirlwind tour through the never-before-seen lands of the recently expanded Erebonian countryside, and encounter fresh faces as well as old friends familiar to fans of the series. In true Trails fashion, the deep, engaging story pairs with an incredible cast of characters and a combat system refined over decades of innovative RPG worldbuilding.

Release date: Mar 23, 2020

Categories: JRPG, Turn-based Combat, Character Progression, Story-driven Gameplay, Political Simulation, Character Customization, Multiple Playable Characters

Feature scans:
- Steam Deck: score 30; verdict: Good with Minor Adjustments; summary: The Steam Deck generally receives positive feedback for its performance and battery life, with users reporting smooth operation and long playtimes with minor adjustments. However, there are notable issues with the user interface, particularly concerning small font sizes, which can impact the overall user experience.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $15.00 - $30.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence suggests that while some users find the game worth the full price, others recommend waiting for a sale. The mention of the game being worth it at full price indicates that the upper end of the price range is acceptable to some users. However, the suggestion to wait for a sale implies that a lower price point would be more widely accepted. Additionally, the comment about the high pricing in a specific region (198元, which is approximately $28 USD) provides a data point for the upper limit of what some users consider reasonable.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 130.0h
  - Story completion: 110.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime hours. One user mentions spending 130 hours to finish the game, another mentions over 110 hours of gameplay, and another user mentions 147 hours to achieve 100% completion. These quotes provide a clear indication of the typical total time to finish the game, which can be used to estimate the game completion time. The story completion time can be inferred from the context of these reviews, where users discuss the lengthy narrative and the time investment required to see it through. Session length and endgame hours are not explicitly mentioned, so they are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts slow and can be boring in the early hours, but the pacing and enjoyment improve significantly as players progress and unlock more tools and characters.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Gaining more tools and characters
  - Time to anchor: 6h 0m
  - Friction: Slow pacing in the early game; Limited tools and characters at the start; Repetitive narrative and structure
  - Unlock drivers: Gaining more tools and characters; Progressing through the narrative; Experiencing intense story beats and combat sequences
  - Conditions: Patience to get through the initial slow pacing; Appreciation for deep storytelling and character development; Willingness to engage with the game's political themes and tensions
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-Driven Enthusiast (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging story and character development
    - Playstyle: Immersive, completionist
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: fan of the series; JRPG lover
    - Reference games: Trails in the Sky; Trails of Cold Steel I and II; Persona series
  - Strategic Manager (buy)
    - Motivation: Strategic gameplay and optimization
    - Playstyle: Methodical, completionist
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: veteran; strategy lover
    - Reference games: Persona series; other JRPGs with deep mechanics
  - Challenge Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Overcoming difficult challenges
    - Playstyle: Grinding, hard mode
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: hardcore gamer; achievement hunter
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; other challenging RPGs


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:
- Enhanced Graphics and Visuals (weight 0.61): The game has seen significant improvements in graphics, modeling, and visual quality. Players have noted better character models, animations, and an overall enhanced visual experience.
- Excellent Soundtrack and Audio (weight 0.44): The game features an excellent soundtrack with memorable tracks and high-quality audio. Players have praised the music and voice acting.
- Charming and Distinct Characters (weight 0.44): The game features charming and distinct characters that players have found likable and well-developed. Character relationships and interactions are complex and engaging.
- Engaging and Emotional Story (weight 0.41): The story is engaging, emotionally impactful, and features deep plotlines. Players have found the narrative to be compelling and well-paced.
- Improved Combat System (weight 0.38): The combat system has been polished and enhanced, offering more complexity and tactical diversity. Players appreciate the refinements and new mechanics.
- New Class VII Introduction (weight 0.32): The introduction of New Class VII has been well-received. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and their integration into the story.
- Exceptional World Building (weight 0.24): The game excels in world-building, creating a rich and immersive environment. Players have praised the diverse and interesting locations.
- Positive Overall Reception (weight 0.22): The game has been well-received overall, with players recommending it and considering it one of the best in the series.
- Character Development (weight 0.19): The game offers amazing character development, with players noting significant growth and depth in the characters.
- Rean as a Teacher (weight 0.15): The focus on Rean becoming a teacher and guiding the new characters has been emotionally impactful and well-received by players.
- Mind-Blowing Ending (weight 0.12): The game features a twisted and mind-blowing ending, leaving players with a major cliffhanger.
- Inclusion of Previous Characters (weight 0.12): The inclusion of characters from previous games has been appreciated by fans, adding depth and continuity to the story.
- Improved User Interface (weight 0.12): The user interface has been revamped and is easier to use, providing a smoother experience for players.

Common complaints:
- Confusing and repetitive storyline (weight 0.43): The storyline was criticized for being confusing, nonsensical, and repetitive. Players found it hard to follow and noted that it lacked progression and had repetitive events.
- Disliked the ending (weight 0.39): Many players expressed dissatisfaction with the ending, describing it as very bad, incomplete, and feeling like a cliffhanger. Some also felt it was rushed and seemed like a cash grab.
- Tedious and unbalanced combat (weight 0.27): The combat was described as tedious and not improved from previous entries. Some players found it too easy, while others noted it was unbalanced and could be abusable.
- Poor character development (weight 0.25): Characters were criticized for being poorly written, clichéd, and lacking depth. New characters, in particular, felt half-baked compared to older characters.
- Excessive filler content (weight 0.25): The story was criticized for having excessive padding, filler content, and being too long and slow-paced. Some sections, like the Fortress section, were noted to be particularly long and repetitive.
- Difficult to follow without prior knowledge (weight 0.24): Players found the story difficult to understand without background knowledge from previous games. It was noted that the game expects knowledge of previous entries in the series.
- Poor dialogue and writing (weight 0.22): The dialogues were described as corny, cringeworthy, and cold. The writing was also criticized for being contrived and lazy.
- Poor pacing and story structure (weight 0.21): The story was criticized for having poor pacing, being too long, and having a weak structure. Some events were described as long and boring.
- Predictable and formulaic story (weight 0.21): The story was described as predictable, formulaic, and sometimes silly. Players found it to be cluttered and messy.
- Lack of voice acting (weight 0.16): The game was criticized for lacking voice acting in many scenes, which made it feel incomplete and less engaging.
- Lack of localization (weight 0.12): Players were disappointed by the lack of translation and localization for certain languages, such as German, Spanish, and Chinese.
- Frame drops and optimization issues (weight 0.09): Some areas in the game were noted to have frame drops and optimization issues, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Controls issues (weight 0.09): The controls were noted to be difficult, especially with keyboard and mouse, making the game annoying to play.
- High price (weight 0.09): The game was criticized for being priced higher compared to previous entries in the series.
- Poor side quest design (weight 0.09): The side quests were criticized for being boring and poorly designed, adding little value to the overall gameplay experience.
- Worst entry in the series (weight 0.09): Some players considered this game to be the worst entry in the series up to now, citing poor writing and lack of improvement in various aspects.
- Difficulty balance issues (weight 0.09): The balance on normal difficulty was criticized for feeling like it was designed to make players suffer with an average build, making the game less enjoyable.
- Unnecessary new characters (weight 0.09): Players found the introduction of new characters to be unnecessary and felt that they did not add value to the story.
- Cliché elements (weight 0.09): The game was criticized for using cliché elements common in JRPG and anime, which made the story feel less original and engaging.
- Limited screen time for original characters (weight 0.09): Original Class VII characters were noted to have limited screen time, which disappointed some players who were fans of these characters.
- Poor fishing mechanics (weight 0.08): The fishing mechanics were criticized for being poorly designed and changed for the worse compared to previous games.

Gameplay feedback:
- Story-focused and serialized narrative (weight 0.39): The story progression and pacing are highlighted, with a focus on a serialized narrative that keeps players engaged.
- Engaging and improved gameplay (weight 0.3): The gameplay is noted for being fulfilling and improved compared to previous iterations, though some find it repetitive.
- Enhanced combat mechanics (weight 0.27): The combat system has been refined and enhanced with new mechanics, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Detailed character builds (weight 0.21): Players enjoy the detailed character builds and strategies, including equipment and quartz setups.
- Character customization and development (weight 0.2): Players appreciate the depth of character customization and development options, including appearances and progression systems.
- New 'Break' system (weight 0.16): The introduction of the 'Break' gauge mechanic is noted as a significant addition to the combat system.
- Complex character relationships (weight 0.15): The game features complex character relationships and development, enhancing the narrative.
- Complex plot and world-building (weight 0.15): The game features a complex plot and extensive world-building, adding depth to the narrative.
- Nightmare mode difficulty (weight 0.14): The Nightmare mode is mentioned for its high difficulty and the need for optimization.
- Brave Order system (weight 0.12): The Brave Order system is a notable new mechanic that adds strategic elements to combat.
- Improved Class VII (weight 0.12): The new Class VII characters are well-received and considered an improvement over previous versions.
- Political intrigue elements (weight 0.09): The game includes political thriller elements, adding complexity to the story.
- Improved modeling and performance (weight 0.09): The game has seen improvements in modeling and performance compared to previous works.
- Improved interface and playability (weight 0.08): The interface in battle has been improved for better convenience and playability.
- Easy to learn, hard to master (weight 0.08): The game is described as easy to learn but hard to master, providing a good challenge for players.
- Hidden and side quests (weight 0.08): The design of hidden and side quests is noted, adding extra content for players.
- Multiple difficulty settings (weight 0.08): The game offers multiple difficulty settings, catering to different player preferences.
- Normal mode balance issues (weight 0.08): The balance on normal difficulty is criticized for being uncomfortable and punishing with average builds.
- Fast-forward and travel features (weight 0.08): The inclusion of fast-forward and fast travel features is noted for improving gameplay convenience.

Performance notes:
- Performance and optimization issues (weight 0.4): There are mixed reports on performance. Some players experience good optimization, while others report frame drops, performance slowdowns, and areas not well optimized.
- Mixed graphics feedback (weight 0.29): While many players appreciate the graphics improvement and detailed character models, some criticize desaturated graphics and poor visual quality in certain areas.
- New engine enhances graphics (weight 0.29): The game features a new graphics engine that significantly improves visual quality and performance.
- Smoother animations and visuals (weight 0.18): The game offers more fluid visuals and smoother animations, though there are reports of bad animations in some instances.
- Higher system requirements (weight 0.15): The game is noted to be more demanding than previous titles, with decent PC requirements needed for optimal performance.
- PC port quality (weight 0.12): The PC port is generally considered solid with graphical enhancements, though there are some reports of it not being well optimized.
- Specific performance details (weight 0.1): Detailed reports include smooth 60 FPS on desktop, issues with anti-aliasing settings, and a specific dungeon semi-locked to 60 FPS.
- Steam Deck performance (weight 0.08): Performance on Steam Deck varies, with some players experiencing long load times while others report smooth performance with frame rate adjustments.

Recommendations:
- Play previous games first (weight 0.55): Many players recommend playing the previous games in the series, particularly the Sky trilogy, Zero, and Azure, to fully appreciate the story and emotional payoff.
- Recommended for series fans (weight 0.17): The game is highly recommended for fans of the series and those who have followed the franchise.
- Recommended for JRPG fans (weight 0.16): The game is highly recommended for fans of JRPGs and those who enjoy story-heavy games.
- Worth playing for story and improvements (weight 0.12): Players find the game worth playing for its story, improved battle system, and visuals.
- Mixed recommendations based on flaws (weight 0.1): While many players recommend the game, some do not due to its perceived flaws.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.08): Some players recommend buying the game at its sale price and suggest waiting for discounts for future entries.
- Solid entry in the series (weight 0.05): The game is considered a solid entry in the series, ranking 6th compared to previous entries.
- Prepare for Cold Steel 4 (weight 0.05): Players recommend having Cold Steel 4 installed before finishing the final dungeon of Cold Steel 3 for a seamless transition.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.17): Players are frustrated with various aspects of the game, including repetitive gameplay, poor narrative execution, and technical issues. The fortress section is criticized for being long and repetitive, while the combat system and UI design are found to be tedious and confusing. Additionally, the story and character development are seen as weak, with excessive dialogue and predictable tropes adding to the frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.17): Players are excited about the game's story, character development, and new gameplay features. The emotional impact of the narrative, along with the anticipation for future releases, contributes to this excitement. The improved gameplay mechanics and engaging plot twists also add to the overall enthusiasm.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the improvements in design, music, and gameplay, as well as the mature narrative and character development. The high-quality character writing, balanced gameplay, and strategic depth are also appreciated. Despite some flaws, the overall quality and improvements in the game contribute to a satisfying experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Players express disappointment with the game's story complexity, weaker plot, and poor character development. The repetitive plot structure, excessive dialogue, and lack of forward motion in the story are also criticized. Additionally, the combat experience and engine performance do not meet expectations, leading to a sense of disappointment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoy the improved gameplay, music, and character development. The engaging story, satisfying combat, and new gameplay features contribute to a positive experience. The enjoyment is also derived from the game's overall quality and the fun moments it provides.
- Positive (weight 0.04): Players have a positive experience with the game's graphics, gameplay, audio, story, and overall value. The improvements in visuals, gameplay mechanics, and soundtrack are appreciated. The combat system, lore, and plotline are also enjoyed, contributing to a positive outlook.
- Happy (weight 0.03): Players are happy with their overall experience with the game, enjoying the gameplay, story, and characters. The improvements and style of the game contribute to a positive and happy experience.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's references to other Trails series and familiar faces and locations. The improved version of previous parts and the impact of the Trails series growing up with JRPGs also evoke a sense of nostalgia.
- Frustrated (weight 0.03): Players are frustrated with clichés, unrealistic teen dialogue, and translation issues. The repetitive dialogue and poorly written characters, along with performance issues, add to the frustration.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the game's exceptional qualities, including incredible pacing and plot twists. The enjoyment of combat, music, worldbuilding, and characters, along with new combat mechanics, contributes to a joyful experience.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Players feel anger due to the main character's inability to accomplish tasks and poor story and character development. The bad ending and the perception of a cash grab also contribute to this anger.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players love the game due to their investment in the series and the additional playtime and content it offers. The game becomes one of their new favorites, contributing to a sense of love.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the evolution of the game's formula and the flexibility in character builds. The support for specific characters also adds to this enthusiasm.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players are disappointed with the decline in the series' quality and the lack of Korean language support. The useless DLC also contributes to this disappointment.
- Affection (weight 0.01): Players feel affection for the character descriptions and personalities, particularly for the character Altina. The engaging character interactions contribute to this affection.
- Hopeful (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful about future releases and updates, looking forward to what the series will offer next.
- Attachment (weight 0): Players feel attached to the new Class VII, indicating a strong emotional connection to the characters.}